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Touch Bar MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published May 12, 2020
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What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch "2019" MacBook Pro models? Which is best for me?
Please note that the 13-Inch and 15-Inch "2019" MacBook Pro models all have been discontinued. This Q&A has been updated subsequently and can be quite helpful to anyone buying or selling one of these models on the used market.
There originally were three standard configurations of the "2019" MacBook Pro series -- the MacBook "Core i5" 2.4 13" Touch/2019, "Core i7" 2.6 15" Touch/2019, and "Core i9" 2.3 15" Touch/2019. On July 9, 2019, Apple added a lower-end, fourth standard configuration -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 1.4 13" Touch/2019 2 TB 3. On November 13, 2019, Apple discontinued all of the 15-Inch models. Finally, on May 4, 2020, Apple discontinued all of the 13-Inch models.
There also were five custom configurations available for these lines, two for the 13" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.8 13" Touch/2019 and "Core i7" 1.7 13" Touch/2019 2 TB 3 -- and three for the 15" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.3 15" Touch/2019 (Vega), "Core i9" 2.4 15" Touch/2019, and "Core i9" 2.4 15" Touch/2019 (Vega) -- which EveryMac.com has documented separately because they have different processors, graphics, and identifiers.
External differences between sizes mostly are straightforward, but there are some important external differences that are less obvious as well as internal differences that are particularly significant. It also is worthwhile to understand the similarities and a detailed comparison can be useful accordingly.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (2019 15" MacBook Pro Models)
External Differences
The 13-Inch and 15-Inch "2019" MacBook Pro notebooks use highly similar "sealed" thin aluminum and glass cases that are the same thickness from front to back.
The 13-Inch models are 0.59 of an inch thick and weigh 3.02 pounds (1.37 kg) whereas the 15-Inch models are 0.61 of an inch thick and weigh 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg). Each size is offered in a silver-colored or a darker "Space Gray"-colored housing.
Both sizes have a high-resolution LED-backlit, wide color (P3), widescreen "Retina" display with "True Tone" technology that adjusts its color temperature based on ambient light. The 13-Inch notebooks have a 13.3" widescreen 2560x1600 (227 ppi, 500 nits) display and the 15-Inch models have a 15.4" widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi, 500 nits) display.
All "2019" MacBook Pro models have a 720p FaceTime HD webcam, integrated stereo speakers, three integrated microphones, and huge "Force Touch" trackpads. They also all have a quietly revised -- but still considered "third generation" -- butterfly mechanism keyboard design that uses different materials and that is promised to be more reliable and less prone to error than previous models. As mentioned earlier, all of the "2019" MacBook Pro models also have an integrated "Touch Bar" in lieu of traditional function keys (and the escape key) and that adapts for different applications. The Touch Bar provides Touch ID login and Apple Pay support, too.
Connectivity Differences
The original "2019" 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models have the same modest connectivity. Each of these MacBook Pro models have four full-speed Thunderbolt 3 ports (size compatible with USB-C), a "traditional" 3.5 mm headphone jack that does not support optical audio, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.
The lower-end "2019, 2 TB 3" 13-Inch models introduced on July 9, 2019 only have two full-speed Thunderbolt 3 ports instead of four, but otherwise have the same connectivity.
Identification Differences
The majority of the "2019" MacBook Pro models share Model Numbers with earlier models. The 13-Inch models with two Thunderbolt 3 ports are A2159, 13-Inch models with four Thunderbolt 3 ports are A1989, and the 15-Inch models are A1990. However, the latter two Model Numbers are the same used by the "Mid-2018" MacBook Pro.
The "2019" MacBook Pro models mostly share Model Identifiers in software, with the "Mid-2018" MacBook Pro line, too. The 13-Inch models with two Thunderbolt 3 ports are MacBookPro15,4, 13-Inch models with four Thunderbolt 3 ports are MacBookPro15,2, and the 15-Inch models are MacBookPro15,1 with stock graphics and MacBookPro15,3 if custom configured with AMD Radeon Pro 16 or AMD Radeon Pro 20 graphics.
Accordingly, EMC Numbers, externally located on the bottom of the notebook toward the hinge, are better for unique identification.
Just as the site has done for more than two decades, EveryMac.com has diligently hand documented these details for your convenience:
"2019" MacBook Pro |
EMC |
13-Inch (Touch Bar) |
|
15-Inch (Touch Bar) |
|
13-Inch (Touch Bar, 2 TB 3) |
Additionally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify each MacBook Pro model by their serial numbers, which are listed in software as well as on the bottom of the system.
Internal Differences
The "2019" MacBook Pro models effectively are designed to be sealed and disposable, so there are no internal differences relevant to upgrades. However, the 15-Inch models have faster processors with more cores and faster and dedicated graphics, and the option of more RAM, more storage, and faster graphics:
"2019" MacBook Pro |
13" Touch Bar |
15" Touch Bar |
Processor Cores |
4 |
6-8 |
Graphics Processors |
Integrated |
Integrated & Dedicated |
Ext. Display Support |
5120x2880 |
5120x2880 x2 |
Soldered RAM |
2133 MHz LPDDR3 |
2400 MHz DDR4 |
SSD Storage |
Onboard |
Onboard |
Battery Watt Hours |
58 W h/58.2 W h |
83.6 W h |
Battery Design |
Glued |
Glued |
All models have a processor and graphics processor that cannot be upgraded after the initial system purchase, onboard RAM, onboard SSDs, and use a "tiered" battery design that is glued in place and that essentially cannot be replaced by an individual.
