13-inch Retina MacBook Pro could be expensive
Apple is heavily expected to release a 13-inch version of its MacBook Pro with Retina display next week, alongside its much-anticipated iPad Mini. But how much will this laptop with ultra-sharp display cost?
According to a recent report from 9to5 Mac, you can expect to shell over $1,700 — $500 more than if you bought a 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Retina display. The higher price tag shouldn’t scare consumers who were waiting for a more prosumer-friendly Retina display laptop from Apple, as the 15-inch version of the Retina MacBook Pro quickly sold out, forcing 3-4 week wait times no more than a day into its release.
There is an interesting caveat to the 13-inch price, if it proves to be true. There would be a $500 premium over the non-Retina model at that size, but it’s only a $400 difference once you bump up to the 15-inch model.
A month or two ago on Blorge, we published a similar blog post, that looked into how much a 13-inch model of Apple’s premium MacBook Pro would cost.
For that premium, however, you are getting more than just an ultra-sharp display. The 13-inch model will likely mimic the 15-inch version in every way, including the use of a solid-state hard drive and a significantly thinner body. It won’t be as thin as a MacBook Air, but it will come close.
For $1,200, you can buy a 13-inch MacBook Air. If display resolution isn’t a huge factor for you, but you like the larger size screen, that might be the better route to go.
The biggest critics of the Retina MacBook Pro argue Apple is giving up too much necessary specifications, such as storage and SuperDrives, to keep the price as low as possible (even though it’s expensive) on the laptop.
Rip off? If these prices stay true, is that too much for a 13-inch laptop? Weight in below.
