The MacBook Pro is available in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch. The 13-incher is also available in two versions: as a 2018 model with a Touch Bar and Touch ID sensor and as a (currently still) 2017 model without a Touch Bar and Touch ID.
Apple is targeting the non-Touch Bar version at MacBook Air customers who have been wanting to upgrade to a high-density Retina display for years. The Touch Bar version is aimed at more traditional 13-inch MacBook Pro customers.
So, in general, if you've always wanted a 13-inch MacBook Air with a Retina display, you'll want the MacBook Pro (2017) without the Touch Bar. If you want an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro, you'll want the MacBook Pro ( 2018)comtouching bar.
Both have the same stunning wide-gamut DCI-P3 Retina display, the same 8GB and 16GB options for LPDDR3 storage, the same larger Force Touch trackpad, and the same Silver and Space Gray color options, but they also have some key differences. .
- Preis
- processors
- Chart
- doors
- Touch Bar function keys x
- touch identification
- Save on computer
Preis
The MacBook Pro 13-inch (2017) without Touch Bar is cheaper than the MacBook Pro 13-inch (2018) Touch Bar - it's cheaper and therefore more affordable.
- The MacBook Pro (2017) without Touch Bar starts at $1,299.
- MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar starts at $1,799.00
The biggest differences, aside from the Touch Bar, are the chipsets.
processors
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the engine that powers the computer.
The 13" MacBook Pro (2018) features a 7th generation Intel Core i5 dual-core processor (Kaby Lake) clocked at 2.3 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz with the option to upgrade to a dual 2.5GHz Core Processor 7th Gen Core (Kaby Lake) Intel Core i7 Processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar features a quad-core 8th Gen Intel Core i5 (Coffee Lake) processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz with the option to upgrade to one 2.7 GHz quad-core 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor (Coffee Lake), Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz.
- The version without the Touch Bar is a generation behind in terms of processor architecture.
- The Touch Bar version is quad-core instead of just dual-core, making it better at handling multi-threaded workloads.
Chart
The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) fills the P3 Retina display with images and animations, pushing all the pixels and 3D objects around.
MacBook Pro 13-inch (2017) without Touch Bar has Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar features Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655.
- While the 655 doesn't look like a huge boost, it does pack twice as much DRAM, so if graphics are your thing, it's no small upgrade.
doors
The MacBook Pro 13" (2017) without Touch Bar has 2 full-speed Thunderbolt 3 ports / USB-C ports.
The 13" MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch ID has 4 Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and on the 2018 model all four ports now have full bandwidth.
- If you want all four high-speed ports, grab the MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar.
Touch Bar function keys x
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2017) without Touch Bar includes the traditional function keys on the keyboard, including the standard media controls defined years ago for non-programmers and macro executors.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018) includes the new Touch Bar. The matte OLED, which matches the look of the keyboard keys, can display the Esc and Function keys, as well as the system and media controls, just like the old function bar. However, it can also display selected contextual shortcuts for the app you're working on. This includes volume controls, content scrubbers, color pickers, and anything else a developer can think of.
- If you want a traditional row of function keys, you'll want the MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar.
- If you want adaptive multi-touch on your keyboard, you want the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
touch identification
To the right of the Touch Bar is Touch ID. Once exclusive to iPhone and iPad, now also for the Mac. It runs on an Apple T1 chip, which is like a tiny built-in iOS device built into the MacBook Pro. It takes care of the secure enclave and presentation of Apple Pay information, but that fusion is hidden.
All you see is the sensor. Put your registered finger on it and you are authenticated! You can even use it for a quick account switch.
- If you want to authenticate with your fingerprint, you want Touch ID.
Save on computer
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2017) without Touch Bar comes with 128 GB of SSD storage, but can be upgraded to 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar comes with 256GB of SSD storage but is upgradeable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.
- If you want maximum storage for photos, videos or other demanding workloads, you should choose the MacBook Pro (2018).
Who should get the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2017) without a Touch Bar.
If you've always wanted a Retina MacBook Air, or want one of the new MacBook Pros with 2 Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, a large Retina display, and the fast SSD but don't need Touch Bar or Touch ID, then you should get the MacBook Pro Consider entry-level 13-inch model.
