16inch and that is! NO external monitor?

[umbilical]

I feel like the 16-inch is just large enough that you could use it alone with no external display. It depends a lot on what you are doing of course. And it's hard to find an equally nice display to pair it with.

yes, actually I'm frustated with all monitors on the market, nothing beats the XDR on the 16, so I'll wait to the next studio display expecting apple release something equal or siminar that justify the price.

 

[richinaus]

yes, actually I'm frustated with all monitors on the market, nothing beats the XDR on the 16, so I'll wait to the next studio display expecting apple release something equal or siminar that justify the price.

You could be waiting for some time for a Studio display update as I would bet money on Apple not updating it for years. I would highly recommend getting one, they are fantastic.

FWIW I use a 14" MBP with the Studio display - always in clamshell, as I like to use one screen only to reduce eyestrain and improve focus. I have used 16" in the past, and really enjoy the 14 [fast, compact etc with screen big enough for a few hours work without too much strain].

 

[phoenix-mac-user]

I have a 16 and work in web dev like you and while it can work standalone better than any other Macbook I've owned, I feel like from a productivity standpoint, an extra monitor is a must. Now keep in mind I have a 55" OLED that I use as my second display (because I got sick of dual monitors) so I am not a normal user, but I basically use the giant screen as 4 quadrants, 2 for work, and 2 for Outlook and Teams.

I am remote and had to go into the office last week and found having to work in one 16" display to be cumbersome.

What I think the 16 works well as is a 2nd display. I have tried various 13s and unless you have it within arms length, it is too small to really use, but my 16 works great as a 2nd display that I mostly use for presenting in meetings (presenting in 4k sucks because everything is tiny for the people you are presenting to).

 

[dmccloud]

I have a 16 and work in web dev like you and while it can work standalone better than any other Macbook I've owned, I feel like from a productivity standpoint, an extra monitor is a must. Now keep in mind I have a 55" OLED that I use as my second display (because I got sick of dual monitors) so I am not a normal user, but I basically use the giant screen as 4 quadrants, 2 for work, and 2 for Outlook and Teams.

I am remote and had to go into the office last week and found having to work in one 16" display to be cumbersome.

What I think the 16 works well as is a 2nd display. I have tried various 13s and unless you have it within arms length, it is too small to really use, but my 16 works great as a 2nd display that I mostly use for presenting in meetings (presenting in 4k sucks because everything is tiny for the people you are presenting to).

I had to set up a temp office two weeks ago for an event I was helping run. I brought both my MBP and a Windows PC with me because I was going to be handling a lot of the tech side for panels, events, scheduling, website, etc. live over the course of the event. What I wound up using was a 15" USB-C monitor I could connect to both my Mac and Windows machines, primarily because all of my monitors are on mounts and I did not have a lot of space to work in at the venue. For my use case, it worked fine. But when I'm at home and doing more video editing/production or web design, my Mac is connected to a pair of 24" monitors.

 

[richinaus]

I had to set up a temp office two weeks ago for an event I was helping run. I brought both my MBP and a Windows PC with me because I was going to be handling a lot of the tech side for panels, events, scheduling, website, etc. live over the course of the event. What I wound up using was a 15" USB-C monitor I could connect to both my Mac and Windows machines, primarily because all of my monitors are on mounts and I did not have a lot of space to work in at the venue. For my use case, it worked fine. But when I'm at home and doing more video editing/production or web design, my Mac is connected to a pair of 24" monitors.

I was thinking last year I must get a 16" for being able to use for longer periods without a monitor, but I have concluded the best solution is the 14 and an external monitor, if you can do it.

If I had just to use a laptop all the time it would be the 16" without a doubt, but the benefits of the 14 in terms of portability, use in smaller spaces but with near enough the same power make me keep on thinking it is the best Apple laptop ever.

 

[dmccloud]

I was thinking last year I must get a 16" for being able to use for longer periods without a monitor, but I have concluded the best solution is the 14 and an external monitor, if you can do it.

If I had just to use a laptop all the time it would be the 16" without a doubt, but the benefits of the 14 in terms of portability, use in smaller spaces but with near enough the same power make me keep on thinking it is the best Apple laptop ever.

For me, there is little to no difference between the 14" and 16" MBP in terms of readability from the display itself. That being said, the increased portability of the 14" made it a no-brainer for me, since this is the computer I have with me most of the time.

 

[richinaus]

For me, there is little to no difference between the 14" and 16" MBP in terms of readability from the display itself. That being said, the increased portability of the 14" made it a no-brainer for me, since this is the computer I have with me most of the time.

It’s more about getting more on the screen at one time for me and the interfaces on some apps I use are a little cramped on the 14 (cad and visualisation). But yes, the increased portability is a big positive.

 

[JamesMay82]

I suppose it’s just what you get use to. My wife spends her day in GarageBand and email but she is happy using her 13 inch air instead of her iMac. Were as I’m the opposite, I hate using my 13 air for work so I use an iMac at home and air is only used travel. It was the same when I had A 15 inch

 

[cappo3]

Update, I spend 7 days on the 27 monitor + mac mini + external apple keyboard + external trackpad, and I hate it! I don't move 2 times faster, is other wise two times slower. The big space helps for some things but is not mandatory to me.

What's the problem? I move so slowly with the external keyboard and trackpad on the side, I miss the keyboard plus trackpad on the MBP, both tied one to each other and one on the top of the other! that's make a huge difference for me. And I'm not alone, there's some crazy ideas like this for that reason: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1108619816/the-tre-2-o-apple-bluetooth-magic?click_key=178aba3d80256602797db44b3dc2d09e49f4e48b:1108619816&click_sum=8af777a4&external=1&rec_type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-2

Also due I need move across a bigger screen, I do things slowly, sometimes I miss where I want to point or do unwanted things, on my 15 inch screen I move crazy fast due I don't need move across a large screen, I never miss with the pointer.

Now, even with a $10 mouse I move quicker than the external trackpad. I want try the Apple Magic Soap, maybe not good ergonomics but have the gestaures, we'll see. The only bad is those clicks are annoying, the whole day listen "click" "click"...

So now I miss my MBP! I'll buy the M2 or well wait to the M2 MBP to use it without an external keyboard or trackpad.

Maybe I keep the 27 inch display to put it on the back! like you do, MBP on the front, Monitor on the back and that is, like the picture attached below.

By the way, I also hate how text looks on my 2K Asus Monitor, I miss the retina of my old 2013 MBP, yes! even that old screen looks better, even some people tell me the 4Ks don't look as good a retina dislay, overall I'll think on buy the MBP and the Studio Display and problem fixed!

Just my 2 cents... I have the external trackpad and gladly used it when my MBP was connected to the external monitor, together with an external keyboard. Happy as a peach. Then a friend gave me his old wireless Mighty Mouse. OMG, brave new world! The trackpad sits in a drawer now, the mouse does everything I need it to, apart handling pictures. To that end I use the trackpad of the MBP, which is just lying next to the external monitor, ready to go.
Give an old school mouse a try!

 

[umbilical]

Just my 2 cents... I have the external trackpad and gladly used it when my MBP was connected to the external monitor, together with an external keyboard. Happy as a peach. Then a friend gave me his old wireless Mighty Mouse. OMG, brave new world! The trackpad sits in a drawer now, the mouse does everything I need it to, apart handling pictures. To that end I use the trackpad of the MBP, which is just lying next to the external monitor, ready to go.
Give an old school mouse a try!

I had that mouse in the past but the problem is the little ball stuck after a lot use with dust and grease, so I need disable often to clean it.