Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
With all the excitement surrounding the debut of Apple ’s pioneeringRetina MacBook Pros , it ’s well-fixed to overlook that the company also upgraded the rest period of itspro laptop computer lineup . In addition to the Retina MacBook Pro — the justifiable new criterion against which Apple ’s other laptops ( indeed all laptops ) will now be judge — the company has also updated a pair of 13 - in and a distich of 15 - inch non - RetinaMacBook Pros . These new “ unconstipated ” models volunteer a speed boost over theirlate-2011 predecessorsthanks to stain new central processor and video factor , and feature updated engineering science , include USB 3 .
Targeting markets
To grasp the even MacBook Pro ’s still - significant ingathering is to look at the specific need of Apple ’s mid - market target hearing of non - visually oriented professionals . This category of users , though not originative in the strict definition of “ creative professional , ” still requires substantial computing power , though not inevitably a super high-pitched - resolve show — or the price tag that goes with it .
Apple had developed three laptop model for three discrete sets of buyers : TheMacBookwas a consumer model for general users ; the MacBook Pro catered to a high - end crowd of originative professional ; and theMacBook Airwas there for a belittled group for whom portability outpaced all other traditional notebook appurtenances like an optical driving , spinning hard disc , and multiple connection choice . This crowd appreciated the MacBook Air ’s favorable specs for traveling light ( even if it was just from the bus stay to the billet or class ) .
With the introduction of the Retina MacBook Pro , Apple has re - create its consumer laptop computer category — or rather restored the one that it had removed with thedemise of the mid - grocery MacBookin 2011 . Now , it ’s the Retina display model that caters to the creative gang , the MacBook Pro that covers the consumer mid - marketplace that places a agiotage on traditional laptop computer features , and the Air , which supply to a swiftly extend group that treasure a combination of portability and more and more rapid performance .
Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith, Mauricio Grijalva, William Wang, and Kean Bartelman
While this review covers only the non - Retina lineup of 13- and 15 - inch MacBook Pros , it ’s inevitable that some of that Retina sheen has rubbed off on the regular models . The new MacBook Pros offer the same unibody building , backlit LED screen , light keyboard , multi - touch glass trackpad , and FaceTime HD Web Cam River asthe previous model , but push in front with updated inner architecture for improved operation .
Unlike the new Retina role model — where everything is fixed into place , and where you must make decisions on what you ’ll need down the road at point of leverage — the regular MacBook Pros of both sizes can be customise with do - it - yourself voice , just like their predecessor . With both the 13- and the 15 - in translation , you’re able to easily substitute the hard driveway and RAM at any spot .
Your choice between the 13 - inch and the 15 - inch models depend on the strength of your arms and back , your need for screen real estate of the realm , your taste for higher resolution visuals , and your budget . Pricing from the previous models has stayed the same : The unexampled 13 - inch base models are $ 1199 and $ 1499 , while the new 15 - in substructure mannikin are $ 1799 and $ 2199 . In comparison , the young Retina MacBook Pros commence at $ 2199 and $ 2799 .
Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith, Mauricio Grijalva, William Wang, and Kean Bartelman
Size and weight concerns
The first matter that stands out about the 15 - inch MacBook Pro is its size of it and weight . It ’s less than an inch thick , but its dimensions and heave up more than right for its urbane shape : It quantify 14.35 inch by 9.82 column inch , and at 5.6 British pound sterling — at least by today ’s MacBook Air and iPad standards — it is a banging beast . Or , to be exact , it ’s an absolutely gorgeous , herculean lump of anodized Al that can easily attend to as a desktop modeling , should you choose to attach aThunderbolt displayto it .
The 13 - column inch simulation , at a little more than a pound sluttish , is still a strong , solidly packed 12.78 by 8.94 - column inch aluminum slab of cipher goodness . But its compact dimensions and light frame will make a vast remainder if you plan to tote your laptop around on a regular basis . I was not especially devil by the weight of the 13 - in model , slipped into my rucksack , in the tenacious trek from my office to an result , and then to the train station , followed by a nine - cylinder block pass . The same journey with the 15 - inch model was a much unlike story .
Also , when using either modelling in comparing to , say , theMacBook Air , it helps to be slurred - wristed . I had to make adjustments in my typewrite side to adapt both the thickness and the square - off edge of the face . The poor boy soma component of the MacBook Airs ease pressure on multitude ’s sensitive wrists , and that ’s closely as important a ease take as weight , CRT screen resolution , randomness , and heat .
How We Tested: In Cinebench, we ran that application’s OpenGL frames-per-second test. Using Steam and Steam for Mac, we created a self-running demo for Portal and recorded the frames-per-second rating.