See it on Apple(opens in new tab)
Who should get the MacBook Pro (2018) with Touch Bar?
If you want a quad-core Coffee Lake chipset, 4 full-speed USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, Touch Bar and Touch ID, and the option of up to 2TB of storage, almost any 15-inch is -Last year's specification packed a 13-inch chassis - get the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2018).
See it on Apple(opens in new tab)
Still undecided?
If you're still having trouble choosing the right MacBook Pro for you, pay oursApple-MacBooksDiscussion forums a visit.
Macbook Pro
○MacBook Pro review with M1
○Macbook Pro with M1 Frequently Asked Questions
○Touch Bar: The Definitive Guide
○MacBook-Foren
○buy from apple(opens in new tab)
Updated August 2018:Compare the new 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar (2017) to the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2018).
iMore-Newsletter
Get the best of iMore in your inbox every day!
Rene Ritchie
taxpayer
Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the industry, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million monthly readers. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90,000 subscribers and 14 million views, and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He is also the co-host of MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-host of CES Live! and TalkMobile. Rene lives in Montreal and is a former director of product marketing, web developer and graphic designer. He is the author of several books and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When he's not working, he enjoys cooking, fighting, and spending time with his friends and family.
10 comments
You forgot to mention that the 2017 model has an even worse and less reliable keyboard.
How about neither? It's a shame they're offering a 7th gen ULV chip in a model that costs about that much. You can get a top of the range HP, Dell or Lenovo for the same price with an 8th Gen i7 Quad and discrete Nvidia graphics.
(Video) DON'T BUY the 13" M1 MacBook ProNot to mention they removed the SD card slot and other ports that a lot of people need.
Nobody "needed", they wanted. There are several more reliable alternatives than using an SD card, and the ports handle everything the previous ones did.
Aren't 8th gen processors 6 cores? My gaming notebook has 6 cores.
They used the 7th gen dual-core ULV junk instead of spending a few bucks more for the 8th gen. It's a shame to charge nearly two grand for this red-hot garbage.
I have to say I bought the MacBook Pro 15 with all the bells and whistles because I was planning to upgrade my 2012 MacBook Pro. Unfortunately I ended up returning it. Colors were washed out, everything had a yellow cast even after Apple Care and the Genius Bar rep calibrated it. It looks like the true color feature is to blame. Now I check the air even if it's a downgrade. very disappointing
So the choice is between last year's technology and last year's. The Touch Bar is an irrelevant gimmick. Apple only releases updated machines every few years, and that's the time to upgrade/buy. So until then, hold on to what you have.
When something is a "trick," it means no one really cares. Most people do this though, so it's not a gimmick, it's something you don't use yourself.
I'm sure if this existed it was or will be fixed very quickly.
FAQs
Is the MacBook Pro 13-inch touch bar good? ›
Yes, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro works just fine. Its performance is great and battery life is reliable; the Butterfly keys that caused so many problems are long gone. It's the only MacBook in the entire lineup that keeps the Touch Bar (er, if you like that).
Is the TouchBar important on MacBook Pro? ›Regardless, the Touch Bar is one of the most useless additions to the MacBook Pro, a feature Apple first foolishly introduced back in 2016. Sure it looks cool, but it's super unintuitive — adjusting things like volume and brightness requires extra taps, and it's not even optimized for all apps.
Why touch bar is removed from MacBook Pro? ›Despite the fan theories, Apple's vice president of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak told Wired that customers just didn't like the touch feature. “There's no doubt that our Pro customers love that full-size, tactile feel of those function keys, and so that's the decision we made.
Can you get a 13-inch MacBook Pro without a TouchBar? ›If you buy the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, or the 13-inch MacBook Air, the Touch Bar is not included.
Is 13-inch MacBook pro too small? ›Overall, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the best option for normal consumers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is actually more akin to a MacBook Air than its high-end siblings, being more than good enough for the needs of casual users. It is lighter, smaller, and more portable than the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Is new MacBook Pro 2023 worth it? ›If you spent a lot of money on the 2021 version – don't worry about it being made redundant by the new model. The 2021 MacBook Pro is still a fantastic laptop, and the 2023 version doesn't offer enough of a performance boost to make the upgrade worthwhile.
