Buy MBP 16" + MBA?

[fpenta]

So I've been really struggling in the last month to find a solution for my needs..

I'm a travel photographer and I find myself living in two different cities so I commute quite a lot. I have my iMac 27" (i9 8c, 1TB, 64GB) in one city and I would like to get a portable desktop for when I'm living away from it in another city.
I also travel with my photography gear for photography purposes and in those cases I need to get the lightest possible machine.

Does it make sense to buy a 16" (10/16, 1TB, 16GB) as a portable desktop AND a MacBook Air (8/8, 1TB, 16GB) exclusively for traveling super light with photography gear?

I would end up with three Macs (27" iMac to use as a workstation in one city, MBP 16" to use as a portable workstation in another city and MB Air for traveling and photography purposes). Each Mac have a different purpose for different needs and I understand is not the best solution and quite expensive too.

I'm now using a MBP 14" to test out if that is a good trade off but I feel that is is actually quite chunky as a travel computer and the air would be significantly better for traveling around with my camera equipment almost like not feeling it on my back (300g difference is noticeable).

I also feel that for only €200 difference compared to the 16" I'm missing those features of the 16 which I love (bigger screen, better battery life and speakers), but of course choosing the 16" brings the need to buy also a portable laptop..

I really love big laptops but I also love ultra portable ones..The 14" is in the middle and not really moving anything inside me.

What do you think?

 

[Big Bad D]

I understand your thinking. Perhaps nice to have solution. But it doesn’t make financial sense to me, but only you can judge your needs and budget.

 

[cardfan]

The mba should do trick. Get a monitor for the second work station. Perhaps the studio one. You’d have half your upgrade for that iMac later.

 

[JahBoolean]

Keep the imac, and then judge whether the improved displays on the pro lineup are worth the extra bulk.

Don't bother with two laptops.

 

[fpenta]

I understand your thinking. Perhaps nice to have solution. But it doesn’t make financial sense to me, but only you can judge your needs and budget.

Thanks. Yeah I feel that this solution doesn't give me any trade off because I would be using the laptops in the best scenarios they were meant to be (16" as a portable workstation + Air for light traveling) but doesn't make financial sense as you said..

The mba should do trick. Get a monitor for the second work station. Perhaps the studio one.

Unfortunately there is not enough space to place a monitor.?

Keep the imac, and then judge whether the improved displays on the pro lineup are worth the extra bulk.

Don't bother with two laptops.

I (unfortunately) absolutely love the XDR screen on the new MBP and that is also the reason why I'd prefer the 16" over the 14" but again, I'd need a portable laptop if I choose the 16"...no way I can travel with the 16" adding so much weight to my backpack.

 

[JahBoolean]

I (unfortunately) absolutely love the XDR screen on the new MBP and that is also the reason why I'd prefer the 16" over the 14" but again, I'd need a portable laptop if I choose the 16"...no way I can travel with the 16" adding so much weight to my backpack.

My two cents: I come from a 2019 intel 15'' MBP, chose the 14' for portability.

Have not regretted the objectively reduced display real estate even once. Courtesy of the (albeit flawed) notched design.

My 13 air still remains a featherweight in comparison ..

P.S. The real estate afforded by the 14''

 

[fpenta]

My two cents: I come from a 2019 intel 15'' MBP, chose the 14' for portability.

Have not regretted the objectively reduced display real estate even once. Courtesy of the (albeit flawed) notched design.

My 13 air still remains a featherweight in comparison ..

P.S. The real estate afforded by the 14''

Do you have both 14" and MB Air?

 

[JahBoolean]

Do you have both 14" and MB Air?

M1 Pro and i5 MBA 2017, could not possibly comment on the screen, but the outer appearance/proportions of the shell have remained very similar.

Keep in mind that my MBA is borderline unuseable under macOS with it's paltry 4GB of RAM.

But I would never trade M1 MBP with an M1 MBA although I prefer the form factor.

A design refresh is bound to drop this year, whether you can temporize until it is your call.

 

[darngooddesign]

I'm a travel photographer and I find myself living in two different cities so I commute quite a lot.

Where do you stay in the other city where you spend a lot of time in?

Just get comfortable with the fact that you will have to compromise on something.

