Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
While the $ 1999 15 - in Retina MacBook Pro offer a nice boost in battery life and quick split second storage , its want of a discrete graphics processor prevents it from being all that it can be .
Recently Applereleasedits second update to the 15 - inchMacBook Pro with Retina video display . These former 2013 MacBook Pros keep the same 2880 by 1800 resolution Retina exhibit as itspredecessor , but use the latest quad - core Haswell processors , Iris Pro graphics and PCIe connected flash .
outwardly identical to the 4.46 - pound , 15 - inch modeling let go in February 2013 andJune 2012 , this version of the MacBook Pro has a number of changes beneath its aluminum Earth’s surface . You ’ll chance Intel ’s 4th generation Core processors ( Haswell)—specifically , a quadriceps femoris - core 2.0GHz Core i7 in the $ 1999 laptop and a quad - gist 2.3GHz Core i7 in the $ 2599 model . They replace the 2.4GHz and 2.7GHz quad - core Ivy Bridge processors , severally , that powered the systems that launch earlier this year . The low-toned - end model ships with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of fast PCIe - connect flash storage . The high - end model doubles both the RAM and storage capacity .
Results are in seconds. Shorter bars/lower results are better.
Two Thunderbolt 2 port interchange the Thunderbolt ports on the previous Retina models . Thunderbolt 2 is backward - compatible with Thunderbolt , but you need Thunderbolt 2 gadget to see the increased bandwidth .
The rest of the connection stay on from previous mannikin : two USB 3.0 larboard , an HDMI port , an SDXC lineup slot , a headphone jack , and a MagSafe 2 mogul connector . Wireless connexion have been updated to the latest glasses : 802.11ac Wi - Fi ( which as we ’ve visualize in the MacBook Airs , tender much faster wireless transfer rate ) and Bluetooth 4.0 .
Graphical differences
In a first for Apple , the $ 1999 15 - column inch MacBook Pro has no discrete graphics . It relies solely on Intel ’s Iris Pro ( equipped with Crystalwell ) desegregate graphics . The $ 2599 model has two graphic cards , the aforementioned integrated Iris Pro as well as Nvidia GeForce GT 750 m distinct graphics with 2 GB of dedicated video memory .
As ourtests of the 13 - in MacBook Pro show , the Iris graphics are substantially fast than the Intel Integrated Graphics 4000 used in the Ivy Bridge MacBook Pros . Unfortunately , the new integrate computer graphic still have a ways to go before they can match the performance of discrete graphics . In our tests , the Iris Pro graphics in the $ 1999 MacBook Pro were 33 percent faster than the Iris artwork in the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro . The distinct artwork in the high - end 15 - inch MacBook Pro posted physique rate as much as twice that of the novel low - end ’s Iris Pro .
With the new MacBook Pro , Apple wreak the PCIe - link up flash storage the fellowship introduced with the mid-2013 MacBook Air . And it ’s fast . The new low- and high - end MacBook Pros were 34 and 41 percent quicker , severally , in our 6 GB folder transcript test than the high - oddment Early 2013 MacBook Pro and its 512 GB SATA - link up wink storage .
Macworld Lab is faithful to finishing up our unexampled Speedmark 9 overall organization operation benchmark , but for now , we ’re running a dozen app tests to compare performance between Macs . In those trial , the new in high spirits - last 15 - inch MacBook Pro was fast in 8 of our 12 tests and link up in 3 of the exam . Highlights include a 19 per centum gamy MathematicaMark 9 score , and 9 percent edges in Photoshop Creative Cloud and Cinebench R15 OpenGL tests . The previous eminent - end was 2 per centum quicker in our 6 GB file compression test .
The new low-down - end 15 - column inch Retina could n’t keep up with the high - end former 2013 fashion model , trailing in 7 of the 12 tests and bind in 1 other . Comparing the new 13 - column inch Retina MacBook Pro and the raw low - remnant 15 - inch good example , the 15 - inch was substantially faster across the display panel . The 15 - in ’s quad - core i7 was about twice as fast in CPU intensive tests like Handbrake , MathematicaMark 9 , and Cinebench r15 , but there were also advantages in graphics , storehouse , and productiveness applications .
One place where both raw MacBook Pros shine was in our battery life tests . The new low - end framework lasted 9 time of day , 36 minutes on a single charge . The newfangled high - end edition lasted 9 hours , 26 minutes — about 2 hours longer than the Early 2013 manikin ’s time of 7 hours , 30 minutes . The new 13 - inch Retina MacBook Pro last a small longer : 10 hour , 11 minute of arc .
Bottom line
Much improved shelling aliveness and debauched internal computer storage are both welcome improvements to this a la mode iteration of the 15 - inch Retina MacBook Pro . The $ 1999 2.0GHz MacBook Pro ’s deficiency of distinct computer graphic took a toll on its Cinebench and 3D game execution , but it ’s a much dissolute system than the high - end 13 - column inch Retina MacBook Pro . The $ 2599 2.3GHz Retina MacBook Pro was quicker in just about every way than the arrangement it replaces and would be a great tantrum for owners of older Mac portables looking for a gamey - performance laptop .
Next Thomas Nelson Page : Complete bench mark results
Results are in seconds . Shorter block / lower results are better .
Results are scores . farsighted bars / in high spirits results are honorable .
Results are in human body per secondly . Longer block off / higher results are better .
