The new MacBook Pro's flash performance crushes the 282.7 MBps we churned out of last year's model, though that unit had a smaller 256GB SSD.

Having this kind of flash storage will make finding files amidst huge libraries a snap. Our review unit's 512GB SSD transferred 4.97GB of mixed media in a ridiculously quick 8 seconds, for a colossal transfer rate of 636 MB per second. The trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens looked vibrant and detailed on the Pro's Retina Display, from Finn's debris-covered face to the shiny, silver Stormtrooper armor of Captain Phasma.Īpple promises exponentially better flash performance with the refreshed MacBook Pro's next-generation PCIe-based flash storage, and the computer delivers. The laptop's gorgeous 15.4-inch, 2880 x 1800 screen impresses the second you pop it open, with app icons and images that burst with color, and text that practically looks handwritten. There's a reason 'Retina Display' is part of the MacBook Pro's full name. Dell's latest XPS 15 (14.6 x 10 x 0.7~0.3 inches, 4.6 pounds) is just a bit heavier and taller than the Pro, while workstations such as the MSI WS60 (15.4 x 10.5 x 0.78 inches, 4.36 pounds) and HP ZBook 15u (14.8 x 10 x 0.84 inches, 4.23 pounds) are slightly lighter but have bigger footprints than Apple's notebook.

Measuring 14.13 x 9.73 x 0.71 inches and weighing 4.49 pounds, the MacBook Pro is pleasingly skinny and fairly easy to carry. The MacBook's underside sports a set of barely noticeable vents on either side, with the iconic glowing Apple logo adorning the lid. The MacBook Pro continues to be one of the most seamless-looking notebooks in its category, with two subtle stereo speakers flanking the laptop's signature black chiclet keyboard.

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