Apple updates MacBook Pro: Up to 6-core processors, True Tone display, and a quieter keyboard
The information about the great renewal of Apple desktop and laptop computers; and it seems that Cupertino had a card up their sleeve because today we have the first news: the Apple updates of MacBook Pro.
The most outstanding feature of this renewal is the presence of the new 8th generation Intel processors that finally reach these computers; although not all of them: only the 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will have access to this option. There are other new features that affect your screen and, attention, your keyboard.
A MacBook Pro that responds to (some of) the criticism
The arrival of Intel Core i7 or i9 processors with up to six cores in the 15-inch Touch Bar models is especially striking. These MacBook Pro also offer access to configurations with up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, up to 4TB of storage on SSDs, and a Radeon Pro graphics card with 4GB of graphics memory.
As a curiosity, that maximum configuration makes these 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bars as strikingly priced as their features: $2,799. The most expensive component is storage, and as we double the capacity of SSDs the price increases dramatically.
On 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, the options are slightly lower: Intel Core i5 or Core i7 quad-core processors, Intel Iris Plus 655 integrated graphics, and up to 2TB of SSD storage capacity.
These new processors are accompanied by an interesting change: an increase in battery capacity, which Apple does not specify with data but which will allow the autonomy estimate to remain unchanged despite having more powerful processors.
No port changes, but the keyboard and True Tone display do
The port offering on these models does not change: we have four ports with USB-C connector and Thunderbolt 3 interface. It would have been interesting if Apple had responded to the criticism by adding a conventional USB port or even a card reader, but it seems that these options are definitely saying goodbye to this range of equipment.
One of the most interesting novelties is the new True Tone screens, which allow the screen to change the color temperature based on the color temperature of the place where we are.
It is also possible to activate the voice assistant directly with the voice command “Hey Siri”, which avoids the need to press a key combination. This active listening is offered thanks to the inclusion of the new Apple T2 chip for this type of process.
The other (slight) change of interest in these devices is the keyboard: the controversial butterfly keyboards that have caused some problems for a number of users are still in place, but in this ‘third generation’ Apple has focused on making these keyboards quieter. There are no changes in touch or keystroke, however.
New MacBook Pro Availability and Pricing
The new, upgraded 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, starting at $1,299 and $2,399 respectively, are available from today in the Apple Online Store.
They will be available later this week at some of Apple’s retail stores and authorized resellers.
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