Apple MacBook Pro has always been the choice of power users. The laptop is popular for its combination of elegant design and powerful hardware. Apple discontinued its 15-inch MacBook Pro in November 2019, replacing it with a 16-inch model. The new model has a bigger screen size and better hardware. However, the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s biggest change is the new Magic Keyboard. Apple bids farewell to the older, somewhat erratic Butterfly keyboard design.
Large screen laptops are heavy and difficult to carry around so ever since the 16-inch MacBook launch, Apple fans have been waiting for an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple puts an end to the anticipation with the launch of new 13-inch MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Pro comes carved in a single aluminium chassis, sporting the colour-accurate Retina Display alongside lots of hardware improvements. The 2020 MacBook Pro looks even more appealing with the latest MacOS Catalina on-board. Let’s look at what the updated MacBook Pro has to offer.
The updated MacBook Pro models comes in two configurations. The top-spec MacBook Pro comes with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor. The new processor claims to be twice as fast as the older model. This should make tasks such as photo and video editing a lot smoother. However, Apple hasn’t updated the CPU on the base variant of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. It still sports Intel’s 8th generation Core i5 processor. This is the same chip used in 2019 MacBook Pros and Apple says, this has been largely done too keep the base MacBook Pro affordable. The base MacBook Pro comes with 8GB RAM while the top-spec MacBook Pro gets a faster 3733Mhz 16GB LPDDR4X RAM.
Apple has also doubled the storage on the base MacBook Pro too. This means, the base model now comes with a 256GB SSD which is enough to store a lot more. You also get the option of configuring the storage up to 1TB if you need more on-board storage. Apple has also updated the GPU on the top-spec MacBook Pro. It comes with an Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics which Apple claims is up to 80 per cent faster than the previous generation MacBook Pro. You are likely to see major performance improvements with the higher-spec MacBook Pro, especially when using software such as Adobe Photo and Final Cut Pro. The entry-level model comes with an Intel Iris Plus 645 integrated graphics solution. Both the GPUs support 6K external displays, including the Apple Pro Display XDR through one of its two Thunderbird 3 port.
A lot of people were expecting a 14-inch MacBook Pro this year. However, the new MacBook Pro continues to offer a 13.3-inch display. The screen sports the same Retina Display technology known to produce natural colours. It also features Apple’s True Tone Display technology that uses multi-channel ambient light sensors to automatically adjust white balance depending on the surrounding environment and lightning. The screen now produces 500 nits of brightness, which should provide better visibility in brighter rooms. The Retina Display has been incredibly colour accurate and you can spend hours watching Netflix, YouTube, and use productivity software without feeling any eye strain.
There aren’t too many changes on the 2020 MacBook Pro’s exteriors. The device sports an aluminium chassis design and it comes in Space Grey and Silver colour options. The device weighs close to 1.5kg and it is 1.5 cm thick. The compact design makes the MacBook Pro incredibly portable and easy to carry around. The device also features the Touch Bar which lets you perform a variety of functions such as taking screenshots, adjusting brightness and controlling the volume. The Touch Bar also lets you add a variety of tools from software such as Adobe Premier Pro, which makes editing easier. The 2020 MacBook Pro also features the T2 Touch ID sensor to quickly unlock the device. You can also use Touch ID to unlock software and OS, as well as to purchase apps from the Apple store and confirm online payments.
The 2020 MacBook Pro comes with the new Magic Keyboard which was first introduced in the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The new keyboard features the Scissor Key Mechanism, which Apple says is more reliable and provides a better typing experience. The keys are also backlit like before, which makes typing in the dark easier. The MacBook Pro also features the same large Force Touch trackpad. It comes with Apple’s Taptic Engine which provides a tactile feedback, replacing the feel of a physical button press. A larger trackpad makes scrolling through webpages, photos and documents easier. It also makes navigating through video timelines easy, while using software such as Final Cut Pro. The trackpad supports multi-touch gestures which makes multitasking and switching between apps easier.
The 2020 MacBook Pro ships with the latest MacOS release, called Catalina. The new OS comes with a bunch of updates such as Dark Mode, a new Notes, and Reminder app. The OS also brings security and data protection updates which make the MacBook Pro even more secure. Apple has recently introduced a Mac Catalyst feature, which lets you run iPad apps on your Mac. Features such as Sidecar also let you use the iPad as a secondary display.
Apple hasn’t made major changes to the new MacBook Pro on the connectivity front. The device comes with Wi-Fi 802.11ac for wireless connectivity but it misses out Wi-Fi 6, as you would find on the updated MacBook Air. However, the new MacBook Pro comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity between peripherals. The updated MacBook Pro 13-inch also features a stereo speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support. The device also comes with two Thunderbird 3 ports for faster data transfer. These ports can be also be used to charge the device. The device ships with a 61W USB-C adaptor and Apple claims the device should offer 10 hours of battery life under moderate usage.
The updated MacBook Pro makes a more sensible choice for users looking for a portable and powerful laptop. The higher-spec MacBook Pro comes with all the bells and whistles, such as the 10th generation Intel processor, faster RAM, and better storage capacity, making it significantly faster than the previous generation MacBook Pro. The price differences between updated base MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air are minimal. It should be clear that the base MacBook Pro sports Intel’s quad-core processor and this should make it significantly faster than the dual-core MacBook Air. The new MacBook Pro should be coming to India soon. To keep yourself updated, keep following us on www.reliancedigital.in
