Can't Decide Between 14" and 16"

[ratspg]

I chose the 16” 10cpu, 16gpu, 32gb ram, 2tb SSD. I prefer an unbinned chip. The max is overkill for me, my main pursuits are musical. I also pursue video, but not to the extent that demands the max. 32gb of ram gives me enough headroom for the comfortable use of virtual instruments within the context of ProTools. 2tb SSD allows me a workflow WITHOUT external drives. This is phenomenal to me! The ONLY reason I need external drives now, is for archiving and backup. ?

So far as the size? Better thermals. Less noise. Longer battery life. Longer in-the-field recording and mixing/editing. The new audio out lets me use my higher end headphones. Believe it or not, the AirPods Pro are EXCEPTIONAL; even for critical listening! But ProTools and Bluetooth includes latency with its GUI.

But with all the complaints re size; it’s significantly smaller and lighter than my 17”, which traveled to work with me many times, and accompanied me on many flights. I DID get used to the 13” air over the past year; but not enough to consider the smaller 14”. Bear in mind, I have no other larger screen. Nothing touches the 24” lg on the Apple store, ESPECIALLY the connectivity. But the price is still too steep. MAYBE I’ll consider one of the newer iMacs later, but I still hold out for the RUMORED consumer level monitor. One can hope!!

To those choosing the 14”, I’m certain your needs and tastes draw you to that decision. It is a beast!

Here are a few pics showing the decreased size of my new 16” compared with my old 17”. It’s also nearly two pounds lighter!!

How are all your plugins working? I heard track count in pro tools is off the charts but i haven’t tried yet just because if stability. Also I use EuCon.

 

[TimothyJohn]

How are all your plugins working? I heard track count in pro tools is off the charts but i haven’t tried yet just because if stability. Also I use EuCon.

I just now installed iLok under Rosetta. Then I installed EZ Drummer, which is native. GO TOONTRACK!! Apparently, Pace is making noise about M1 NATIVE SUPPORT!! Next I'll install Izotope Ozone 9, Melodyne, and Drumcore4. Then I'll try my UA Apollo Solo Thunderbolt, Luna and Plug-ins. My ProTools auto-renews tomorrow, so that's gonna be last. I had my UA stuff up and running on the 13" Air. I haven't delved much into Luna, but it looks like it could be fun.

I also decided to upgrade from Adobe Premiere Elements to Davinci Resolve Studio 17. For the same price as Final Cut, I got a free hardware editor! Just in time too, cos the offer is no longer available...

As far as track count on Pro Tools, I don't really care. Once reports came in that it simultaneously records more than 100 tracks, w/plugins ... That's all I need to know. But real world? I want the lowest buffer; overdubbing sessions with 8-20 tracks, using a VI played by a midi keyboard. And I'm virtually certain that this has enough headroom. No one has really done tests like this, and VI's can be finicky during overdubs. So, we'll see. But I'm completely confident.

Another reason I went with Davinci Resolve Studio 17, is it's use of Fairlight for Audio. ProTools STILL is not compatible with video. And even with ProTools Native, the integration with video was no where NEAR what it is with HDX(Ultimate).

 

[HardBall]

Here is a good 14" review with M1 Max; since there aren't too many of those on YouTube:

This reflects my experience pretty well, although we work in vastly different industries (the YouTuber is a video production prof, and I am a research scientist in machine learning). Worth checking it out.

 

[crimlarks]

That was a great review of the 14" MacBook Pro with Max. Thanks for posting it!
I just got notification from Apple today that the 14" MacBook Pro Max I ordered is shipping now. Should get here by the 16th. Perfect.

 

[Jl006p]

So yesterday before my trip my BTO 16" was delivered way earlier than I anticipated. I spent the whole day setting it up. This morning before I left home to catch my flight I ended up leaving my 16" behind in favor of the base 14" that I bought earlier last month. I can't explain it. Just like a reviewer mentioned earlier when you have both side by side I reach for the 14" majority of the time. It feels so much better when you grab it and go. The 16" is so heavy. My camera gear alone weighs a ton and between catching BART, going through the airport, then security, then catching a bus and then walking a few blocks to my hotel I'm glad I brought my 14". There's no way I could have whipped out the 16" on the flight and sat it on the food tray without looking ridiculous.

Tomorrow will be the true test, I'll be on the pitch working and I'll be pushing this to it's limits.

