MacBook Pro Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar)

The MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.9 15-Inch (Mid-2018) with Vega graphics is a custom-ordered version of the "Core i7" 2.6 15-Inch model, featuring a faster processor and a Vega 16 or Vega 20 video card. Unusually, this custom GPU leads to different system identifiers and OS support, prompting its separate documentation for clarity.

This model is powered by a 14 nm, 8th Generation "Coffee Lake" 2.9 GHz Intel "Core i9" processor (8950HK) with six independent cores, a 12 MB shared L3 cache, and 16 GB of non-upgradable 2400 MHz LPDDR4 SDRAM (a 32 GB option was available at purchase). It includes 512 GB of onboard flash storage and dual graphics processors: an AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 or 20 with 4 GB of HBM2 memory and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630.

Externally, it has a 720p FaceTime HD webcam, a slim backlit "third generation" butterfly keyboard with an integrated "Touch Bar" and Touch ID, and a large "Force Touch" trackpad.

It also features a high-resolution 15.4" widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi, 500 nits) LED-backlit "Retina" display with True Tone technology and a battery with an estimated 10-hour life.

Available in silver or "Space Gray" aluminum, it weighs slightly over 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.

Compared to its predecessor, this model offers an improved display and keyboard, a more advanced processor and architecture, and the option to double the RAM and storage via custom configuration.

This high-end, custom-ordered Mid-2018 15-inch MacBook Pro combined the powerful six-core 2.9 GHz Core i9 CPU with the optional, and significantly more powerful, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Vega 20 graphics. This configuration was a direct response to professionals demanding desktop-class graphics performance in a portable package. The Vega GPU option provided a massive boost for graphically intensive tasks, setting it apart from the standard models. It also benefited from the other 2018 updates like the True Tone display and a quieter butterfly keyboard. While the initial thermal throttling issues of the i9 processor cast a shadow on its launch, once addressed, this machine stood as the most powerful notebook Apple had ever produced, especially for visual creators.