 

[fpenta]

A design refresh is bound to drop this year, whether you can temporize until it is your call.

Don't really care about the redesign really. I love the current design and actually I'd hate if they remove the space grey and add white bezels in the future update.

Where do you stay in the other city where you spend a lot of time in?

Just get comfortable with the fact that you will have to compromise on something.

My small girlfriend house is where I'm staying.
Yeah. The only compromise is to keep the 14" and make it do it all for me.

 

[darngooddesign]

My small girlfriend house is where I'm staying.
Yeah. The only compromise is to keep the 14" and make it do it all for me.

So get the 14" and leave an external display at her house.

 

[JahBoolean]

Yeah. The only compromise is to keep the 14" and make it do it all for me.

You got it chief !

 

[fpenta]

So get the 14" and leave an external display at her house.

That would be ideal but unfortunately the place is very small?

 

[erkanasu]

my budget allowed me to have an mini w/ ASD, air and 16" mbp - I'm loving it

 

[fpenta]

my budget allowed me to have an mini w/ ASD, air and 16" mbp - I'm loving it

nice! what is your use case? what config do you have?

 

[darngooddesign]

That would be ideal but unfortunately the place is very small?

Time to start compromising.

 

[erkanasu]

nice! what is your use case? what config do you have?

I got a used base air ($700 local) in perfect condition and then a m1 max 16”. Best of both worlds. Use case - I’m a ceo and a photographer

 

[KingofGotham1]

Have you looked at trading in or selling the iMac? That might help pay for the Air and you could get a 16” Pro. So you’d have 2 Macs instead of 3…

 

[fpenta]

Have you looked at trading in or selling the iMac? That might help pay for the Air and you could get a 16” Pro. So you’d have 2 Macs instead of 3…

I would need to buy a larger screen anyway, and if I want the same quality I’d need to get the Studio display which is the same panel as the iMac, so not really worth it.

 

[Klae17]

This is my set up actually. I use the MBA for appts and leave it in my bag just in case. My 16 inch Max M1 is in my office and stays there. If I travel for long, I just bring my 16 inch. If I am gone only for a day or two, the MBA M1 is awesome. The 16 is VERY heavy comparatively. Can't wait for the MBA 15 inch. Then I will do the 15 inch, and a Studio.

 

[fpenta]

This is my set up actually. I use the MBA for appts and leave it in my bag just in case. My 16 inch Max M1 is in my office and stays there. If I travel for long, I just bring my 16 inch. If I am gone only for a day or two, the MBA M1 is awesome. The 16 is VERY heavy comparatively. Can't wait for the MBA 15 inch. Then I will do the 15 inch, and a Studio.

Apparently the 15” won’t have mini led tho. Most of the beauty of the of the 16” is in the screen

 

[fpenta]

Decided to pull the trigger and get the 16” 10/16, 1TB, 16GB + the base air with 512 gb, 8GB (the 1TB and 16GB option is too expensive and can’t be found on sale).

I scrolled back in time at some of the moments that I wish I had the MB Air and realized that are so many.

Last weekend for example I had a quick job in the mountains near the city where I live.
I didn’t bring the 14” because it was just for a day and it wasn’t vital.

Most of the times I find myself in uncomfortable places and traveling with an expensive computer is dangerous. One of the reasons I didn’t bring my 14”.
If I had the air I would have definitely bring that instead, for its portability and for being so ligh, small, “cheaper” that I can almost forget about it.

This recalled me of the famous quote: “The best camera is the one that is with you”.
Does make sense also for laptops!

 

[clevins]

... never mind

 

[fpenta]

... never mind

Ahah I was just reading your reply.

I need the MBP for intensive video, timelapse and photo work away from desk.
I absolutely love the new display that I almost prefer to use that to the iMac 5k.

Now that the new studio display came out, makes me think that mini led will be extremely expensive and apple will charge thousands for it, so I prefer to enjoy that on bigger 16” for now. Not a bad deal considering the price of the Studio display.

Financially not the best solution but for me it’s going to be the best one for sure.

 

[Klae17]

Apparently the 15” won’t have mini led tho. Most of the beauty of the of the 16” is in the screen

cant know until its out. The 16 is gorgeous for long term travel and editing. The MBA doesn't cut it there.