Seriously? The big difference in base frequency corresponds to the big difference in TDP. There is nothing surprising about it. If anything, it's the turbo frequency that might suggest a high bin silicon.

Base frequencies are not the problem. It's the turbo frequency potential where their 10 nm chips suffer. It seems that currently, there is no way they can approach 5 GHz in production. That's why the higher performing processors are still 14 nm. Plus the lower yields and probably insufficient capacity. Fortunately (kind of), the newest 14 nm node isn't that much worse in any respect. The 10 nm node is rather underwhelming.

Looks like Apple wasn't having it with 10nm's clock speed issues. Under a heavy load it may have posted a regression over last gen with those low base speeds, so they got something custom with the highest binned silicon Intel is providing in this class.

I think this also confirms what I was thinking about the base model - Intel probably could not guarantee enough silicon to update both at once, as the base 13" MBP is probably one of their best sellers, hence the staggered release with the underwhelming update for the base model.

I hope the Tiger Lake release isn't staggered like this. TGL and a 14" mini LED, I'm seriously ready to sploosh my money for that one.

Macbooks are exclusive to Apple computer users.

Aspect Screen Ratios:
20:41 -> phone
25:41 -> laptop
30:41 -> pad