Apple Updates the 13-inch MacBook Pro

Apple provided a surprise this morning with an announcement that nobody expected. The company released an all-new version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with most of the features found on the 16-inch model.

Priced starting at $1,299 ($1,199 for educational pricing), the 13-inch MacBook Pro is now equipped with the same Magic Keyboard found on the larger MacBook Pro. The keyboard has a redesigned scissor mechanism, the Touch Bar and Touch ID, and an inverted-T arrow block, all of which are designed to bring a fast, comfortable typing experience to the device.

Inside the 3 lb. (1.36kg) package, Apple has doubled the storage of the base model to 256 GB, with SSD capacities of up to 4TB available for pro users who need the space. With available 10th-generation quad-core Intel Core processors offering Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.1 GHz, Apple says that customers upgrading from a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a dual-core processor will see up to 2.8 times faster performance.

Despite the small size of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it can now connect to Apple’s Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution. That capability is enabled by the Intel Iris Plus Graphics integrated into the processor, which also offers up to 80 percent faster performance than the previous generation 13-inch model for 4K video editing, fast rendering and buttery-smooth gameplay.

Memory capacity has also improved, with the base model being equipped with 16GB of fast 3733 MHz RAM. Users can opt to have the 13-inch MacBook Pro loaded with 32GB of memory.

Apple has also equipped the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the T2 Security Chip for fast, on-the-fly encryption, “Hey, Siri”, and secure storage of Touch ID information.

The display provides 500 nits of brightness and supports the P3 wide color gamut. True Tone is built-in for a natural viewing experience, and with over 4 million pixels and millions of colors available, the screen is sure to become a favorite for many users.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is much more portable than its 16-inch sibling and has a base price that brings pro performance while still being affordable. For those who need the ultimate portability of the 13-inch model but desire a larger display for office work, there are widely-available third-party 27-inch monitors like the LG 27UK850-W that offer 4K UHD resolution and HDR 10 for less than $500. In other words, users can opt for a smaller MacBook Pro with the same power of the bigger model, have a larger display for desktop usage, and still spend less out of pocket than the base cost of the 16-inch model.

Apple says that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is available to order today and should ship later this week.

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