I think what I may end up doing is returning the 16". It cost me over $4k to build. Instead I'll get the 1TB 14" and use the savings towards the rumored 27" and soup that up instead.

 

[chrismu]

This morning before I left home to catch my flight I ended up leaving my 16" behind in favor of the base 14" that I bought earlier last month. I can't explain it. Just like a reviewer mentioned earlier when you have both side by side I reach for the 14" majority of the time. It feels so much better when you grab it and go. The 16" is so heavy. My camera gear alone weighs a ton and between catching BART, going through the airport, then security, then catching a bus and then walking a few blocks to my hotel I'm glad I brought my 14". There's no way I could have whipped out the 16" on the flight and sat it on the food tray without looking ridiculous.

I have the same feeling and it led to me picking the 14 inch in the end, I honestly think it is leverage ? Since the 16 inch is so much bigger and heavier at the same time, it doesn’t feel like it is just 500g heavier, it feels significantly heavier because when you pick it up, the weight is further away from where you hold it. Or something like that. Really hard for me to explain in English, I‘m not a native speaker, but I hope you can understand what I mean. Now all we need is still just a good companion display for these laptops, I am hoping for the bigger iMac release, maybe they will give us the option to buy that display without the computer.

 

[rodrigezlopez]

After many weeks of doing my head in I finally decided.......Easy solution to this undecidable nightmare......I bought BOTH!! 16 silver max and 14 grey pro Very happy now. 16 is my main display and work stationed 14 is for fun and second display. The 14 has my heart though. Nicest piece of hardware ever!!!!

why didn't you buy external display by the way? I feel like 14 + extra monitor would be perfect solution for using at home and also quite portable

 

[Elektrofone]

why didn't you buy external display by the way? I feel like 14 + extra monitor would be perfect solution for using at home and also quite portable

That's my current situation and it's a great combo. I have a LG 24" Ultrafine 4K that I use the 14" in docked mode and then its nice and portable when I go out.

 

[rodrigezlopez]

I just ended up with both and am now truly happy! AT LAST!!!! My 16 Max silver is on my desk as my desktop and the 14 grey pro is on my lap right now

Frankly I just would buy large external monitor and keep only 14 for lap. This is the reason why I'm planning to return my Pro 16. In the past I had 13" models but always wanted 16" because in some scenarios I needed more screen. 6 months ago I bought wide 35" inch monitor and started to plug my macbook to it when I wanted to work at the table. This was just perfect experience because connecting it by one usb cable was too easy and also make laptop charging from monitor. It also was so cool that I wouldn't need constantly moving files between two computers In case I would use two laptops (or laptop + desktop machine). Now I feel that 16" is just too large for bed/lap/carriyng around scenarios and at the same time It cannot compete with large external screens when working at table. Though I'm planning to keep both 14 and 16 laptops for a while (I haven't received my Pro 14" yet) to make sure that 14" screen will not feel like too small after I get used to 16.

 

[cababah]

Though I'm planning to keep both 14 and 16 laptops for a while (I haven't received my Pro 14" yet) to make sure that 14" screen will not feel like too small after I get used to 16.

Trust me...it will if you are going back and forth between the two.

 

[ataq]

I just found this comparison video. Very much sums up my feelings about 14 vs 16.

 

[SHKLMRE]

Ive been using my 16" for a few days... the size simply is amazing. Compared to my old 2018 15" MBP, the larger screen size is amazing and the overall experience is much better without the laptop physically feeling larger. Im very satisfied with the 16" and am happy I chose it over the 14".

 

[Pokolasko]

Hello. Yesterday, for the first time, I accidentally heard a strange sound coming from the Macbook 16" M1 max. When tilt from side to side in your hands, you hear something moving. The sound comes from the front of the display. If it was just a sound, it wouldn't seem bad to me, but the shocks are quite felt. It's like a clicking sound. With the display open, it is also audible but much fainter.

Some people at Reddite have discussed this and said that it may be a light cable.

I was in two stores today and not a single Macbook 16 "had this problem.

 

[ataq]

Ive been using my 16" for a few days... the size simply is amazing. Compared to my old 2018 15" MBP, the larger screen size is amazing and the overall experience is much better without the laptop physically feeling larger. Im very satisfied with the 16" and am happy I chose it over the 14".

