Waiting for the 2018 MBP

[Poki]

Core i7-8559U Coffee Lake (14 nm) quad-core with base clock of 2.7 GHz and Iris Plus video. This would likely be a 28 Watt chip though, not 15 W for the 13" models.

According to other leaks, the i7-8559U is indeed a 28W quad-core CPU with an Iris Plus 650 - perfect for the Touch Bar 13" MBP. The dual-core Cannon Lake part is also interesting, since this would be the chip for the next 12" MacBook - didn't find a lot of rumors on this very part yet. However, for the 5W Core M CPUs, it seems like Ice Lake is the real upgrade there.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I would like to see quadcore in the 13" model.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

Any word when the 2018 MBP will get released? I'm headed to Portland, Or. on March 30th. and was hoping to purchase one and save on tax.

 

[EugW]

Any word when the 2018 MBP will get released? I'm headed to Portland, Or. on March 30th. and was hoping to purchase one and save on tax.

No word yet. I’ve personally been predicting Q2 or Q3 for the MacBook Pro.

 

[Dave245]

No word yet. I’ve personally been predicting Q2 or Q3 for the MacBook Pro.

Yea I agree, I don’t see them announcing new MacBook Pro’s this month, maybe in June at WWDC?

 

[EugW]

According to other leaks, the i7-8559U is indeed a 28W quad-core CPU with an Iris Plus 650 - perfect for the Touch Bar 13" MBP. The dual-core Cannon Lake part is also interesting, since this would be the chip for the next 12" MacBook - didn't find a lot of rumors on this very part yet. However, for the 5W Core M CPUs, it seems like Ice Lake is the real upgrade there.

Yeah, I also posted that pic in the 12” MacBook thread.

I really wonder what this Cannon Lake Y part is, and if it will truly make it to The MacBook.

Three years ago I was thinking 10 nm might bring quad core to the MacBook (or much higher clocked dual core) but this Cannon Lake 10 nm leak shows dual core just like Kaby Lake. Will it be significantly higher clocked? Or will it just be an incremental bump? Does it even exist or will it be vapourware? What about Ice Lake? It will be quad but at what clocks? Meanwhile Kaby Lake Refresh and Coffee Lake 14 nm both are getting more cores but 10 nm Y doesn’t? Strange, and doesn’t look so promising for Cannon Lake Y. The timing for Cannon Lake Y seems problematic too, as people have been saying that it would probably not arrive until Q4 anyway even if it is a real product, while Ice Lake Y is probably targeted for just a couple of months later.

Basically what I’m saying is that it seems like even though the MacBook Pro may appear in Q2/Q3, there is a strong possibility the MacBook would not get updated at the same time, and some people believe Cannon Lake Y may just get scrapped completely.

In any case I’m glad I bought my Kaby Lake Y MacBook in 2017. Now I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for 4K iTunes and 4K Netflix support for these Kaby Lake Macs, to appear with macOS 10.14.

 

[snortpig]

Is it possible for the nTB 13" to have dual core even if the TB gets quad-core?

 

[MichaelDT]

Is it possible for the nTB 13" to have dual core even if the TB gets quad-core?

Probably, I imagine it’s possible tb doesn’t even get a quad core for another year. I’ve seen this happen with Apple consistently over the last 20 years. People are hyped about some new tech and Apple will say no until it’s ready. They aren’t and have never been bleeding edge. If we don’t get quad cores in the 13” MBP it will be for either battery life is compromised or it’s too hot for the chassis. Being that battery life on the new MBPs is already not great, I fully expect this to be a major factor.

 

[EugW]

Probably, I imagine it’s possible tb doesn’t even get a quad core for another year. I’ve seen this happen with Apple consistently over the last 20 years. People are hyped about some new tech and Apple will say no until it’s ready. They aren’t and have never been bleeding edge. If we don’t get quad cores in the 13” MBP it will be for either battery life is compromised or it’s too hot for the chassis. Being that battery life on the new MBPs is already not great, I fully expect this to be a major factor.

Quad-core low power is no longer bleeding edge. Some of the quad-core low power chips already came out in 2017.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake#List_of_Kaby_Lake_R_processors_(low/medium_power)

The only issue is the 2017 models have Intel GT2 graphics, and Apple would traditionally put GT3e in the Pros. So, Apple is just waiting for the ones that are directly replacements to their current models, and those are coming next month or so. 15 Watt U series quad-core with GT3e graphics is what one should expect in the 13" Pros as of Q2 or Q3 2018.

