Apple launches a new 8-core MacBook Pro with an updated keyboard

Apple updates the 15-inch MacBook Pro for 2019

Apple has updated the MacBook Pro this week, adding in the newest eighth- and ninth-generation Intel-branded processors to speed up its machines.

On Tuesday, Apple officially announced new Intel processor options for its MacBook Pro lineup, both in the 13- and 15-inch models. This new launch brings an eight-core processor to the MacBook Pro for the first time, which Apple calls the “fastest MacBook Pro ever”. According to the company, it is two-times faster than a quad-core MacBook Pro and offers 40 percent more performance than a 6-core variant.

Whether it’s college students mastering a course of study, developers building world-class apps or video editors creating feature films, we’re constantly amazed at what our customers do with their MacBook Pro,” said Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac Product Marketing. “Now with 8-core processors for an incredible performance boost, along with its stunning Retina display, fast storage, all-day battery life and running macOS, MacBook Pro continues to be the world’s best pro notebook and we can’t wait to get it into our customer’s hands to see what they do next.

Apple bills this new 8-core MacBook Pro as the ultimate device to get things done, especially for technical work. The new 15-inch model offers both upgraded 6- and 8-core options, offering “up to 5.0Ghz” speeds with Turbo Boost. Meanwhile, the 13-inch MacBook Pro includes an upgraded quad-core processor, with Turbo Speeds up to 4.7Ghz.

Apple says that, compared with the fastest quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro, the new 8-core MacBook Pro is two-times faster, which means it can make getting things done even faster. Such as:

  • Music producers can play back massive multi-track projects with up to two times more Alchemy plug-ins in Logic Pro X.
  • 3D designers can render scenes up to two times faster in Maya Arnold.
  • Photographers can apply complex edits and filters up to 75 percent faster in Photoshop.
  • Developers can compile code up to 65 percent faster in Xcode.
  • Scientists and researchers can compute complex fluid dynamics simulations up to 50 percent faster in TetrUSS.
  • Video editors can edit up to 11 simultaneous multicam streams of 4K video in Final Cut Pro X.

The rest of Apple’s announcement just rounds out what MacBook Pro owners can expect with the hardware, including macOS Mojave, the T2 security chip, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and so on.

But The Loop has additional information that will probably be nice to hear as far as the butterfly keyboard is concerned. According to the publication, Apple has updated its keyboard design to help reduce issues. Apple has already apologized that a “small number” of MacBook and MacBook Pro owners are unhappy with the butterfly keyboard, but this should hopefully actually help with the issue.

The report indicates that Apple has changed the material used in the butterfly design, but no additional information was provided. So while Apple has tweaked the formula a bit, we don’t know exactly what that means just yet.

Another change in the newest MacBook Pro computers is with the keyboard. While Apple says the vast majority of its customers are happy with the keyboard, they do take customer complaints seriously, and work to fix any issues.

To address the problem, Apple said they changed the material in the keyboard’s butterfly mechanism that should substantially reduce issues that some users have seen.

Meanwhile, pricing looks like this: the new 13-inch model starts at $1,799, while the new 15-inch model starts at $2,399. Apple says the new models are available beginning today from Apple’s website directly and the Apple Store iOS app. They will be available later this week from select Apple stores and Authorized Resellers.

What do you think? Are you going to buy or upgrade to the new MacBook Pro? If so, are you going with the 13- or 15-inch model?