Apple Releases New 8-Core MacBook Pro With Updated Keyboard

G

Gary T

Well-known member
This came a bit sooner than I expected. I'm pretty happy about the keyboard update and an 8-core option but I this new model apparently uses the same chassis and system board. I'll reserve judgment but I would be surprised if Apple or any other OEM was able to fix the thermal throttling issues in these tiny chassis. Please give me a 16.5 inch model that has room to breathe. I would also like a model that can go up to at least 64GB of RAM since Dell and Lenovo both have models that go to 128GB.

Hopefully the rumored larger model is still coming this year.

https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/
 
Minor but worthwhile update if in the market. My 2014 is getting nearer to EOL, but I agree I will hold out for the upcoming near bezel-less 16.5 model which sounds like a great balance between the 17" screen size and 15" footprint.
 
I have a 2012 RMBP that just keeps chugging along(longest I've ever continuously used a single computer)(my 2009 17" MBP still works, but I don't use it). Been considering a new one and it looks like you can get a new, more powerful one for even less than what was current last week. At least equipped the way that I would want it(mostly). Their internal storage, albeit very high performance SSD's, is still very expensive. Especially when we've gotten used to buying multi-terabyte HDD's for $100 or so. When I spec'd a 15" out a few weeks ago, I maxed it out, except for only 1TB internal storage and it was around $4500, I believe. Now, maxed out with 1TB is $3949.
 
GPUs are still 4GB, and I think the same (or similar-class?) models. Yes, you can use an eGPU. But for me, a laptop computer is something I'll use in the field...and for me performance matters more than battery life.

A bit of analysis and links to more about the announcment:

Apple Debuts New 8-Core MacBook Pro With Updated Keyboard
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/21/apple-debuts-new-8-core-macbook-pro/

I need a new laptop; was hoping for more from Apple. And I run both Win10 and macOS (stepped away from Linux, etc a while ago), so not sure what I'll do. But at least I know what's what on the Apple front.
 
I'm still using a late 2013 MBP, and still works great. I sold an early 2013 MBP to a friend and it's still going strong too (had a liquid event (rapidly disassembled and cleaned/dried) and works fine other than battery doesn't last very long (can be replaced)).
I use VMWare Fusion to run Win10 and Ubuntu Linux (software development related work). All video/audio editing tools run fine natively in OSX. 4K video requires proxies, and that works fine too, though I now do all serious 4K editing on a fast Win10 box. A 2010 MacPro with GTX980ti (with Macvidcards ROM) was able to edit 4K video until I had to upgrade to Mojave for iOS development (Apple forced this: latest version of XCode required Mojave). Due to the Apple/NVidia business issue, Mojave won't allow NVidia drivers, and the latest supported by Apple is the GTX 770. Fortunately still had a Macvidcards GTX 770 in a PC box, and swapped this card with the GTX980ti into the 2010 MacPro and now there's at least GPU acceleration for development and Photoshop, 1080p video, but 4K isn't possible anymore in PP CC (might work in FCPX and Resolve). The other option is a recent Radeon card, however it won't have a Mac boot ROM, isn't nearly as powerful as NVidia cards, and they run hotter (uses more power). The clear answer was just move all video editing over to the PC with the GTX1080.

Apple designs nice laptops that last a long time built by Quanta (Compal is making watches now, not clear if they are involved in the laptop space too)- haven't seen a new Apple MBP that motivated an upgrade. If the new machines are fast enough for 4K editing, have decent keyboards & displays, and no thermal issues, might be worth a look.
 
I bought a 15" MBP in mid 2017 so I'm not due for a new laptop anytime soon. But my keyboard has been acting up for a year now.
I wonder if I took it in, if they would replace it with the new 2019 keyboard or if they aren't compatible.
 
roxics said:
I bought a 15" MBP in mid 2017 so I'm not due for a new laptop anytime soon. But my keyboard has been acting up for a year now. I wonder if I took it in, if they would replace it with the new 2019 keyboard or if they aren't compatible.
Click to expand...

Sounds like if your MBP qualifies (and it seems like yours will), Apple might stick in the "new" keyboard, which appears to be the same or similar design but with better materials. YMMV:

Apple Unveils Improved MacBook Keyboard: What You Need to Know
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/macbook-pro-new-butterfly-keyboard,news-30130.html
 
roxics said:
I bought a 15" MBP in mid 2017 so I'm not due for a new laptop anytime soon. But my keyboard has been acting up for a year now.
I wonder if I took it in, if they would replace it with the new 2019 keyboard or if they aren't compatible.
Click to expand...

Here is a direct link to Apple's Keyboard Service Program. The link on the Tomsguide article appears to be broken and points to a generic Apple support page.

https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks/


I have to say it's a bit concerning that the new 2019 MacBook Pro's are included in the service program. It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the durablitliy of the updated keyboard but I'll reserve judgement until I see a teardown.

I personally primarily use iMacs but we have a few Macbook Pros including a couple that date back to 2011 that still work like champs. I'd like to think any new MacBook Pro I buy could last just as long so hopefully this new keyboard isn't just an interim solutions.
 
