In 2019, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 1.4GHz CPU ==> Fail.
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Hands-On With the New July 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro
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I've used the 1st gen and the 2nd gen butterfly keyboards. My wife uses the 2nd gen and shes rough AF on her tech.... breadcrumbs, dust, dirt (she uses her mac for ableton on tour).
1st and 2nd gen don't have the membrane.
Still, we have yet to encounter even 1 stuck key. I'm more careful with my tech but I definitely don't baby it...and I've typed a lot of emails and memos on mine... YMMV but I do think this problem, though dreadful, is a little bit overblown.
Most times I read that the issue, if you do get it, can be fixed by tilting the macbook and blowing on it. Not ideal by any means, but not quite 'bricking' that some sentiments might suggest.
The typing experience is ok. Not horrible, you definitely get used to the shallow keys. It's not a negative or a positive for me.
It is however cool right now to rag on Apple.
still better than the $2300 for the regular 13 inch model. Tempted to upgrade but my 2010 still works so...
Doesn’t matter. It has the same bus and same PCIe 3.0 x4. I don’t see why the NVMe chips would be any different from the 4 port 13” nor the 15”.
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Look for a 4 port 2018 at a good discount. The only difference is 100 MHz lower clock on all CPUs (same 8th gen, same L3 cache) and the supposedly improved silicon under the key caps.
I’m very happy with my 2018 15” MacBook Pro. I bought it in like-new condition from eBay for $1800. I love how thin it is, the keyboard is nice and quiet, the TrueTone display is gorgeous. The 6-core CPU delivers. I picked up a little USB-C hub on Amazon for like $30 - one plug and I’ve got power, HDMI, keyboard, mouse, external storage and SD Card reader. People complaining about donglegate are doing it wrong. Anyways, the 13” model is just about as good as the 15” other than the GPU, and you could always just get an eGPU.
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Yep, this is why I bought my 2018 MacBook Pro 15” from eBay. Several months of warranty remaining, 6-core i7, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD, 560X GPU. The 13” models are not as good of a deal specs wise, but they are really nice and portable.
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Regardless what Ive calls: "What we make testifies who we are" clownish keyboard, I just bought one.
I got mine with 16 GB Ram and 512 GB SSD.
Benchmarks says that the 128GB SSD is much slower in this entry level Mac Pro. I have to say that if you buy the upgrade to 512GB SSD you get the same SSD speed of more expensive Mac Pros.
I got mine with 16 GB Ram and 512 GB SSD.
Benchmarks says that the 128GB SSD is much slower in this entry level Mac Pro. I have to say that if you buy the upgrade to 512GB SSD you get the same SSD speed of more expensive Mac Pros.
The keyboard failure is due to thermal issues. All other reasons are complete non-sense. There was an wonderfully thorough walk through on the issue posted by someone on reddit, I can't find it right now, but it's a logical and technical overview of the issue.
Anyways, I've mentioned it numerous times here but at my employer (international corp with ~13k employees), I was told by the IT manager at our office that they were seeing ~17% keyboard failure rate on 2016+ MBP models and this was one of the driving factors to the company no longer allowing purchase of MBP's. They've also phased out support over the last year or two since this decision.
Just bought one for med school. I loved my 2015 MacBook but definitely had issues with the keyboard. I initially went the MacBook Air route but ended up exchanging it for the pro the next day. While I understand it is $200 more, upgrading made the most sense. I've always found the Touch Bar intriguing but understand why it isn't as beneficial as intended. It's not intuitive to look down at the keyboard while working.
Most reviews I've read so far, agree that the 13 inch MacBook Pro is the best bang for your buck. I'm lucky this came out at the right time for me. The 16 inch MacBook Pro sounds like it will be the go-to laptop for a lot of MacBook enthusiasts but that's too big for me. For those wondering if they should purchase, I highly recommend it.
Most reviews I've read so far, agree that the 13 inch MacBook Pro is the best bang for your buck. I'm lucky this came out at the right time for me. The 16 inch MacBook Pro sounds like it will be the go-to laptop for a lot of MacBook enthusiasts but that's too big for me. For those wondering if they should purchase, I highly recommend it.
Because then you’re without your work machine for days.
