Why you'll love it: The
MacBook Pro is a classic in the laptop world, and the 2018 models prove that’s true now more than ever.
More interested in Apple’s macOS than Microsoft’s Windows? Then perhaps the latest MacBook Pro is the right laptop for you. However, as you might expect from Apple, it won’t come cheap. The MacBook Pro is always an important computer to consider when buying a new laptop, and the latest MacBook Pro models have a ton to offer.
The new MacBooks come in 13-inch or 15-inch variants, and they offer some pretty amazing specs. The 13-inch MacBook Pro itself comes in a few options. There’s a model without Apple’s Touch Bar (which remains unaltered spec-wise), and there’s a model with the Touch Bar, which recently got a spec bump.
The 13-inch model with Touch Bar starts at $1,799 and boasts an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM. and a 256GB solid-state drive. Specs range up from there, though obviously, you’ll have to pay more for better specs.
The 15-inch model with Touch Bar starts at $2,399, and comes with an 8th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, though again, specs range up to an Intel Core i9 processor.
For those who don't know, the Touch Bar is a touch display that's found right above the computer’s keyboard that allows you to control different aspects of some apps. That Touch Bar also has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, meaning you can secure your computer to your specific fingerprint. You can also use it to buy things online with Apple Pay. You will pay extra for the Touch Bar, though.
For ports, the computer comes with four USB Type-C ports, so while there are plenty of ports to connect to all your peripherals, you may need to buy adapters, especially if you have a lot of USB Type-A peripherals.
Then there’s the all-important software. Often, users find that getting used to Apple’s macOS software can be easier than Windows, though that might not be the case if you’re more used using a Windows computer.
So what are the downsides to this computer? Well, for starters, it’s expensive. On top of that, many people don’t really like the Touch Bar, and the keyboard doesn’t feel as good as older MacBook Pro models. Still, reviewers generally liked the 2018 MacBook Pro, with CNET having given it a score of 8.2/10 and MacWorld giving it 4.5/5.
Pros: Great design, excellent specs
Cons: Expensive, Touch Bar takes some getting used to
Buy the 13-inch MacBook Pro on Best Buy for $1,799+
Buy the 15-inch MacBook Pro on Best Buy for $2,399+