Entry-Level 13-Inch MacBook Pro Updated With 8th-Gen Processors, Touch Bar, Touch ID, and T2 Security Chip

[PickUrPoison]

wait and see the key board changes

touch bar and everything but two thunderbolt ports so that is weird, they made another logic board to have just two thunderbolt port (or just removed the connectivity for the two more ports)

it just lower frequency quad core CPUs (may be 15W CPU compared to 35W CPU on the higher end model)

Ive will have had a hand in everything that’s released in the next couple years, including the new MBP platform.

Looks like 15W parts, the low base frequency and Iris Pro 645 (not 655 like the 28W CPUs) would seem to indicate that. Or maybe cTDP-down at 20W? But new CPUs in any case.

 

[Windoes]

1.4 ghz and 128 gig SSD? What is this, 2010?

Or maybe a high spec Chromebook?

 

[manu chao]

What is the difference between the 1.4GHz processor and the 2.4Ghz processor?
Is it a different version of the i5? Which one?

The 2.4 GHz one is a U-series processor, quad-core, 28 W TDP (Coffee Lake, 8279U - slight update from 2.3 GHz 8259U used in 2018 model)
The 1.4 GHz version is either:
1) Y-series, Amber Lake, 7 W TDP, quad-core variant of the 2018/2019 MBA processor (8210Y) with an Iris Plus 645 graphics added (MBA has a UHD 617), or
2) U-series, Coffee Lake, 15 W TDP, quad-core, Iris Plus 645 (successor to 2017 2-TB-port MBP, Kaby Lake 7360U, 2.3 GHz, Iris Plus 640)

The Iris Plus 645 indicates it's a (quad-core) successor to chip in the 2017 2-TB-port MBP. The lower base frequency of 1.4 GHz indicates it is a quad-core variant of the, lower-TDP chip in the 2018 MBA.

 

[nameischarles]

I wish the top-end model came standard with 16gb of memory because there is a major retailer in Australia that does 10% off all Mac products every month and they never include build to order Macs as part of the 10% off sale.

 

[gaspitsjesse]

The entire line up except the mini & MB nothing has been refreshed now. Laptops refreshed for back to school. Maybe they'll kill the regular MB?

Aaaand it's dead! No more MacBook!

 

[Slash787]

Im using the 2017 MBP without Touch Bar and its working pretty good, even though the Battery Life has decreased a lot. I get around 5 to 6 hours now, any idea how much it costs to replace the battery?

 

[iRutherford]

I don't get why they're still using eighth-generation chips when the ninth-generation ones are almost the same price.

 

[Cape Dave]

“People” yes, as in 20 people on an Internet forum though

Do not kid yourself. I doubt ANY average users ever bother to figure out how to use that space hogging monstrosity.

 

[[AUT] Thomas]

13" still has too low resolution screen... 15" needs 4K asap.
I'm certainly not spending more than a grad on a laptop without a 4K screen...
I'm not asking everyone here to agree on that. It should be an optional upgrade. I don't expect it to be cheap. But it should be offered.

 

[sub150]

I'm pretty sure more people use the TouchBar to 'access' the 'media keys' (screen/keyboard brightness, play/stop/skip back/forward, volume up/down) than for standard fn key purposes.

Agree. I'm saying the TB usage mirrors the standard nonTB usage going back a decade. No one is using the TB for anything new. No one is switching tabs using the touchbar. No one is mapping custom shortcuts to the TB.

 

[Galve2000]

when will the Macbook Air get an i7 processor?

the i5 just does not cut it!

 

[manu chao]

when will the Macbook Air get an i7 processor?

the i5 just does not cut it!

The MBA uses the 8210Y (Amber Lake, 1.6 GHz, 3.6 GHz Turbo, Core i5). The i7 variant of this processor, the 8510Y comes with a small increase in frequency (1.8 GHz, 3.9 GHz Turbo). While better, the difference won't be very noticeable.

 

[Howard2k]

The MBA uses the 8210Y (Amber Lake, 1.6 GHz, 3.6 GHz Turbo, Core i5). The i7 variant of this processor, the 8510Y comes with a small increase in frequency (1.8 GHz, 3.9 GHz Turbo). While better, the difference won't be very noticeable.

But the price will be

 

[jbachandouris]

Apple is offering me $460 in trade for my 13" rMBP early 2015. Don't really see a compelling need to upgrade as this one works just fine. Want to though...