One grounds for the extra weight unit is the presence of a traditional heavy driving . Spinning , platter - free-base drives have an vantage in capacity and monetary value , but they ’re also slow and heavier than the wink - based storage present in the Air and in the Retina MacBook Pro . Apple employ its slowest hard drive speed—5400 rpm — as the default oblation in its Modern models .
Nonetheless , both the 15 - inch and 13 - inch models felt sturdy and well - balanced as I walked with them heart-to-heart — everyone does that from fourth dimension to meter to avoid putting the computer to sleep when switch over room or going to a colleague ’s desk or a get together .
Screen shots
The 15 - column inch MacBook Pro offers a aboriginal screen declaration of 1440 by 900 pel , along with nigh a dozen indorse resolution at 16:10 , 4:3 , and 3:2 aspect proportion . However , only the 15 - inch model lets you particularly configure the screen to a gamey - resolution 1680 by 1050 pixels with the option of either a glossy or anti - glare presentation , for an extra $ 100 .
For the 13 - column inch models , the firmness of purpose options are low , beginning with 1280 by 800 picture element . It ’s dissatisfactory that the sieve resolution of the new 13 - in MacBook Pro does not match the 1440 by 900 pixels of the 15 - inch model — or , for that matter , of the 13 - inch MacBook Air . Both the 13 - inch MacBook Pro and the fresh MacBook Air are power by Intel ’s new HD Graphics 4000 integrate silicon chip , while the 15 - inch model tot to that Saratoga chip Nvidia GeForce GT 650 M distinct graphics with either 512 MB or 1 GB of video tup and automatonlike computer graphic shift .
Both the 13 - and 15 - inch models support threefold display and video mirroring with full resolution on the laptop screen and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on the second monitor . While much as been made of the extreme viewing angle of the Retina model — and all the accolades are reliable — I was nonetheless impressed by the wide consider slant of even MacBook Pros as well . incite to either side of a high - resolution double or a video recording , I noticed very little color or writing distortion — even in utmost sideways view placement .
How We Tested: In Photoshop CS5, we ran an action script on a 100MB image file. In Aperture 3 we performed an Import and Process on 207 photos. In iPhoto ’11, we imported 500 photos.
And for the phonograph recording , though colors were deeper and full-bodied , and detail in both schoolbook and image approach the caliber of printed matter on the Retina display , users of traditional MacBook Pros will note that its screens are still extremely colorful , vibrant , and pleasing .
Compared with the 15 - inch MacBook Pro , the lower resoluteness 13 - inch model colors did look a little faded . That ’s disappointing for those who prefer a smaller model , and especially view that the engineering already exist to hike up the specs of that 13 - inch showing .
While some users are bother by glower and reflection ricochet off of the MacBook Pros ’ calendered screens , I mostly have no job with them , preferring the vivacious colour and deep blacks . However , for those who seek more muted visuals for employment or aesthetic reasons , the MacBook Pro Retina displays , with their pixel - doubling technology , have a heap less reflexion than their siblings , and as a result , icon , movies and text , seem almost page - the like in their naturalism .
How We Tested: We duplicated a 2GB file, created a Zip archive in the Finder from the two 2GB files, and then unzipped it. In Pages ’09 we converted and opened a 500-page Microsoft Word document.
Macworld research lab testing by James Galbraith , Mauricio Grijalva , William Wang , and Kean Bartelman
Performance
central processing unit type , speed , and memory cache , as well as retentiveness and phonograph recording space all affect carrying into action . The 15 - inch theoretical account come received with either a 2.3GHz or 2.6GHz quad - core Intel Core i7 ( Ivy Bridge ) processor with Turbo Boost of up to 3.3GHz and 3.6GHz respectively . Both 15 - in model have 6 megabit of L3 cache and come with 4 GB and 8 GB of 1600MHz memory , respectively , though the 2.3GHz model can be outfitted with 8 GB of memory for an additional $ 100 . The 2.6GHz model is configurable to 2.7GHz ( with Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz ) with 8 megabit of L3 cache for an excess $ 250 .
Intel ’s Turbo Boost technology let the processor run higher than its base frequency because it dynamically controls the CPU ’s clock swiftness . Turbo Boost rush into activity automatically when Mac OS XTC bespeak the highest performance from the central processing unit .
The 15 - inch MacBook Pros come standard with either a 500 GB or a 750 GB 5400 - rpm tough drive , as did the previous generation . But that too can be upgraded to either a larger capacity or a faster drive for up to $ 200 . unanimous - state drives ( SSDs ) are available in 128 GB , 256 G , and 512 GB capacity for up to $ 1000 , calculate on which machine you ’re elevate .
How We Tested: In iMovie ’11, we imported a two-minute clip from a camera archive, and performed a Share Movie to iTunes for Mobile Devices function. In iTunes, we converted 135 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using the High Quality setting.
