Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, summer 2009) review

Reviewed by Dan Ackerman on 16 June 2009

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One frustration remains about this entire process: switching between GPUs is simple, requiring only a button press on the power options menu, but the changeover isn't totally transparent. You have to log out and log back in, requiring you to close all your apps and save your data.

The new battery in the 13- and 15-inch Pros is non-removable, but Apple claims the system can last up to 7 hours while surfing the Web, and somewhat less for DVD playback. To assuage concerns about the sealed battery, the company says the new models are good for at least 1,000 full recharge cycles -- estimated to be about five years of use. We were able to run the system for 5 hours and 5 minutes in our video-playback battery-drain test, with the GPU set for the better battery life option. That's about an hour longer than last year's 15-inch Pro, and an impressive result.

Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9600M GT)

390

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

396

Apple MacBook (2008; 13.3 inch; 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

431

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo)

472

Apple MacBook (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo)

506

Dell Adamo

1,864

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9600M GT)

116

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

120

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo)

137

Apple MacBook (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo)

145

Apple MacBook (2008; 13.3 inch; 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

146

Dell Adamo

345

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

135

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9600M GT)

135

Apple MacBook (2008; 13.3 inch; 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

158

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo)

165

Apple MacBook (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo)

178

Dell Adamo

357

Video-playback battery-drain test (in minutes)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo)

342

Apple MacBook Pro (summer 2009; 15.4 inch; 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9600M GT)

305

Apple MacBook (summer 2009; 13.3 inch; 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo)

253

Apple MacBook (2008; 13.3 inch; 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo; GeForce 9400M)

243

Dell Adamo

156

Conclusion
Most users will be ably served by the less expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts as low as £900, but the combination of a faster CPU, better battery, larger 500GB hard drive, SD card slot, and price cut makes the new 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro a solid improvement over its predecessor.

Additional editing by Charles Kloet

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User reviews 1

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4.5 out of 5

FunkMaster 5 January 2010

Good: It just works .... loads up and runs like a machine should!

Bad: Bit tricky to use when you never used it before

Comment: Great piece of kit, tad on the pricey side but well worth it. Speedy bootup time, no AV or FireWall needed, found my wireless in no time, auto-updates without issues .... love the small things that make it great (iPhoto, Spaces, Dock and that awesome track pad)

I can't flaw it .... but I've not had it long enough to judge it from end to end.

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