Can't Decide Between 14" and 16"

[scoobysnax]

I’ve had the 16” 1TB model and the base 14” 512GB mode with me for the past 24 hours.

As most have echoed, I also feel that the 14” is the sweet spot for me. I love the form factor and the screen size is a solid jump over the 13” MBA/MBPs. Speakers sound good as well. The 16” will be great for those who need the extra screen real estate. For me, I like the balance of performance and portability the 14” offers.

On the performance front, the base 14” model is more than powerful enough for my current (and likely future) use case. I have a fast 500GB Samsung T7 SSD that can supplement my storage needs if it comes down to it.

I will likely get the 96W charger for fast charging, but I am not overly concerned about battery life. Rarely do I work for hours on end away from my external monitors.

Very happy with my purchase and I’ll save $700 versus the 16” 1TB.

 

[ascender]

I forgot we still had one of these chargers in the house. I also stand corrected... its marginally narrower but the same depth.

 

[sockdoggy]

I have been going back & forth quite a bit. Coming from a 2019 16" MacBook Pro and initially ordered 14" base. Then felt increased cores + fast charger was worth upgraded 14" - so then value of base 16" crept in for similar price and ordered it.

I have an iPad Pro for more portability when needed so will give this setup a try. Still keep questioning it!

 

[modernmoments]

I have the 14 and 16 right now and deciding which one I'm keeping. I like the form factor of the 14, but the 16's screen, speakers and battery life are so good. In bed, I prefer the 14. On the couch, I like the 16.

I have no clue which one I want to keep.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I have the 14 and 16 right now and deciding which one I'm keeping. I like the form factor of the 14, but the 16's screen, speakers and battery life are so good. In bed, I prefer the 14. On the couch, I like the 16.

I have no clue which one I want to keep.

Welcome to my world. Insanely difficult to choose.

 

[nquinn]

Haha sounds like so many people in the same boat for 14 vs 16.

 

[Jára Tyky]

I have iPad Pro 12.9 M1 , so I think I should stay at 16”because I do not need two same screens. But thoday I saw 14” and it looks great??‍♂️

 

[aacemyan]

I have iPad Pro 12.9 M1 , so I think I should stay at 16”because I do not need two same screens. But thoday I saw 14” and it looks great??‍♂️

Agreed. I have the 12.9 with keyboard as well as the 14 inch. The screens are essentially the same height with exception of 14 inch being a little wider. Having both devices feels very redundant to the point that I’ll either switch to a 16 or get rid of the large iPad.

 

[Jára Tyky]

Ha, I was thinking about the same - selling my iPad Pro to receive back some money from higher specs Macbook.

BUT I have this iPad only few months and using all the time. Right now I am writing from it as well and the whole day I do not even turned on my new 16” Macbook Pro 16/32/32/1TB

 

[Casey05]

If my eyes are terrible I’m assuming the 16 inch would be a no brained here?

 

[Grolubao]

If my eyes are terrible I’m assuming the 16 inch would be a no brained here?

I disagree, not necessarily. These screens are much more defined so I notice way less strain on them. Any would be fine

 

[UltimateSyn]

I have iPad Pro 12.9 M1 , so I think I should stay at 16”because I do not need two same screens. But thoday I saw 14” and it looks great??‍♂️

A fair point, and the same boat I'm in, but I'm taking that into account. I'll either have the 14" MBP and sell my iPad Pro 12.9" for an 11" (when the next gen comes out) OR I'll keep the 12.9" iPad + 16" MBP.

And, of course, I'm still not sure what the better combo is.

 

[modernmoments]

I will say I have both right now and trying to decide, but I keep grabbing the 16". I'm not sure why. I also have a 12.9 IPP so it sort of sounds like it's redundant.

 

[nquinn]

If my eyes are terrible I’m assuming the 16 inch would be a no brained here?

I think so. FWIW my vision isn't too bad, prescription usually around -2 to -2.25, and on my 2019 16" macbook I actually cranked up font size slightly to go from the default 1792x1120 to 1536x960. I can use the default but I find it just a touch small to be comfortable when wearing contacts. (Glasses are better for me with an astigmatism)

Here are the new macbook resolutions:

16-inch MacBook Pro

• Looks like 2056 x 1329
• Default: Looks like 1728 x 1117
• Looks like 1496 x 967
• Looks like 1312 x 848
• Looks like 1168 x 755

14-inch MacBook Pro

• Looks like 1800 x 1169
• Default: Looks like 1512 x 982
• Looks like 1352 x 878 <<< the highest resolution mode you'd probably want on a 14" IMO
• Looks like 1147 x 745
• Looks like 1024 x 665

Remember fonts on the 14" screen are around 13-14% smaller in each dimension, so for me for example, comparing 1536x960 on my old device, an equivalent on the new 14" I'd need would be 1347x842, very close to the one resolution mode down.

