Which to choose, 16in base model or 15.4in top model?

[perry8912]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to buy the new 16in MacBook pro, and for my budget, I was looking at the base i9 model(i9 2.3ghz+16gb+1tb+5500m 4gb). But then I found a great local deal for the 2019 15.4in model(i9 2.4ghz+32gb +1tb+ vega20). It's about the same price.
So, which would you guys choose for 2k/4k video editing in FCPX and RAW photo editing in LR and PS?

I know the 16in has great keyboard and speakers, But I kind want the 32gb RAM in the 15.4in model.(Couldn't afford to upgrade RAM in 16in, as it has to go thru Apple, which means not on sale).

So if it were you, for the same price tag, which to choose? Will the 16gb RAM enough for the next 3-4years for what I need? Or the 32GB+vega 20 will be enough to compensate the keyboard and battery life on 15.4in?

Thanks

 

[coachingguy]

I just faced basically the same decision... I was looking at, essentially, the base model 16”... I came across a Mid 2018 15, i9, 32, 2TB refurbed for the same price...

I pulled the trigger on the 15

 

[XNorth]

The base 16" 6-core 32 GB, 1TB can be had for around $2,800 with a discount. if the 15.4" is about the same price, it’s a no brainer to go with the newer, better computer. Even if the 16" was a little more expensive, it would still be a better buy given how much better it is.

 

[coachingguy]

I paid $2k shipped...

 

[Howard2k]

There’s a similar thread here:

Which would you choose? 15.4" vs 16"

Which would you choose for general graphic design work with an occasional intense After Effects project assuming exact same cost? Both would have 3 year AppleCare. 2018 15.4" 2019 16" 2.9 GHz i9 2.6 GHz i7 Vega 20 GPU 5300 M GPU 32 GB RAM 32 GB RAM 1 TB SSD 1 TB SSD Available...

forums.macrumors.com

No brainer given the keyboard issue IMO.

 

[butterflyscisstor]

it’s a no brainer to go with the newer, better computer

Not sure I agree

a new 15.4” will have 4 years of keyboard coverage, which is kind of a nice perk without paying for applecare

Or if you do buy AppleCare, based on my experience in the past, you have a decent likelihood of getting an replacement upgrade to the 16” if you have any serious hardware trouble on the 15.4”

All in all, given the early adopter headaches faced by a lot of new 16” owners, I think it’s worth considering getting a discounted 15.4” from an authorized Apple dealer rather than a 16”

It’s a gamble that you might get even more value in the future out if the $ you spend on a 15.4” today, by either getting a new keyboard and battery and top case or possibly a whole replacement upgrade to a 16” when the kinks have been worked out on those

because let’s be real, the 15.4 or the 16” first gen will likely both have a spotty reiability over time.