Going from 16" to 14" MacBook Pro - My Thought Process as a Digital Nomad

[nortonandreev]

Hey everyone,

I just pulled the trigger on a 14" MacBook Pro with M4 Pro (24GB RAM and nano-texture display) while already owning a 16" MacBook Pro with M3 Max (36GB RAM). Thought I'd share my reasoning and see if anyone's in a similar situation.

My setup and workflow​

I'm a product designer/software engineer working primarily with networking and coding (nothing super resource-intensive). I'm somewhat of a digital nomad - traveling frequently and working from coffee shops even when I'm "home." I've been loyal to the largest screen options since my 2017 15" MacBook Pro.

Why I ordered the 14" as a secondary device​

• I've been eyeing the nano-texture display option (love it on my iPad that I barely use, lol)
• Wanted something to complement my current setup rather than replace it (saving the replacement for next year's rumored OLED MacBook Pros)
• Considered the new MacBook Air but it lacks nano-texture and I'm too accustomed to the Pro display quality
• Went with the M4 Pro/24GB RAM since I don't do graphics-heavy work (honestly haven't noticed much daily difference between my old 16GB M1 Pro and current 36GB M3 Max)

My plan (subject to change)​

The idea is to use the 14" for travel and the 16" primarily at home—though realistically, I rarely work from home, so the 14" might become my main machine. While I love bigger screens, I'm curious how the transition will feel.

Questions for you all​

• Has anyone here used both 16" and 14" MacBooks simultaneously? How do you balance them?
• Anyone "downgraded" from 16" to 14"? What was your experience?
• Any productivity tips for managing two machines in this kind of setup?

Not looking for validation on my purchase (it's already ordered), just curious about others' experiences with similar setups!

 

[Alpine301]

I can only answer

• Anyone "downgraded" from 16" to 14"? What was your experience?

I have. I went from a M3 16” M3 Pro to M4 14” MacBook Pro with no regrets and glad I did. For my workflow, I use the 14” and an 11” iPad pro as my perfect setup for what I need. For me I found the 16” too large to use on the couch, at Starbucks, or on my deck etc. The best place for it was my desk which I rarely sit at. BTW I
should mention I work from home and rarely travel any longer. Please don’t get me wrong, the 16” is beautiful but for me it was just too large. For me,the 14” is the “Goldilocks” ,“just right” of the MacBook line.

 

[uiop.]

Have a 16" MacBook Pro (M2) and a 13" MacBook Air (M2), so not quite the same comparison but similar idea. The smaller footprint of the MBA is superior when using it out and about (like a coffee shop) and I primarily use the MBP in desktop mode at home, but there is absolutely no comparison when it comes to the display size. The MBP feels like swimming in an aquarium versus a fishbowl and the Air drives me nuts after a while because of this. Multitasking is not as pleasant on the smaller screen. Speakers on the 14" are also not going to be quite as deep sounding as the 16".

 

[dmccloud]

While I did not downgrade from a 16" to a 14" MBP, I did "side"grade from the M2 Max (32GB/1TB) to the M4 Pro (48GB/2TB/Nano texture). I use my machine most often for coding, web design/development and photo/video editing, and the 14" is large enough to be comfortable when using for extended periods of time while also being small enough that it fits on even the smallest tables at a coffee shop. I do carry a Crucial X9 Pro external SSD with me (4TB), but it's so small that I could fit it into a side pocket and never notice the size or weight of the drive. If I need an external display when out and about I have two options: use my 11" iPad or bring my 15" portable display which just needs the USB-C connection for signal and power.