Laptops

Apple updates MacBook Pro lineup with tweaked keyboard and 8-core chip

The fastest Mac notebook ever

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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) | GadgetMatch

Apple‘s popular line of pro notebooks is getting more powerful with Intel’s new 8th- and 9th-gen Core chips. Other laptop manufacturers already announced their latest models featuring the new processors and Apple doesn’t want to get left behind.

For the first time ever, consumers can get a MacBook Pro with an 8-core processor which is two times faster than an older quad-core MacBook Pro and has 40 percent better performance than the previous 6-core MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro refresh for mid-2019 greatly benefits the 15-inch model with Touch Bar. The base model now has a 6-core i7 processor and its high-end sibling has an 8-core i9 processor. If you wish, it can be configured to an even more powerful 8-core i9 chip which can turbo boost up to 5.0GHz. This is what Apple calls “the fastest Mac notebook ever.”

Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) | Image credit: Apple

The 13-inch Touch Bar models also get a processor refresh with the base model now equipped with a faster 8th-gen quad-core i5. It can be upgraded to a quad-core i7 with a turbo boost of up to 4.7GHz.

Apart from the new processors, the rest of the MacBook Pro specs remain unchanged. However, the Cupertino company opted to use a new material for its keyboard which should reduce issues. It’s the same third-generation butterfly keyboard design from previous models, though.

The refreshed MacBook Pro 15-inch models start at US$ 2,399 in the US or SG$ 3,499 in Singapore, while the smaller 13-inch models start at US$ 1,799 or SG$ 2,599.

SEE ALSO: Apple might increase the iPhone’s price by 14 percent

Laptops

MSI announces new Raider, Crosshair gaming laptops

Redesigned for better power

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MSI has unveiled its latest generation of high-performance gaming laptops, introducing comprehensive updates to the Raider, Crosshair, and Cyborg series.

The updated product lines include redesigns, as well as up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs.

MSI Raider 16 HX: Flagship power

The premium tier is led by the redesigned MSI Raider 16 HX, which establishes a maximum total power delivery threshold of up to 300W of combined CPU and GPU output via MSI OverBoost technology.

This extreme performance is made possible by a newly designed Cooler Boost Trinity with Intra Flow thermal system. With up to three fans, six heat pipes, and an exclusive five-exhaust vent design, the laptop delivers exceptional cooling performance while keeping noise below 50 dBA.

It has a 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display with up to 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

With two DDR5 memory slots, it can support up to 128GB of RAM, alongside dual M.2 slots for ample storage.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX: Mainstream performance realignment

Meanwhile, the mid-tier MSI Crosshair 16 HX receives a structural redesign that slims down the overall chassis depth while boosting overall thermal ceiling performance by 30W over the prior model.

It comes with a similar Cooler Boost thermal solution and quad-vent exhaust, while delivering up to 200W total system power.

Gamers can fully tap into that performance with a QHD+ 240Hz display. Connectivity gets an upgrade too, as the new I/O layout features three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and repositioned HDMI and RJ-45 LAN ports.

The look is completed by the iconic RGB Crosshair aesthetic, with a more dynamic RGB backlit keyboard.

MSI Cyborg 15 Max: Major upgrades in performance, display

Lastly, the newly redesigned MSI Cyborg 15 series arrives with major upgrades. Particularly, the entry-level Cyborg 15 Max marks a substantial performance update for the budget tier.

It now has up to a 140W total system power, thanks to an Intel Core 200H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 GPU. This sets a new benchmark in the entry-level gaming segment.

The performance is likewise powered by a Cooler Boost thermal system. Overall, the Cyborg 15 Max achieves an impressive 122% increase in TGP.

The entire series is equipped with an FHD 144Hz display with 100% sRGB color gamut. Even connectivity is upgraded, with three USB-A ports and one USB-C port.

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Buyer's Guide

2026 MacBook Neo vs Air vs Pro: Buyer’s Guide

Which MacBook Should You Buy in 2026?

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Apple’s MacBook lineup has never offered more choice.

From the $599 MacBook Neo to the ultra-powerful MacBook Pro, there’s now a MacBook for almost every kind of user.

But, are you overwhelmed and torn buying between the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and the all-new MacBook Neo?

Watch our 2026 MacBook Buyer’s Guide to find your GadgetMatch!

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Laptops

The Googlebook is the next evolution of the Chromebook

Notebooks are coming later this year.

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Chromebooks did not become the go-to alternative for laptop users on a budget. Given how the market looks today, it could have been a matter of “right place, wrong time.” Today, Google is trying again with the new Googlebook lineup.

The Googlebook is different from the Chromebook. Though both platforms allow Android apps to run natively, the Googlebook will focus more on building a foundation on Gemini Intelligence.

Of course, the Android ecosystem is still a focal point. The Googlebook can run apps from the ecosystem and can connect seamlessly with Android phones. Specifically, users can access their phone’s apps and files directly from the notebook without waiting for transfers.

As for the Gemini part, the Googlebook starts by reinventing the cursor. The new Magic Pointer brings the wonder of Gemini to your mouse. A wiggle of the cursor wakes the software, which contextualizes anything it’s pointed to. For example, pointing at a date will ask you if you want to schedule a meeting. Pointing at two photos might merge the two into an AI-generated mashup.

Additionally, Create a Widget will allow you to customize software to perfectly tailor to your needs. Using Gemini, the Googlebook can collate everything you need on your dashboard.

Currently, there are no official models set to come out just yet. However, Google has confirmed that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have committed to bringing out the Googlebook this fall. Naturally, each of these brands will have their own take on lineup, but the one thing uniting them will be a unique glowbar to set them apart from other notebooks.

SEE ALSO: Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

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