Impressions on the 2019 15-Inch MacBook Pro?

[16bitplus]

I am looking to go a size up to the 15" from by 2018 13"

There haven't been as many reviews of the 2019 15-Inch MacBook Pros as it is more of a strict spec bump, but I was wondering from those that have purchased one, what are your thoughts so far?

It seems the new keyboards are holding up and the thermals are handled much better with the 8-Core i9 in the $2799 model?

Not sure if I should continue to wait in hopes of a new model later this year with a better/reliable keyboard and hopefully better GPU options as well? Where are all of you at?

 

[terminator-jq]

I got the 6 core version in launch day and I’m coming from a 2017 15”. So far, so good for me! The keyboard is much better. I’ve used the 2017 keyboard and I’ve also used a few 2018 models and the 2019 keyboard just feels... like an actual finished product.

Performance wise, I can’t comment on the i9 version but my 6 core has been great so far. I’ve done 3D modeling, rendering, app development and just general web surfing and it’s been able to chew through everything. When it comes to graphics, I do wish apple upgraded the graphics options instead of offering the same ones as last years models but in my case, I have an external GPU box with an RX580 that I can plug into anytime I need some extra GPU power. That being said, the standard 555 that’s built in has served me well enough on its own.

At this point, I think it’s fair to say that the 2019s are the best versions and safest versions of this generation of MacBook pros. I’m definitely eagerly awaiting the next generation but I’ll probably avoid buying the first year of those models.

 

[sboychuck]

We have a 2019 with the i9, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM and Vega 20. It rocks, period!!!We have Windows 10 on Boot Camp for gaming and it smokes. We gave Windows 300GB of the SSD. Paired with a 27 inch LG 4K external screen and a Space Grey standalone extended (with numeric keypad) blue-tooth keyboard and mouse. So, when it is on the desk, we use the standalone keyboard. When the MBP is in the wild, the keyboard is a dream, and I hope it continues on that path. Apple did this one right, and we did pay up for the computer. We keep Macs forever. We still have a 24-inch iMac and 17-inch MBP that now have SSD’s. So, this one will be with us for a long time.

 

[chabig]

There is already a whole thread for this:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...rks-and-first-impressions-post-yours.2182340/

 

[Patrick_2001]

I got the 6 core version in launch day and I’m coming from a 2017 15”. So far, so good for me! The keyboard is much better. I’ve used the 2017 keyboard and I’ve also used a few 2018 models and the 2019 keyboard just feels... like an actual finished product.

Performance wise, I can’t comment on the i9 version but my 6 core has been great so far. I’ve done 3D modeling, rendering, app development and just general web surfing and it’s been able to chew through everything. When it comes to graphics, I do wish apple upgraded the graphics options instead of offering the same ones as last years models but in my case, I have an external GPU box with an RX580 that I can plug into anytime I need some extra GPU power. That being said, the standard 555 that’s built in has served me well enough on its own.

At this point, I think it’s fair to say that the 2019s are the best versions and safest versions of this generation of MacBook pros. I’m definitely eagerly awaiting the next generation but I’ll probably avoid buying the first year of those models.

is there really a big difference between the 6 core model and 8 core beside the obvious? wondering for most users if you really need 8? Does the 6 core have all the same updated components? I was ready to get the 13" but my colleague said it is mostly last years components etc. hard to justify the cost of high end 13" when 15" is not much more

 

[terminator-jq]

is there really a big difference between the 6 core model and 8 core beside the obvious? wondering for most users if you really need 8? Does the 6 core have all the same updated components? I was ready to get the 13" but my colleague said it is mostly last years components etc. hard to justify the cost of high end 13" when 15" is not much more

Only big difference is the CPU bump. I do believe the 8 core models have graphics options that are not available on the 6 core version (the ability to jump up to Vega graphics) but other than that, the laptops at the core are identical.

In terms of use, I can’t comment on the 8 core but I can say the 6 core has more than enough power. On a daily basis, I’m running Modo, Unity 3D, Xcode, Substance painter and affinity among other applications. All of those programs are very heavy, power draining applications but the 6 core runs through them just fine.

 

[Patrick_2001]

Only big difference is the CPU bump. I do believe the 8 core models have graphics options that are not available on the 6 core version (the ability to jump up to Vega graphics) but other than that, the laptops at the core are identical.

In terms of use, I can’t comment on the 8 core but I can say the 6 core has more than enough power. On a daily basis, I’m running Modo, Unity 3D, Xcode, Substance painter and affinity among other applications. All of those programs are very heavy, power draining applications but the 6 core runs through them just fine.

Thanks, how's the 256 memory, enough?
[doublepost=1561223168][/doublepost]Anyone jump from the 13" MBP to a 15"? if so why? any challenges? or impressions? just so drawn by the 15"!

 

[jerryk]

Thanks, how's the 256 memory, enough?

IMHO 256 GB is not enough for many. I would get the 512 GB pre-configured model, which means you also get the 8-core running slower base clock but more threads and higher turbo boost.

 

[chabig]

...how's the 256 memory, enough?

It depends how much ‘stuff’ you have. If your data is less than 256GB, it’s enough. If you have more, it’s not.

 

[terminator-jq]

Thanks, how's the 256 memory, enough?
[doublepost=1561223168][/doublepost]Anyone jump from the 13" MBP to a 15"? if so why? any challenges? or impressions? just so drawn by the 15"!

For me, 256gb is enough. I manage my space pretty well and I don’t often have to deal with huge files for my projects. That being said, for laptops that cost this much, 512gb really should be the standard...

As for your other question, when I bought my 2017 MacBook Pro, I was upgrading from a 13” 2016 model. The 13” form factor is incredibly comfortable. I do sometimes miss how ultra portable it was. That being said, the 15 isn’t that much larger and those extra couple inches of screen real estate do make a difference. The main difference for me was the fact that the 15” models have a real GPU whereas the 13” only has the integrated. Depending on your work, that could definitely be a big factor.