Let's see this at a glance. For most readers of this MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018 comparison, there's no question whether the MacBook Pro 2019 is worth upgrading from the MacBook Pro 2018.
You must be incredibly wealthy to consider upgrading a laptop, especially a computer as powerful and expensive as the MacBook Pro, every year. While it is tempting to always have the latest technology and advanced components, it just isn't profitable. And while hardware, especially laptop components, keeps getting better, most of the time, you won't see a huge jump in performance that makes your year-old MacBook obsolete, with a few exceptions. tightly.
However, this comparison between the 2019 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro will be useful for anyone with an older MacBook Pro and considering an upgrade. The same goes for anyone who has never owned a MacBook Pro before.
Should you go for the latest and greatest MacBook Pro, or would it be wiser to buy the slightly older model? Let's take a look...
(Image credit: Future)
design
Let's get straight to the point with this: The design of the 2019 MacBook Pro is identical to that of the 2018 MacBook Pro. This means they have the same dimensions: 13.7 x 9.48 x 0.61 inches (34 x 92 x 24.07) - and the same weight - 1.55 pounds (4.02 kg).
They also have a choice of two colors: space gray and silver, which means you can't tell the difference between the 2019 MacBook Pro and the 2018 MacBook Pro.
So that means you won't miss out on new designs or fancy features if you go for the 2018 model instead of this year. It also means that if you liked the design of the previous MacBook Pro, you can safely buy the 2019 model, knowing you know what you're buying.
However, for those hoping for a more revolutionary review, they will be disappointed. Similarly, if previous MacBook models after 2016 left you cold, the 2019 model doesn't fix anything.
So you get the Touch Bar, an OLED strip with interactive buttons, above the keyboard, included since 2016, as well as a Touch ID sensor to connect with your fingerprint.
The 2019 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro have a 15,4-inch display with a 2.880 x 1.800 resolution, as well as the True Tone feature for brighter colors.
Due to identical designs, if you are disappointed by the shortage of ports on the 2018 MacBook Pro (with only four Thunderbolt 3 ports), you will be disappointed by the exact number of ports on the same model. For normal users, the lack of ports will not be a problem, but for professionals who need to connect existing hardware, it means you need to invest in an adapter.
(Image credit: Future)
keyboard
The 2018 MacBook Pro was a response to a long-standing criticism that Apple faced with the keyboards included in previous models. Essentially, there have been complaints about the malfunction of MacBook Pro keyboards made after 2016. The fault lies with the "butterfly" switches used by Apple on these keyboards.
The 2018 model has retained the butterfly switches, but has added a silicone membrane to prevent these issues from occurring. Unfortunately, problems were still reported, giving high hope that Apple will ditch the butterfly switches from the 2019 MacBook Pro.
That's not the case - the 15 MacBook Pro's 2019-inch keyboard still uses problematic switches. However, Apple claims to have further modified the keyboard and while the company has not disclosed much information about its modifications, we know that it has modified the materials used with the mechanism to reduce the Risk of key lock or not. answer.
While this is a welcome, albeit disappointing, minor adjustment, Apple has also included the new MacBook Pro (2019) models in its keyboard service program, which will replace a faulty keyboard for free. This suggests that Apple has not fully resolved the problem.
(Image credit: Apple)
equipment
While the exteriors of the 2019 MacBook Pro and 2018-inch MacBook Pro 15 are identical, the hardware they contain has changed.
The base model of the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2019) is equipped with a 7 GHz, 2,6-core, 6nd generation Intel Core i555 processor, the Radeon Pro 4X with 5GB of 4GB 16MHz GDDR2400 DDR256 RAM and a XNUMXGB SSD.
There is also a model with a 9-core 9GHz 2,3-core Intel Core i8 processor, the Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. . This is the first time that an octa-core processor has been integrated with a MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro 2019, a high-end computer, offers serious advantages in multitasking.
Meanwhile, the base model of the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2018) features a 7GHz 6-core 6-core Intel Core i2,6 processor, a Radeon Pro 555X graphics processor, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and an SSD. 256GB.
The move to the ninth generation and the optimized Radeon Pro graphics give the base 2019 model a good performance, but the specs of the 2018 model are by no means undernourished. It's still a great laptop.
As with the 2018 model, you can configure the 2019 MacBook Pro with more powerful components, including an 9th Gen 2.4th Gen Intel Core i5.0 processor and a 32GHz clock frequency (20x). GHz), 4 GB of RAM and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 2 with XNUMX GB of HBMXNUMX memory. This makes it the most powerful MacBook of all time.
If you are right after the diet, there is no dispute - the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2019) is the solution. However, the 2018 model is powerful enough not to be overwhelmed.
(Image credit: Future)
Price
The good news is that for the United States and Australia, the base model of the 2019-inch MacBook Pro (15) is identical to the 2018 model (€ 2,399 / € 3,499 AU). This means you get an improved processor and graphics card for no more money than you paid last year.
Meanwhile, the top-end model is selling for € 2,799 (€ 2,799, AU € 4,099). It's certainly a big part of the change requested by Apple.
Although the price of the base model remains the same in the United States and Australia, it is more expensive in the United Kingdom: € 2,399 compared to the price of the MacBook Pro 1549 (2018). In reality, this means that you pay € 50 more for the upgraded equipment.
If it seems a bit unfair to the British, it's because Apple has aligned UK prices in US dollars, so for Apple, € 1 = € 1.
With the base model of the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2019) the same, we imagine that the 2018 model will see a slight decrease in price. Since the 2018 model is still a very good laptop on its own, that means you could get a lot on the 2018 model, making it a better proposition.
MacBook Pro 2019 vs MacBook Pro 2018: which one should I buy?
In many ways, the 2019 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro are pretty much the same. When it comes to design, you can choose one or the other without worrying about missing out on new features or designs.
The improved MacBook Pro 2019 keyboard means that if you want to spend a lot of money on a laptop with just a faulty keyboard, this is the model that can give you the most peace of mind.
However, keep in mind that you always use butterfly switches. If you want a new keyboard, you may have to wait for the rumor that the 16-inch MacBook Pro could launch later in 2019.
Also, if getting the most powerful MacBook Pro is essential, it's the 2019-inch MacBook Pro (15) that suits you best.
However, if you're looking for a better value, you should check out the 2018 model price. The fact that the 2018 MacBook Pro is still a relatively new laptop means that even in 2019 you'll get a powerful laptop with scalable specs. If you compare the 2019 MacBook Pro to a 2018 MacBook Pro, it can be a decent price cut.