The new 16.2" was a bit bigger and I didn't find the default size to be uncomfortable in the Apple store. If you go with the 14 I think at a minimum you'd want to drop it down to the 1352x878 mode and try that out in the store. My vote for you would be the 16" if you want more screen real estate.

 

[ice29]

I have spent 2 hours setting up the 16" and now I have hard time going back to the 13.3" screen of the Air... So the big fella stays in the house, just need to buy a larger backpack, haha.

 

[kp98077]

Good point. How about just going/stick with the M1 13 and hope the M2 will be sleek/lighter and adequately powerful?

so is the only way to get the slower charger is with the base model?

 

[UltimateSyn]

I will say I have both right now and trying to decide, but I keep grabbing the 16". I'm not sure why. I also have a 12.9 IPP so it sort of sounds like it's redundant.

I’m fearing that if I keep the 16” MBP and 12.9” iPad Pro I will just use the iPad all the time due to its more portable size… thereby making the Mac pointless… and meaning I should’ve kept the 14”…… UGH

 

[kp98077]

I have the 14 and 16 right now and deciding which one I'm keeping. I like the form factor of the 14, but the 16's screen, speakers and battery life are so good. In bed, I prefer the 14. On the couch, I like the 16.

I have no clue which one I want to keep.

that's a tough one, travel? Planes? are you playing with both yet? tough one for sure... silver?

 

[modernmoments]

I'm typing on the 14" and it is a really nice laptop. I do really enjoy it. But that screen on the 16" and that battery life are really hard to ignore. I'm not a major traveler, so usually the laptop stays home as I usually bring an iPad with me when I travel. Ugh, I do like the 14" a lot though. And it's cheaper.

 

[TwinCitiesJHawk]

I purchased the 16" in store yesterday and after using it for a day, its just so massive sitting on the lap (where I use it 95% of the time). I ended up ordering a 14" due to just the size of the 16" being way to large for my needs here at home and on my lap.

 

[kp98077]

I purchased the 16" in store yesterday and after using it for a day, its just so massive sitting on the lap (where I use it 95% of the time). I ended up ordering a 14" due to just the size of the 16" being way to large for my needs here at home and on my lap.

yeah i could see that as much as we all want to love the 16, it really is a specific consumer. did it give you any leg pain or anything or just awkward?

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

I'm selling my 2019 16" and changing to the 14", with the new bulkier design I think the 14" will be better for me, especially without a performance tradeoff like there used to be with the dGPU only coming in the larger models. Worst case I return it and go with the 16" but I think I'll enjoy the 14" as even my previous 16" was a bit borderline size wise.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Can you use the 140w charger on the 14in?

 

[Realityck]

I went and looked at both at stores which have been running in demo mode for hours. The 14" looked noticeable smaller compared to the 16". They both represented different personal preferences to what you want. The 14" a lot more mobile, use on a plane and elsewhere. The 16" screen was that much larger and HDR effects were more pronounced (brights and darks) on the bigger display.

When I picked up the 16" store model (10/16/512GB SSD) it was almost cool to the touch underneath. The 14" was slightly warm which surprised me, so the thermals are that different.

 

[modernmoments]

I went and looked at both at stores which have been running in demo mode for hours. The 14" looked noticeable smaller compared to the 16". They both represented different personal preferences to what you want. The 14" a lot more mobile, use on a plane and elsewhere. The 16" screen was that much larger and HDR effects were more pronounced (brights and darks) on the bigger display.

When I picked up the 16" store model (10/16/512GB SSD) it was almost cool to the touch underneath. The 14" was slightly warm which surprised me, so the thermals are that different.

I generally agree. I feel the brights are a bit brighter on the 16", however, the 14" is still a really good screen. My 14" hasn't gotten warm yet. The 16" I have has been ice cold too. This is sooo hard to decide which I want to keep. The 14" is really nice and familiar, if that makes sense. Especially going from my work laptop to this one. But when I go to the 16", it really feels like a new machine. Something special about that 16".