MSRP:
$1799.00
There isn't anything radically different in Apple's Mid 2019 MacBook Pro 13-inch, but it's certainly the year to go for if you can at all afford a new model. Apple has switched to eighth- and ninth-generation Intel processors, which in the case of the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro means a quad-core, 1.4GHz Core i5 chip in the entry-level configuration, with boost speeds up to 4.1 gigahertz.
The entry system also ships with 8GB of 2,133-megahertz LPDDR3 RAM and a 128GB SSD. Some build-to-order upgrades include a 2.8GHz Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage -- though it's probably cheaper to buy an external Thunderbolt 3/USB-C drive at that point. 512GB and 1TB SSDs are also available.
The display is a 227ppi, 2,560-by-1,600 Retina panel supporting the P3 color gamut and Apple's True Tone technology, which adjusts color temperature to ambient lighting. All configurations rely on Intel's integrated Iris Plus 645 or 655 graphics, so you'll want an external GPU if you're planning on serious gaming or rendering.
Ports include a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and either two or four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C connections, depending on the configuration. Other tech specs include a 720p FaceTime HD camera, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, stereo speakers, and three microphones.
Significantly Apple has introduced a new butterfly keyboard, intended to cope with complaints about double-typing or outright unresponsive keys.
Apple also quotes up to 10 hours of Web browsing or video playback, and 30 days of standby time. The laptop comes in silver or space gray, bundled with a 61-watt USB-C power adapter and a 6.5-foot USB-C cable.
Without an event, Apple quietly announced an updated base model 13-inch MacBook Pro that featured new quad-core processors, Touch Bar with Touch ID, T2 Security Chip, True Tone display, and an updated butterfly keyboard. Is this new $1299 laptop worth it?
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