Macbook Pro 15 Inch 2.9 GHz: A Laptop For Professionals



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The transition from four to six processor cores makes the new 15-inch Macbook Pro a true competitive athlete.

  Macbook Pro 2018

Since its launch in 2016, the Macbook Pro has provoked mixed reactions among its users. People like the combination of size, weight and performance. But there are disadvantages that make you fear, or even regret, the purchase of a Macbook Pro: keyboard problems, missing connectors that force users on Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C docks, and low Maximum RAM: right once 16 GB.

With the Macbook Pro 2018, Apple has solved some of these problems. And if you complain that I have not tackled all the disadvantages, there are a few things that Apple will not change in an effort to advance toward a specific technological ideal. But overall, the Macbook Pro 2018 is a better laptop than its predecessor 2017 and a huge improvement over the 2016 model.

In this review, we're looking at a 15 "Macbook Pro with a 2.9 GHz Core i9 processor, 32GB of memory, an SSD drive of 2 To, and a Radeon Pro 560X graphics with 4 GB VRAM.

This configuration costs 5 559 euros to Apple
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Coffee Lake, the star of the Macbook Pro 2018

Apple MacBook Pro Retina (2017) 15.4 "i7 2.9GHz 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Radeon Pro 560 Silver

It's finally here, the eighth generation of Intel Core processors. Well, if you're only interested in Macs, you may not know that Intel released these processors in April of this year, and it was only a matter of time before they appear on an Apple laptop. New PC laptops with these processors (codenamed "Coffee Lake") have been out for a long time and their performance has been impressive. So, for more than three months – and for more than a year since the last update of the Macbook Pro – we can dream of what coffee-lake macbooks would do.

  The Macbook Pro 2018 15 "uses Intel Core 6 Core processors from Coffee Lake


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The Macbook Pro 15 "2018 uses the Intel Core 6 Core Processors from Coffee Lake.

The main difference between the Core processor in the 2018 15-inch model and its predecessors is that it now has six processor cores, two more than before that benefit from multiple processor cores, primarily professional programs such as video, audio and high-end photo editors, but even if you're not using it As unique productivity applications (spreadsheets, e-mail, browsers), you'll notice a nice performance boost in the new Macbook Pro.

The high-end CPU that you can get in the Macbook Pro 15 "is a 2.9 GHz Core i9 with Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. this processor, you have to adjust the standard model to 3.299 euros with a Core i7 processor clocked at 2.6 GHz.I9 costs 340 euros more.In addition to the larger model, Apple offers one for 2.799 euros with a processor 6 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor, also available for i9, for 480 euros more.

In another welcome upgrade, Apple made the transition from DDR3 RAM in Macbook Pro to earlier DDR4 RAM in 2018 models. DDR4 is faster, but requires more power. To meet this demand, Apple has increased the battery capacity of the Macbook Pro 2018. This increase complies with the higher requirements of DDR4, so that the battery life is no longer. But there is still other good news about memory: the maximum capacity you can install is now 32GB, double that of the previous 15-inch Macbook Pro, and users have it asked for a while.

n. d. Red: The processor models 2016-er could meet a maximum of 16GB of RAM, the 2017er would have been ready for 32GB, but it lacked the good memory chips of energy saving

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15 "2.9GHz Core i9 MacBook Pro Benchmark Results

We performed a series of benchmark tests to measure the speed of the Core i9 Macbook Pro at 6.9 GHz at 2.6 GHz. results mainly with the 2.9 GHz MacBook Pro 15 "last year, which has a Seventh Generation Kaby Lake Core processor, and included other older Macbook Pro models when their results were available.

To get an idea of ​​processor speed, we have the processor test used by Geekbench 4. The Macbook Pro 2018 performed a 64-bit multi-core CPU test with 23140 points, the highest score we've seen for a Macbook Pro in Geekbench. That's a huge increase of 44% over the 2017 Macbook Pro. The two additional processor cores of the new laptop make a big difference.

In the 64-bit Geekbench 4-core processor test, the 2018 Macbook Pro with 5619 points is 19% faster than the previous year's model with 4731 points. This is consistent with the increases we have seen in the past.

  Geekbench 4 OpenCL Test: Discrete graphics: better bars / higher values ​​are better


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Geekbench 4 Reviews OpenCL: Discrete Graphics: Longer bars / higher values ​​are better.

We also ran a series of graphical benchmarks to measure the speed of Macbook Pro graphics. In the OpenCL test of Geekbench 4, the Radeon Pro 560X 4 GB of the new laptop offers a nice improvement over the Radeon Pro 560 4 GB.

  Cinebench OpenGL Test: Values ​​are frames per second. Longer bars / higher values ​​are better


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Cinebench OpenGL Test: Values ​​are frames per second. Longer bars / higher values ​​are better.

The Cinebench OpenGL test is another graphical test that shows a complicated 3D scene. Here we see other performance increases with the Macbook Pro 2018.

The third-generation Macbook Pro 2018 butterfly keyboard

Since Apple launched its flat-panel butterfly keyboard with the Macbook in the spring of 2015, it has made a fuss, literally and figuratively. With the Macbook Pro 2018, Apple introduces the third generation butterfly keyboard and the manufacturer says that this keyboard should be quieter than before.

That's right in my ears. The first butterfly keyboards had a recognizable hammering response that sounded like they typed. Whenever I am in a room with other people, I can tell by the sound that uses a butterfly keyboard. Now the sound is definitely cut off, although it is still clearly audible. This is unlikely to attract attention in a room full of people unless one is trying to hear it.

