Tag: macbook pro

Apple iPhone Pro, New iPads And 16 inch MacBook Pro To Launch Soon
Apple’s 2019 iPhone is just around the corner. The company is set to unveil its latest iteration of its iconic smartphone range on in the second week of September 2019. The hype and anticipation surrounding it have been high and we have already covered many rumours and reports on it. However, fresh new suggests that Apple is planning to introduce “Pro” models of iPhone for the first time. It is also claimed that new iPads and 16 inch MacBook Pros are also in pipeline.

iPhone 11 Concept

2019 iPhone & Pro
- Apple is reportedly planning on launching three new iPhones as it has done so since 2017. But, it will also launch “Pro” variants of these devices.
- The Pro iPhone are distinguished by an additional sensor being present on the rear for ultra-wide images. The sensors will capture three images simultaneously and use new artificial intelligence software to automatically correct and combined the photos.
iPhone XS & XS Max
- iPhone Pro handsets will have significantly upgraded video recording capabilities as well. Apple has apparently made a feature that allows users to retouch, apply effects, alter colours, reframe and crop videos live on the device while it is recording.
- Notably, the reverse wireless charging feature that was seen earlier this year with Samsung Galaxy S10 devices will also be found on 2019 iPhones. It is also claimed that the iPhone will now include a multi-angle Face ID sensor that will unlock the device much more easily even when it is laying flat on a table.
- Apple is making the new iPhone with higher water resistance. It is suggested that the device can last far longer than the 30-minute rating on the currently available iPhones. Additionally, the devices will also be more sturdy with new shatter-resistant technology.
- The entire 2019 iPhone ranges will house the A13 Apple processor as well as a new Matrix chip that could benefit computer vision and augmented reality performance. On the outside, the Pro phones will look similar to its predecessors in size and design but they will introduce an all new matte finish rear.
- 3D Touch will no longer be present in any of the 2019 Apple iPhone range, as the Haptic Touch will replace it. Notewrothy, 5G is not arriving in 2019 iPhones and will be seen in the 2020 models. For iPhone XR, its 2019 iteration will bring incremental improvements. Apart from the faster processor, the handset will reportedly feature a dual camera setup with support for optical zoom.
iPhone XR

2019 Apple 2019 iPads

According to the report, Apple is planning on releasing new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros this year. They will feature upgraded cameras that will be similar to the iPhones. It is still unknown if more than one sensor will be found on the back. Noteworthy, the 2019 iPads will also feature a faster processor but will have its design be similar to its predecessors. Apple is also claimed to discontinue its existing entry-level 9.7 inch iPad in favour of a new 10.2-inch model.

Also Read: Motorola One Action Unboxing And Hands On

2019 MacBook Pros

The report also states that Apple is set to launch a new 16 inch MacBook Pro in 2019. It will be similar in size to the existing 15 inch MacBook Pro but will sport a 16 inch display owing to thinner bezels. The new model will be aimed towards professionals , though, details regarding the controversial keyboard are still unknown.
August 23, 2019
After Galaxy Note 7, Apple MacBook Pro With Faulty Batteries Banned From Flights

Earlier this year, Apple had recalled the MacBook Pro models that were sold between the period of September 2015 and February 2017. The reason for the recall was to replace batteries on the notebook computers which were susceptible to catching fire without any obvious stimuli.

To resort the issue, Apple has offered battery replacements for the affected machines without an additional cost. In spite of that, flight regulatory bodies from across the globe have taken some strict decision against these computers.

Apple MacBook Pro

The US airline safety regulators have decided to bar them to be carried on board as they could pose a fire risk. In addition, four European airlines with cargo operations managed by Total Cargo Expertise that includes TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat have implemented a similar ban.

Besides, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had issued a similar warning earlier this month. The warning which was addressed to airlines in the region asked them to keep Apple Macbook Pro laptops with replaced batteries to be kept switched off and not used during flights.

Apple MacBook

Though, it is not the first time that a device with a lithium-ion battery is under the radar of such official bodies. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from the year 2016 also had a tendency to catch fire and the device was barred from airlines worldwide.

