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Apple MacBook Pro 13 (Mid 2017, i5, Touch Bar) Review

Early update. Apple already updates the MacBook Pro 13 after around 8 months. Modern Kaby Lake processors and faster SSDs are supposed to provide more performance. But did the manufacturer fix some issues of the predecessor?
Update: The review is now complete.

The Kaby Lake chips were not ready for the redesign of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 at the end of 2016, so Apple launches an update after just 8 months. Besides the mentioned Kaby Lake processors, including the integrated Iris Plus Graphics 650 GPU, the manufacturer also includes faster SSDs. The other components, including the case, did not change. Apple once again offers two models of the 13-inch system, one with the Touch Bar and one without. The more expensive model with the OLED strip above the keyboard also gets more powerful 28-watt processors (vs. 15 watts for the model without Touch Bar), more Thunderbolt ports and a slightly smaller battery. The old MacBook Pro 13 (old design, Broadwell) was discontinued and is not available anymore.

MacBook Pro 13 without Touch Bar MacBook Pro 13 with Touch Bar
Processor Core i5 2.3 GHz (Kaby Lake, 15 W)
Core i7 2.5 GHz (Kaby Lake, 15 W)
Core i5 3.1 GHz (Kaby Lake, 28 W)
Core i5 3.3 GHz (Kaby Lake, 28 W)
Core i7 3.5 GHz (Kaby Lake, 28 W)
GPU Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650
RAM 8 GB LPDDR3-2133
16 GB LPDDR3-2133
8 GB LPDDR3-2133
16 GB LPDDR3-2133
SSD 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Display 13.3-inch IPS 2560x1600 pixels 13.3-inch IPS 2560x1600 pixels
Ports 2x Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C
3.5 mm headset
4x Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C
3.5 mm headset
Price from $1299 from $1799

Our test model is the entry-level SKU of the MacBook Pro 13 Touch Bar for 1999 Euros (~$2282) that we bought in Apple's online store. Except for the processor and the SSD, there are no changes compared to the 2016 model, so we will not cover all sections in this article. All the corresponding information is available in our in-depth review of the MacBook Pro 13 (Touch Bar, Late 2016). The following pictures are from the 2016 model as well.

We got a second test model (i5, 512 GB) from the online retailer Cyberport. We repeated the runtime tests and performed additional benchmarks with the 512 GB SSD.

Change log:

  • 06/15: SSD performance, temperature, Wi-Fi runtime
  • 06/17: fan noise, battery runtime load & video
  • 06/21: input devices, color accuracy, PWM, gaming performance, power consumption
  • 06/29: communication, several additions, pros/cons, verdict, rating
  • 07/07: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi problem specified
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5 (MacBook Pro 13 2017 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7267U 2 x 3.1 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR3L-2133, Dual-Channel
Display
13.30 inch 16:10, 2560 x 1600 pixel 227 PPI, APPA034, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Apple SSD AP0256, 256 GB 
Soundcard
Cirrus Logic CS8409
Connections
4 USB 3.1 Gen2, 4 Thunderbolt, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm stereo jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac (ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15 x 304 x 212 ( = 0.59 x 11.97 x 8.35 in)
Battery
49.2 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Apple OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Camera
Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers, Keyboard: Chiclet (Butterfly v2), Keyboard Light: yes, 61-watt USB-C PSU, USB-C charging cable, 12 Months Warranty
Released
06/05/2017
Weight
1.37 kg ( = 48.33 oz / 3.02 pounds), Power Supply: 269 g ( = 9.49 oz / 0.59 pounds)
Price
1999 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 15.95 mm / 0.628 inch 1.1 kg2.52 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 212 mm / 8.35 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.4 kg3.02 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 212 mm / 8.35 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.4 kg2.99 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.3 kg2.89 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Communication

The transfer rates of the MacBook Pro 13 Touch Bar are once again excellent. However, we can still notice the Wi-Fi problem with 2.4 GHz networks when USB-C devices are attached. However, the issue was limited to certain constellations. We noticed connection problems with the Anker Premium USB-C Hub, for example, as well as a maximum equipment with Kensington USB-C Hub, SanDisk 900 USB-C SSD, DisplayPort monitor, USB thumb drive, and other peripherals running Windows (Bootcamp). However, we could not always reproduce the problem, and both the Kensington hub as well as the USB-C SSD worked without problems. The 2017 MBP 15 is affected as well; the Razer Stealth (Kaby Lake) not. The latter does not support Power Delivery via USB-C though, so this might be the issue.

