MacBook Pro 2018 news: problems, new GPU options, price, specifications

MacBook Pro 2018 news: problems, new GPU options, price, specifications

In July 2018, Apple announced an important update for its MacBook Pro laptop, 13 months after its previous update in June 2017, to WWDC 2017. The MacBook Pro 2018 notebooks are available with 13-inch and 15-inch screens of the eighth generation Intel processor lake (up to 6 cores), storage extension and RAM options, T2 chip controller subsystem and True Tone screens.

Then, in October 2018, Apple announced that a new graphics card will be available for the 15th MacBook Pro from November 2018. Find out more about the new GPU for the MacBook Pro and a new eGPU option below.

This article completes all the latest news about the MacBook Pro 2018: release date, prices, specifications and new features.

You can read more about the 2018 13in MacBook Pro Review and the MacBook Pro 15in (2018) review. We also have a comparison of the two models and an extensive Mac market guide. Also, learn how MacBook Pro compares with MacBook Air, which was updated in October 2018.

Availability

The MacBook Pro 2018 is available for purchase through the Apple website. Laptops are also available in some Apple stores and distributors. See this article for the best MacBook Pro deals (monthly update).

Price

There are many configuration options. The update of the 13in models (all of which feature Touch of the Bar – if they do not have the Touch of the Bar is the 2017 model) start at £ 1.749 in the UK and $ 1.799 in the United States. This is the same as the cheapest, touch the bar of the previous generation.

The 15-inch models, all with Touch of the Controls Bar, are still £ 2,349 in the UK and $ 2,399 in the United States, as they did in 2017 (note that before this update, Apple is still selling model No Touch the Bar 2015 of the MacBook Pro 15in £ 1.899 / $ 1.999, the unit is no longer sold).

Graphic card New option

A new graphics option will soon be available for the 15in MacBook Pro that Apple says could give it a 60% increase in performance compared to the Radeon Pro 560X which is today the fastest GPU you can get on a MacBook Pro.

The new graphics option, AMD Radeon Pro Vega, is already an option for the iMac Pro, but this will be the first time it will be included on a laptop. The Radeon Pro Vega 20 and Pro Vega 16 should not be as hot or energy-intensive as Vega chips.

Apple says that because the new GPU options use large memory bandwidth (HBM2), it can offer twice the bandwidth of GPU memory at significantly lower power, so more graphics power The budget can be used by the GPU itself.

New GPU options will be available at the end of November. The value must be known.

Apple also announced a new BlackMagic eGPU with Radeon RX Vega 56 and 8 GB or HBM2. The eGPU will cost $ 1.199 / £ 1.199. You can buy one here. The BlackMagic eGPU stream includes a Radeon Pro 580 GPU and costs $ 699 / £ 599.

Problems & Corrections

Booting MacBook Pro was no problem, although Apple has already found a way to solve a major problem.

Speaker problems

The new MacBook Pro seems to have problems with the speakers.

there were reports about Reddit and YouTube. He argues that a crunch or distortion can even be heard at a relatively low intensity.

"Crackling noise is remarkable after a few minutes while listening to audio files or types of YouTube sites," says a Reddit poster that replaced the new MacBook Pro and found that the same problem occurred. They suspect they are the drivers. Other posters suspect this is a firmware problem.

Obviously, Apple knows the problem and looks at it, according to TNW sources.

Some of the subject's reports are one of those that appear mostly in specific applications, such as Apple Music, iTunes or the Garage of the band. Others say that YouTube videos have the same effect.

The problem can lead to hardware problem instead of software error. It does not seem that the problem is very widespread.

This is not the first time the MacBook Pro has suffered this problem. Back in 2016, shortly after MacBook Pro's release that year, reports of strong clicks and clicks through the speakers at community forums appeared. Initially, it was considered that the problem occurred only in the training camp, but it seemed that the problem was more extensive than one. We have covered this issue here.

Thermal and limiting performance problems

With the arrival of the new MacBook Pro, reports were reported that new laptops were hitting successes during heavy processing.

YouTube users Dave Lee was the first to highlight the issue when he released his video below, arguing that the i9 MacBook Pro Core and cooling systems were not enough to keep the Core i9 fast.

Lee used a MacBook with i9 equipped with Adobe Premiere – which leads to some hope that only the processor and the program were affected. However, other reports indicate that the limitation of problems was more extensive and that all the new MacBook Pro were found to run so hot during intensive operations that they were strangled below the basic speed.

Apple released a solution to the constraint problem on Tuesday, July 25th. The update supplement (here) weighs 3.55 GB and does not seem to resolve the problem caused by the new MacBook Pro laptop too much accelerator when the intensive work system is completed.

