Apple MacBook Pro 2019: features, price, and release date

Without fanfare, Apple released this Tuesday (21) new 13 and 15-inch MacBooks Pro with updated hardware. For the first time, the larger model can be configured with an eight-core Core i9 processor, as long as you're willing to pay for it. In addition, the laptops have the fourth generation of the butterfly engine keyboard, which promises to be more reliable than the previous ones.

Visually, the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks Pro are identical to their predecessors, with Touch Bar, Touch ID fingerprint reader, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and Retina displays with 2560×1600 pixel resolution. Inside, the notebooks received either the Intel Core i5 and i7 8th generation (13") or i7 and i9 ninth generation (15") chips.

This is the first time that a 15-inch MacBook Pro has an eight-core CPU. Apple reports that the 2.4 GHz version with an octa-core Core i9 processor (up to 5.0 GHz with Turbo Boost) is twice as fast as the quad-core chip notebook and 40% faster than the six-core model. Only you need to spend at least R$26,199 to get one.

The prices of the base models of the new MacBooks Pro are as follows:

▪ 13 folds, Core i5 quad-core 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD: R$ 16,199

▪ 13 folds, Core i5 quad-core 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: R$ 17,799

▪ 15 folds, Core i7 six-core 2.6 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Radeon Pro 555X: R$ 21,299

▪ 15 folds, Core i9 octa-core 2.3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, Radeon Pro 560X: R$ 24,599

As usual, you can customize your notebook hardware prior to purchase. In Brazil, the most powerful 15-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with 2.4GHz Core i9 octa-core, 32GB RAM, 4TB SSD and Radeon Pro Vega 20 GPU. It costs $ 54,599, but at least Apple offers 10% cash discount and shipping is free. Better than nothing, right?

MacBook Pro brings the fourth generation of the butterfly keyboard

There is no mention of the keyboard of the new MacBooks Pro in Apple's official announcement, but the company confirmed to TechCrunch that the machines bring the fourth generation of the butterfly engine. As we know, the keyboard has been a source of headache for owners: it stops working properly when it gathers dust, even in its latest generation, which has an additional protective membrane.

Although there are no visual changes to the new keyboard, the internal enhancements promise to "substantially reduce" problems such as double pressing or lack of response from keys. We still don't know what the changes were - we'll certainly find out in future dismantling (hi, iFixit!). If you have a MacBook with a faulty butterfly keyboard, you'll get the new generation at an Apple repair center.

The new MacBooks are already available at Apple stores, with deliveries in two weeks' time.