What is the point of a Touchbar? ›The Touch Bar was a unique addition to Apple's laptop line that allows applications to offer touch access to their most important functions. The Touch Bar lies on the same horizontal plane as the keyboard.
What's better M2 or M1 Pro? ›M2 Pro has a higher GPU count
The M1 Pro comes with an impressive 16-core GPU, which is 1.7x faster at rendering 8K videos than AMD's Radeon Pro 5600M GPU, according to Apple. These statistics don't seem as impressive when compared to the latest M2 Pro, which can be configured with up to 19 cores.
Turns out the tech world jumped the gun on declaring the Touch Bar dead. Apple dropped the embattled input device from the 14- and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro in late-2021, after several years of attempting to keep that fire burning.
Why do people not like the Touchbar on Mac? ›The Touch Bar is a bit like Marmite, in that there are people who love it and there are people who hate it. One of the biggest complaints was the lack of a physical escape key, that key being very important to lots of professional Mac users.
Which one is better MacBook Pro or Air? ›
The Pro also has better speakers and a higher-end display than what you'll find on the MacBook Air. It uses MagSafe charging, like the 2022 MacBook Air, but it has a feature called Active Cooling that uses a pair of fans, which is an improvement over the Air.
Is this a good time to buy a new MacBook Pro? ›Is It a Good Time to Buy? Yes. If you're a power user looking for a powerful MacBook, then this is a great time to snag a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, as Apple just released new versions in January. If you don't need that much power, you can opt for the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with the M2 chip.
Why does 13-inch MacBook have touch bar? ›The Touch Bar on the 13-inch MacBook Pro is integrated into many macOS apps to give you handy shortcuts for the tasks you do most, based on your current app and activity. Use familiar gestures—like tap and swipe—in the Touch Bar while you work.
Will new MacBook Pro have Touch Bar 2023? ›Apple made some huge changes to the MacBook Pro in 2021, with the launch of a new 14-inch model and a new display with thinner bezels and ProMotion, along with the removal of the Touch Bar and the addition of a slew of ports. Unsurprisingly, the 2023 MacBook Pro has stayed the same.
How much does a MacBook Pro with Touchbar cost? ›| Available Configurations | ||
|---|---|---|
| 13" (2.7GHz 8GB 2TB) Silver | $3,299.00 | $2,699.00 |
| 13" (2.7GHz 16GB 256GB) Space Gray | $2,299.00 | $1,949.00 |
| 13" (2.7GHz 16GB 256GB) Silver | $2,299.00 | $2,299.00 |
| 13" (2.7GHz 16GB 512GB) Space Gray | $2,499.00 | $2,499.00 |
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) look alike but have a lot of differences. The MacBook Pro 16 is a much better laptop with a brighter, 120Hz, Mini LED display, a wider port selection, louder and better-sounding speakers, and longer battery life.
What is the point of the 13-inch MacBook Pro? ›Perhaps our favorite aspect of the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is the battery life. At over 15 and a half hours, this is incredibly impressive. Usually, for workstation laptops used for intensive workloads like video editing, you'd be looking at a battery life of around half this – or even less.
Is the MacBook Pro 13-inch heavy? ›The MacBook Pro measures in at 11.97 inches (30.41 cm) long, 8.36 inches (21.24 cm) wide, and 0.61 inches (1.56 cm) thick. It weighs three pounds (1.4 kg) and is 0.3 pounds (0.16 kg) heavier than the MacBook Air.
Which MacBook is worth buying in 2023? ›The best laptop of 2023
The latest MacBook Air, powered by Apple's M2 processor, is the best laptop for most people. The base model, which includes 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage, an 8-core CPU, and an 8-core GPU, starts at $1,199.
When do Macs become obsolete? Based on operating system support, the limit is between eight and ten years – after which time Apple will not support the software and it's probably a good time to replace your Mac.
How long will a MacBook Pro 13 last? ›
On average, your MacBook Pro is expected to last 7.2 years and a MacBook Air for 5-7 years. However, the lifespan of your MacBook depends on what tasks you use your MacBook for, how frequently it is used, and how well you care for your battery and its components.
