Apple Unveils New 13-Inch Entry-Level MacBook Pro

[MacRumors]

Today at its October 2016 Town Hall event, Apple announced an entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro that it is positioning as an appealing alternative for potential buyers of the MacBook Air, the 13-inch version of which remains available to buy for now, with the 11-inch version being discontinued.

The new entry-level Pro takes on many of the design features of the rest of the range, except for Apple's new Touch Bar, which replaces the traditional function key strip in the rest of its new Pro MacBooks.

The new entry-level MacBook Pro is 12 percent thinner than the current MacBook Air. It's also 13 percent smaller in volume, while staying the same weight.

Apple's senior VP Phil Schiller says the new entry-level MacBook Pro is faster than the MacBook Air in "every way." It has a 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Intel Iris 540 Graphics, a larger Force Touch trackpad, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a new second-generation butterfly mechanism keyboard.

The entry-level MacBook ships starting today and is available starting at $1,499. In contrast, the existing MacBook Air with 1.6GHz processor and 128GB storage and is still available at $999. The new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro can be pre-ordered online now and will ship in 2-3 weeks.

Article Link: Apple Unveils New 13-Inch Entry-Level MacBook Pro

 

[Born Again]

pretty disappointing. Think im going to sue apple now.

 

[TC03]

This doesn't replace the MacBook Air. Did you even watch the keynote?

 

[geoff5093]

Apple, you seem to forget what the "Pro" in "MacBook Pro" means. To raise the prices on top of that is just icing on the cake, the Mac line is a failure these days.

 

[Gregintosh]

50% price increase on an updated entry level 13 inch laptop. Wow. Even the 15 inch pro got a $400 price hike at the entry level.

 

[Markoth]

Still costs far more than the MacBook Air did, though.

 

[JS24]

Can anyone compare these new 13" products with 2015 13" MBPr? I would go to older version than these.

 

[palmerc2]

Today was so damn disappointing.

They released 1 1/2 new computers today. Back to the Mac my ass.

 

[madsci954]

So why is it still in the store?

 

[Born Again]

This doesn't replace the MacBook Air. Did you even watch the keynote?

Why the Macbook Air is dead.

http://gizmodo.com/rip-the-macbook-air-1788278944

 

[SR71]

Two ports for $1499. Really, Apple? That's the best you can do?

 

[GabrielMoro]

They said a lot about the function keys, as if they were terrible and old, but a couple minutes later announced a MacBook which has them. What is happening to this company?

 

[ike1707]

Welllllll, I guess desktop consumers are officially considered second-class.

 

[magicschoolbus]

the only new pro that looks appealing is the 15 inch

 

[nagromme]

More choices! And some of them aren't ones I want! I hate Apple giving people new choices

 

[A MacBook lover]

$1,499? And that's without a touch bar? Goodbye

 

[soupcan]

You know what this doesn't have?

Useful ports.

 

[TC03]

Why the Macbook Air is dead.

http://gizmodo.com/rip-the-macbook-air-1788278944

That article is pure bs. The MBA is still for sale so it's not dead.

 

[DanGoh]

There was no reason to take away 2 of the 4 Thunderbolt ports on the new entry-level MBP.

 

[iPhysicist]

I knew this by the release of the new macbook. Thumbs up for cleaning up the lineup.

 

[JoshDoug]

Phew! Sucks that it's the entry SKU but at least it doesn't have the touch bar gimmick....now is the butterfly switch 2.0 keyboard an improvement on the quite frankly terrible MacBook keyboard. I guess I can live with only two thunderbolt ports.

 

[Rudy69]

There was no reason to take away 2 of the 4 Thunderbolt ports on the new entry-level MBP.

Cost?

 

[BritishApple]

So they replaced a £749 entry level MacBook Air with a new "entry level" MacBook Pro that costs almost twice as much?

 

[netsped]

13" MBA is not being replaced with anything yet.

They did killed the 11" MBA though.

 

[pika2000]

There was no reason to take away 2 of the 4 Thunderbolt ports on the new entry-level MBP.

This.
I can understand not including the fancy OLED bar, but removing 2 ports just because is a bit lame. There's no space restriction here, and the fact that this still bears a "Pro" branding.
Ditching SD card slot, HDMI port, etc for 4 USB-C ports is kinda okay, but ditching all that only for 2 USB-C port? On a Pro notebook? Come on Apple.