 

[lambertjohn]

when will the Macbook Air get an i7 processor?

the i5 just does not cut it!

Says who? I have a 2018 Air and the CPU cuts it just fine. Every program I have is snappy and very usable: Photoshop, Office 365, iAwriter, the internet; it all runs without a hitch. And I get 12 hours of battery life average. Can't beat that with a dead rabbit!

 

[Peperino]

Now touchbar is standard on all MBP. Why double down on something that no one wants?
Do we need to wait 4 years so Apple realizes another mistake similar to what happened with the current keyboard?
By the way, it also has the same bad keyboard and pathetic entry specs that are ok for a 2010 computer.

 

[the guy with the face]

So does MacRumors not update their Buyer's Guide anymore? I literally checked yesterday to buy a MBP and it said it's a great time to buy. I purchased yesterday only for this news to drop today. What's the point of a buyer's guide if you aren't going to update it. Surely this didn't come out of nowhere??

 

[redheeler]

Good refresh, though $1,099 should've been the MacBook Air's starting price to begin with, and the refresh of the non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros should've happened months ago as well. Better late than never, like most of Apple's Mac refreshes lately...

 

[alexandr]

perhaps they are still going to improve the touchbar?..

 

[redheeler]

So does MacRumors not update their Buyer's Guide anymore? I literally checked yesterday to buy a MBP and it said it's a great time to buy. I purchased yesterday only for this news to drop today. What's the point of a buyer's guide if you aren't going to update it. Surely this didn't come out of nowhere??

The higher-end Touch Bar models were updated just last May and are not affected by this. Only the (previously) non-Touch Bar models are.

Blame Apple's fragmented Mac refreshes. They used to be much more consistent and easier to keep track of, with all models of MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, or iMac refreshed at the same time. But more recently it has been a mess with the laptops, models from 2017 being sold alongside models from 2019.

 

[Howard2k]

So does MacRumors not update their Buyer's Guide anymore? I literally checked yesterday to buy a MBP and it said it's a great time to buy. I purchased yesterday only for this news to drop today. What's the point of a buyer's guide if you aren't going to update it. Surely this didn't come out of nowhere??

The buyers guide is pretty useless. It's just a very basic "it's older so it's due for an upgrade" thing.

 

[alexandr]

So does MacRumors not update their Buyer's Guide anymore? I literally checked yesterday to buy a MBP and it said it's a great time to buy. I purchased yesterday only for this news to drop today. What's the point of a buyer's guide if you aren't going to update it. Surely this didn't come out of nowhere??

they're not mind readers.

 

[manu chao]

But the price will be

Maybe one reason why Apple isn't offering a second processor option on the Air is to have less price overlap between models. At the moment we have these five advertised prices for 13" laptops:
$1099: MBA, 1.6 GHz & 128 GB
$1299: MBA, 1.6 GHz & 256 GB
$1299: 2TB ports MBP, 1.4 GHz & 128 GB
$1499: 2TB ports MBP, 1.4 GHz & 256 GB
$1799: 4TB ports MBP, 2.4 GHz & 256 GB

You can still create overlap by getting the 1.7 GHz option for the 2TB ports MBPs ($1599 2TB ports MBP, 1.7 GHz, 128 GB) and via RAM and storage upgrades (but the CPU upgrade at least keeps you within the 2TB ports range).

 

[Howard2k]

Maybe one reason why Apple isn't offering a second processor option on the Air is to have less price overlap between models. At the moment we have these five advertised prices for 13" laptops:
$1099: MBA, 1.6 GHz & 128 GB
$1299: MBA, 1.6 GHz & 256 GB
$1299: 2TB ports MBP, 1.4 GHz & 128 GB
$1499: 2TB ports MBP, 1.4 GHz & 256 GB
$1799: 4TB ports MBP, 2.4 GHz & 256 GB

You can still create overlap by getting the 1.7 GHz option for the 2TB ports MBPs ($1599 2TB ports MBP, 1.7 GHz, 128 GB) and via RAM and storage upgrades (but the CPU upgrade at least keeps you within the 2TB ports range).

2x2 802.11ac wifi on all except the $1,799 (3x3) model I'd assume too. That $300 buys a fair amount if I'm right.

 

[snakesayan]

Well looks like I’m never getting a MacBook ever again. I was ready to buy an updated 13 inch non touchbar MacBook Pro, but they killed that, so they lost a customer.