Apple released the following statement about the update: "After extensive performance tests on numerous workloads, we found that there is a lack of a digital key in the firmware that affects the thermal management system and could lead to low clock speeds under heavy heat loads in new MacBook Pro A bug fix is ​​included in today's MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6 We recommend upgrading and upgrading We apologize for every client who has experienced less than the best The customers can expect that the new 15-inch MacBook Pro will be up to 70% faster and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch of the rod being up to 2 times faster, as shown in the results in our website. "

To install the update, look for the update in About This Mac> General> Software Update and the update must be done automatically.

Alternatively, visit the Apple website and download it from here. We downloaded from the Apple website, found the update in the Downloads folder, installed it, and then waited while the Mac rebooted.

We talked about limiting the issues in the following video.

Here are even more details, as the problem is thoroughly analyzed in the Macworld podcast:

One more? This issue is being discussed for the last time by the Plenary of the Nerd Group:

Data recovery problems

It seems that in redesigning the inside of the MacBook Pro 2018, Apple has removed the data recovery port – probably for security reasons.

If a MacBook Pro 2018 user encountered logical platform failure, they could not retrieve data from the SSD.

This is because Apple has removed a data recovery link that could be used to store data from the SSD in case of a failure on the logic board.

iFixIt found this plug out of the 13in and 15in models when they disassembled the 2018 MacBook Pro.

It seems likely that the removal of the port is related to safety. The T2 chip in the 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is responsible for encrypting the SSD, so avoiding this encryption and retrieving data via a port would be contradictory.

Removing this backup media is even more important for MacBook Pro 2018 users.

T2 is related to panic of the kernel

The T2 chip may be the cause of core panic in the new MacBook Pro, along with the iMac Pro, which also has the Apple-designed chip.

Error messages indicate that there is a problem with OSI Bridge & # 39; which is the operating system used by the T2 chip, and therefore the assumption that the error will return to chip T2.

Digital trends indicate that you are likely to avoid these cases of kernel panic if users do not make Daisy chain devices, do not use a Thunderbolt 3 Thunderbolt 2 adapter, disable Siesta, disable safe boot, do not unlock with Apple Watch, remove them third-party kernel extensions and disable any power management options you can find. "Site that collects tips from various forum topics on the topic.

Keyboard

Outside, the new MacBooks look like 2017 models – all changes are internal. This may be troubling for some, as there have been lurks over the keyboard of the last two generations of the MacBook Pro, which seems to be plagued by a problem where dust can represent some useless keys (read all about the MacBook Keyboard problems here ).

The good news is that the new MacBook Pro features a new keyboard that Apple describes in the press release as "improving the third generation of the silent keyboard by typing". Since the MacBook Pro keyboard is almost deafening, you may be wondering what is the point of change. The good news is that the quietest keyboard seems to be a symptom of another change observed by iFixIt.

When iFixIt disassembled the new MacBook Pro, she realized that Apple has wrapped the butterfly switches on a thin silicone barrier, which she believes is designed to prevent dust and crumbs from sticking. This new design, hopefully, will avoid the problems that plague the latest generation of keyboards with the "Butterfly Design".

An Apple patent application published in March looks a bit like this silicon overlay scheme using the new keyboards – and it was described as "an influx of pollutants to prevent and / or mitigate [mecanismo]. "This shows that design was devised to avoid the problems faced by people with the largest keyboard layout.

although Apple said the new third-generation keyboard was not designed to solve it [polvo] topics "(according to Report Point), iFixIt suggests that" silence of the corners is literally a cover ".

Unfortunately, the new keyboards are not totally unbreakable – we do not recommend using one on the beach for example. IFixIt has tried the torture of the new MacBook Pro and found that "just as the last time, some badly placed particles bring the powerful butterfly down to earth, never click on the new one." the iFixIt report here).

The space draws the pad "full of particles to test our input to the theoretical correction," initially the silicon barrier did a good job, but eventually "by adding more particles and some aggressive writing, it penetrates under the wrap of the clips, at the top of the switch – so the input correction is not infinite yet. "

It is rare that a MacBook Pro will currently find these kinds of stress tests under normal conditions of use, iFixit indicates that using it in a dusty room will "not kill it" but does not discourage readers from being used in beach.

When Apple introduced the new MacBook Pro Button Design Keyboard Mechanism in 2016, it seems that many people who have had problems with the Repeat Keys and other keys do not work. Others claimed to have a high-frequency sound and it's called a small dust specification that may represent a useless keyboard so it needs to replace the entire front of the MacBook.