I suppose it's possible that Apple could keep a single dual-core entry level model around, or it's also possible that Apple would release quad+GT2 for the non-TB 13" Pros and quad+GT3e for TB 13" Pros, but a reasonable expectation is all the 13" Pros (TB or not) would get quad+GT3e.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I‘m talking about 15W with GT3e (Iris Plus) graphics.

I don’t expect to see 15W quad cores with GT3e graphics anytime soon. I just don’t see enough demand that would make it any sort of priority for Intel.

 

[snortpig]

I don’t expect to see 15W quad cores with GT3e graphics anytime soon. I just don’t see enough demand that would make it any sort of priority for Intel.

How big is the difference from GT2 to GT3e

 

[EugW]

How big is the difference from GT2 to GT3e

Pretty big. I mean they're still integrated GPUs so both are slow, but GT2 is much, much slower than GT3e.

In my case I don't care, since I do zero 3D stuff on my laptop. I just want Quick Sync with full HEVC support, and both GT2 and GT3e both support that. I'm on a Core m3 2017 MacBook.

I don’t expect to see 15W quad cores with GT3e graphics anytime soon. I just don’t see enough demand that would make it any sort of priority for Intel.

Well, Apple is a pretty big customer, and ALL of their current 13" Pros are GT3e 15 W. It would stand to reason they'd want their 13" quad MacBook Pros to keep GT3e.

 

[PickUrPoison]

<snip>
Well, Apple is a pretty big customer, and ALL of their current 13" Pros are GT3e 15 W. It would stand to reason they'd want their 13" quad MacBook Pros to keep GT3e.

No, only the non-Touch Bar 13” MBP is 15W, using the 7x60U CPUs, and those have relatively low base clocks of 2.3 and 2.5GHz as a result. This model may never get a quad core option.

The Touch Bar 13” line use 28W CPUs, and at that TDP there will definitely be quad core GT3e option(s) available in this year’s refreshed lineup. (As there similarly will be hexacore options with the 45W 15” MBP line.)

I am hopeful Apple returns the dedicated escape/function key row back to the Touch Bar models, at least on the 15” MBP.

 

[EugW]

No, only the non-Touch Bar 13” MBP is 15W, using the 7x60U CPUs, and those have relatively low base clocks of 2.3 and 2.5GHz as a result. This model may never get a quad core option.

The Touch Bar 13” line use 28W CPUs, and at that TDP there will definitely be quad core GT3e option(s) available in this year’s refreshed lineup. (As there similarly will be hexacore options with the 45W 15” MBP line.)

Yes, thanks for the correction. Momentary stroke on my part. But nonetheless, I suspect the non-TB version is one of the best selling models, and that's 15 W GT3e.

I'd be surprised if the non-TB didn't go quad core. Furthermore, it'd pretty much have to go GT3e as well, so as not to be slower than the 2017 models.

Plus, with the 12" MacBook likely going quad core in 2019, it would make little sense to have the non-TB as dual-core only. At most I see Apple keeping an entry level low-clocked dual-core model in the lineup, but with a configure-to-order quad-core non-TB model.

Furthermore, 15 W quad U GT3e is expected to launch in April.

I am hopeful Apple returns the dedicated escape/function key row back to the Touch Bar models, at least on the 15” MBP.

I doubt it, but I'm not a fan of the TB either.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Yes, thanks for the correction. Momentary stroke on my part. But nonetheless, I suspect the non-TB version is one of the best selling models, and that's 15 W GT3e.

I'd be surprised if the non-TB didn't go quad core. Furthermore, it'd pretty much have to go GT3e as well, so as not to be slower than the 2017 models.

Plus, with the 12" MacBook likely going quad core in 2019, it would make little sense to have the non-TB as dual-core only. At most I see Apple keeping an entry level low-clocked dual-core model in the lineup, but with a configure-to-order quad-core non-TB model.

Furthermore, 15 W quad U GT3e is expected to launch in April.


I doubt it, but I'm not a fan of the TB either.

The 13” non-TB likely is one of the best selling models, due to price if nothing else. But the rumors I’ve seen for the soon-to-be-introduced Coffee Lake U series quad core/GT3e are for 28W, not 15W. So they would go into the TB models.

