I know the screen is bigger on the iMac, but the display is better on the MBP.

[The Cockney Rebel]

Not speaking about using an external display.

The display is XDR on the MBP, ProMotion, and is just overall better.

So, do you go for a 16” MBP, or a 24” iMac?

Not interested in hooking up external displays.

What would you go for?

 

[jb310]

I'd pick the MacBook Pro just because I need the portability and performance more than I need a big display or anything else the iMac has.

But if I had to pick purely based on display... personally, I prefer a larger screen over ProMotion; I'd take the iMac. But apart from the larger screen, I think the MacBook Pro is a superior device in every way.

 

[cateye]

The difference in screens isn't that major. I'm typing this on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro, connected to an Apple Studio Display, which should be essentially similar to the iMac display, just larger. Side-by-side, with static content, in my office, they may as well be identical. There is no visible difference. Sure, if I scroll quickly on the MBP, it's marginally smoother due to ProMotion, but it's a pretty minor difference.

I would personally choose the larger screen for a larger workspace, unless I absolutely needed the portability of a laptop (which I did, which is why I bought it). The form factor defines which I would buy—minor screen technology details don't really enter into it.