Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019: Multimedia Laptop with Core i9 and Vega 16 in review
The 2019 version of the MacBook Pro 15 is still an interesting multimedia device, even after the launch of the new MacBook Pro 16, and many retailers currently sell them at a big discount. We check the configuration with the 8-core processor Core i9-9880H as well as the AMD Vega 16 GPU. We are already familiar with the case and the display, so we recommend our previous reviews of the MacBook Pro 15 for more information on these sections.
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89.2 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2020 | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 16 i9-9880H, Radeon Pro Vega 16 | 1.8 kg | 15.5 mm | 15.40" | 2880x1800 | |
| 89.7 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2019 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019 i9 5500M i9-9880H, Radeon Pro 5500M | 2 kg | 16.2 mm | 16.00" | 3072x1920 | |
| 90.9 % v6 (old) | 06 / 2019 | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 (2.9 GHz, Vega 20) i9-8950HK, Radeon Pro Vega 20 | 1.8 kg | 15.5 mm | 15.60" | 2880x1800 | |
| 87.9 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2018 | Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 (2.6 GHz, 560X) i7-8850H, Radeon Pro 560X | 1.8 kg | 15.5 mm | 15.40" | 2880x1800 | |
| 87.8 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2019 | Dell XPS 15 7590 9980HK GTX 1650 i9-9980HK, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile | 2 kg | 17 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 | |
| 87.1 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2020 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme 2019 20QV000WGE i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile | 1.7 kg | 18.7 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 | |
| 86.6 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2019 | Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition i7-9750H, Quadro RTX 5000 Max-Q | 2.2 kg | 17.8 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 |
Communication – Wi-Fi is slower than the competition
The MacBook Pro 15 does not support Wi-Fi 6. The transfer rates in our standardized test with the router Netgear RAX120 are not bad, but competitors with Wi-Fi 6 modules are almost twice as fast. We did not experience any connection issues in our tests with macOS or Windows 10.
Performance– 8 Cores and plenty of RAM
Processor – Core i9-9880H
The basic cooling performance of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 did not change, and especially the optional 6-core Core i9 processor in the 2018 model was not faster than the i7 6-core. It seems Apple tuned the system a bit, because the 8-core Core i9-9880H performs better.
We see a short peak consumption of 100 Watts, but it eventually levels off at around 53 W after a couple of seconds. This level can be maintained for a few minutes, before the CPU then stabilizes at 45 W. This behavior is well illustrated by our Cinebench Multi loop.
The Core i9 is up to 25% faster than the old models in short-term load scenarios if you can utilize all cores. There is a performance drop under sustained load, but it still levels off at a decent level and the performance is still better compared to the 2018 models.
If you need even more CPU performance in a mobile Mac, you should have a look at the new 16-inch model. Thanks to the more powerful cooling solution, the same Core i9-9880H actually manages ~15% higher scores in the Multi test and under sustained workloads.
If you only use one core, however, all versions including the new MacBook Pro 16 are pretty much identical. This means there will be no subjective difference between the devices in day-to-day scenarios.
GPU Performance
The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 is right between the Radeon Pro 560X and the more expensive Radeon Pro Vega 20 in terms of specs. The biggest difference is the GPU architecture; all GPUs are manufactured in a 14 nm process, but the Radeon Pro GPUs use the GCN4 architecture, while the Vega chips use the newer GCN5 architecture. This results in better efficiency: More FPS per Watt. We have already shown that in the review of the 2018 MBP 15.
Our benchmark results are not surprising and the Radeon Pro Vega 16 is pretty much right between the other two chips and the performance is comparable to the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q. We also performed the SPECviewperf 13 benchmark, where the Radeon Pro Vega 16 is comparable to the Nvidia Quadro P620 or P2000 depending on the sub test.
The GPU performance is steady under sustained workloads, which is shown by the Time Spy stress test as well as our The Witcher 3 test.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 10926 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 29958 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 6902 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 2443 points | |
Help | ||
| low | med. | high | ultra | 4K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 27 | ||||
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 103 | 99 | 75 | 72 | 38.4 |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 65 | 50.8 | 43.5 |
Battery Runtime – MBP 15 is very enduring
Battery Runtime
The battery capacity is still 83 Wh and the results in our standardized Wi-Fi test at a luminance of 150 cd/m² are almost identical. We determine 11.5 hours, so the MacBook Pro 15 is very enduring and is only beaten by the new MacBook Pro 16, which has a bigger battery (99.8 Wh). The Windows competition is clearly beaten, even though some models have bigger batteries.
Pros
Cons
Verdict – MacBook Pro 15 is still very good
The Apple MacBook Pro 15 is still a very good multimedia laptop in 2020. Many retailers offer big discounts for 2019 SKUs, so you should consider if you really need the improved features of the MacBook Pro 16 (better speakers, changed keyboard, larger display). The MBP 15 is also slightly more compact and lighter than the new version. The performance of the old model is not bad by any means, either, and the MacBook Pro 15 can keep up very well with the Windows competition and even has advantages in respect to the fan control, the battery runtime, the display, and the great trackpad.
If you are okay with the typing experience of the Butterfly keyboard, the MacBook Pro 15 is still a very good multimedia laptop. Compared to the new MacBook Pro 16, you can even save some money.
The remaining advantages and disadvantages have not changed compared to the 2018 MacBook Pro 15, so we refer to our previous reviews of the 2018 MacBook Pro 15 for more information.
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019 i9 Vega 16
- 05/14/2020 v7 (old)
Andreas Osthoff
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