Since Apple announced the Macbook Pro with a Retina display, Apple fans and critics have been asking for a smaller, cheaper model. Sure enough, it looked like Apple was going to deliver, with rumors even suggesting that a 13-inch model was in production as early as of August of this year. When Apple announced the iPhone 5, we were treated to redesigns of the Nano and iPod Touch, but no Macbook Pro. But now that we have another Apple media event—probably the last one of the year—in which we’ll see the new, smaller iPad, we may also finally see the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which would also tie into the invite’s theme, which mentions “smaller.”
As with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, expect the 13-inch model to be more expensive than the current 13-inch models, which start at $1,199. The 15-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,799 and the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro starts at $2,199 which is an increase of $400, but then the upgraded Retina MacBook Pro, with the better specs was a $600 price jump over the comparable non-Retina model. So it should be safe to assume that Apple will price this 13-inch Retina model between $400 – $600, with $500 being a safe bet.
As for specs, the processor should be comparable to the latest model, if not a slight upgrade, but it will retain the same thin design like the 15-inch and it’ll feature at least one thunderbolt port a few USB 3.0 and 2.0 slots and the SD Card reader. As for rest, you can expect a scaled down 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro in a 13-inch frame.
With Apple’s event kicking off next week, we don’t have long to wait and if you’ve been in the market for a new Apple laptop, that isn’t 2,199, you may want to hold off till the 23rd.