Comparison Chart
The differences between the "2019" Touch Bar MacBook Pro models -- processors, storage, memory, video processors, displays, battery life, features, identifiers, and original prices -- are summarized below:
 13" 2019 Touch Bar |
 15" 2019 Touch Bar |
|
|---|---|---|
| Processors: | I5-8279U I7-8569U I5-8257U I7-8557U |
I7-9750H I9-9880H I9-9980HK |
| Cores: | 4 | 6-8 |
| Speed: | 2.4 GHz 2.8 GHz 1.4 GHz 1.7 GHz |
2.6 GHz 2.3 GHz 2.4 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | 4.1 GHz 4.7 GHz 3.9 GHz 4.5 GHz |
4.5 GHz 4.8 GHz 5.0 GHz |
| L3 Cache: | 6 MB, 8 MB | 12 MB, 16 MB |
| Std. Storage: | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Storage Upgrade: | Soldered | Soldered |
| Std. RAM: | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Max RAM: | 16 GB† | 32 GB† |
| RAM Type: | 2133 MHz DDR3L | 2400 MHz DDR4 |
| Video Card(s): | Iris Plus 655 Iris Plus 646 |
UHD Graphics 630 Radeon Pro 555X/560X* |
| GDDR5: | Integrated Only | 4 GB |
| Display: | 13.3" | 15.4" |
| Std. Resolution: | 2560x1600 (227 ppi) | 2880x1800 (220 ppi) |
| Battery Life: | 10 Hours | 10 Hours |
| Battery Design: | Glued | Glued |
| Touch Bar: | Yes | Yes |
| Touch ID: | Yes | Yes |
| Thunderbolt 3: | 4 or 2 | 4 |
| Height (In): | 0.59 | 0.61 |
| Width (In): | 11.97 | 13.75 |
| Depth (In): | 8.36 | 9.48 |
| Weight: | 3.02 lbs | 4.02 lbs |
| Order No (US): | MV962LL/A MV972LL/A MV992LL/A MV9A2LL/A MUHN2LL/A MUHP2LL/A MUHQ2LL/A MUHR2LL/A |
MV902LL/A MV922LL/A MV912LL/A MV932LL/A |
| Model No: | A1989 A2159 |
A1990 |
| EMC No: | 3358 3301 |
3359 |
| Model ID: | MacBookPro15,2 MacBookPro15,4 |
MacBookPro15,1 MacBookPro15,3 |
| Orig. Price (US): | US$1799, US$1999 US$1299, US$1499 |
US$2399, US$2799 |
| Orig. Price (UK): | £1749, £1949 £1299, £1499 |
£2349, £2699 |
| Orig. Price (CA): | C$2399, C$2649 C$1699, C$1949 |
C$3199, C$3699 |
| Orig. Price (AU): | A$2699, A$2999 A$1999, A$2299 |
A$3499, A$4099 |
† All "2019" MacBook Pro models can have the RAM upgraded at the time of initial purchase. RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase in any of these models.
* The 15-Inch "2019" MacBook Pro models all have dual graphics. By default, they were offered with an AMD Radeon Pro 550X or 560X with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 SDRAM and an Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics processor that shares system memory. It also was possible to upgrade the higher-end MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.3 15" Touch/2019 (MV912LL/A) from its stock graphics to a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Radeon Pro Vega 20, either with 4 GB of HBM2 memory, for an additional US$250 or US$350, respectively.
For introductory pricing in dozens of other countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each Mac as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryMac.com.
So, which is best for me?
Just compared to one another, and not evaluating older or newer models, EveryMac.com considers one of the standard "2019" 15-Inch MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 15" Touch/2019 or MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.3 15" Touch/2019 -- to be the best option for most users.
The value proposition may change somewhat on the used market, but when they were first introduced, the entry-level 15" model was nearly 60% faster in multicore tasks than the standard 13" model -- the MacBook "Core i5" 2.4 13" Touch/2019 -- but only cost around 33% more. In turn, the standard high-end 15" model was around 21% faster in multicore tasks than the entry-level 15" model, but only cost 17% more, so it was a good value.
For those who want solid performance in a physically smaller and lighter package, the 13-Inch models -- the MacBook "Core i5" 2.4 13" Touch/2019 or custom configured MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.8 13" Touch/2019 -- remain worth considering as are the later low-end MacBook Pro "Core i5" 1.4 13" Touch/2019 2 TB 3 and "Core i7" 1.7 13" Touch/2019 2 TB 3.
Finally, for someone who wanted the fastest Mac notebook available at the time these models were introduced, the custom processor configured 15-Inch system with the stock video processor or also custom upgraded to Vega graphics -- the MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.4 15" Touch/2019 or MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.4 15" Touch/2019 (Vega), respectively, -- were the way to go.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new MacBook Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Pro, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Pro models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
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