Is the touch bar worth it Apple? ›No, sadly. The Touch Bar was a great feature in my opinion, but they went back to F keys (F1-F12). There will still be a Touch ID sensor at the top right of the keyboard, which is a good compromise. This is also good, as there were some issues regarding the touch bar and some users say that the touch bar is useless.
How do you benefit from touch bar? ›The Control Strip, located at the right end of the Touch Bar, lets you use Siri or easily adjust common settings — just tap the buttons or, for settings like brightness and volume, quickly swipe left or right on the buttons. You can also expand the Control Strip to access more buttons.
Does Touchbar use battery? ›For most people that don't have software issues where they max 85% CPU the touch bar models seem to last 30 to 90 minutes less when working casually. For high workload, either will drain the battery in 3-4 hours with the maxed out models getting 30 to 90 minutes less run time.
Is the M2 Pro worth it over the M1 Pro? ›Memory bandwidth
Apple says the M2 Pro gives up to 20% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU performance than the M1 Pro. And the M2 Pro neural engine has seen a 40% speed increase over the M1 Pro. You've also got up to a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU with the M2 Pro.
The M2 is better than the M1, but it's still a marginal upgrade. The M1 Pro is similarly topped by the M2 Pro, and the M2 Max beats out the M1 Max in pretty much every test.
Is M1 faster than M1 Pro? ›M1 Pro has an up-to-16-core GPU that is up to 2x faster than M1 and up to 7x faster than the integrated graphics on the latest 8-core PC laptop chip. Compared to a powerful discrete GPU for PC notebooks, M1 Pro delivers more performance while using up to 70 percent less power.
What is the last MacBook with a touch bar? ›Since the MacBook Pro 13-inch retains everything about the physical design of the previous generation, the MacBook Pro 13-inch has a unique place in Apple's lineup: It the only MacBook that remains with Apple's touchscreen Touch Bar.
Why did Apple remove the touch button? ›Why did Apple remove the home button on the IPAD? According to the report, Apple is ditching the button to make room for a larger screen in one version of the next iPhone. Instead of a home button, users will perform actions using on-screen gesture controls involving a sort of dock of icons.
Can Touch Bar be repaired? ›The Touch Bar can sometimes stop working if your Mac has suffered hardware or water damage which should only be fixed by a professional. So, feel free to book a Genius Bar appointment and head to your nearest Apple Store with your MacBook Pro for hardware repairs.
When did the MacBook Pro with touch bar come out? ›
The Touch Bar MacBook Pro, released in October 2016, adopted USB-C for all data ports and power and included a shallower "butterfly"-mechanism keyboard. On all but the base model, the function keys were replaced with a touchscreen strip called the Touch Bar with a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button.
Should I buy MacBook Air or Pro for students? ›If you will mostly be writing papers, completing online homework and doing research then the MacBook Air will fit those needs. And if you're film editing, Photoshopping or designing then the MacBook Pro will help you accomplish that. They're both fantastic laptops, so there is no wrong choice.
Which MacBook is more expensive air or pro? ›Pricing. With a starting price of $1,199, the MacBook Air comes in $800 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro which starts at $1,999. Standard models of the 2022 Air are 256GB SSD/8GB RAM and 512GB SSD/8GB RAM configurations. Models with 16 or 24GB RAM for the 2022 Air and upgraded M2 chip are custom orders.
Is MacBook Air more durable than MacBook Pro? ›Is the MacBook Pro or Air more durable? While both the MacBook Pro and the Air are durable, the Pro is designed to handle a more intense workload, with the processors and RAM to boot. The MacBook Pro 16 is the most durable, and we'd recommend it to design professionals for their work use.
What is the best time of year to buy a new MacBook? ›Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and the attendant deals stretching before and beyond them, remain the best time to buy most Apple devices at discounted prices. Historically, we've tracked the highest concentration of Apple deals that meet our standards in the month of November.
