13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Pricing to Start at Roughly $1699

[Saladinos]

That's steep. And with the rumoured lack of a discrete GPU, this is unlikely to be a Pro machine.

That said, the MacBook Air currently costs $1499 ($200 less) for:

1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz
4GB memory
256GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000

So for that extra $200, you'd get:

- Significantly better processor
- Retina display
- 4GB more RAM
- More ports and external connectivity options

So in that sense, it's not really worse value for money than what Apple are selling today (and the MBA is really popular). It won't have the extreme thinness of the MBA, but I expect it to be close.

Also, these components are expensive. Optical drives are cheap as chips, so you don't save much by dropping them. Adding a retina display, an SSD and 8GB of DDR3L will raise the price significantly, but that's why these models exist alongside the current MBPs: because they're using high-end components that would otherwise be disregarded as prohibitively expensive. Once the prices of these components drop to a more reasonable level, you should expect to see these replace the existing MBPs.

I like the 15" Retina MBP: yeah, it's expensive, but it's also the best laptop in the world. This is what Apple have done forever: making the best product they can. If it's expensive, it's expensive; but it'll still be the best.

That said, I'm not sure how to square this with the lack of discrete GPU. Seems like a major omission if it is left out.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Prices may not have gone up, but neither have our wages.

Exactly! Prices have gone way, way down.

 

[cire1244]

There is already a Macbook Pro 13 at the $1499 price point.

Right. My point is that I think people will buy the $1499 cMBP if the 13" rMBP is priced that high.

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I'm suspecting it'll have a discrete GPU. The sheer amount of internal space opened up by dropping the optical drive gives them plenty of room.

Of course, I actually still expect it to be priced starting at $1499, but that's just a guess based on the 'subliminals' of price-points. ($1499 is 'under $1500), $1699 is 'almost $2000!')

I totally agree with you here. I think Apple is too smart to make a base 13" rMBP cost above $1500.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Seen em. Seen the glue and soldered stuff cause they are worried about a few mm. Ive clearly does use hallucinogens. Bought into the same stuff Steve believed. It's the integration and solid OS that draw people far more than making it thinner for the sake of marketing material.

You might be in awe of it, I am not. It's preference.

I'm not in awe of it, I just know that good design is harder than it looks. According to multiple sites, the iPhone 5 is a very durable phone.

 

[Anuba]

I think some of you have been way too quick to count Retina display as a commodity. We're not there yet. True, Apple didn't jack up the price when the iPad got a Retina screen, but A) It's 10", B) Apple placed an order for a trillion gazillion of those panels -- iPads are flying off the shelves.

Smaller series of larger Retina panels, that's a different story. No iPad panel deal on those for Apple. Large 4K displays are still crazy expensive... ViewSonic says their 4K 31.5" will be 'roughly the price of a car'.

If you want Retina now, you pay the early adopter premium. It hasn't been 10 years since the 15" rMBP was released, you know. And when prices on Retina panels eventually do drop considerably, Apple will still pretend that it's a brand new crazy expensive technology, like they've done with SSD, and charge you accordingly.

 

[435713]

What's an extra $200? Apple needs it more than the consumer.

I know right. Greedy consumers. I will pay 2k. Just walk in the store and place that down and leave, they can keep the change.

I leave 100 for adaptors, why not give a tip you know.

----------

I'm not in awe of it, I just know that good design is harder than it looks. According to multiple sites, the iPhone 5 is a very durable phone.

My wording was butt there. I am sure you are not in awe or anything. You like the designs and thats cool. Ive for sure gets my vote for the best looking stuff. Other areas I find him extremely lacking and weak. To each their own. iPhone 5 is very durable from the drop tests I have seen. I agree.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I know right. Greedy consumers. I will pay 2k. Just walk in the store and place that down and leave, they can keep the change.

I leave 100 for adaptors, why not give a tip you know.

Finally, someone who understands. I can't believe that some here are putting their needs ahead of Apple's bottom line. I much prefer to pay a few hundred extra knowing that in my own small way helped push Apples cash pile even higher. Just being able to tell my friends that Apple has 100 gazillion dollars in cash is worth it to me. It makes me feel so proud.

 

[Saladinos]

And surprisingly, another adapter to buy for only $29.00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any problem can be solved by selling people another adapter dongle for only $29.

 

[Digidesign]

Finally, someone who understands. I can't believe that some here are putting their needs ahead of Apple's bottom line. I much prefer to pay a few hundred extra knowing that in my own small way helped push Apples cash pile even higher. Just being able to tell my friends that Apple has 100 gazillion dollars in cash is worth it to me. It makes me feel so proud.