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with connection issues when a lot of high-speed USB-C hardware is attached (here running on Windows 10, but it also happened with macOS).
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with connection issues when a lot of high-speed USB-C hardware is attached (here running on Windows 10, but it also happened with macOS).
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
949 MBit/s 0%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
949 MBit/s
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
680 MBit/s -28%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Klaus I211)
653 MBit/s -31%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
589 MBit/s -38%
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
950 MBit/s +12%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
845 MBit/s
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Klaus I211)
682 MBit/s -19%
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
676 MBit/s -20%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
634 MBit/s -25%

Input Devices

The keyboard looks identical and Apple still uses second-generation Butterfly keys, but our colleagues from iFixit noticed a slightly changed construction in their teardown. In addition to the 12-inch MacBook there were also reports about keyboard problems on the Pro models. Our MacBook Pro 15 (Late 2016) we use in the office also had some problem with the "S" key recently. The key stroke was either not triggered or triggered twice. However, the problem was gone after a while. Obviously, we cannot say whether there will be any long-term issues, but it does not leave the best impression. Subjectively, the typing experience did not change compared to the previous model in a direct comparison.

Display

The display did not change. The 13.3-inch screen still has a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 227 PPI. The Panel-ID is APPA034 and is therefore identical to the 2016 model without the Touch Bar. The maximum luminance in the center is 551 nits and the average result is still very good at 514 nits, which surpasses Apple's claimed 500 nits. That the contrast is still "just" 1148:1 is a result of the slightly increased black value (0.48). The battery is reduced on battery power, because the center value drops to 502 nits. However, this result easily surpasses the Windows competition.

523
cd/m²
536
cd/m²
503
cd/m²
524
cd/m²
551
cd/m²
520
cd/m²
496
cd/m²
487
cd/m²
487
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
APPA034 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 551 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 514.1 cd/m² Minimum: 4.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 502 cd/m²
Contrast: 1148:1 (Black: 0.48 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
86.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.16
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
APPA034, , 2560x1600, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
APPA033, , 2560x1600, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
APPA034, , 2560x1600, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Sharp SHP144A, , 3200x1800, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
B140HAN03_1, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
1%
-1%
-22%
-27%
Display P3 Coverage
98.6
99.2
1%
97.1
-2%
64.6
-34%
61.4
-38%
sRGB Coverage
100
99.9
0%
99.8
0%
91.6
-8%
85.9
-14%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
86.5
87.6
1%
86.7
0%
66.5
-23%
62.4
-28%
Response Times
-28%
-26%
21%
10%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
48 ?(23.6, 24.4)
47.2 ?(19.6, 27.6)
2%
47.2 ?(21.6, 25.6)
2%
31 ?(13, 18)
35%
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
13%
Response Time Black / White *
33.6 ?(16.4, 17.2)
53 ?(10, 43)
-58%
51.6 ?(8.4, 43.2)
-54%
31.2 ?(10.8, 20.4)
7%
31.6 ?(18.8, 12.8)
6%
PWM Frequency
119000 ?(80)
Screen
-35%
-38%
-129%
-210%
Brightness middle
551
569
3%
600
9%
444
-19%
311
-44%
Brightness
514
542
5%
564
10%
393
-24%
288
-44%
Brightness Distribution
88
90
2%
89
1%
82
-7%
85
-3%
Black Level *
0.48
0.56
-17%
0.57
-19%
0.33
31%
0.24
50%
Contrast
1148
1016
-11%
1053
-8%
1345
17%
1296
13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
0.8
1.4
-75%
1.5
-88%
4
-400%
5.5
-588%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
1.4
2.9
-107%
2.9
-107%
7.7
-450%
9
-543%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1
1.8
-80%
2
-100%
2.83
-183%
6.2
-520%
Gamma
2.16 102%
2.16 102%
2.27 97%
2.05 107%
2.02 109%
CCT
6672 97%
6877 95%
6855 95%
6963 93%
5950 109%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
78.4
77
59.3
55.96
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.3
92
91.4
85.77
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-21% / -26%
-22% / -27%
-43% / -81%
-76% / -134%

