Rumor: Apple to Launch 13-inch MacBook Pro by October

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Just four months until we see another new MacBook Pro.

As WWDC draws to a close, conversation has turned to the products Apple didn't announce last Monday and when we might expect to see additional product launches from Cupertino. There are the obvious and long awaited gadgets, such as the iPhone 5 and Apple's much rumored HDTV, but today's rumor relates to a 13-inch MacBook Pro boasting a Retina Display.

 

Though Apple did announce a MacBook Pro with Retina Display (and upgraded the guts of the 13-inch model with third generation Intel Core i series CPUs), the 13-inch MacBook Pro did not get the same Retina Display treatment afforded to the 15-inch MBP. Apple didn't mention anything about a 13-inch Retina Display MBP during WWDC, so we're left to wonder when Apple's plans to introduce one.

According to AppleInsider, Apple could launch the 13-inch Retina Display MBP by October. The website cites Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI as saying Apple will ramp up production of a 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro in September and that units will be in stores by October, just in time for the all-important holiday shopping season.

This is good news if you had your heart set on a 13-inch with Retina Display but were disappointed when Apple debuted only a 15-inch model on Monday. As long as you can hold out and resist temptation, you should be able to get a Retina Display MacBook Pro for less than the current $2200 base price before the year is out. The wait will also give application developers more time to boost their apps to support the high resolution display.

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Jane McEntegart
23 Comments Comment from the forums
  • A Bad Day
    And as usual, they're going to be a pain in rear end to repair.

    "Yeah, one of my RAM sticks died."

    "That's a $1500 repair job."

    "Uh, what?"

    "Well, since everything is soldered or glued, we have to replace the motherboard, CPU, GPU, wireless and bluetooth device, and the SSD."

    "**** you."
    Reply
  • tomfreak
    I really dont like the glue together thing, but if Apple is being serious about their customer, these mac book pro should have come with full hardware warranty for 5years as default.

    I probably will shut up about this issue and only focus on complaining the price.
    Reply
  • allenpan
    bye-bye those crappy repaiur shop, who only knows parts and swap, seriously i like the glue togetherm you just need BGA station to fix it, also, glue togther has alot of advantage: such as prevent solder fatigue and corrosion, and now the fix is a "reginal" fixing
    Reply
  • molo9000
    They should replace their entire MacBook Pro and MaBook Air line with just the 13" and 15" retina display models.
    (unless the Air is significantly lighter than the 13" retina pro)

    Kill the cost reduced crap (current MacBook Pros are a bit of a joke) and only make the good stuff.
    Reply
  • chuckydb
    New rumored Macbook: ''OMG!!!!!''
    Anything from an other company: ''ZZzz...''

    Overhyped crap propaganda!!!
    Reply
  • andy_newton
    It's ok. The glue together thing will actually cost Apple more to repair. They'll realize it by second year.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    andy_newtonIt's ok. The glue together thing will actually cost Apple more to repair. They'll realize it by second year.
    Don't worry, they'll make enough money from overpriced upgrades ($100-$200 from 8GB to 16GB for example) and repairs to overshadow any increased replacement (not repair) jobs.
    Reply
  • hp79
    I tried MBP 15 Retina in a apple store, and it was sluggish/choppy when scrolling in Safari. Then I went to the regular MBP 15 tried the same thing, it was really smooth. It almost looked like 30 fps vs 60 fps difference, or Android Gingerbread's home screen choppiness vs iOS's fluid smooth home screen.

    I really want the high resolution and the clarity so I was waiting for the new 13" with Retina, but that was a major disappointment that I might have to wait for Haswell. Gotta admit, pushing that much pixels might be a tough job for intel HD4000.

    Reply
  • SneakySnake
    hp79I tried MBP 15 Retina in a apple store, and it was sluggish/choppy when scrolling in Safari. Then I went to the regular MBP 15 tried the same thing, it was really smooth. It almost looked like 30 fps vs 60 fps difference, or Android Gingerbread's home screen choppiness vs iOS's fluid smooth home screen.I really want the high resolution and the clarity so I was waiting for the new 13" with Retina, but that was a major disappointment that I might have to wait for Haswell. Gotta admit, pushing that much pixels might be a tough job for intel HD4000.
    Considering it can play starcraft 2 and diablo 3 on medium-high settings at 2880x1800 I very much doubt it has a problem with scrolling in Safari. Heck the new iPad is pushing 2048x1532 and it has a way less powerful CPU and GPU and it scrolls completely smoothly.
    Reply
  • house70
    " saying Apple will ramp up production of a 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro in September"

    Production? Please show me an Apple FACTORY where they manufacture stuff (not assemble nor commission stuff to be made by others)...

    ...I thought so.
    Reply