FINALLY upgrading, but can’t decide between 14/16” (sorry)

[bill-p]

What other limitations comes with Low Power Mode? Do you still get to enjoy ProMotion?

Well, the only thing I have seen that is quite significant is... Safari being noticeably choppier.

But other than that, most everything else basically works the same. My compile time is slightly longer and exporting photos takes longer, but the machine remains responsive.

 

[flapflapflap]

interesting, I have it enabled on my M1 13, and Safari seems perfectly fine. I like that when you enable it, it's disabled automatically when charged, and re-enabled when you unplug your MBP. maybe the 14 won't be so bad after all, especially for a non-creative pro like myself.

 

[PikachuEXE]

14" + external display. Problem solved

I have external display and always plug the charger in
So 14" for better portability and cheaper (including choosing the binned version)
The delta to 16" default is enough for AppleCare+ o_o (BTW is 16" AppleCare+ more expensive?)

 

[flapflapflap]

I have external display and always plug the charger in
So 14" for better portability and cheaper (including choosing the binned version)
The delta to 16" default is enough for AppleCare+ o_o (BTW is 16" AppleCare+ more expensive?)

Fair to guess that your 14 will charge faster from your monitor than the 16? That is another benefit -- lighter/smaller chargers and portable battery banks, better charging compatibility given the lower wattage.

 

[bill-p]

interesting, I have it enabled on my M1 13, and Safari seems perfectly fine. I like that when you enable it, it's disabled automatically when charged, and re-enabled when you unplug your MBP. maybe the 14 won't be so bad after all, especially for a non-creative pro like myself.

Yeah, if Safari seems fine to you on M1 with Low Power Mode, this is not... different. I still have the M1 13" Pro.

There are toggles for Low Power Mode separately both in the Battery and Power Adapter sections. If you want to keep Low Power Mode on all the time, you can check both boxes.

For me, the 14 is the much better workhorse than the 13" Pro. Fan noise is not any worse than the 13, battery is indeed worse but not by much, and instead, all of my apps just fly. Even if I were to go with the 16", I'd keep this M1 Pro anyway, so then I'm not really gaining any performance benefit. Battery life and noise be damned. The 14" can fast charge with all of its ports, but the 16" needs to use MagSafe via the 140W brick, which is... monstrous! Also you already know the 14" is somewhat "required" to get native support for higher resolutions with the LG 34WK95U, so that one is a no-brainer.

 

[flapflapflap]

Yeah, if Safari seems fine to you on M1 with Low Power Mode, this is not... different. I still have the M1 13" Pro.

There are toggles for Low Power Mode separately both in the Battery and Power Adapter sections. If you want to keep Low Power Mode on all the time, you can check both boxes.

For me, the 14 is the much better workhorse than the 13" Pro. Fan noise is not any worse than the 13, battery is indeed worse but not by much, and instead, all of my apps just fly. Even if I were to go with the 16", I'd keep this M1 Pro anyway, so then I'm not really gaining any performance benefit. Battery life and noise be damned. The 14" can fast charge with all of its ports, but the 16" needs to use MagSafe via the 140W brick, which is... monstrous! Also you already know the 14" is somewhat "required" to get native support for higher resolutions with the LG 34WK95U, so that one is a no-brainer.

It all comes down to Lower Power Mode and confirming how much more battery life one can get though I know that is hard to precisely identify given the varied use cases. If the increase is substantial, I will happily buy the 14.

 

[Chancha]

In Low Power Mode, animations in Safari is reduced to 15Hz or less. Not sure if it is imposed into other apps particularly video editing where you obviously don't want such cap.

The SoC package also seem to draw less power overall. I am observing less than 10W no matter what I do. But I haven't tried actually doing real work with this mode on like LR Classic for instance. That would be rather silly anyway if you know you need performance why wouldn't you toggle the mode off.

 

[robco74]

I got the 14" due to cost, but also because I prefer the smaller size. Previously, the only way to get decent GPU performance was to get the 16", but now I can get the same chips in a smaller package. Also, my dock will charge the 14" no problem. If I didn't have an external display to use, I would have considered the 16" instead.

 

[flapflapflap]

I got the 14" due to cost, but also because I prefer the smaller size. Previously, the only way to get decent GPU performance was to get the 16", but now I can get the same chips in a smaller package. Also, my dock will charge the 14" no problem. If I didn't have an external display to use, I would have considered the 16" instead.

I share the same thoughts but I can‘t get over the inferior battery life of the 14. I understand there’s a considerable jump in multi-core and GPU performance from the M1 13, but it also means a 40-50% reduction in battery. I am reading complaints from people who are only getting 5-8 hours of mixed use. That is terrible when compared to the Pro 16 and M1 13. It’s trash.