* ... smaller is better

The MacBook Pro 13 already manages excellent color accuracy results out of the box. We determine average DeltaE-2000 deviations compared to the P3 reference of just 1 for the grayscale and 0.8 (up to 1.4) for the colors with the spectrophotometer X-Rite i1Pro2 and the professional software CalMAN. The average DeltaE value drops to 0.56 (up to 1.29) in the ColorChecker test (24 patches) after the calibration with the i1Profiler software of our spectrophotometer.

CalMAN Grayscale (target color space P3)
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space P3)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space P3)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space P3)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 17.2 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 89 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
48 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 23.6 ms rise
↘ 24.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 80 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

We have used a more sensitive measuring device since the beginning of this year, which can detect higher frequencies. We can measure brightness fluctuations at a very high frequency of 119 kHz for the MacBook Pro 13 for brightness levels of 80% or below. We also checked the old 2016 MacBook Pro 15 with the new sensor and got a similar result. Because of the very high frequency, there should not be any problems even for sensitive users.

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 119000 Hz ≤ 80 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 119000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 80 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 119000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Performance

The MacBook Pro 13 with the Touch Bar is once again the more powerful model out of the two 13-inch systems since Apple uses dual-core processors with a TDP of 28 watts. This is an advantage for the GPU in particular, because the higher consumption limit gives more headroom for the Turbos of the two components. However, you should not expect a revolution from the Kaby Lake generation, because it is only a small update compared to Skylake.

All in all, the current MacBook Pro 13 Touch Bar is suited for many applications. If you need a lot of CPU/GPU performance though, you are still better off with a real quad-core and a dedicated graphics card.

LatencyMon: Idle
LatencyMon: Idle
LatencyMon: Web browsing
LatencyMon: Web browsing

Processor

CPU-Z Intel Core i5-7267U
CPU-Z Intel Core i5-7267U

The entry-level processor of the new Apple MacBook Pro 13 Touch Bar carries the designation Core i5-7267U. The Kaby Lake processor has two cores with a base frequency of 3.1 GHz, but it can be raised up to 3.5 GHz via Turbo Boost (for one and two active cores). The i5-7267U is therefore comparable to the regular Core i7-7500U (also up to 3.5 GHz), but the latter should be a bit slower due to the lower TDP and the lack of eDRAM cache.

This is supported by the benchmarks. While the Core i7-7500U in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a small advantage in the Single-Core test of the current Cinebench R15, the new MacBook Pro 15 is 6% faster in the Multi-Test. The advantage over the old MacBook Pro 13 from 2016 is 8 or 13%, respectively (Single/Multi), so owners of the Skylake model do not have to upgrade. We also included the Acer Predator 17; it is equipped with the Core i7-7700HQ, which is the new entry-level CPU of the bigger Apple MacBook Pro 15 (review soon). The quad-core is obviously much more powerful when you stress multiple cores.

Apple does not limit the processor at the specified 28 watts. The tool Intel Extreme Tuning Utility shows a permanent consumption limit at 100 Watts (even 125 watts for a short time), so the temperature is the only limiting factor.