The problem has become so widespread that Apple has changed its repository and will now offer free repairs for MacBook Pros with keyboards.

You can sign a report asking Apple to remember the faulty Mac laptops and replace the keyboards for free, or even join a trial and an attempt to get the damages of Apple. Read all the problems with your MacBook Pro here.

2018 features and specifications MacBook Pro

Let's start with the basic specifications of the two main models, before proceeding to discuss them in depth.

MacBook Pro 13in (2018) specifications

• Quad Core Intel Core i5 and i7 to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz
• Integrated graphics 655 Intel Iris Plus with 128 mb eDRAM
• Up to 2 tb of SSD storage
• The real tone of the screen
• Apple T2 chip
• Touch the line

MacBook Pro 15in (2018) specifications

• 6 core processors Intel Core i7 and Core i9 to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz
• Up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM
• Discreet Radeon Pro graphics with 4GB video memory
• Up to 4 tb of SSD storage
• The real tone of the screen
• Apple T2 chip
• Touch the line

What does this specification mean in practice?

Processors

Apple has equipped its new laptops with the latest Intel processors from the eighth generation processor chip and claims that this will cause dramatic increases in speed.

13 year old professionals have finally moved from dual-core to quad-core, and Apple says they offer twice the speed of the previous generation. The 15in model comes with six cores and processors up to 70% of the 2017 generation gain. We will not be able to control these claims until samples are reviewed in our workshops, but the results of Geekbench that are leaking electronically in June 2018 suggest it is too fast. The mystery device (six cores) scored a single core score of 4,902 and a multi-core score of 22,316, which is far ahead of any MacBook Pro 2017.

The specific processor options are also interesting. For the first time, Apple is making available a Core i9 chipset (15in models only): a detective partner, makes us believe that it is the Core i9 8950K. The top of the 13in portable series takes an i7 that we think is the Core i7-8559U.

In both cases, these are the Café Lago brands, an update on the Kaby Lago chips on 2017 machines. Lago coffee should provide improvements in energy consumption as well as speed.

There is also an option of i9 processor for construction.

Graphics

over the news about new graphics options. The 15in MacBook Pro comes with the Radeon Pro 555X or Radeon Pro 560X with GDDR5 4GB memory as a standard.

The 13in has built-in graphics.

RAM

Another improvement: RAM is more than 32 GB for the 16GB 16GB model.

Previously, all 13in models offered 8GB of RAM (although there was a 16GB option). The 15-inch models are delivered with 16 GB of RAM as a standard.

Save

Now you can get a 4 tb SSD at 15in Pro; the maximum in 2017 in the production of 2 TB.

T2

All the new MacBook Pros models get the T2 from the controller chip subsystem earlier observed in the iMac Pro. This is not the main processor of the system – this task is taken from the eighth Core Core chip – but it is charged with the execution of the subsystems and the production of simplified interior design. Our Macworld NOS associates named T2 "the beginning of a Mac Revolution".

The real tone of the screen

Interestingly, Apple has endowed the new MacBooks with a particular monitor tone. The Apple True Technology Tone was the first to feature in the iP16 Pro 2016: adjust the color and output brightness to compensate for the changing ambient light conditions. It's a slim, but we're pleased to see you go to MacOS.

no There are other screen changes we know. Apple has not started the calls so that a 4K screen is included, for example. Screen resolution remains the same as the previous one.

battery life

Apple has not made any claims about improving the life of the new MacBook models. However, the reduced energy consumption made possible by Lago Café means that there may be some improvements in this area. Όπως πάντα, θα συνεχίσουμε με τα αποτελέσματα του εργαστηρίου όταν τα αφήσουμε.

Αγγίξτε την μπάρα

Όλα τα ενημερωμένα μοντέλα MacBook Pro έρχονται με μια αφή της ράβδου (και επομένως Touch ID). Η Apple θα συνεχίσει να πωλεί ένα μοντέλο χωρίς να αγγίζει το 13in Bar, αλλά δεν ενημερώνεται.

Πιστεύουμε ότι το Touch of the Bar είναι ένα τέχνασμα και το γεγονός ότι η Apple δεν έχει μεταφερθεί σε κανένα άλλο Mac μέχρι σήμερα, σημαίνει ότι οι προγραμματιστές δεν ενημερώνουν τις εφαρμογές τους για υποστήριξη. Αλλά η ευρεία υποστήριξη για αυτό εδώ δείχνει ότι η Apple έχει δεσμευτεί στην έννοια.