I think it would be likely for Apple to add the rumored 8269/8559U quad core options when available—April-June? but maybe later in the year—but keep selling the current non-TB and TB dual core SKUs until a better CPU is available.

I expect the TB to stay in the 13” and 15” but as I said, I am hopeful Apple adds back a hard row of escape/function keys below the TB, at least on the 15” where there’s plenty of room.

 

[The Mercurian]

Folks,
Hex-core coffe lake laptop spotted available for purchase on Greek website:
https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-h...debut-with-the-MSI-GT83VR-Titan.287610.0.html

Shall I ? Is it too soon?? Oh what the heck.....
http://gph.is/1NFihw3

Edit:...sigh...clearly I don't know how to embed a gif.... :'(

 

[navaira]

Hex-core coffe lake laptop spotted available for purchase on Greek website:

Public.gr lists the notebook at €6,199 (US$7,691) for the above configuration.

*umph*

 

[EugW]

The 13” non-TB likely is one of the best selling models, due to price if nothing else. But the rumors I’ve seen for the soon-to-be-introduced Coffee Lake U series quad core/GT3e are for 28W, not 15W. So they would go into the TB models.

I think it would be likely for Apple to add the rumored 8269/8559U quad core options when available—April-June? but maybe later in the year—but keep selling the current non-TB and TB dual core SKUs until a better CPU is available.

I expect the TB to stay in the 13” and 15” but as I said, I am hopeful Apple adds back a hard row of escape/function keys below the TB, at least on the 15” where there’s plenty of room.

The roadmap has both 15 W and 28 W quad-core U series versions with GT3e.

CNL is delayed 6-7 months but CFL is on track, maybe a month or two late.

The 45 Watt chips will have GT2 but that’s fine because they get discrete GPUs anyway.

 

[ataq]

Do you think we will see a top specced 15" with the option of "not" having the Touch Bar?

 

[Dave245]

Do you think we will see a top specced 15" with the option of "not" having the Touch Bar?

I doubt it personally, the Touch Bar is a feature that Apple have implemented and I don’t see them taking it out, maybe they will go all in with it as time goes on.

 

[sputnikBA]

Public.gr lists the notebook at €6,199 (US$7,691) for the above configuration.

*umph*

...To be fair it has 2x 512GB m2 SSDs, another 1TB HDD, 2x 1080 GTX in SLI & 64GB of RAM. Thats more than a lot of people's desktops.

 

[EugW]

One Intel chip info leaker is saying Ice Lake U (which would be used in the MacBook Pro), is out in Q4 2018, with actual volume shipments in 2019.

"Officially launching before the end of the year (U and Y series) but from what we heard, Ice Lake is a 2019 product."

This would follow the expected spring/summer MacBook Pro update in 2018.

So if accurate it sounds like we'll see:

1) MacBook Pro update summer 2018
2) MacBook Pro update again spring 2019

 

[Dave245]

One Intel chip info leaker is saying Ice Lake U (which would be used in the MacBook Pro), is out in Q4 2018, with actual volume shipments in 2019.

"Officially launching before the end of the year (U and Y series) but from what we heard, Ice Lake is a 2019 product."

This would follow the expected spring/summer MacBook Pro update in 2018.

So if accurate it sounds like we'll see:

1) MacBook Pro update summer 2018
2) MacBook Pro update again spring 2019

But what about the MacBook, last year it was updated in March (I think) are we expecting the same again this year? Or are we talking WWDC with potential for other Mac announcements (MacBook Pro for example) also this lower priced Air is that going to be at WWDC or earlier ie a March announcement.

 

[EugW]

But what about the MacBook, last year it was updated in March (I think) are we expecting the same again this year? Or are we talking WWDC with potential for other Mac announcements (MacBook Pro for example) also this lower priced Air is that going to be at WWDC or earlier ie a March announcement.

The MacBook was updated in spring 2017. We are not expecting the same this year. Assuming it does get updated with Cannon Lake Y this year, it will be summer.

It is possible the MacBook Pro would come earlier than the MacBook.

 

[raqball]

Or are we talking WWDC with potential for other Mac announcements (MacBook Pro for example) also this lower priced Air is that going to be at WWDC or earlier ie a March announcement.

I just did custom orders for the Air, the MacBook, and the MacBook Pro and all 3 have arrival dates of march 14th. Usually these custom build dates will slip much further back (3 weeks or more) when something is imminent or on the way.