Thanks for this. I have been searching for feedback from people coming from an 2018 MacBook Pro which I currently use. Do you have comparison photos for size differences between these two?

 

[nylon]

Thanks for this. I have been searching for feedback from people coming from an 2018 MacBook Pro which I currently use. Do you have comparison photos for size differences between these two?

I think this is very subjective. I came from a 15" Late 2016 MBP (1st gen Touch Bar) which is identical dimensionally to the 2018 15" model. I felt the jump to the new 16" was significant in weight and volumetrically. It was uncomfortable for me and the 14" ended up being a much better fit. There is no right or wrong answer here. It will totally depend on what you personally like. I was able to spend 10 days with both machines before making my decision which was a big help.

 

[Eugr]

I think this is very subjective. I came from a 15" Late 2016 MBP (1st gen Touch Bar) which is identical dimensionally to the 2018 15" model. I felt the jump to the new 16" was significant in weight and volumetrically.

I have 2017 15-inch and got 2019 16-inch last year for work. It is noticeably bulkier and heavier compared to my 15-inch.

The 2021 16-inch is even bulkier and heavier than 2019 model. I went to Apple Store to check it out and it reminded me of my 2007 MBP 17”.

If I get a new one, I’m going to go with 14-inch as I travel a lot.

 

[archi penko]

Omgosh… is that a CD drive…?

I’m amazed the new 2021 MBP is as thicc as an old one with a CD drive

 

[Philllllip]

Well, after saying that I found total happiness with 2 laptops, 16 and 14...My OCD has now kicked in and I am getting another 14!!!! So I will have the 14 grey on the left, the 16 silver in middle and the other 14 grey on the right!! All on my deep grey desk. Gonna look fab!!! For anyone interested in what that actually looks like I will post a pic later today of my setup OCD can be VERY expensive sometimes

 

[chrismu]

Well, after saying that I found total happiness with 2 laptops, 16 and 14...My OCD has now kicked in and I am getting another 14!!!! So I will have the 14 grey on the left, the 16 silver in middle and the other 14 grey on the right!! All on my deep grey desk. Gonna look fab!!! For anyone interested in what that actually looks like I will post a pic later today of my setup OCD can be VERY expensive sometimes

If you had to only use one, which one would it be?

Also, just keep one and get a Pro Display XDR ??

 

[Philllllip]

If you had to only use one, which one would it be?

Also, just keep one and get a Pro Display XDR ??

I had an XDR nano and sold it. Text wasn't nice to view on the nano. I would buy the glossy one instead if I did it again though. But I would want a pro motion one next time also. So very happy with my 3 laptop setup now. If I HAD to choose one then it would be the 16 purely cos its my only screen for graphic and photo work so that extra size is nice BUT if it wasn't for that and I had another XDR then I would choose the 14 for portability and just sheer beauty! BUT I would want a MAX and the problem with the 14 max is the fan and heat! I had one and sent it back. Never once heard fan on 16 max or 14 pro. Plus I prefer multiple computers rather than multiple windows on one big screen

 

[maxsquared]

I had an XDR nano and sold it. Text wasn't nice to view on the nano. I would buy the glossy one instead if I did it again though. But I would want a pro motion one next time also. So very happy with my 3 laptop setup now. If I HAD to choose one then it would be the 16 purely cos its my only screen for graphic and photo work so that extra size is nice BUT if it wasn't for that and I had another XDR then I would choose the 14 for portability and just sheer beauty! BUT I would want a MAX and the problem with the 14 max is the fan and heat! I had one and sent it back. Never once heard fan on 16 max or 14 pro. Plus I prefer multiple computers rather than multiple windows on one big screen

How does 3 laptop setup work? You have to manage 3 set of keyboards and mouse/trackpads?

 

[Philllllip]

How does 3 laptop setup work? You have to manage 3 set of keyboards and mouse/trackpads?

No, my middle laptop is main one and I have a Magic Mouse for that only. the rest obviously use their trackpads and keyboards The 2 outer ones are fro entertainment mainly, music videos and games or messaging etc

 

[Jl006p]

14" was clutch city on the road.
Going to need another week to make up my mind.

 

[Philllllip]

And this what they look like when they are closed Also an Xbox series x behind the telly!!

 

[crimlarks]

Whoa! You're the Rick Wakeman of MacBooks...