Consumer Reports: No Recommendation For MacBook

After Apple’s so-so earnings report last quarter, the tech giant is looking to certain products to sell this quarter. However, there could be some resistance after a certain magazine is not endorsing the new MacBook Pro.

Consumer Reports, the authoritative product review magazine, released its review on the MacBook Pro, saying it not only “can’t recommend” the product, but also headlined the report with a failure to earn the publication’s recommendation. The new computer, which comes in both a 13-inch and 15-inch option, was released last month with its most enhanced update being the touch bar at the top of the keyboard that replaced certain function keys such as how the screen lightens or darkens. It also integrates Touch ID as a log-in feature, incorporating the user’s biometric data. The product is lighter than previous products and has a bigger touchpad.

But the reason Consumer Reports won’t endorse the product is the battery life, which it calls “highly inconsistent.” In some trials, the battery lasted for 16 hours, while in others the battery puttered out at 12.75 hours and at only 3.75 hours. While this may not matter to some, others say it would be an upset if the computer’s usage was needed, say, during a flight across the U.S.

“Battery life is an important attribute for a laptop, and it represents a significant portion of our overall score,” Consumer Reports wrote in the review. “After factoring together our complete test results, Consumer Reports finds that all three MacBook Pro laptops fail to meet our standards for recommended models.”

The MacBook isn’t the only product to not receive a warm reception. Recently, the Apple Watch’s new second version has not been received publicly well, but the company is hoping that the holiday sales will reflect a better appreciation for the product.