 

[ADGrant]

But the fact is... the 16" is larger, thicker, and heavier than my 2015 15" MacBook Pro. It feels more like a MacBook Pro from before 2011 than something made during recent time.

Honestly, those are just facts. I agree that Apple's quest to push for thinner devices was ridiculous, but... the new 16" is way too much of a reversal. It's heavier than all MacBooks produced in the past... decade!

People who haven't done a direct comparison probably can't tell, but it is just that substantial. No Retina MacBook is as big or heavy as the new 16". And yet if we are counting, Retina MacBooks have more ports than the new 16" device, even, so the thickness can't be chalked up to the need to have more ports.

The 16" is 4.7lb, your 15" is around 4.5lb. That's really not that different. Length and width are about the same and the new 16" is slightly thinner.

I have owned a 2014 15" for the last 7 years so I am very familiar with its bulk and weight. I have checked out the 16 and it doesn't feel any bigger. The slab sides make it seem thicker though.

 

[ADGrant]

Yeah, I FINALLY found someone on YouTube that compared the 2013-era rMBP and they are almost identical in size (thickness, aside). I think I’m leaning towards the 16, but somewhere deep down I wish I could justify the smaller screen. I just think I’ll feel cramped on the smaller screen, even if I use the iPad as an external monitor at times.

You already have a 12.9" iPad Pro, of course the 14" will feel cramped. It's not much bigger than your iPad.

 

[TSE]

I went with the 14" and have no regrets. I am running an application that takes up 28 GBs of RAM and uses 70% of my 32-Core M1 Max GPU and the computer sits at 65 degrees Celsius with the fans running at 2400RPM (barely audible).

Battery life isn't the greatest - I'm at an hour and fifteen while working professionally on battery, but notably charging an iPhone from the laptop as well and I'm at 70%. But I would never work professionally away from an outlet, anyways.

 

[bill-p]

The 16" is 4.7lb, your 15" is around 4.5lb. That's really not that different. Length and width are about the same and the new 16" is slightly thinner.

I have owned a 2014 15" for the last 7 years so I am very familiar with its bulk and weight. I have checked out the 16 and it doesn't feel any bigger. The slab sides make it seem thicker though.

4.7 is still more than 4.5. Sure, it's not different but again, the 16" is still heavier. Dimensions are also similar between the 2 but you have to admit the 16" is... once again, bigger.

The slab sides make the 16" significantly thicker, yeah, but the most damning evidence of the thickness is in how the 16" bottom deck is raised by a good amount compared to the same bottom deck on the 15". This isn't just an "illusion" but the 16" is indeed just thicker than the 15".

I'm not saying this is bad in general, but it means the 16" just isn't for me. I'm not looking forward to a device that has worse thickness and weight compared to something made so far back. The difference in weight between the 16" and one of the more recent 15" MacBook is even more pronounced because these machines are just about 4lbs:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

 

[ADGrant]

4.7 is still more than 4.5. Sure, it's not different but again, the 16" is still heavier. Dimensions are also similar between the 2 but you have to admit the 16" is... once again, bigger.

The slab sides make the 16" significantly thicker, yeah, but the most damning evidence of the thickness is in how the 16" bottom deck is raised by a good amount compared to the same bottom deck on the 15". This isn't just an "illusion" but the 16" is indeed just thicker than the 15".

I'm not saying this is bad in general, but it means the 16" just isn't for me. I'm not looking forward to a device that has worse thickness and weight compared to something made so far back. The difference in weight between the 16" and one of the more recent 15" MacBook is even more pronounced because these machines are just about 4lbs:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

The 14" is much bigger and heavier than the recent 13" MBPs including the M1 version still on sale. For me a 14" screen is just too small for MacOS or Windows. It's closer to the size of my iPad screen.

 

[bill-p]

The 14" is much bigger and heavier than the recent 13" MBPs including the M1 version still on sale. For me a 14" screen is just too small for MacOS or Windows. It's closer to the size of my iPad screen.

You sure?

MacBook Pro 13" 2015:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.71 inch (1.8 cm)
• Width: 12.35 inches (31.4 cm)
• Depth: 8.62 inches (21.9 cm)
• Weight: 3.48 pounds (1.58 kg)

MacBook Pro 14" 2021:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.55 cm)
• Width: 12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
• Depth: 8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
• Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)

I rest my case.

 

[wilberforce]

The 14" is much bigger and heavier than the recent 13" MBPs including the M1 version still on sale. For me a 14" screen is just too small for MacOS or Windows. It's closer to the size of my iPad screen.

Yes, the 14" screen is small. But so is the 16". Yes, the 16" is bigger than the 14", but they are both small. One can see a bit more on the 16", but functionally they are in the same usage category. To make a really significant difference to the usage, it needs to be way bigger, like 24" plus, i.e., a desktop monitor.
I used to have a 17" laptop. Thought it was going to change things. It didn't, it was still too small.