Also Read: Samsung To Launch A Smartphone With Graphene Battery In 2021

The flight regulatory body in India has not published any instructions about faulty Apple computers. But it is soon expected to examine the case and give out necessary instructions to airlines in the country.

Do you think devices that have their batteries replaced, still pose a security threat or they should be granted permission to be taken on board? Let us know in the comments below.

August 14, 2019

Apple Quietly Updates The Macbook Air And 13 Inch Macbook Pro With Touch Bar

In the year 2019, Apple has already upgraded a number of existing Mac computers which include the 15 inch MacBook notebook computer and the iMac desktop computer. On the 10th of July, the company silently refreshed the 13 inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air with an upgraded display and 8th Gen Intel CPUs. Also, the company has reduced the price of the device to rake in more customers and boost sales. Besides, the 12 inch MacBook which was first unveiled in 2015 has been discontinued.

2019 MacBook Air

In terms of design, the MacBook Air retains the thin and light design which has been a staple to this lineup of ultra-portable notebook computers. The laptop measures 304.1 x 212.4 x 4.1/15.6 mm and weighs only 1.25 kg. It sports a 13.3-inch Retina display which supports Apple’s proprietary True Tone technology that can automatically adjust the colour temperature for a comfortable viewing experience.

In addition, the 2019 MacBook Air gets a TouchID sensor for biometric verification. The compact notebook computer is kitted with an 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor which has a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and a turbo boost upto 3.6 GHz. The MacBook Air is offered with 8 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 RAM which can be kitted with upto 128 GB of 256 GB of PCIe based SSD.

The 2019 MacBook Air features a 49.9 watt-hour lithium battery which can provide a battery backup of upto 13 hours dependent on the usage. It features a full-sized keyboard with 78 keys and a Force Touch Trackpad which features multi-touch gestures like pinch and zoom, two-finger scrolling.

MacBook Pro 13 With Touch Bar

Like the MacBook Air 2019, the MacBook Pro 13 features a 13.3-inch Retina display with a pixel density of 227 ppi. The laptop can be configured with two different Intel Core i5 chipsets. Both options have a quad-core CPU that features 128 MB of eDRAM. For further enhancing the security on the laptop, it features Apple’s in-house developed T2 security chip. The secondary chip is used for safely securing sensitive user data like passwords and fingerprint information. According to Apple, this chip combines an additional level of security which is virtually unable to be cracked via brute-forcing.

The highlighting feature of the 2019 MacBook Pro 13 is the addition of the Touch Bar with integrated Touch ID which was first seen on the 2015 MacBook Pro in 2016. The laptop is equipped with a large force touch trackpad which also supports multi-touch gestures.

As the name suggests, the Touch Bar is an elongated touchscreen display placed right above the keyboard keys. The feature is aimed towards replacing the conventional control buttons with a more interactive and modern approach. The Touch Bar can be used to regulate several functionalities like volume and brightness controls on the MacBook. In addition, it can also be used to toggle the most used or favourite apps with a simple tap.

The MacBook 2013 is offered with 8 GB of RAM which can be paired with either 128 GB or 256 GB of PCIe based SSD. The storage is non-user-replaceable, therefore, it cannot be replaced or upgraded at a later stage. Therefore, users must carefully select storage capacity at the time of purchasing the laptop.

Price And Availability

Also Read: Top 5 Free To Play Multiplayer Shooter Games For Low Spec PCs

Both, the MacBook Air Retina and the 13 inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar are available for purchase via both online and offline platforms. Price of both the laptops are as follows:

	Price In US	Price In India
MacBook Air Retina	US $ 1099	Rs 99,000
MacBook Pro 13	US $ 1299	Rs 1,19,000

Quick Specs

	MacBook Air	MacBook Pro
Screen	13.3-inch, LED-backlit 2560×1600 px 227 ppi	13.3-inch, LED-backlit 2560×1600 px 227 ppi
Camera	720p	720p
Battery	49.9 watt-hour	58.2 watt-hour
Processor	intel i5, 8th Gen dual-core base 1.6 GHz, turbo boost 3.6 GHz	intel i5, 8th Gen quad-core base 1.4 GHz, turbo boost 3.9 GHz intel i5, 8th Gen quad-core base 2.4 GHz, turbo boost 4.1 GHz
Storage	PCIe SSD 128 GB 256 GB	PCIe SSD 128 GB 256 GB
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.2 802.11ac Wi-Fi	Bluetooth 4.2 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Ports	2x USB-C 3.1, Gen 2 (Charging + Data Transfer + DisplayPort)	2x USB-C 3.1, Gen 2 (Charging + Data Transfer + DisplayPort) 3.5 mm audio jack
Graphics	Intel UHD 617	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Colours	Gold Space Grey Silver	Space Grey Silver
Weight	1.25 kg	1.37 kg