Intel XTU Overview
Intel XTU Overview
Intel XTU Advanced
Intel XTU Advanced
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The processor can maintain its performance under sustained workloads. A loop of the Cinebench R15 Multi Test determines a steady score after 20 runs; the only small outlier was probably affected by a background process. The CPU performance is not reduced on battery power.

More benchmarks and technical specifications for the Intel Core i5-7267U are available in our Tech section.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Acer Predator 17 G9-793-70PJ
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
157 Points +11%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Intel Core i7-7560U
153 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel Core i7-7500U
143 Points +1%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
141 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Core i5-6267U
131 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Acer Predator 17 G9-793-70PJ
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
732 Points +91%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
383 (377min - 385max) Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel Core i7-7500U
360 Points -6%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Core i5-6267U
339 Points -11%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Intel Core i7-7560U
336 Points -12%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8773
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
11403
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5010
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
45.2 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
4.09 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.54 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.3 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
41.21 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
383 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
141 Points
Help

System Performance

We performed the synthetic PCMark benchmarks running on Windows (BootCamp). You should note that the results also depend on the drivers, which are provided by Apple. All comparison devices are still pretty close in the Home Test, but the two Windows-based models are clearly ahead (+20%) in the Work Test. The new MacBook Pro 13 also falls behind the direct predecessor, despite the more powerful hardware.

So what does this mean? Subjectively, you cannot notice a difference and the MacBook Pro 13 is extremely responsive and there are hardly any delays when you launch applications.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620
4025 Points +5%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
i7-7560U, Iris Plus Graphics 640
3902 Points +2%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
i5-7267U, Iris Plus Graphics 650
3829 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
6267U, Iris Graphics 550
3738 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
6360U, Iris Graphics 540
3280 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620
4978 Points +22%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
i7-7560U, Iris Plus Graphics 640
4890 Points +20%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
6267U, Iris Graphics 550
4218 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
i5-7267U, Iris Plus Graphics 650
4081 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
6360U, Iris Graphics 540
3853 Points -6%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3829 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
5188 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4081 points
PCMark 10 Score
3427 points
Help

Storage Devices

Our test model is equipped with the 256 GB PCIe-SSD with the designation AP0256. Not only the designation is similar to the predecessor; we can also see similar performance results. AS SSD running on Windows still has some issues (also the case for the previous models), but all three drives are basically on the same – good – performance level.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Apple SSD AP0256
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Apple SSD AP0256
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
Apple SSD AP0256
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
42%
36%
263%
148%
Read Seq
1540
1662
8%
1345
-13%
1827
19%
1168
-24%
Write Seq
1353
1336
-1%
1320
-2%
1383
2%
329
-76%
Read 512
926
1183
28%
831
-10%
814
-12%
1015
10%
Write 512
698
1481
112%
1486
113%
1098
57%
307
-56%
Read 4k
9.92
16.1
62%
31.68
219%
61
515%
33
233%
Write 4k
10.74
23.5
119%
11.02
3%
172.2
1503%
132
1129%
Read 4k QD32
618
657
6%
533
-14%
601
-3%
525
-15%
Write 4k QD32
403.8
419
4%
362
-10%
495.6
23%
325
-20%
AS SSD
21%
-2%
181%
-68%
Seq Read
2327
2405
3%
2275
-2%
2434
5%
1412
-39%
Seq Write
1364
1499
10%
1435
5%
1506
10%
46
-97%
4K Read
12.7
18.8
48%
13.3
5%
56.8
347%
4K Write
19.3
26.1
35%
15.4
-20%
151.1
683%
4K-64 Read
852
894
5%
904
6%
1022
20%
4K-64 Write
419
448
7%
417
0%
905
116%
Access Time Read *
0.26
0.156
40%
0.288
-11%
0.028
89%
Access Time Write *
0.027
Total Average (Program / Settings)
32% / 32%
17% / 18%
222% / 225%
40% / 105%

* ... smaller is better

Apple SSD AP0256
Sequential Read: 1540 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1353 MB/s
512K Read: 926 MB/s
512K Write: 698 MB/s
4K Read: 9.92 MB/s
4K Write: 10.74 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 618 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 403.8 MB/s

Our second test model is equipped with the 512 GB SSD (AP0512). The results – especially the maximum write performance – are a bit higher in both benchmarks. CrystalDiskMark 5 even determines sequential transfer rates of almost 3300 MB/s (read) and 2500 MB/s (write), respectively. You will have a hard time finding a faster drive right now.

