Your experience changing from 15" to 13" MBP

[hajime]

Hello, I have used 17" and 15" MBP for the past 10 years. I had 13" and 15" MBP side by side. Although I could tell the weight different, I felt the difference was not that big in the short tests in stores. When I tested both sizes, I noticed that 15" allowed me to see more, less clicking and window sliding and perhaps more product. However, in carrying many things for a long time, a small difference in weight could make a different. I have a 49" 4K TV at home as an external monitor. I wonder how productivity is like on the road and when I am doing work without an external monitor.

Experience from long time users of 15" rMBP switched to 13" appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Naimfan]

13" is too small for me and weight difference not noticeable.

Will never (voluntarily) go back to a 13".

 

[hajime]

I am not sure if it is my own subjective impression. When playing the same videos (4K and 1080) side by side, it looks like images on the 15" are better.

 

[Glockworkorange]

13" is too small for me and weight difference not noticeable.

Will never (voluntarily) go back to a 13".

I agree. After spending a significant amount of time with a 15 inch, 13 inches is just too small. The size and weight of the 15 incher is not a huge issue for me. Even when traveling, I don't feel the 15 inch to be too large or unwieldy.

 

[ericwn]

I personally prefer the 15” models, if you need a workstation on the go. Yes, the 13” is a bit lighter, but when creating content I appreciate the extra screen space.

It’s very personal though, just chose the tools and interfaces that work for you. Apple let’s you try any computer for two weeks, so go out and make your own experience- then decide.

 

[maflynn]

I went from a 15" to a 13" and regretted it. I stuck with the form factor as long as I could but in the end, I felt for my needs and/or usages 15" is the perfect size.

 

[sunapple]

I'm a 15" user. I've had the 12" MacBook for a while, but that's just too crammed. OK for normal use, but not for any Adobe software. A shame, because I love that form-factor.

I have a 49" 4K TV at home as an external monitor.

Wait, what? How does that work, at what distance does such a large TV become usable in terms of sharpness and how do you control the computer? Do you work from a couch? TV on desk?

 

[Falhófnir]

I find 13” really has me struggling to juggle more than a couple of windows, and almost rules out split view work. 15” is much better if you have a lot of windows to juggle or want to use split view/ have multiple things on screen at once. Obviously for this use the bigger the better, but 15” does seem to be the floor for actually being able to competently do it.

 

[Schranke]

Not super relevant as I am comparing across different models. but when my 2012 15" rMBP broke down I used a borrowed 2011 13" MBP and of course the resolution have a big impact, but the computer itself was just small working with. I experience the same whenever I work on other peoples 13" machines. So for me I will be sticking to 15".
And the weight have never bothered me, and I am in the opinion that if is a problem for someone they should start working out or think about getting a good supportive backpack. Messenger style bags does not really offer a god weight distribution.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Right now I'm happy with the MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar.

There's some performance problems here and there with the iGPU.. But you know as expected since it doesn't have a dGPU.... Might go for the 15" next time thou

 

[hajime]

Right now I'm happy with the MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar.

There's some performance problems here and there with the iGPU.. But you know as expected since it doesn't have a dGPU.... Might go for the 15" next time thou

dGPU on the 15" is useless for me as it cannot do CUDA computing. If I buy a MBP, I will get a TB3 dock and perhaps eGPU with Nvidia up-coming GPU later.

 

[millerj123]

I used 15 and 17 inch laptops and work. The 17 had a full sized keyboard including separate number pad.

For my personal use at home, I have a 13 inch MacBook Pro. I wouldn’t want to do all my work on it without an external monitor. I also have full-size keyboards both at home and work.

 

[djnigelchung]

I'm a 15" user. I've had the 12" MacBook for a while, but that's just too crammed. OK for normal use, but not for any Adobe software. A shame, because I love that form-factor.



Wait, what? How does that work, at what distance does such a large TV become usable in terms of sharpness and how do you control the computer? Do you work from a couch? TV on desk?

Not OP but also have a 49" 4K tv for at home (with 2016 15" MBP).. 4K is basically the resolution of 4 1080p screens (2 x 1080 horizontal and 2 x 1080 vertical). So really this is similar to having 4 x 24.5" displays. I have it on my desk a use it from the same distance as I would a computer monitor.
Runs amazing for me and my applications. It's a low end 4K display so I am aware there is a little more lag in a tv than a monitor (for gaming) and the colours aren't as accurate as a high end display (for Lightroom). With all that being said. I love the setup

 

[mcpix]

How about both? I have a 15" 2015 MBP that I use for all my professional video and photo work. I also have a 2017 13" MBP with touch bar. Although the 13" is my favorite computer to use at home, whenever I try to use it for Photoshop or FCPX work, I usually decide to switch back to the 15". It's not that the 13" isn't usable, it's just that the larger screen and built in dGPU make a noticeable difference.

 

[Saturn1217]

Sorry I don't have the exact experience you are looking for. But I was a very long time 13" Macbook user who switched to the 2015 15" MBP for work (basically because that is what work offered).

I have always felt that weight was really important to me. To the point where I was using a 13" MBA as my main computer for several years.

But the increase in screen size to the 15" is very noticeable. I'm a web developer and the 15" is just large enough that I can get real work done without needing an external monitor (If I have the scaling set to max space). With the 13" monitor I would always need to switch to my external monitors when I wanted to get "real" work done, which means always being anchored to a desk. This is a big enough deal that after literally only using 13" Macbook Pros/Airs since 2009 I am determined that my next personal laptop be a 15" MBP.

I still don't love the increase in weight but I have a slim laptop backpack that makes this a non-issue for my commute.

 

[Chancha]

Screen real estate:
Noticeable difference, especially while on the road with the built-in screen being the only screen. On the 13" productivity almost always suffers, where on the 15" it happens way less. Quite many professional apps with lots of on screen palettes look laughable on a 13". With Adobe InDesign for instance you see less of the actual page than the tool palettes if you unfold them out. On a 15" it is at least manageable. Even casual usage suffers, on a 13" I almost always maximize a single Safari webpage into a full screen window, whereas on 15" there is some room for side-by-side windowing (though still not wide enough for half and half).

I think a lot of the problem comes from software devs not considering for smaller screen size. In the past when 1024x768 was the norm, most apps would base its interface there, and let you customize / add if you use larger resolution. Nowadays they just assume you must be working on HD, sometimes even 2k / 4k.

Portability:
It depends on your lifestyle. If you have to hand carry a lot then the difference is of course big. If most of the time the machine sites inside a shoulder bag or backpack then the impact is less. If the machine is often used on a train / flight seat then most would consider the 15" being too big, 13" OK and 12" perfect. But I have to say the footprint and the weight of the current 2016/17 15" is already the best as it has got. The 2011 Unibody 13" actually weighs the exact same as the 2015 15", and the 2016 is an additional 200g off that.

 

[impulse462]

15” is great if you use a lot of windows or even have a lot of tabs open and you’re reading multiple things. The added real estate also comes in handy if you’re ever doing any sort of content creation or coding. Can’t foresee myself going back to 13” for a while

 

[playtech1]

I find 13 inches is about the optimum trade off in terms of size and portability, but I do tend to reach for my 12 inch MB when travelling and 15 inch when at home, so it's perhaps a 'jack of all trades and master of none' situation.

I do also really notice a difference in speed and responsiveness between the 2015 15 inch and the 2015 13 inch, although perhaps that difference is less prominent on newer models.