 

[newellj]

The 14" is much bigger and heavier than the recent 13" MBPs including the M1 version still on sale. For me a 14" screen is just too small for MacOS or Windows. It's closer to the size of my iPad screen.

It's heavier, yes. Bigger, no. The footprint is nearly the same as the 2016-current 13" MBP, and the thickness is the same. Put one down on the other, then slide the up next to each other, at an Apple store. The curved edges of the 13" create an illusion that it's thinner, but that's all it is.

 

[ADGrant]

You sure?

MacBook Pro 13" 2015:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.71 inch (1.8 cm)
• Width: 12.35 inches (31.4 cm)
• Depth: 8.62 inches (21.9 cm)
• Weight: 3.48 pounds (1.58 kg)

MacBook Pro 14" 2021:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.55 cm)
• Width: 12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
• Depth: 8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
• Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)

I rest my case.

You are comparing with the 2015 13", and yes the 14" is about the same size. The current 13" MBP is thinner and lighter.

 

[bill-p]

You are comparing with the 2015 13", and yes the 14" is about the same size. The current 13" MBP is thinner and lighter.

Well, the delta is not as much as the 16" vs 15", though:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.56 cm)
• Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
• Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
• Weight: 3.1 pounds (1.4 kg)

Versus the 14":

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.55 cm)
• Width: 12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
• Depth: 8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
• Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)

The 14" is actually slightly thinner, even. It's just bigger in width and length (depth) in order to house the bigger display. Overall, it still does have a bigger display than the 13" and splits the difference between the 13" and 15", so it's somewhat acceptable like that. If the 14" MacBook Pro was the same footprint as the 13", it would undoubtedly be about the same weight or lighter.

In comparison, the 16" is 17% heavier than the most recent 15" device. The 14" is only 12% heavier than the most recent 13".

 

[ADGrant]

Well, the delta is not as much as the 16" vs 15", though:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.56 cm)
• Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
• Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
• Weight: 3.1 pounds (1.4 kg)

Versus the 14":

• Height: 0.61 inch (1.55 cm)
• Width: 12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
• Depth: 8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
• Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)

The 14" is actually slightly thinner, even. It's just bigger in width and length (depth) in order to house the bigger display. Overall, it still does have a bigger display than the 13" and splits the difference between the 13" and 15", so it's somewhat acceptable like that. If the 14" MacBook Pro was the same footprint as the 13", it would undoubtedly be about the same weight or lighter.

In comparison, the 16" is 17% heavier than the most recent 15" device. The 14" is only 12% heavier than the most recent 13".

It is also almost half a pound heavier which I think is the most important measure. The difference you will feel when carrying it. The weight delta is even more with the 16" vs the last 15" of course but people buying a 15" or 16" laptop are not typically prioritizing weight. Someone picking a smaller laptop presumably is.

 

[bill-p]

It is also almost half a pound heavier which I think is the most important measure. The difference you will feel when carrying it. The weight delta is even more with the 16" vs the last 15" of course but people buying a 15" or 16" laptop are not typically prioritizing weight. Someone picking a smaller laptop presumably is.

Well, yeah, but if the choice is between the 16" or the new 14", and someone is trying to be more portable, 14" is a no-brainer. It's over 1.2lbs lighter. The 16" is also 0.5lbs heavier than the old 16" Intel MacBook it's replacing, but without any size advantage whatsoever.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I guess my indecision is also rooted in the fact that this will be my main computer (I don’t have an at home desktop). The size is appealing, screen wise, but so is the portability of the 14.

I never considered the 16” since the screen is too small for desk use. It’ll be a 14” and a 27” monitor for me.

 

[ADGrant]

I never considered the 16” since the screen is too small for desk use. It’ll be a 14” and a 27” monitor for me.

If you are going to run in clamshell mode (which I did before switching back to a desktop), the 16" will have better cooling.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I never considered the 16” since the screen is too small for desk use. It’ll be a 14” and a 27” monitor for me.

same m8 ! but...after we use internal display ,wont we be pissed to look at our monitor ? like mbp display is 4k120hz with terrific contrast and blacks ,as well as 1600nits...while our monitor is 4k60 or 1440p144 at best right? and with ips/va at best .perhaps would it be a better idea to use only the 16 ,cuz after u use such displays it is hard to get back? but only the laptop display for hours can be terrible for your neck..

 

[ADGrant]

same m8 ! but...after we use internal display ,wont we be pissed to look at our monitor ? like mbp display is 4k120hz with terrific contrast and blacks ,as well as 1600nits...while our monitor is 4k60 or 1440p144 at best right? and with ips/va at best .perhaps would it be a better idea to use only the 16 ,cuz after u use such displays it is hard to get back? but only the laptop display for hours can be terrible for your neck..

You will just have to buy the $5000 external XDR display.