Apple is planning to retire its non-Retina MacBook Pro in the third quarter of 2013, replacing it with a lower-priced all-Retina lineup, an analyst has predicted.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has correctly predicted Apple product launches in the past, has made his Apple hardware predictions for 2013 this week, revealing that he believes Apple will stop selling non-Retina MacBook Pros later this year.
The analyst has said that the new Retina lineup for Apple's MacBook Pro will signal the end of optical drives in Apple's MacBook lineup. Apple has already omitted an optical drive from its current Retina MacBook Pros and the MacBook Air lineup, as well as the new iMacs.
Apple launched its 15in and 13in MacBook Pro with Retina display in 2012, at a starting price of £1,499. Kuo expects that Apple will reduce the price of the Retina MacBooks in order to sell more units, as the £999 non-Retina version will no longer be available to those looking for a cheaper option.
Kuo also thinks that the MacBook Air will get an update ahead of the launch of the all-Retina MacBook Pro lineup, with a minor internal spec boost. SEE: New MacBook Air release date, rumours and leaked images
Interestly, Kuo makes no mention of a new Mac Pro, which proved to be highly sought after in our poll of the most exciting future Apple products. Apple CEO Tim Cook promised that a new Mac Pro would be released in 2013 after Apple attracted criticism and concern following a very minor update to the computer in June 2012.
His other Apple hardware predictions for 2013 include an iPhone 6 with fingerprint sensor and a cheaper iPhone with six colours, both of which he expects to launch at a special event in June or July.
Do you think Apple should retire the non-Retina MacBook lineup this year? Let us know in the comments section below, or on Twitter.
[Via Apple Insider]
See also:
Next-generation Xbox, PlayStation consoles may be unveiled in March
Contact Us
Digg
It's easy and free to get the latest news headlines, reviews and opinions straight to your email inbox. Sign up NOW to make sure you receive the latest Mac news, reviews and tutorials on your favourite topics.
Comments received
theanimaster said on Thu, 17 Jan 2013
I don't think they SHOULD retire the non-retina line but THEY WILL. Some factors being:
• they make more money off BTO options, namely RAM and drive capacity as users will be FORCED to upgrade when they order as these are no longer user-upgradeable!
• They make more money off people NEEDING to buy a new mac every three years because of the lack of upgrade options. Those with current non-retina macs can get another nice 3 years by putting in a SSD and 16GB RAM -- all third party.
If they make more money, how is that a bad thing for them?
theanimaster said on Thu, 17 Jan 2013
Oh, also forgot -- they also make more money putting together something WITH LESS PARTS at the same price. You know the current retinas are overpriced for a reason. It makes people think later "oooh.. the prices have gone down" when really, Apple just added a bigger overhead.
mrmac007 said on Thu, 17 Jan 2013
13" retina is way too expensive, for what you get even by apple standards I don't know anyone with a 13" retina for the money you better off going for a 15" retina. If they drop the 13" retina I hope they don't give you a 64 GB memory no good to any one that. Any one that did pay for a 13" retina would be seriously chested off if it went down to £999
xpresso said on Thu, 17 Jan 2013
I really hope not as the storage space in them is useless. It's hardly that portable if you have to carry an external drive with you everywhere!!
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Macworld. Macworld accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content.
Click here to read the house rules.
Click here for the latest reader comments