July 10, 2019

The New Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro May Launch In September

Rumours regarding the first 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro have been making rounds on the internet for a while now. Though, the tech giant has made no announcement or given any confirmations regarding the anticipated device. However, A new report seems to claim that the release of the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro is actually right around the corner. The launch is expected to be set somewhere in September.

Analysts at IHS Markit have reported that the 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro will be unveiled in September alongside its speculated specifications. The latest laptop will feature the new display size and high end CPU along with Catalina MacOS. An OLED panel is being skipped over for an LCD screen which will feature a resolution of 3072x1920px.

Apple had refreshed the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro back in May and is also expected to update the laptops with the latest MacOS Catalina. The update would also go with an update to new processors as well. The 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro could potentially sport a high-end processor, such as the H series Intel Core Processor, i9-9980HK. This octa-core processor is already available in the refreshed May 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Notably, the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro could feature a more powerful GPU in comparison to the May refreshed iterations. The older versions have a Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics with 4GB of HBM2 memory, while the latest laptop might utilize AMD’s latest Radeon RDNA capable integrated graphics processors. This will further boost the graphics prowess of the upcoming MacBook Pro.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M30s Colour Variants Leaked, To Launch In India Soon

The company’s new release might frustrate customers who had just bought the May 2019 refreshed laptop models. Furthermore, the American company has yet to put out a response confirming this report. The new 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro is most likely a top-end device aimed at creators and casual consumers alike. Reception of the product remains to be seen.

June 24, 2019
Apple Updates MacBook Pro With Eight Core Processors

American Technology company, Apple has added yet another set of updates to its lineup of the MacBook Pro. The new upgrades are aimed towards a significant boost in performance that MacBooks already offer. The company has revamped the MacBook Pro with the 8th- and 9th-generation Intel Core processors and introduced Octa-core processors for the first time. Additionally, a host of other features have also been added.

Apple MacBook Pro: Features And Specifications

The company claims that the new MacBooks deliver 40 percent more performance than the last generation hexa-core MacBooks and almost twice the performance of quad-core CPU equipped MacBooks. The 6-core and 8-core Intel Processors present in the 15-inch MacBook Pro can provide speeds of up to 5.0 GHz. On the other hand, the smaller 13-inch version with a quad-core CPU supports Turbo Boost upto 4.7 GHz. Content creators, researchers and music producers can experience huge productivity boost accrediting to the aforementioned CPU upgrades, the company says.

In terms of display, the new Apple notebooks have an upgraded Retina display with 500 nits of brightness. They also have support for the P3 wide colour gamut and True Tone technology. Regarding audio, the MacBook Pro has stereo speakers with wide-stereo sound. Other features include Touch ID, the TouchBar and a large Force Touch Trackpad.

The MacBook Pro packs the Apple T2 security chip and a total number of 3 Thunderbolt 3 ports that can be used for fast data transfer, plugging in 4 external GPUs and connecting two 5K resolution displays. The T2 security chip is an encrypted safehouse that stores sensitive user data like TouchID information. In terms of the operating system, the updated MacBooks run on the latest version of macOS Mojave, which now features Dark Mode and a variety of upgrades to optimize usage.

Price And Availability

Also Read: Honor 20 & Honor 20 Pro With Punch Hole Display Launched

The new MacBook Pro 13-inch and 15-inch variants with the touchbar start at a price of INR 159,900 and INR 199,900 respectively. They will be purchasable via Apple Authorised Resellers across the country.

