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When can we expect a Macbook Pro Retina refresh?

T

Tydog07

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 10, 2011
454
2
Ann Arbor, Mi
I might be getting close to getting a free replacement macbook pro due to some service issues with my current model, but before I approach the genius bar, I want to get an idea of when I should expect the next refresh. Any ideas? I see they updated in the fall, but Apple seems to update every 6 months or so, generally march-may.

Also, if I have a high-end 15" model, can I expect to be successful in asking for a downgrade, IE: 13" Macbook Air?
 
This might interest you: https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//

Also know, that the next update will include the Broadwell chips from Intel. As they are rumoured to be released no sooner than Q3, you have to wait that long at least.
As Intel is on a yearly schedule, Apple adapted to that. If there is more than one update per year, it is mostly a minor speed bump or some correction.
 
As I see it, the most likely scenario is a minor Haswell spec-bump in June, followed by the jump to Broadwell in February of 2015.
 
I'd love to see a slight spec bump around march in hopes of an SSD capacity increase but unfortunately I doubt its likely to happen. Still however I have been holding off on buying as the 2.6ghz/16gb/512 is a bit hard for me to justify spending just over 2k on. 256GB just doesn't cut it these days for a portable laptop :/
 
They will probably give you the high end current model; that said you can probably return the unopened replacement for store credit and buy the MacBook Air that you want.

They may give you a MacBook Air, but there are two issues:
1) You're losing money (since you can return and rebuy like I mentioned);
2) They may not be able to exchange since the MacBook Air is not a comparable product.
 
mrweirdo said:
I'd love to see a slight spec bump around march in hopes of an SSD capacity increase but unfortunately I doubt its likely to happen. Still however I have been holding off on buying as the 2.6ghz/16gb/512 is a bit hard for me to justify spending just over 2k on. 256GB just doesn't cut it these days for a portable laptop :/
Click to expand...

SSDs in Mac are pricier because they use the super fast PCIe SSDs. So far, no other computer manufacturers use PCIe SSDs yet.

Just to give you an idea of how fast a PCIe SSD can be, please have a look at my screenshot.

I use a 1TB SSD. The 512GB and 256GB ones are slower, but still fast (650/750MB/s write/read respectively)
 

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Intel yesterday released 10 new CPUs. However there is only one (Core i7-4860HQ 4 / 8 2,4 GHz HD 5200), that would fit the 15" (0.1Ghz bump from the 2.3Ghz i7-4850HQ) and none for the 13"
 
Wuiffi said:
Intel yesterday released 10 new CPUs. However there is only one (Core i7-4860HQ 4 / 8 2,4 GHz HD 5200), that would fit the 15" (0.1Ghz bump from the 2.3Ghz i7-4850HQ) and none for the 13"
Click to expand...

Maybe, with another release, we'll get an i7-4760HQ (2.1GHz) and another i7-49x0HQ (2.7 GHz) too. Then we'll be all set for a February refresh. But since yesterday's release omitted the two, it's seems unlikely. However, the Haswell refresh came late in October, so it's possible that the mid-cycle refresh will land some time in April or May. If Intel releases the aforementioned processors by then, we'll definitely be set for the refresh.

Raptor
 
raptor402 said:
Maybe, with another release, we'll get an i7-4760HQ (2.1GHz) and another i7-49x0HQ (2.7 GHz) too.
Click to expand...

An i7-4760HQ would be possible but the i7-4960HQ (High end option) already IS the upgrade to the i7-4950HQ. It also was released on Q4 instead of Q3 (where all the others came out). If I remember right, there even was a geekbench result with an i7-4950HQ in the macbook pro.

Anyway, as long as there is no new High End option available I don't see Apple putting in new chips in the base and mid configuration.
 
Tydog07 said:
I might be getting close to getting a free replacement macbook pro due to some service issues with my current model, but before I approach the genius bar, I want to get an idea of when I should expect the next refresh.
Click to expand...
The last refresh was this past fall, so I'd say we're in mid cycle at this point, i.e., we'll not see an update until next fall. If you have a chance to upgrade your MBP, I'd not worry about refreshes at this stage.

Also, if I have a high-end 15" model, can I expect to be successful in asking for a downgrade, IE: 13" Macbook Air?
Click to expand...
Getting a free replacement is really dependent on the disposition of the manager, and prior history. That is if you incurred a lot of issues on your MBP, if you're dealing with single problem the odds are rather slim they'll give you a new laptop instead of repairing the current one.
 
Wuiffi said:
An i7-4760HQ would be possible but the i7-4960HQ (High end option) already IS the upgrade to the i7-4950HQ. It also was released on Q4 instead of Q3 (where all the others came out). If I remember right, there even was a geekbench result with an i7-4950HQ in the macbook pro.

Anyway, as long as there is no new High End option available I don't see Apple putting in new chips in the base and mid configuration.
Click to expand...

I was aware of the 4790HQ, which was why I wrote 49x0HQ. However, your point does stand. Ideally, the rMBP would have released with the 4750HQ, 4850HQ and 4950HQ, and later upgraded to 4x60HQ series. I doubt that Apple will refresh just the base processors.

Raptor
 
Wuiffi said:
Intel yesterday released 10 new CPUs. However there is only one (Core i7-4860HQ 4 / 8 2,4 GHz HD 5200), that would fit the 15" (0.1Ghz bump from the 2.3Ghz i7-4850HQ) and none for the 13"
Click to expand...

Lol, is it even different from the 4950?
 
kelon111 said:
Of course other computer manufacturers use PCIe SSDs.
Click to expand...

So far I think Sony in one model is the only other manufacturer to use it.

As for refresh, I'm not anticipating anything until Broadwell, and even then I expect that to be more of the same in not much faster, but better battery life.
 
philxor said:
So far I think Sony in one model is the only other manufacturer to use it.

As for refresh, I'm not anticipating anything until Broadwell, and even then I expect that to be more of the same in not much faster, but better battery life.
Click to expand...

Dell Precision M3800
HP Zbook 14
etc.
 
philxor said:
So far I think Sony in one model is the only other manufacturer to use it.

As for refresh, I'm not anticipating anything until Broadwell, and even then I expect that to be more of the same in not much faster, but better battery life.
Click to expand...

There should be GPU improvements too.
 
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