I’ve had my 2016 keyboard repaired multiple times, leaving me without my machine I use to make a living, in one case for over a week. The keyboard is broken again, but I’d rather have a broken key than go through that again (at least until it gets worse).
I don’t call that a “win.”
oh well.. so, i you now want a Macbook Pro with function keys still, forget it... Head to the Refurb. store why socks.. (I mean stocks) lasts !
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Agreed 100%. This article could've been written and published the date the laptop was announced - it's a shame this is called a "review". If you have nothing new to contribute, why even bother writing and shooting this?
Same exact experience here. It’s cool now to criticize a product they never even used.
I have the same model and love it. Works like it did day 1 and the only difference is the SSD has 380GB on it rather than the 80GB it started with. Have had the battery replaced a few months before the recall and it was free. Cannot imagine the next model I will move up to but I can be sure it is nothing in the lineup now based on this review. Hopefully it will get me 2-3 more years!!!
Agreed. How does 128 gb on a Mac deserve the word "pro" in the title? Remember the regular MacBook that Apple just killed off? It came standard with 256 gb. How do they get away starting a pro MacBook with 128 gb?
Are there any tests showing 512 SSD speed is same for both 2TB and 4TB models?
[doublepost=1563849597][/doublepost]Somewhat disappointed with MR’s review. No new insights compared to reviews posted last week on other sites. Still good to have something on this site for those that don’t check other sites.
Lol I'm still running my Mid 2010 MacBook Pro with a few upgrades over time (8gb RAM and 256 Samsung SSD, should've gone with 16gb RAM but anyway), planning on upgrading a few months ago but read about the keyboard fiasco, but this new update seems so temping as well since my laptop is really showing its age now.
It's been so long with the same laptop that I just want to upgrade it now, but if I'm going to spend $1,800 to $2,000 it better be worth it, hopefully my Mid 2010 will last me until Apple goes back to scissor keyboard and maybe a new redesign next year.
It's nice that people share their anecdotes of butterfly keyboards that work, but is that really the bar Apple should have to clear - "keyboards on expensive laptops that work"?
Not buying anything in the entire lineup until there's a major redesign. And I'm hoping that the departure of Ives might bring in some focus on function over the obsession with thinness.
Not buying anything in the entire lineup until there's a major redesign. And I'm hoping that the departure of Ives might bring in some focus on function over the obsession with thinness.
This.
I just recently went through a keyboard (and logic board) replacement with my 2018 13" MBP. I was without a machine for 10 days. Especially if you have a BTO model and end up needing more than just the keyboard repaired, you could be looking at over a week without your machine. If you're like me and rely on your mac for work this is just flat out unacceptable.
Oh, and just FYI, Apple seems to be treating display coating/de-lamination issues on the 2018~2019 models as "user damage," (wheres it was treated as a defect on 2017 and earlier models) and refusing to fix it under the warranty/AppleCare (without using an incident).
While I think they're great machines otherwise, and the 2019 keyboard is definitely another nice incremental upgrade (vs the 2018), the level of service on a machine this expensive (and with an extended warranty to boot) is just really not ok.
My advice, if you need to get your MBP repaired and have an Apple Store (or BestBuy) nearby, do yourself a favor and get yourself a "loaner" (14 day return policy) while you wait.
Nothing to kid about, here. The keyboard on my 2017 MBP is superb. I type faster and more accurately. My MBP is a gem, and has been a delight to use every single day since I've owned it.
But it’s only $1300 before tax! lolol
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Tim?
I bought one of these new "entry-level" MacBook Pros before knowing that the 128GB SSD is slower than usual (and it's the same for last 2019 MacBook Air updates) so I was very disappointed because I was afraid to get the same slow speed SSD. I don't know about any review online concerning the New July 2019 13-inch Macbook Pro with 512SSD but I launched by myself the Blackmagic Speed Test on my Macbook and it showed the same value you get with higher tier Macbook Pros with SSD starting from 256SSD. Honestly, I don't know anything about the speed of 2TB or 4TB SSDs.
Exactly!
I don't call a "DESIGN WIN" something that is impossible to repair, easy to failure, intrinsically complicate and, in the end, what you accomplished is just a one millimeter thinner keyboard.
It's a paradox that even the 5000 dollars (and more) new Macbooks are equipped with such a clownish keyboard. It looks to me like a Ferrari equipped with irreplaceable bycilcle's tires.