AS SSD (512 GB SSD)
AS SSD (512 GB SSD)
CDM 5 (512 GB SSD)
CDM 5 (512 GB SSD)
CDM 5 (256 GB SSD)
CDM 5 (256 GB SSD)

GPU Performance

The integrated GPU Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 is the direct successor to the 550 inside the 2016 model. The basic architecture of the GT3e chip did not really change with the switch to Kaby Lake and the synthetic 3DMarks also determine almost identical scores. Apple's new video standard HEVC was already supported by the old Iris Plus Graphics 550, but the new GPU now also decodes HEVC Main10 with a color depth of 10-bit as well as Google's VP9 codec.

The GPU performance is not reduced on battery power. More technical information and benchmarks for the Iris Plus Graphics 650 is available here.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
AMD Radeon Pro 450, Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4502 Points +63%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650, Intel Core i5-7267U
2762 (2743min - 2780max) Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Iris Graphics 550, Intel Core i5-6267U
2696 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
Intel Iris Graphics 540, Intel Core i5-6360U
2401 Points -13%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, Intel Core i7-7560U
2124 Points -23%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1641 Points -41%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
AMD Radeon Pro 450, Intel Core i7-6700HQ
21533 Points +64%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Iris Graphics 550, Intel Core i5-6267U
13172 Points 0%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650, Intel Core i5-7267U
13153 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, Intel Core i7-7560U
11232 Points -15%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
Intel Iris Graphics 540, Intel Core i5-6360U
11123 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
8971 Points -32%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
AMD Radeon Pro 450, Intel Core i7-6700HQ
3252 Points +92%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650, Intel Core i5-7267U
1698 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Iris Graphics 550, Intel Core i5-6267U
1657 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
Intel Iris Graphics 540, Intel Core i5-6360U
1448 Points -15%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i7 Iris
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, Intel Core i7-7560U
1369 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1093 Points -36%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
15175 points
3DMark 11 Performance
2924 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
8403 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1586 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
623 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The gaming performance of the Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 is between the two dedicated chips Nvidia GeForce 930MX and 940MX, depending on the game. Modern titles are usually limited to low details and resolutions if you want to reach smooth frame rates. Less-demanding titles like Overwatch or Battlefield 1 can also be played at medium settings. The Iris Plus Graphics 650 is generally best suited to older titles.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 84 54.4 46.5 13.3
GTA V (2015) 56.5 49.9 11.6 5
The Witcher 3 (2015) 21.4
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 95 64 29.7 25
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 54.2 35.6 20.8
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 25.9 18.3
Far Cry Primal (2016) 32 15
The Division (2016) 30
Overwatch (2016) 79.2 57.4 25.6 21.4
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 19.2 14.6 8.2
Battlefield 1 (2016) 46.1 29.5
Civilization VI (2016) 42.2 20.2
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 36.8 19.9
Titanfall 2 (2016) 54.1 37.9
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare (2016) 32.4
Dishonored 2 (2016) 15
For Honor (2017) 39.7 15.2
Ghost Recon Wildlands (2017) 17.6
Mass Effect Andromeda (2017) 25.8 10.5
Prey (2017) 51.4 20.2
Rocket League (2017) 113 56.8 38.9
Dirt 4 (2017) 64 21.3 14.2

Emissions

System Noise

The fan control is one advantage of the small 13-inch MacBook Pro. The two fans don't run while the device is idling or with light workloads, so the system is silent. This is also a big advantage over the 15-inch models, where the fan is always spinning (albeit hardly audible). The fan speed is seamlessly adjusted to the workload. We can only measure 33.3 dB(A) in the first 3DMark06 run, but more in the second run than even in the extreme load scenario with FurMark and Prime95 (43.2 dB(A)). It will then level off at the result of the stress test. We even measured 48 dB(A) for a short while (only CPU load by Prime95) and we even noticed slight vibrations on the desk (see the peak in the fan noise diagram at low frequencies). The fans are generally quieter in macOS; we can only determine between 32-34 dB(A) (3000 / 3200-3600 / 3900 rpm) in the Unigine Valley test.