May 22, 2019
Apple’s Device Lineup For 2019 Leaked

Each year Apple releases new versions of its devices with significant upgrades over their predecessors. The devices that generally see an update each year include the iPhones, MacBooks and iPads. According to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is bound to have a busier 2019 than usual, with more devices planned to launch in the year than usual. This would include three iPhones, a new MacBook Pro, new iPads and a 31-inch monitor with 6K resolution.

Mobile Devices

According to Kuo, Apple will launch these devices over the course of the year. Like yesteryear, Apple will reportedly launch three iPhone models in the year 2019. These would have the same screen size and display types as the current iPhones. This means that two out of three iPhones will have an OLED display with a screen size of 5.8 inch and 6.5 inch. While the third iPhone will have a 6.1 inch Liquid Retina display.

The smartphones will feature an upgraded frosted glass casing, reverse wireless charging, upgraded FaceID, larger batteries and triple rear cameras. Unfortunately, the feature distribution in the devices isn’t known but reports suggest the triple cameras will only be offered in the 5.8-inch and the 6.5-inch iPhones. Also, contrary to the reports that the new iPhones will have a Type-C port, the devices are expected to retain a lightning port in 2019.

Computing Devices

The 2019 iPad models are also expected to receive significant update over their predecessors. The reports suggest Apple will release two new iPad Pro models which will have upgraded processor and thinner bezels around the display. An iPad mini with an upgraded processor is also expected in 2019.

The new MacBook Pro will be the most notable launch by Apple this year. The report claims that the company will bump the screen size of the 15-inch model to accommodate a display between 16-inches and 16.5-inches. This change suggests a decrease in bezel size around the display. Reportedly, the upcoming 13-inch MacBook Pro is will be offered with up to 32 GB of RAM storage which is an appreciable addition. As the current model maxes out at 16 GB of RAM.

The company is also expected to launch a brand new monitor which will feature a 31.6-inch 6K display. It may sport a Mini-LED like backlight design. The company is also expected to announce a new Mac Pro desktop computer which will have the ability to upgrade components as per the need of the user. It is likely to be launched alongside the 31.6 inch monitor with 6k resolution.

Wearables & More

Talking about wearable devices, the report claims that Apple is expected to introduce the ECG function to more countries this year, along with launching a new ceramic casing design. The AirPods 2 will also be significantly different than the first generation, offering features like wireless charging and upgraded Bluetooth connectivity. The company is also expected to ship the AirPower wireless charging mat before the first half of 2019 ends. There is also the new iPod Touch that is expected, arriving this year with an updated processor.

Also read: Galaxy S10, S10+ Leaked In Video, Prices Tipped

With a lineup like the one above, seems like Apple has a busy year ahead of it. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t mention the launch date and the prices of the devices. But, they are expected to launch during the course of the year, with first announcements starting in the month of March.

February 18, 2019
Apple Admits That The iPhone X & 13 inch MacBook Pro Have Hardware Issues
Technology is evolving rapidly and companies are bound to update products every year to keep up with their competition. But, this fast-paced development can often lead to hardware issues which arise after the products have reached the customers. One such infamous case was the ‘exploding batteries’ on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. And recently, Apple has announced that the iPhone X and 13-inch MacBook Pro have some issues. This causes the hardware to fail or not respond for no apparent reason.

The Issues
- The iPhone X’s screen or part of the screen randomly stops recognising the user’s touch. Sometimes, it even reacts when the user has not touched it.
- The 13 inch MacBook Pro (non-touch bar) that was sold between June 2017 & June 2018 might have an issue that leads to hard disk failure or data loss.
The Good

Apple has admitted to the issues with their products and is offering a free replacement to solve the issues. The users with eligible iPhone Xs can get a free screen replacement from Apple’s Authorised Service Providers or retail stores. Similarly, the MacBooks that face the disk failure issue can get a free service at an Apple retail store or an Authorised Service Provider. To check if your MacBook has such an issue, you can simply type the serial number on the company’s support page.

The Bad

Also Read: Top Books A Tech Enthusiast Must Read

The iPhone X users have been complaining about the screen issue for almost a year now. And the company’s delayed response definitely made the customers suffer all this while. Also, Apple being one of the leaders in the tech industry, is not expected to ship products that have such issues.
November 10, 2018
Apple Updates MacBook Pro, Now Includes New Core i9 Configurable Option

Apple has updated their MacBook Pro lineup with new hardware upgrades. The MacBook Pro 15 inch is now available with an upto Core i9 Option with 4tB SSD and 32 GB of RAM. These machines are more targeted to resolve the performance needs of many MacBook Pro users who were not satisfied with the 2016 Update.

