Apple recently dropped its MacBook Pro 2016, much to the astonishment of tech enthusiasts. It's been well-received by the general public, mostly for its newest Apple Touch Bar, an OLED multi-touch panel that replaces the role of function keys and changes interface depending on the app currently used. It also sports the latest sixth-generation Skylake processors and packs extra battery power.
However, with its closest competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 hot on the MacBook Pro 2016's trails, should you upgrade your laptop or wait for the dust to settle? Here's the lowdown of everything you need to know about the MacBook Pro 2016 as well as the Microsoft Surface Book 2: its specs and hardware, features, price and upgrades.
Specs and features
One of the biggest changes on the new MacBook Pro 2016 is its new Skylake processors, which is bound to translate to speedier performance and longer battery life. The base model packs 16 gigabytes of RAM and a 2GB AMD Radeon Pro 450 graphics card, according to tech website The Verge.
Meanwhile, the newly released Microsoft Surface Book 2 also offers the same configurations as the MacBook Pro 2016. However, its SSD starts lower than the MacBook Pro -- the Microsoft Surface Book 2 comes with the 128GB SSD as compared to the MacBook Pro's 256GB. While on paper they pretty much share most specs, the Surface Book 2 offers wider options for graphics with its NVidia GeForce GTX 965M.
Upgrades
Of course, one of the most noticeable upgrades for the new MacBook Pro 2016 is the Apple Track Bar, an OLED panel to replace function keys. It changes interface depending on the software you use. For example, it shows the play/pause buttons when a video player is open, or graphics commands for creative software.
The MacBook Pro 2016 also comes with the new butterfly-style keyboard and Force Touch trackpad. The Microsoft Surface Book 2, on the other hand, remains a detachable hybrid with touchscreen. It sport the Dial, however, which is an attachable volume control on the Surface Studio screen.
Price
Currently, the MacBook Pro 2016 is priced at $2,399 for the lowest configuration, and can go up to $4,299 for its high-end variant. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 will cost $2,399 for its lowest-end configuration and $3,299 for the highest-priced model.