Noise Level

Idle
30.6 / 30.6 / 30.6 dB(A)
HDD
30.6 dB(A)
Load
41.8 / 41.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.6 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.435.839.839.933.137.534.835.336.62532.633.433.933.430.233.131.230.734.33133.731.233.130.732.431.633.431.733.1403431.135.331.233.631.932.131.735.15031.231.134.231.729.829.63030.131.36330.429.834.829.730.229.328.727.730.7803231.233.830.429.127.227.326.42910029.528.528.627.326.526.62626.436.112526.726.827.726.82827.427.626.24016026.726.626.526.526.425.625.925.726.820026.926.326.225.325.624.425.12429.225027.527.327.225.725.825.324.323.529.331529.830.129.527.42523.423.42234.54003332.631.330.525.523.721.721.636.850036.334.231.730.428.623.420.120.640.163033.1333130.926.921.519.919.239.180029.728.42726.824.321.118.919.2351000292926.826.223.72018.618.633125030.129.427.727.12219.318.218.135.1160032.531.729.828.822.819.517.917.738.4200033.733.430.730.323.819.717.517.639.5250030.329.926.926.421.918.217.317.336.731503029.125.425.121.317.717.117.235.7400026.32622.621.918.817.617.417.333.4500024.724.220.419.917.917.317.217.333.5630021.821.3191917.817.417.317.231.7800019.919.318.21817.917.717.717.627.11000018.117.917.917.718.117.717.517.622.61250017.817.617.817.618.117.717.617.420.41600017.617.517.817.617.817.717.717.518.3SPL42.241.539.238.634.731.730.630.447.9N3.93.73.132.21.71.51.46.3median 29median 28.4median 26.9median 26.4median 23.7median 19.7median 18.2median 18.1median 34.5Delta3.33.14.63.83.93.32.72.64.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseApple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5

Temperature

The surface temperatures of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 are not too high and there are only small differences compared to the predecessor. It is possible to use the MacBook on your lap, even under maximum load or when you play games, since we only measure up to 39 °C at the bottom. The maximum temperature at the top is 43 °C in the upper area of the keyboard. The Dell XPS 13 QHD+ i5 gets similarly warm, but we recorded higher load temperatures for the Lenovo X1 Carbon 2017.

As per usual, Apple tolerates high CPU temperatures to provide the highest possible performance in load scenarios. We can see CPU temperatures between 90-100 °C running on macOS as well as Windows. It is not easy to see exact clocks, especially with Windows. The stress test with the two tools Prime95 and FurMark is executed with a CPU clock of 2.1 GHz (~10 watts). The consumption of the GT cores (GPU) is 18-19 watts in this case. For comparison: The GPU consumes 22-25 watts when we only stress the GPU via FurMark, so the stress test clock should be a bit lower. This behavior changes a bit on battery: The graphics card is slightly throttled (~15 watts), which gives the CPU a bit more headroom (2.3 GHz, ~12 watts).

