MacBook Pro Review – New 13 And 15 Inch Models – What Is New?

By Boris Dzhingarov

In October Apple launched 2 brand new MacBook Pro models, both being revamps of the previous models. We thus have the possibility of choosing between screen sizes of 13 and 15 inches. However, what counts the most is what we find inside the case. With this in mind, here is a simple MacBook Pro review that highlights what is new and why you may want to consider buying.

MacBook_Pro_at_diner_table
By Tony Webster (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Battery Power And Processor

Intel Haswell processors were included in both MacBook Pro models, i5 or i7 Intel Core. This automatically offers more processing power but we have to say that battery efficiency is what immediately stands out thanks to the Haswell addition. For instance, the 15 inch Apple MacBook Pro has a battery life of 8 hours, which is one hour more than the previous model. If you opt for the 13 inch option, you can use the laptop for 9 hours.

Size Advantages In The 13 Inch Model

We have to say that the 13 Inch Apple MacBook Pro is particularly impressive because of the size changes offered. We are faced with a thickness of 18 mm and the weight of the laptop is of 1.57 kg. This is actually quite close to the MacBook Air’s 1.35 kg.

PCI-e Flash Internal Storage

This is a move that everyone expected since the launch of the MacBook Air showcased the move to the PCI-e SSD instead of the use of SATA. With the MacBook Pro models, we see the same thing. This is definitely a good thing since the speed of PCI-e is higher than that of SATA. You get faster transfer rate and we all love this.

Thunderbolt 2

Both the 13 and the 15 inch MacBook Pro models include Thunderbolt 2 ports. This is currently among the really advanced connections that you can take advantage of. You will see that the socket is just as the previous Thunderbolt model. This is because it is backwards compatible. However, Thunderbolt 2 does have its advantages. One of them is the necessary bandwidth support for many 4k displays in one connection.

Both Models Are Cheaper

We are talking about 2 devices that have Retina Display. This automatically means that at least this part of the laptop is more expensive. Even so, we are faced with better prices, which is definitely great for absolutely everyone. The 13 inch model now has a starting price tag of $1299 and the 15 inch model starts at an attractive $1999. Prices do vary from country to country but it is obvious that the cheaper cost will increase sales.

Conclusions

There is nothing that stands out in the sense that this MacBook Pro update was completely predictable. Apple did not take any chance on what it added and the modifications that were made. This is not a bad thing. We have Retina models that are cheaper, which is definitely something great for all possible users. The extra additions only sweeten the deal, making the MacBook Pro a very strong competitor in its share of the market.