New MacBook Pro laptops: Speedy with long battery life

We've got the latest MacBook laptops in-house, and we've tested and rated them for our next batch of computer Ratings (available to subscribers). The bottom line: Longer battery life and faster performance.

Apple recently upgraded its MacBook laptops with new Intel processors and better graphics. The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models now run on Intel Core i5, and there's also a 15-inch model available with Intel's Core i7 processor. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was upgraded with faster Core 2 Duo processors and 4GB of memory instead of 2GB. All three have more video memory as well.

In our tests, the 17-inch MacBook Pro had the best battery life of the three, lasting 9.25 hours (the older model had 6.75 hours of battery life). The 13-inch MacBook Pro's battery life ranged from 7.25 to 7.75 hours (depending on the processor), and the 15-inch MacBook Pro laptop lasted 8 to 8.5 hours.

Performance was also significantly better on all three models, although most users won't notice the improvement because the older MacBooks were already fast. For gamers, the 15-inch MacBook was the best performer.

Prices range from $1,200 to $2,300. We'll post full Ratings of these models, along with lots of other new laptops, in the next couple of weeks.

—Donna Tapellini