Max. Load
 42 °C
108 F
43 °C
109 F
35 °C
95 F
 
 39 °C
102 F
39 °C
102 F
32 °C
90 F
 
 30 °C
86 F
29 °C
84 F
30 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 35.4 °C = 96 F
35 °C
95 F
39 °C
102 F
39 °C
102 F
31 °C
88 F
35 °C
95 F
33 °C
91 F
31 °C
88 F
33 °C
91 F
30 °C
86 F
Maximum: 39 °C = 102 F
Average: 34 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  53 °C = 127 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.4 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.7 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 35.6 °C / 96 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31 °C / 87.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-2.7 °C / -4.9 F).
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Iris Plus Graphics 650, i5-7267U, Apple SSD AP0256
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Iris Graphics 550, 6267U, Apple SSD AP0256
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
Iris Graphics 540, 6360U, Apple SSD AP0256
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
Heat
-2%
-4%
-5%
-11%
Maximum Upper Side *
43
45
-5%
42
2%
48
-12%
40
7%
Maximum Bottom *
39
39
-0%
41
-5%
47.2
-21%
42
-8%
Idle Upper Side *
25
26
-4%
26
-4%
23.5
6%
28
-12%
Idle Bottom *
24
24
-0%
26
-8%
22.6
6%
31
-29%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The speakers did not change compared to the previous model, but there was no reason to change them. Despite their small size, they manage excellent results in our measurements and also convince subjectively.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.335.32530.733.93131.732.74031.735.65030.1396327.745.68026.447.710026.450.312526.262.116025.753.3200246325023.562.63152263.240021.671.450020.675.763019.277.780019.275.8100018.678.4125018.174.4160017.776.8200017.675.4250017.375.5315017.267.5400017.368.9500017.372.6630017.269.4800017.671.11000017.668.41250017.462.81600017.564SPL30.486.2N1.470.5median 18.1median 70.5Delta2.66.235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseApple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (checkboxes select/deselectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

We can measure higher idle consumption results compared to the predecessor. This also corresponds with the shorter battery runtime we determined (next section). Both models are on par under load though.

It is also very interesting to compare the power consumption when you are working with an external monitor. The display is eliminated as a consumer and we can compare the consumption of the hardware under load. A test with The Witcher 3 (Ultra) shows that the two MacBook Pro models (13 & 15-inch) are basically on par. This shows that the internal Iris Plus Graphics (4.8 fps) is a powerful iGPU, but it is not very efficient compared to the dedicated Radeon Pro 555 (13 fps).

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.17 / 0.5 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.8 / 10.9 / 11.4 Watt
Load midlight 55.4 / 57.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Power Consumption - 1920x1080 The Witcher 3 ultra (external Monitor)
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
i7-7700HQ, Radeon Pro 555, Apple SSD SM0256L, IPS, 2880x1800, 15.40 (13 fps, Idle: 13.2 W)
52.1 Watt * -1%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
i5-7267U, Iris Plus Graphics 650, Apple SSD AP0256, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30 (4.8 fps, Idle: 7.5 W)
51.4 Watt *

* ... smaller is better

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
i5-7267U, Iris Plus Graphics 650, 2560x1600, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
6267U, Iris Graphics 550, 2560x1600, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
6360U, Iris Graphics 540, 2560x1600, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 3200x1800, 13.30
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
6700HQ, Radeon Pro 450, 2880x1800, 15.40
Power Consumption
15%
16%
14%
29%
-11%
Idle Minimum *
2.8
2.1
25%
3
-7%
3.84
-37%
3.7
-32%
2.9
-4%
Idle Average *
10.9
7.6
30%
8.9
18%
6.3
42%
6.1
44%
9.7
11%
Idle Maximum *
11.4
8.2
28%
8.9
22%
8.6
25%
6.5
43%
10.1
11%
Load Average *
55.4
56.4
-2%
43.4
22%
41.9
24%
29.5
47%
65
-17%
Load Maximum *
57.5
59.8
-4%
42.1
27%
48.7
15%
33
43%
89.5
-56%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The battery capacity is still 49.2 Wh. The Kaby Lake processor is manufactured in an optimized process (14 nm+) compared to its Skylake predecessor, so it should consume less power. We expected longer battery runtimes from the new model, but this is not the case in our Wi-Fi test. The previous model still lasted almost 9.5 hours at an adjusted luminance of 150 nits, but the current model only manages ~8:40 hours. We repeated the test three times, but the result was the same with a couple of minutes' tolerance. This means the MBP Pro 13 is on par with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Dell XPS 13 QHD+, but they also feature bigger batteries and different resolutions.