Run&Gun said:
I have a 2012 RMBP that just keeps chugging along(longest I've ever continuously used a single computer)(my 2009 17" MBP still works, but I don't use it). Been considering a new one and it looks like you can get a new, more powerful one for even less than what was current last week. At least equipped the way that I would want it(mostly). Their internal storage, albeit very high performance SSD's, is still very expensive. Especially when we've gotten used to buying multi-terabyte HDD's for $100 or so. When I spec'd a 15" out a few weeks ago, I maxed it out, except for only 1TB internal storage and it was around $4500, I believe. Now, maxed out with 1TB is $3949.
Click to expand...

That's a good point on the pricing. Depending on what the teardowns and benchmarks reveal I think I might have to get off the fence and finally upgrade.
 
This is a pretty cool upgrade but for me not as exciting. I just put together a decked out Mac mini with 32gb of ram and a Vega 56 eGPU for $1860. Yeah its stuck on my desk but that's a lot of bang for the buck compared to the lesser performance of the 6 core MBP and Vega 20.

I'm also kind of holding out for the rumored 16" or 16.5" MBP. I don't think it will be bigger but it very well will get rid of the massive bezels around the display, The current physical size of the 15" could easily support a slightly larger than 16" display with an edge to edge design. I really want to move away from a 1440 base resolution on a laptop. While the MBP can use a scaled mode for 1920x1200 its insanely small and it introduces some softness. I would like a larger UI space without making the DPI too small for comfortable usage. That to me has a lot more value than a minor CPU bump.

I'm excited to know 8 cores is a realistic future for a MBP but I for one will hold out for a larger resolution display even if that means the same 15" physical size.
 
I'd like to see the rumored 16.5" model, too. My first MBP was 17". It took me a while to get used to the smaller 15" screen on the RMBP, and I would love to step back up to a "big screen".
 
My first macbook pro was a 17 inch too. Now using a 2016 15 inch. 8 cores! I would love to have this upgrade. However, I will hold out for the 17 inch or 16.5 inch one till next year. Lets see. I am mostly on the move, so having a macbook pro is more important for me.
 
Thomas Smet said:
The current physical size of the 15" could easily support a slightly larger than 16" display with an edge to edge design. I really want to move away from a 1440 base resolution on a laptop.
Click to expand...

This is key.

While I think the 8 cores and Vega20 would be a nice upgrade from my maxed out 2016 model (apart from SSD size), I'd like to move up a wee bit in UI size too.
 
Thomas Smet said:
This is a pretty cool upgrade but for me not as exciting. I just put together a decked out Mac mini with 32gb of ram and a Vega 56 eGPU for $1860. Yeah its stuck on my desk but that's a lot of bang for the buck compared to the lesser performance of the 6 core MBP and Vega 20.

I'm also kind of holding out for the rumored 16" or 16.5" MBP. I don't think it will be bigger but it very well will get rid of the massive bezels around the display, The current physical size of the 15" could easily support a slightly larger than 16" display with an edge to edge design. I really want to move away from a 1440 base resolution on a laptop. While the MBP can use a scaled mode for 1920x1200 its insanely small and it introduces some softness. I would like a larger UI space without making the DPI too small for comfortable usage. That to me has a lot more value than a minor CPU bump.

I'm excited to know 8 cores is a realistic future for a MBP but I for one will hold out for a larger resolution display even if that means the same 15" physical size.
Click to expand...

I think the 2018 Mac Mini is a bit under-appreciated. That it has 2 Thunderbolt 3 busses, all the ports needed to connect a monitor and peripherals without resorting to dongles, optional 10gbe makes it a potentially great eGPU workhorse. I can't remember a time when Apple updated their MacBook Pro line 3 times in less than a year. Apple appears to be moving pretty aggressively to update systems when new hardware is available so maybe the Mac Mini will also get a 8 core update soon.

Do you use NeatVideo? If so, could you run NeatBench to see what kind of performance you are seeing with your eGPU?

Thanks,
Gary
 
It looks like Apple worked some magic with this new model to mitigate most thermal throttling issues. Appleinsider tested the new MacBook Pro by repeatedly running the new Cinebench R20 CPU benchmark and found after many runs the 8-core 2019 MacBook Pro ran well above it's base clock speed and actually topped the clock speed of the 2018 6-core model. The Appleinsiders found result surprising given that this newer model has the same fan and heat pipe as the 2018 model.

This is only one CPU benchmark but based on earlier Barefeats testing it places the 2019 MacBook Pro in same range of as many Mac Pros and not too far behind the base iMac Pro. Of course it's GPU isn't very competitive but there is always the option of an eGPU for those who need better GPU performance.

On the whole I think this makes the 8-core 2019 MacBook Pro pretty competitive and bodes well for what we can expect from the rumored 16+" MacBook Pro model.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...erformance-in-the-eight-core-2019-macbook-pro
https://barefeats.com/cinebench-20-mac-shootout.html
 
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