Apple's new MacBook Pro - Tech specs

Professionals and creative types, it's time to rejoice, because Apple has released a new MacBook Pro, which, you guessed it, is Apple's thinnest, lightest, and best MacBook Pro to date.

See also: Macs are up to $543 cheaper than PCs, claims IBM

OK, so what's new?

First off, the function keys are gone, replaced with a Touch Bar multi-touch display strip that provides instant access to tools and shortcuts. The shortcuts change depending on what software application is being used, and are also customizable.

The Touch Bar also features a Touch ID sensor for logging into the machine and authorizing Apple Pay payments. The Touch ID sensor required Apple to build a new chip, called the T1, to act as a secure enclave for the sensor.

On the outside, the MacBook Pro features an all-aluminum design (you current MacBook users are probably looking for the plastic on your laptop (keep looking, I won't spoil your fun), four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, which along with a headphone jack, are all the connectivity you'll be getting.

The Thunderbolt 3 ports support 40-Gbps data transfer rate and can support two 5K displays and function as USB, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI, or VGA ports with the appropriate dongle(so expect a lot of dongles in your future). When working as USB-C ports they offer 10 Gbps of data transfer.

There's also no MagSafe charging port, as this function too has been handed over to the Thunderbolt ports (you can use any port for charging).

The MacBook Pro also kitted out with a more responsive keyboard, with the keys being fitted with a second-generation butterfly mechanism, and a new Force Touch trackpad that's twice as big as the previous trackpad.

The MacBook Pros also feature improved speakers and a redesigned thermal architecture.

Apple offers the new MacBook Pro is two starting configurations:

15-inch MacBook Pro tech specs

• 15.4-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 2880-by-1800 native resolution at 220 pixels per inch
• 2.6GHz quad-core sixth-gen Intel Core i7 processor
• AMD Radeon Pro 450 graphics based on the 14-nanometer Polaris architecture
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• 4 x Thunderbolt port
• Touch Bar with Touch ID
• Price: $2,399 (up from $1,999 for the previous entry model)
• A fully kitted-out 15-inch MacBook Pro (featuring 2.9GHz quad-core i7, 2TB SSD, and Radeon Pro 460 with 4GB of memory) costs $4,299

13-inch MacBook Pro tech specs

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch
• 2.9GHz dual-core sixth-gen Intel Core i5 processor
• Intel Iris Graphics 550
• 8GB of RAM
• 256GB SSD
• 4 x Thunderbolt port
• Touch Bar with Touch ID
• Price: $1,799
• A fully kitted-out 13-inch MacBook Pro (featuring 3.3GHz dual-core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD) costs $2,899

Apple has also provided some outline benchmarks:

And for the fashion-conscious, the new MacBook Pros come in silver and space gray.

The new MacBook Pro laptops are available for pre-order immediately, and will begin shipping in two to three weeks.

First look at new MacBook Pro

See also:

• There are two versions of the iPhone 7 -- did you end up with a fast one or a slow one?
• How to avoid buying counterfeit Apple cables and chargers
• It's time to stop obsessing over PC sales
• Apple's disgracefully outdated Mac lineup is killing sales
• Google destroys the Android fan myth that the iPhone is too expensive