Then there is the other problem with the keyboard: its durability. It's not hard to find stories of people complaining about broken keyboards on the net, and there are already three clbad actions linked to them. Apple also has one

Keyboard Repair Program Introduced for Mac Notebooks 2015-2017
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In the test I do not notice any problem with the keyboard, but the test period is only a few days. The only way to truly test the third generation butterfly keyboard is to use it over a long period of time.

  The Macbook Pro presents the third version of Apple's Butterfly keyboard. This version should not be as strong as before.


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The Macbook Pro presents the third version of Apple's Butterfly keyboard. This version should not be as strong as before.

A dismantling of the iFixit Macbook Pro 2018 revealed that Apple was using a thin layer of rubber to cover the throttle mechanism. iFixit concludes that this not only attenuates the sound, but also makes the keyboard less sensitive to dust and other debris that could cause a malfunction. Apple explains that the new keyboard was not designed to improve reliability, but if that was the reason, Cupertino could not admit it because of ongoing lawsuits.

Overall, the third-generation butterfly keyboard looks pretty much like previous generations.

This is a negative point for me. I like keypads with more keys, like the keyboard of the 2015 Macbook Pro. When I put my laptop on my desk at the desk (which is probably about 80% of the time I spend with my laptop), I use a Thunderbolt Dock and Apple's Magic Keyboard. This probably prevents me from getting used to the butterfly keyboard.

T2, Touch Bar and True Tone for the Macbook Pro 2018

The T Series chipset from Apple uses the Macbook Pro to relieve the main processor of some features. T-chips support security features such as Secure Boot, encryption and decryption of SSD (FileVault) and Touch ID. The Macbook Pro 2018 incorporates the second generation of T-chips, the T2 was previously installed only in the iMac Pro.

The T2 still acts as a secure enclave, but it also supports the ability to activate Siri when you say "Hey Siri". On other Macs, you can "Hey Siri!" do not use unless

You use the macOS accessibility features to trigger a keyboard command that starts Siri when you pronounce the sentence
,

The Siri feature on the Mac is nice and it's better to have it available than not to have it at all, but my perception is that Siri is not much used on the Mac – I never use it. Dealing with a Mac is very different from the use of an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Homepod, so the use of Siri does not come to mind while I work on a Mac. In this case, the implementation of "Hey Siri!" but geared towards the future: The next version of the Mac operating system, macOS Mojave, brings the new application for home to control Homekit devices. Siri on the Mac will be boosted by the Home application.

  The Macbook Pro's new T2 chip controls the Touch Bar, which, like the main display, supports True Tone.

The chip T2 also controls the Touch Bar which does not receive any new functions.In my review of the MacBook Pro from last year, I have a little hidden that the touch bar completely exceeds me.A year later, I can say it without hesitation.I rarely use the bar, I adjust the volume and brightness of the screen, and I think that's all.I do not remember the bar touch that is there.I do not think it is badly implemented or it is a bad feature, I have developed a way to use Mac for decades, and I have been I'm able to adapt to new tools and features, but the Touch Bar is not part of it.

The new True Tone feature is implemented for Touch Bar and Display. True Tone ensures that the colors on the screen remain constant by adapting to the ambient lighting of your room. If you have an iPad Pro, iPhone X or iPhone 8, you can try True Tone to see if you like it.

What did not change on the MacBook Pro?

The rest of the Macbook Pro 15 "has not changed, it's the same size and shape and is available in Space Gray or Silver.Trackpad is still huge and feels great, l & # 39; 15.4-inch screen always has a native resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels, a P3 color space and a brightness of 500 nits.

And the 15-inch Macbook Pro is still equipped with four Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports, and this "warning" is the point of contention I've heard most about the Macbook Pro, and that means you have to either buy hubs and adapters to connect to USB-A devices, or find another way to perform a task like transferring a file. The only other type of connection on the Macbook Pro is a headphone jack.

  Dongles & Adapters: The MacBook Pro's Lifestyle


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Dongles & Adapters: The Macbook Pro's Lifestyle [19659025] Sometimes As the rumors of upcoming Mac laptops circulate, speculation revolves around re-inserted USB-A ports. But let's be honest: Apple does not come back to the USB-A on its laptops. It's been a few years since Apple chose Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C on the Macbook Pro, and it will continue until the next technology. With this in mind, you will need to consider the cost of a USB-C to USB-A adapter, such as the one sold by Apple for $ 19, or a USB-C to USB-A hub.

Conclusion

I often conclude in my laptop tests that, if you own the model from the previous year, you will not find any speed improvements that make the implementation attractive level. But speed weighs heavily in this year's model, and the 2018 MacBook Pro is an interesting buy for those who use multi-core applications. Six processor cores are better than four, and the performance improvement is very satisfactory for pro-app users. You will find that the investment pays back quickly.

The improvement in single-core performance is not great, although it's still pretty, and there are other factors to consider when you consider the MacBook Pro 2018. It is too early to say if Apple has solved the keyboard problems, but at least the keyboard has become quieter. True Tone is a nice feature, but is it a must? The same applies to "Hey Siri". If you are not a professional user, work in iLife and Internet applications, and have purchased a Macbook Pro in the last two years, you probably do not have to update. If you do, you can opt for the Macbook Pro with a 2.2GHz Core i7 processor and be happy.

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