“The latest generation MacBook Pro is the fastest and most powerful notebook we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Now with 8th-generation 6-core processors, up to 32GB of system memory, up to 4TB of super fast SSD storage, new True Tone technology in its Retina display and Touch Bar, the Apple T2 chip for enhanced security and a third-generation quieter keyboard packed into its thin and light aluminium design with all-day battery life, it’s the best notebook for pro users.”

Apple will for the first time also allow configurable options in India, for the MacBook pro Line-up allowing Indian consumers to pick their choice of hardware. Also new to MacBook Pro is the Apple T2 chip, first introduced in iMac Pro. With the Apple T2 chip, MacBook Pro now delivers enhanced system security with support for secure boot and on-the-fly encrypted storage, and also brings “Hey Siri” to the Mac for the first time.

Macbook Pro 15 inch Specs:

• 6-core Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz

• Up to 32GB of DDR4 memory

• Radeon Pro discrete graphics with 4GB of video memory in every configuration

• Up to 4TB of SSD storage

• True Tone display technology

• Apple T2 Chip

• Touch Bar and Touch ID

Macbook Pro 13 inch Specs:

• Quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz and double the eDRAM

• Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics 655 with 128MB of eDRAM

• Up to 2TB of SSD storage

• True Tone display technology

• Apple T2 Chip

• Touch Bar and Touch ID

Apple has also launched new accessories for the MacBook Pro lineup including Apple sleeves for the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro in Saddle Brown, Midnight Blue and Black.

Starting at INR 149900 and INR 199900 respectively, the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar are available in select Apple Authorised Resellers later this month.

July 13, 2018
Apple Will Replace Some 13 Inch MacBook Pro Batteries For Free

Apple has introduced a new battery replacement program for some 13 inch non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro. Under this program, Apple would replace the batteries of these MacBook Pros for free.

According to Apple, there is an issue with a small number of MacBook Pros manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017. Apple notes that some non-Touch Bar MacBook Pros manufactured in the mentioned time frame have a faulty component which causes the battery to expand. In order to check eligibility, head to this page and enter the serial number of your MacBook Pro (non-Touch Bar).

It is worth noting that users who have already replaced their batteries can contact Apple for a refund. Once a MacBook Pro qualifies for the program, owners can either visit an authorised Apple retail store or can mail it to Apple’s repair centre.

Apple’s preemptive move will be appreciated by MacBook Pro owners especially considering the program will be valid for 5 years since the original release of the 13-inch MacBook Pro (non-Touch Bar). Apple has recently been criticised for not handling the iPhone slow-down debacle well. The company’s efforts of prolonging the life of older iPhones were misconstrued as a deliberate way of influencing users into buying new iPhones. However, Apple has since come out and made its intentions clear.

The company also released a feature in the latest iOS 11 update wherein users can choose between peak performance or better battery health. Apart from that, Apple also announced that the battery replacement charges will be reduced to US$ 29 for out of warranty iPhones.

April 23, 2018
Apple Won’t Launch An iPad/MacBook Hybrid Says Tim Cook

Ever since the iPad Pro was launched, there has been a lot of talk around iPads replacing MacBooks in the future. While this sounds nice, it is hard to imagine that right now, considering the number of applications that work on macOS but not on iOS. Apart from the general OS compatibility issue, the maker of iPads and MacBooks itself isn’t sold on the idea. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., has reiterated that Apple has no intention of creating a hybrid tablet-notebook device anytime soon.

Six years ago, Tim Cook exclaimed that a MacBook and an iPad hybrid would lead to a lot of trade-offs which adversely impact usability.

Anything can be forced to converge, but the problem is that the products are about tradeoffs. You begin to make tradeoffs to the point where what you have left at the end of the day doesn’t please anyone. You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but you know, those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user.

Six years later and Tim Cook is still not convinced. In a recent interview after Apple’s March 27th event, Tim Cook reiterated what he essentially said about six years ago.

