Apple introduced redesign MacBook Pro computers in October, the first major update in four years.
Consumer Reports is doing an about face on Apple’s MacBook Pro.
The endorsement reverses an earlier call by Consumer Reports telling consumers to avoid the new MacBooks, for the first time ever, because of big fluctuations in battery life. The publication on Thursday said a software update issued by Apple has fixed the battery problems it found in earlier tests.
“With the updated software, the three MacBook Pros in our labs all performed well, with one model running 18.75 hours on a charge,” Consumer Reports said. “Now that we’ve factored in the new battery-life measurements, the laptops’ overall scores have risen, and all three machines now fall well within the recommended range in Consumer Reports ratings. ”
Apple plans to roll out the software fix it gave Consumer Reports to all users in several weeks, the publication said. Users enrolled in Apple’s beta software program already have access to the update.
Apple referred CNET to its comment from earlier this week about the Consumer Reports battery test. It said, in part, that the setting used by the publication to test the MacBooks “is not a setting used by customers and does not reflect real-world usage. ” It also said it had fixed the bug found in the test and that “this is the best pro notebook we’ve ever made, we respect Consumer Reports and we’re glad they decided to revisit their findings on the MacBook Pro. ”
Apple’s new MacBook Pro, unveiled in October, was the first major update to its high-end laptop in four years. Apple executives, speaking in an exclusive interview with CNET before the launch, dubbed the changes — including a thinner design and a Touch Bar above the keyboard — a “milestone” and a “big step forward” for its top-of-the-line notebooks.
The MacBook Pro was redesigned as people start to take a second look at PCs, many of which employ full touchscreen monitors, foldable bodies that let them turn into tablets and — most importantly — competitive pricing.