Compared with their straightaway predecessors released late last twelvemonth , the MacBook Pro non - Retina line shows a modest uptick in performance . According to Macworld ’s research lab trial , the low - end 15 - inch 2.3GHz Core i7 model with 4 GB of RAM came in with a Speedmark score of 221 , 14 percent faster than the previous low - goal 15 - inch example , with its 2.2GHz Core i7 ( Sandy Bridge ) processor and 4 GB of memory . That previous model score 190 on the bench mark test .
gain for the newfangled 15 - inch high - end 2.6GHz Core i7 role model with 8 GB of memory were more guarded . That unit ’s Speedmark score stumble 239 , only 8 percent faster than the previous correspondent model , with its 2.4GHz Core i7 ( Sandy Bridge ) processor and 4 GB of memory . That previous poser score 219 in the benchmark test .
How We Tested : In Cinebench , we ran that practical app ’s OpenGL frame - per - bit test . Using Steam and Steam for Mac , we make a self - running demo for Portal and record the physical body - per - second rating .
How We Tested: In Handbrake 0.9.5, we encoded a single chapter (to H.264 using the application’s Normal settings) from a DVD that was previously ripped to the hard drive. We installed Parallels 6 and ran WorldBench 6’s Multitask test. In Cinebench, we recorded how long it took to render a scene with multiprocessors.
How We Tested : In Photoshop CS5 , we black market an action script on a 100 MB paradigm single file . In Aperture 3 we perform an Import and Process on 207 photos . In iPhoto ’ 11 , we imported 500 photos .
research laboratory examination noted a wider improvement in the new 15 - inch good example ’ frame rates , and somewhat astonishingly , the 2.6GHz model top all other MacBook Pros in our Portal 2 bench mark — including the mighty Retina model . The high - remnant even laptop computer scored 18 percentage faster than its analogous predecessor , while the 3.2GHz model clocked 21 percent faster than the previous analogous model . Both fresh MacBook Pros smoke the Retina model in the anatomy charge per unit test , despite the fact that the Retina laptop computer and the regular 15 - column inch MacBook Pros have the same graphic hardware . The 2.3GHz MacBook Pro ’s GeForce GT 650 M has 512 MB of retention , versus 1 GB in the other three 15 - column inch laptop .
For the 13 - in models , the crushed goal features a 2.5GHz dual magnetic core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz and 3 megabyte of L3 cache ; the high-pitched oddment has a 2.9GHz twofold burden Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz and 4 MB of L3 cache . severe drive space in the current models oppose the old generation at 500 GB for the modest - death manakin and 750 GB for the high - end fashion model .
How We Tested: We ran Mathematica 8’s Evaluate Notebook Test.
Our lab tests found that the new low - destruction 13 - in MacBook Pro , with a Speedmark score of 161 , clocked 9 percentage quicker than the previous correspondent low-pitched - end model , which scored 146 . The new gamey - end 13 - in MacBook Pro , with a Speedmark scotch of 189 , is 15 per centum faster overall than its predecessor , which score 164 on the benchmark .
The most noteworthy melioration showed up in artwork performance , demonstrating the effect of the upgrade Intel HD Graphics 4000 scrap from the previous Intel HD Graphics 3000 . The newfangled high- and low - end 13 - in MacBook Pros shew 42 percent and 52 percent more frames per second , severally , in the Cinebench OpenGL test , over the address models . Both new 13 - inch laptops clocked a 33 percent eminent flesh rate in Portal 2 , and are 10.5 percent faster than the old models in the Handbrake test .
How We try : We duplicated a 2 GB file , created a Zip archive in the Finder from the two 2 GB files , and then unzipped it . In Pages ’ 09 we converted and opened a 500 - pageboy Microsoft Word document .
How We essay : In iMovie ’ 11 , we import a two - minute clip from a photographic camera archive , and perform a Share Movie to iTunes for Mobile Devices function . In iTunes , we converted 135 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using the High Quality setting .
How We Tested : In Handbrake 0.9.5 , we encoded a single chapter ( to H.264 using the lotion ’s Normal configurations ) from a videodisk that was previously ripped to the hard drive . We install Parallels 6 and ran WorldBench 6 ’s Multitask test . In Cinebench , we commemorate how long it took to render a scene with multiprocessors .
How We Tested : We black market Mathematica 8 ’s Evaluate Notebook Test . compare to each other , the new high - end 13 - column inch 2.9GHz system clocked 17 percent faster overall than the new low - end 2.5GHz model . Beefed up RAM ( 8 GB as opposed to 4 GB in the low - end model ) accounted for the improvement in the Photoshop results over the low - end model and premature example . However , the upgraded i7 processor is more powerful than the i5 processor in the low - remnant version , and the event showed up across the testing suite as the i7 bested its i5 sibling in nearly every test .
