MacBook Pro Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar)

The MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 15-Inch with Vega graphics is a custom-ordered version of the standard MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 15" Touch/Mid-2018. In terms of hardware, the only distinction is its custom Vega 16 or Vega 20 video card. Unusually, this custom GPU results in different identifiers and operating system support, which is why it's documented separately for clarity.

This model is powered by a 14 nm, 8th Generation "Coffee Lake" 2.6 GHz Intel "Core i7" processor (8850H), with six independent cores on a single chip and a 9 MB shared level 3 cache. It has 16 GB of onboard 2400 MHz LPDDR4 SDRAM (upgradable to 32 GB at purchase), and 512 GB of onboard flash storage. It features dual graphics processors: an AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Vega 20 with 4 GB of HBM2 memory, and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 that shares system memory.

Externally, this notebook includes an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam, a slim backlit "third generation" butterfly mechanism keyboard with an integrated "Touch Bar," and a large "Force Touch" trackpad. The Touch Bar is a touch-sensitive control that adapts to applications and provides Touch ID login.

It also has a high-resolution 15.4" widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi, 500 nits) LED-backlit "Retina" display with True Tone technology and a battery providing an Apple-estimated 10 hours of runtime.

Offered in silver or "Space Gray" aluminum, the notebook weighs slightly more than 4 pounds (1.83 kg).

Connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, four "Thunderbolt 3" ports (USB-C), and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Like its standard counterpart, this model offers an improved display and keyboard, a more advanced processor and architecture, and the option for twice the RAM and storage compared to its predecessor.

The late-addition Vega graphics options for the Mid-2018 15-inch MacBook Pro provided a significant boost in GPU performance, addressing a key desire of creative professionals. The Radeon Pro Vega 16 and 20 GPUs, with their HBM2 memory, offered a substantial advantage in graphically intensive tasks over the standard Radeon Pro 560X. This custom configuration retained the powerful six-core Core i7 processor and all other features of the standard model, including the True Tone display and the controversial butterfly keyboard. For video editors, 3D artists, and others whose workflows were bottlenecked by GPU power, this upgrade was highly celebrated, transforming an already powerful machine into a true mobile graphics workstation, albeit one that still contended with the thermal limitations of its slim chassis.