Which is the best time to buy MacBook? ›| Best time to buy an iPhone | September, October, Black Friday and Cyber Monday |
|---|---|
| Best time to buy a MacBook | August and Labor Day |
| Best time to buy an iMac | Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and between Christmas and New Year's Day |
You should think about upgrading every 4-5 years — provided you can afford it. MacBooks do have the potential to last longer than this if you need to stretch it out.
Is MacBook Pro M1 discontinued? ›Apple has discontinued the MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips were introduced in 2021, along with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook models. The company has removed the option for consumers to buy the M1 Pro and M1 Max loaded MacBooks from its online store in India.
How do I get Apple student discount? ›- Click here to go to the Apple Education Store page.
- Hit 'Get Verified with UNiDAYS'
- Follow the steps to sign in to UNiDAYS, or register if you don't yet have an account.
- Enter the Education Store and reveal student prices.
- Enjoy the savings!
Apple in January 2023 overhauled the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding next-generation M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, increased maximum memory, longer battery life, HDMI 2.1 with 8K display support, faster Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 support.
Is the Touchbar important on MacBook Pro? ›
Regardless, the Touch Bar is one of the most useless additions to the MacBook Pro, a feature Apple first foolishly introduced back in 2016. Sure it looks cool, but it's super unintuitive — adjusting things like volume and brightness requires extra taps, and it's not even optimized for all apps.
Can a mouse be used with a MacBook Pro? ›Using Bluetooth technology, your MacBook Pro can wirelessly connect with devices such as a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, trackpad, headset, peripheral devices, wearable sport accessories, AirPods, and more.
Can you add Touchbar to MacBook Pro? ›On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Keyboard in the sidebar, then click Touch Bar Settings on the right. (You may need to scroll down.) Set options for the Touch Bar.
What year is the MacBook Pro 13 Touch bar? ›13-inch with Touch Bar (2020–present)
On November 10, 2020, Apple introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt ports with a brand new Apple M1 processor, directly replacing the previous generation of Intel-based 2020 baseline 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt ports.
Apple redesigned the MacBook Pro in 2016 to introduce the Touch Bar. While some love it and some hate it, the Touch Bar changed the way Pro users interacted with the device by replacing the function keys. With a slimmer form factor, the model offered USB-C charging instead of MagSafe and support for Touch ID.
Is MacBook Pro 13 better than 14? ›By buying the MacBook Pro 14 (2021), you're getting better CPU, GPU, and battery performance than those of the MacBook Pro 13 (2022). By going for the 2021 Mac, you don't only get the better performance and longer battery life.
Is Apple discontinuing the Touch Bar? ›Apple removed the Touch Bar from the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but it is still available on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
What was the last MacBook with Touchbar? ›Turns out the tech world jumped the gun on declaring the Touch Bar dead. Apple dropped the embattled input device from the 14- and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro in late-2021, after several years of attempting to keep that fire burning.
When did Apple get rid of the touch bar? ›The Touch Bar seemed more like a gimmick than a useful tool when it first appeared in MacBook Pros in 2016. Apple did little to address this hardware oddity until it finally removed it from all models starting with the 2021 MacBook Pros.
What can you do with the touch bar on MacBook Pro? ›If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can use familiar gestures—like tap, swipe, or slide—directly on the Touch Bar to adjust settings, use Siri, access function keys, and do tasks in different apps.
What are the cons of MacBook Pro 13? ›
...
Cons:
- Older, blurry applications are not updated.
- Sluggish scroll performance.
- Slow integrated graphics (struggle to drive the high-resolution display, especially on early models).
While the chips in both iPhones are the same, the GPU in the iPhone 13 Pro contains one additional core. Users can therefore expect slightly better performance from the iPhone 13 Pro when performing activities such as gaming or video editing.
Is it worth buying the MacBook Pro 13? ›To be fair, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is still a very nice computer, and the M2 chip gives it a decent performance boost. But it's also something I can't really recommend, not when the new Air offers so much more, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a far better screen, plus ports professionals actually need.
Which lasts longer MacBook Pro or Air? ›On average, your MacBook Pro is expected to last 7.2 years and a MacBook Air for 5-7 years. However, the lifespan of your MacBook depends on what tasks you use your MacBook for, how frequently it is used, and how well you care for your battery and its components.