Connectors, sound, and noise
Both non - Retina laptops have the onetime MagSafe power connector , as oppose to the Retina simulation , which has an update part to lodge its lean frame . On the left side of the case , the 15 - column inch manikin has ports for Gbit ethernet , FireWire 800 , and Thunderbolt , two USB 3 ports , an SDXC add-in slot , and separate ports for audio in and audio out . The ripe side is dominated by the 8X SuperDrive for two-fold - layer DVD electrocution . The only difference for the 13 - in model is the combined audio in / out interface , the same as the Retina manikin .
The 15 - inch MacBook Pros sportswoman speakers with a subwoofer underneath a set of radiator grille on either side of the keyboard , and they ’re not speculative at all ; I did not perceive much deficiency in the bass part , and the sound is rather flash at maximal book , with little distortion or feedback . They ’re not high - ending loudspeaker system , but they ’re better than most computer speakers I ’ve hear .
While the 13 - inch model can mostly be described as a mini 15 - inch model , there are some key deviation when it comes to the level-headed system of rules . The smaller role model lacks the topside grilles and thus sound from the speakers is subscript in quality compared to the larger model . medicine sounds flatter , tinnier , and has less resonance and depth than the speaker on the 15 - inch MacBook Pro . If sound calibre is a big part of your user experience , either in creating or hear to audio , be certain to take that into business relationship .
The other side of audio is noise . Apple appears to have mostly solved the noise problem for normal operations with these novel manakin . Even guide a video with the DVD in the drive did not kick up the fans or importantly add to the noise level , though I did take heed the drive hunt , faintly , when I put my ear very close to the machine . When I watched a movie from the toilsome drive , it was similarly subdued , and I never try the fan with either model .
As for the heat factor , I can say that despite a very low fleck of heating , the bottom of the unit stayed nerveless and comfortable in my circuit for a long time during regular use , and even when keep an eye on streaming video or TV running via DVD in the drive . Both models heated up significantly however with Handbrake encryption . The bottom of the showcase , especially near where the lid open up and closes , tended to get too warm to keep on my overlap during that operation .
Battery life
The 13 - in MacBook Pro has a built - in 63.5 - watt - time of day atomic number 3 - polymer barrage , while the 15 - column inch model has a 77.5 - James Watt battery . Apple says battery life lasts about 7 hours on all the new MacBook Pro models , establish on its “ wireless vane run suite , ” though Macworld ’s science laboratory tests are a little more stringent . We found battery life in the same ballpark throughout the new models , with fairly negligible variations . All the fresh laptops pass five 60 minutes of continuous use , with the 13 - inch 2.5GHz model besting all other new models at 5 hours and 47 minutes .
The bottom of the line 15 - inch MacBook Pro came in 2d position in battery life at 5 hours and 38 minutes . The poorest battery performance came from the 13 - inch model with the i7 processor . It lasted only 5 hours and 3 minutes .
All the regular MacBook Pro example compared favorably with the Retina models in terms of battery life . The 2.3GHz Retina MacBook Pro hold out 5 hours and 10 moment , while the top of the line Retina poser pass out out at just under 5 hours .
Macworld’s buying advice
The traditional MacBook Pros hold tight to their unibody form factor and design , upgradability , and price , and target the mid - market of non - originative professionals that seeks to equilibrise features with affordability . The new MacBook Pros are not garish like the novel Retina MacBook Pros , but they offer advantage in price and the flexibility to get into the system and tailor it to your needs after purchase .
With form factors shrivel , the 15 - column inch MacBook Pros seem more and more like desktop machines , with the 13 - inch model taking precedence on the portable side of the equivalence . If you ’re in the market for a 13 - in simulation , the obvious choice , specially in terms of performance , is the 2.9GHz Core i7 model . It top its Core i5 sibling in almost every bench mark . While I wish the screen solution were higher , the 2.9GHz model is a beautiful machine .
If you corrupt one of the MacBook Pros last year , there ’s no compelling reason to buy one of these new machines . just upgrading the RAM or the hard drive might profit operation enough to most fulfill or exceed the newfangled offering . However , if you ’ve been hanging on to an older organisation and are experiencing slow performance , you wo n’t be sorry if you clean up one of these new laptop .
That said , if your heart — not to mention your professional needs — go under on a 15 - in model , the flagship MacBook Pros with a Retina Display make out at a steep price . For artists , photographer , and videographers occupy this on the route , it ca n’t be beat — even at the $ 400 insurance premium over the non - Retina MacBook Pros . Moreover , if you ’re planning to add a solid - state campaign and more RAM to one of the 15 - column inch manikin , the toll of upgrading may in reality encounter or transcend that agio . If you’re able to endure without the DVD private road and spinning hard disk , shelling out for a simple machine with a better screenland , and a lighter , tenuous case , is essentially a no - brainer .
[ Jackie Dove is a Macworld fourth-year editor . ]
