One of the key updates of the October 2013 Apple launch was a new pair of MacBook Pro models. The screen sizes haven’t changed – you still choose between 13-inch and 15-inch models. But there are more than just a few changes to take into account.
Here are the most important of the lot.
Haswell power, and battery power
As expected, both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models use Intel Haswell generation processors – either Intel Core i5 or i7. These offer more power than last year’s MacBook Pro models, but the most important change is arguably the battery efficiency of Haswell.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro is now rated to last up to eight hours, up an hour from last year’s 15-inch version. The 13-inch lasts for up to nine hours, as it’s a slightly less high-power laptop and, of course, has a smaller screen.
13-inch edition is smaller than before
Apple has managed to shave a few millimetres off the body of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It’s now 18mm thick, down from 19mm in the previous edition.
The new laptop is also lighter – and this time the difference is arguably more significant. The new laptop weighs 1.57kg, down from 1.62kg last year.
It’s still not as light as the 13-inch MacBook Air, which weighs 1.35kg. But it’s getting closer.
Wi-Fi has been bumped-up to 802.11ac
The last MacBook Pro models used the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, but this has now been upgraded to the ‘ac’ standard. This offers better range, and much faster transfer rates.
Most of you probably don’t have an ac-compatible router yet – they’re fairly new and still sell at a premium – but if you have a Wi-Fi n router, you should still notice some improvement (assuming performance isn’t perfect already.
For more information, check out our feature on the benefits of 802.11ac
Flash internal storage is now PCI-e
When Apple launched its Haswell-generation MacBook Air models, it moved to PCI-e SSD storage – instead of the SATA type used in previous generations of Apple laptops.
Predictably, the MacBook Pro models have made the same move. The difference is simple – PCI-e is faster than SATA, allowing for faster transfer rates and stopping the connector type from being a bottleneck.
Both now have Thunderbolt 2 ports
The new MacBook Pro laptops use Thunderbolt 2 ports, instead of the musty old Thunderbolt of the last-generation models. We jest – it’s still one of the most advanced connections you can get.
The socket looks exactly the same as the previous Thunderbolt type, and it’s backwards-compatible with any old Thunderbolt gear.
There are some differences, though. Thunderbolt 2 is certified to offer the bandwidth to support multiple 4K displays at the same time.
Both have been given a price drop
A Retina display MacBook Pro is naturally not going to come cheap. However, the prices have come down a little.
The 13-inch Pro model has been given a $200 price drop – it now starts at $1299. Further up the range, the 15-inch model starts at $1999. We’ll be back with clarification of the UK prices as soon as possible.
Impressions
The MacBook Pro late-2013 model is a safe, predictable upgrade to the series. It doesn’t take any risks, but that’s probably no bad thing. And this time around, both Retina models are significantly cheaper – making them less ‘pie in the sky’.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