We don’t believe in sort of watering down one for the other. Both [The Mac and iPad] are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two … you begin to make trade offs and compromises.

It is worth noting that Microsoft has had a fair amount of success with Surface Book lineup, which is essentially a Windows laptop and tablet hybrid. The Microsoft Surface Book lineup has a touch screen, a full-size keyboard and 180-degree foldable design. However, Apple still believes that the MacBook and iPad should not be converged. Both the MacBooks and iPads have been bestsellers in their domain so far. While MacBooks still don’t dominate the laptop industry, iPads have pretty much taken over the tablet industry. Only a handful Android tablets exist that can compete with an iPad.

While a hybrid of iPad and MacBook is far from being a reality, it appears that the iPhone SE 2 might be. At the upcoming WWDC 2018 conference, Apple is expected to launch the Apple iPhone SE 2. For more details, click here.

April 20, 2018
Apple To Launch A Cheaper MacBook Air In 2018

The MacBook Air was originally launched in early 2008, which was highly appreciated for the design and a longer-lasting battery. In fact, the 2017 MacBook Air still resembles the original model, which was designed to fit inside an office-folder.

A report suggests that Apple might launch a more affordable MacBook Air in Q2 of 2018. The company will be able to improve MacBook shipments by 10 to 15%. In fact, Apple is expected to launch the newer model at the WWDC 2018.

The entry-level MacBook Air is priced at $999, which is the choice of notebook for the most of the college-going students. However, there were no major improvements in the last few iteration, as Apple is focusing on the 12-inch MacBook and the MacBook Pro. The report also claims that Apple is also expected to launch three new iPhones with Face ID. Similarly, the company is also expected to launch a new version of AirPods.

12 inch MacBook

Specifications

As suggested, the MacBook Air is expected to have a 1440 x 900 px 13 inch display. Under the hood, the notebook is expected to be powered by the Intel 8th Gen Core i5 chipset with 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB PCIe SSD storage. However, the report doesn’t say anything in particular about the hardware specifications.

The notebook is expected to retain all the ports, including 2x USB-A, SD card reader, and a mini display port. However, Apple might also go with the latest trend to offer a complete USB type C solution like the MacBook Pro lineup.

The notebook is expected to have a similar battery life as of the current MacBook Air with support for MagSafe 2. The device will be based on macOS High Sierra operating system.

Conclusion

The MacBook Air is a great notebook for the first time MacBook buyers. The notebook comes with an highly-optimised operating system with a premium user experience.

March 5, 2018
Xiaomi Launches The Mi Notebook Pro
Xiaomi has launched the Mi Notebook Pro in China at the Mi Mix 2 event along with the Mi Note 3. The launch of the Mi Notebook Pro saw Xiaomi take a sly dig at Apple MacBook Pro while boasting about its several ports, a better keyboard, fingerprint sensor and the Windows 10 operating system. The Mi Notebook Air, that launched in 2016 was a cheaper competitor to the MacBook Air and its 2017 iteration has targeted the more expensive Apple laptop.

You can now forget about carrying port extensions just because.. you know, we've got it all! pic.twitter.com/FxxGbXaySE

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) September 11, 2017

The nomenclature of the Mi Notebook Pro is very similar to the MacBook Pro, has a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 px display and the top-end variant is powered by an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB RAM and a Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics chip. Xiaomi claims that because of what’s under the hood, the Notebook Pro will be 40% faster than the Notebook Air from 2016. The laptop has a full-metal unibody design and 7 integrated ports. The new Notebook Pro includes a fingerprint sensor housed inside the trackpad, three-in-one SD card support, a total of 7 USB-C and regular USB ports, a headphone jack and a full HDMI slot. The speakers are custom-built and powered by Harman.