This trend continues in the video test, where the short movie Big Buck Bunny (H.264, FHD) runs in a loop at 150 nits. The result of almost 7 hours is not only beaten by the predecessor, but all the other comparison devices are significantly more enduring as well. The load test determines a couple of minutes more compared to the 2016 model, but you still have to recharge it after 70 minutes. We can see the impact of the 28-watt processor in this scenario and the ULV systems from Dell and Lenovo manage longer runtimes.

A second test model, which is also equipped with the Core i5 processor, managed 08:38 h in the Wi-Fi test and therefore confirms our initial result. The Wi-Fi runtime running Windows (BootCamp) is a bit shorter at 06:54 h. The charging time is around 2 hours, but 50% of the capacity is available after little more than 30 minutes.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
8h 39min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
6h 55min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 10min
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
i5-7267U, Iris Plus Graphics 650, 49.2 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
6267U, Iris Graphics 550, 49.2 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016
6360U, Iris Graphics 540, 54 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2017-20HQS03P00
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Battery Runtime
6%
42%
41%
43%
H.264
415
483
16%
620
49%
711
71%
547
32%
WiFi v1.3
519
566
9%
686
32%
496
-4%
526
1%
Load
70
66
-6%
101
44%
110
57%
137
96%

Verdict

Pros

+ excellent chassis and build quality
+ huge trackpad with great precision
+ quiet and good cooling
+ high WLAN transfer speeds
+ very good display with perfect scaling
+ good speakers
+ good battery runtimes
+ steady performance, also on battery
+ 4x Thunderbolt 3...

Cons

- ...but reduced bandwidth for the ports on the right side
- neither USB-A nor HDMI-out
- 2.4 GHz WLAN issues with attached USB-C device
- poor webcam
- very expensive – especially the upgrades
In review: Apple MacBook Pro 13 Mid 2017 (Core i5, Touch Bar). One of the two test models is courtesy of Cyberport.
In review: Apple MacBook Pro 13 Mid 2017 (Core i5, Touch Bar). One of the two test models is courtesy of Cyberport.

We could just repeat the verdict from last year's model at this point, because not much changed with this update. The new Kaby Lake processor is a bit faster, but the GPU performance did not change. The efficiency aspect on the other hand is interesting, because the larger MacBook Pro 15 with the dedicated (and much faster) GPU consumes the same amount of power during gaming, for example. Maybe Apple should use dedicated GPUs for upcoming models of the MBP 13 as well.

The current MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good, but also very expensive, subnotebook. The case and display are among the best you can get, the fans are very quiet, and the performance is very steady. You still have to get used to the shallow, yet precise keyboard, and you need adapters in practice. The Touch Bar still depends on the software support, but it will remain a gimmick for most users, which can even make things more complicated in practice. We can still notice the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi problem. Similar to the previous model, we will deduct 2% from the final rating.

We were quite surprised about the reduced battery runtimes in practical scenarios, even though Kaby Lake chips should be more efficient. Maybe the new CPUs still need some optimization by Apple, which might be what's happening with the new OS High Sierra.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5 - 06/29/2017 v6(old)
Klaus Hinum, Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
93 /  98 → 95%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
100%
Connectivity
51 / 80 → 64%
Weight
71 / 35-78 → 83%
Battery
90%
Display
93%
Games Performance
63 / 68 → 93%
Application Performance
87 / 87 → 100%
Temperature
91 / 91 → 100%
Noise
97%
Audio
97 / 91 → 100%
Camera
63 / 85 → 74%
Add Points
-2%
Average
77%
90%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Apple MacBook Pro 13 (Mid 2017, i5, Touch Bar) Review
Klaus Hinum, Andreas Osthoff, 2017-06-30 (Update: 2018-05-15)