My reaction as a Consumer:
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!! (shakes fist) Boycott for great justice!!

as an Apple Stockholder:
$1699? Excellent, Smithers! Release the hounds!

 

[435713]

Finally, someone who understands. I can't believe that some here are putting their needs ahead of Apple's bottom line. I much prefer to pay a few hundred extra knowing that in my own small way helped push Apples cash pile even higher. Just being able to tell my friends that Apple has 100 gazillion dollars in cash is worth it to me. It makes me feel so proud.

Exactly! In a way its as if we work there and share in the glory. If it's $1699 that's crazy cheap, I am thinking of selling my everyday car and get 7k and pay that for it. I wake up in cold sweats worrying about the shareholders and if Apple's high ups got that new Lexus. Hopefully Ferrari's actually.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Exactly! In a way its as if we work there and share in the glory. If it's $1699 that's crazy cheap, I am thinking of selling my everyday car and get 7k and pay that for it. I wake up in cold sweats worrying about the shareholders and if Apple's high ups got that new Lexus. Hopefully Ferrari's actually.

We need to work harder to convince the others here so that they will see the light.

 

[435713]

We need to work harder to convince the others here so that they will see the light.

We'll get there, we will get there. We will finish Mr. Jobs final Solution.

 

[spl456]

I didn't think about the European prices. Yeah, that kind of sucks. Well, at least you've got options.

Wait until you see the Aussie prices....we'll get done in the back door once again by Apple (and everyone else).

I personally think that the MBA and MPB (including the MPBr), will merge into one product line in a few years time, say less than 2.

 

[The13thDoctor]

Too costly and a boring product. Not even SSD or flash storage.

What are we, in the Dark ages
Yawn.

Who said that it isn't going to be flash based?

 

[shinx2ran]

well, with that specs is just too much price. the non retina MBP still the best since it has a dvd-rw in it

 

[USB123]

Not really surprised at the price, it is as projected I suppose. So that's €1300 roughly (checked xe.com currency converter) here in Ireland, but I'd say it will be a little more with taxes.
I will be upgrading from my 2nd hand dinosaur Dell OptiPlex desktop to a Mac of some sort early next year so will keep an eye out for this one...

 

[golf1410]

Who do manufacture the display for 13" MacBook Pro retina? LG with image retention feature? I just wonder.

 

[andrezuppe]

It's 2012 and Apple is still pushing Dual Core CPU's and asking for premium pricing.

+1 !!!!! I totally agree

Bye

Andrea

 

[trip1ex]

LIke the MBA when it first came out; wait a few years and 13" Retina will be priced at $1199.

 

[mobidutch]

If the base model will in fact be priced at $1699 (which I find something I would expect Apple to do), what would the base capacity of the RAM and SSD be? The Macbook Air pricing adds $300 to go from 128GB to 256GB SSD, and $100 to go from 4GB to 8GB. Perhaps the base model will be the same as the 15" rMBP base model (8GB/256GB). Or it could start with 4GB... but at $1699 I sure hope I would not have to shell out another $300 to get a 256GB SSD!!

 

[damir00]

...but at $1699 I sure hope I would not have to shell out another $300 to get a 256GB SSD!!

At $1699, you're getting the SSD.

 

[terraphantm]

At $1699, you're getting the SSD.

Based SSD might not be 256GB though

 

[Mal]

If the base model will in fact be priced at $1699 (which I find something I would expect Apple to do), what would the base capacity of the RAM and SSD be? The Macbook Air pricing adds $300 to go from 128GB to 256GB SSD, and $100 to go from 4GB to 8GB. Perhaps the base model will be the same as the 15" rMBP base model (8GB/256GB). Or it could start with 4GB... but at $1699 I sure hope I would not have to shell out another $300 to get a 256GB SSD!!

Configure a base MBP 15" with 8GB and a 256GB SSD, and it's $100 more than the MBPr. Configure a base MBP 13" with 8GB and a 256GB SSD, and it's $100 more than the rumored price for the 13" MBPr. Not a coincidence, although that could simply because that's how the rumor may have been started.

jW

 

[tharitm]

Since the rMBP was priced after the high end MBP 15inch I think Apple will follow the same for the 13inch. The rMBP will start at $1499, $1699 is to expensive.

 

[mobidutch]

Configure a base MBP 15" with 8GB and a 256GB SSD, and it's $100 more than the MBPr. Configure a base MBP 13" with 8GB and a 256GB SSD, and it's $100 more than the rumored price for the 13" MBPr. Not a coincidence, although that could simply because that's how the rumor may have been started.

jW

Hmmm. Interesting and weird. So if the parallel stays the same, a 256GB/8GB base might be in the cards for that $1699.