The Mi Notebook Pro as of now looks like a China-only product, just like the Mi Notebook Air. The Pro variant is also a little more expensive than its Air sibling.
- Intel i5/8GB of RAM – 5599 RMB (Rs. 55,000 approx.)
- Intel Coffee Lake i7/8GB of RAM – 6699 RMB (Rs. 62,000 approx.)
- Intel Coffee Lake i7/16GB of RAM – 6999 RMB (Rs. 68,000 approx.)
Even though Xiaomi wants to pit the Notebook Pro against the Apple MacBook Pro, there are enough Windows powered laptops in a similar price bracket with top-end specifications. There is no word right now whether the Notebook Pro will launch in the global markets or not hence, how much of a threat the Xiaomi laptop will be to the MacBook Pro is yet to be seen.
September 11, 2017
New MacBook Pros On Sale in India Starting 129,900

The new MacBook Pros 2016 have gone on sale in India with a starting price tag of Rs. 129,900 for the 13 inch variant without the Touch Bar. The 13 inch Touch Bar equipped model will sell for Rs. 155,900 according to Apple India.

The new MacBook Pros have a 2560×1600 native resolution and sport the Skylake Intel chipsets. In India the MacBook Pros are available in either a 256 GB SSD or 512 SSD variant with no options to customise at the moment. The newer-gen MacBookPros are also not consumer upgradable even though the SSD unit is removable, it is proprietary.

The most expensive MacBook pro is the 15 inch with Touch Bar which features a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB Storage it also comes equipped with a Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB GDDR5 + Intel HD Graphics 530, this model will cost Rs. 241,900.

The Price of the MacBooks is ridiculously higher than their counterparts in the US, where a similar 15 inch MacBook Pro costs Rs. 205,000 including taxes. Those waiting for the Macbook’s will get limited stocks in the initial rush for the new MacBooks.

The MacBook Pros also drop all ports including Magsafe, USB ports, and SD card readers for two USB – C ports in the base 13 inch MacBook and 4 USB – C ports in the higher models.

November 29, 2016
2016 MacBook Range Set for a Possible June 13 Unveiling

Apple updated its MacBook range during this time last year, and fans and industry experts expect the tech giant to do the same this year too. Unlike how things have gone for the iPhone, Apple has managed to keep a tight lid on the information leaking out of Cupertino for its range of MacBooks.

But from whatever little is known courtesy of reports circulating on the Internet, one big upgrade that the 2016 MacBook range will see the inclusion of newer Skylake processors up from the present fifth-generation Broadwell chipsets. This upgrade could be significant in the sense that it will bring to the new lineup better performance with its improved hyperthreading architecture.

Additionally, for devices such as the MacBook Pro range the Skylake mobile CPUs are expected to deliver up to 2.5 times faster processing performance, 30 times better graphics performance, and three times the battery life of earlier generation processors owing to the 14nm chips used for manufacturing them.

To top it off Integrating Skylake will also allow the company’s complete lineup to run on the same core hardware from end to end, thus making life a lot easier for prospective customers around the globe.

Though there were rumors earlier of major design change, but such chatter has quietened a bit off late, and it is expected when it comes to aesthetic design no remodeling to the upcoming MacBooks will be seen.

Reports peg Apple to introduce the revamped MacBook lineup at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and possibly a larger 15-inch version could also be unveiled sometime in March which would be some surprise.

January 25, 2016
Benchmark Tests Prove Microsoft Surface Book Not Twice as Fast as Macbook Pro

At the launch of its first laptop, Surface Book, Microsoft had claimed it to be a machine twice the speed of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, when benchmark tests were carried out by PCWorld and Geekbench 3, these claims were proved incorrect. In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Apple device was slightly faster than the Surface Book.

Having said that, it should also be noted that when it came to the graphic card, some models of the Surface Book are ahead of its Apple counterpart. Additionally, processing tasks that are shared with the GPU also were performed better by Microsoft laptops as compared to Macbook Pro. A reason for this could be the dedicated GPU of Surface Book as opposed to the integrated one of the 13-inch MacBook. But it is the costlier model of the Surface Book, costing around $1700 (about Rs. 1,10,000), which has a dedicated GPU. The one which costs as much as the 13-inch MacBook Pro at $1500 (about Rs. 98,000) is the base Model Surface Book which too has an integrated GPU.

Despite tall claims by Microsoft of its device’s doubled speed, the difference showed up only in a pure graphics test. When running Tomb Raider, the Surface Book achieved 74fps against the 23.6fps of the MacBook. But, once again, this can also be achieved by a GeForce graphics card. It would be interesting to see how the Surface Book fares against the MacBook Pro 15.

October 26, 2015