Poll: *** The official 2021 14" and 16" Macbook Pro thread (it has an SD slot and everything!) ***

[AdamM6]

A few thoughts now I have the 14" in my mitts.

The battery life isn't a patch on the 13" M1 macbook pro I had previously. This is kind of to be expected but i'm surprised just how different they are.

The screen is lovely and 90% of the time the notch doesn't even show up.

Promotion needs some work. Doesn't work quite a lot of the time and I have had some low frame rates dragging windows around a few times. I'm sure this will be fixed.

The keyboard doesn't feel that different (if at all) to the one on the previous gen macbooks. Has it actually changed? I thought they said they had gone back to the old old one (pre 2016). Its a great keyboard but just a question.

Fast as expected and the form factor and weight isn't an issue at all. The 16" is a chonky and heavy boy but so was the last gen to be fair.

Does your 14" get warm underneath when doing non intensive tasks?

I am just testing a solution that greatly improves batt Life, thermals and memory usage.

 

[fez]

Does your 14" get warm underneath when doing non intensive tasks?

I am just testing a solution that greatly improves batt Life, thermals and memory usage.

Yeah, quite warm. The old 13" only ever got warm when I was absolutely beating it.

I'm hoping its just spotlight indexing and the first day blues that all iPhones and computers have.

 

[Qdos]

Is anyone running their MacBook Pro 14” connected to single/multiple external displays with a separate keyboard and mouse/trackpad?

Is it a viable replacement for a desktop computer? Would love to see a few pictures of your workstation setup if you’re using it like this!

I'm using it hooked up to a Caldigit TS3+ to get a single USB-C connection to two monitors (one via USB-C, one via HDMI -> DP adaptor). Liking it so far! This is a work in progress photo, next step is to get a dual arm monitor mount and a vertical stand for my MBP as I'll only ever use it with dual screens, three is just too much for me!

 

[ChrisD.]

I'm using it hooked up to a Caldigit TS3+ to get a single USB-C connection to two monitors (one via USB-C, one via HDMI -> DP adaptor).

For the USB-C connected monitor, are you using the dock for that or connecting it directly from the Mac?

 

[Qdos]

For the USB-C connected monitor, are you using the dock for that or connecting it directly from the Mac?

It goes into the dock. This way I get a single USB-C cable out from the dock to the Macbook, which powers it as well as sending the signal to the two monitors.

 

[ChrisD.]

It goes into the dock. This way I get a single USB-C cable out from the dock to the Macbook, which powers it as well as sending the signal to the two monitors.

Thanks, I have the same dock but I recall having issues with an external monitor over USB-C from the rear port of it. I'll have to try it out again.

 

[AdamM6]

With such fantastic battery life I am wondering weather to start using a 'slow' (iPad 20w charger) to charge my new 14" overnight as this will not strain the battery so much over the long term. Anyone else thought of doing this?

 

[Throrik]

With such fantastic battery life I am wondering weather to start using a 'slow' (iPad 20w charger) to charge my new 14" overnight as this will not strain the battery so much over the long term. Anyone else thought of doing this?

Pretty sure that MacOS is smart enough not to just continue charging and charging and charging when it's plugged in, check Battery Optimisation is enabled.

 

[AdamM6]

Pretty sure that MacOS is smart enough not to just continue charging and charging and charging when it's plugged in, check Battery Optimisation is enabled.

It was more the fast charging effect over the long term life of the battery that was on my mind, the faster you charge a LiPo the shorter its life. Maybe that is why the battery is now replaceable...

I am sure Apple know what they are doing!

 

[GMac11]

I would say, if possible, it’s best to just have it plugged in.
My 16” is on my desk 90% of the time and the only time I unplug it is at night when I’m not using it. Once it’s fully charged it stops charging.
Obviously this doesn’t work for everyone but if it’s a desktop replacement then that’s how I use it.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I'm on the fence about getting back in to the MacOS game... but the lack of FaceID and 4k panel is killing me on a £3k laptop :/

Change my mind.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Why do you need 4K on a 16” screen?

Serious question.

Isn’t the whole point of a ‘retina’ screen is that it’s as highest resolution one needs at that screen size and normal viewing distance. Going higher makes little or no difference to visible image quality and just harms battery life.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Why do you need 4K on a 16” screen?

Serious question.

Isn’t the whole point of a ‘retina’ screen is that it’s as highest resolution one needs at that screen size and normal viewing distance. Going higher makes little or no difference to visible image quality and just harms battery life.

Because I want the extra PPI dammit . Being serious, I am tempted to replace my gaming rig with a MBP so I could dock it to my LG Ultrawide for 38" of goodness and was just surprised it wasn't full 4K that's all.

Tbh my main concerns are the lack of FaceID and how the magic keyboard is only available in white! wut.

 

[Rilot]

FaceID - while nice - I don't find myself missing on the MacBook. This is despite both my iPad and iPhone having it.
The screen - while not 4k - is absolutely gorgeous. Inky blacks and vibrant colours that make everything pop.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

FaceID - while nice - I don't find myself missing on the MacBook. This is despite both my iPad and iPhone having it.
The screen - while not 4k - is absolutely gorgeous. Inky blacks and vibrant colours that make everything pop.

Ahhh you're not helping

Seeing as I'm stuck on a call I've done the worst possible thing when you're on the fence... I've been pricing up how much I'd get for my current CPU and GPU and it's easily a "free" update to the new 16" MBP with M1 Max, and that's without selling the other stuff like the motherboard RAM, nvme drives, motherboard, case fans etc. Not to mention I could ditch my 12" iPad Pro to raise some extra cash and actually be "up" after the dust settles.

Part of me remembers how much hassle it is to break down a machine, box it all up and sell every individual item but then I can count on one hand the number of hours I've spent gaming this year. My iPad Pro has also seen minimal action since I got it (tend to only watch F1 on it) and I could use the ultrawide in the home office to use the machine docked if I needed to do anything that requires a larger screen (I like to record myself playing guitar).

Hmmm.

 

[Feek]

Hmmm

Do it.

An EVH without an MBP is like Batman without Robin, Little without Large, Morecambe without Wise, Ronnie without Ronnie, Daisy without her Dukes, Doctor Who without the Daleks, Ren without Stimpy, French without Saunders, Rik without Ade, Ayra without The Hound, Jeeves without Wooster, Blackadder without Baldrick, Jennings without Derbyshire, Jimmy without Bunk, Mel without Kim, Arthur without Terry. etc etc etc

 

[ChrisD.]

I could use the ultrawide in the home office to use the machine docked if I needed to do anything that requires a larger screen (I like to record myself playing guitar).

I use my M1 and i7 MacBook's with my Alienware 38" UW and it looks brilliant. It makes work so much easier.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I caved

PayPal 0% interest free for 4 months should give me enough time to sell everything.

 

[AdamM6]

I caved

PayPal 0% interest free for 4 months should give me enough time to sell everything.

What spec did you go for?

 

[Deleted member 651465]

What spec did you go for?

Firstly, I think @Feek and @ChrisD. should be banned for forcing me to buy.

Secondly, I’m trying to get my nephew to put it through his Unidays account for the sweet education discount but otherwise I’ve got the 16” M1 Max with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD in my basket ready to checkout.

I won’t need that much storage space, but if Parallels sort their act out then I’ll dual boot Windows and use it as my primary work machine (and ditch the company issue HP device).