During the 2023 WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), Apple unveiled yet another shiny new member of its laptop family: the 15-inch MacBook Air. With this fresh addition, the MacBook fleet now consists of the 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, each boasting the latest chips. But, a perplexing situation has surfaced – it seems like Apple has completely overlooked the existence of its 13-inch MacBook Pro.
In a keynote presentation at WWDC, Apple displayed a slide featuring its post-transition Mac lineup. It showcased the Mac Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac mini, along with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. Strangely absent from this image were the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the M1 MacBook Air.
Excluding the M1 MacBook Air might be understandable, considering it’s been around for two and a half years. But the case of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is more baffling. The most plausible explanation seems to be that Apple doesn’t actually believe it’s a popular choice among consumers – and they might be right.
With a new price cut making the 13-inch MacBook Air just $1,099, it now stands $200 cheaper than its 13-inch Pro sibling. And with a similar processor, improved screen, and a fresher design, the Air is shaping up to be a more tempting choice for consumers. Even for those willing to shell out $1,299, they can opt for a larger and superior screen with the 15-inch MacBook Air.
The decision to update the 13-inch MacBook Pro last year was puzzling, especially when Apple launched the redesigned MacBook Air with an M2 processor at the same time. Today, that decision seems even more befuddling. The 13-inch MacBook Pro has a slower processor than its Pro counterparts, a smaller screen than either of the MacBook Airs, and a design that hasn’t seen a significant change in six years.
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Even for those who are absolutely smitten by the Touch Bar, the odds are stacked against the 13-inch MacBook Pro. There’s an abundance of reasons to choose any of the other M2 MacBooks instead. It seems that even Apple agrees with this sentiment, further reinforcing the belief that there’s little justification for the existence of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
And as someone who’s primary computer is a 2020 m1 13″, it’s fallen well short of the title “MacBook Pro”. It can only output video to one external monitor. That alone makes it difficult to use. Wish I knew that before buying, but hey… It’s a forgotten child, so of course Apple didn’t tell me.
Rumors suggest that Apple might still be planning to revamp the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 processor in 2024. While that’s a possibility, it seems like the first step would be for Apple to acknowledge its existence. And right now, the 13-inch MacBook Pro appears to be nothing more than a forgotten child in Apple’s laptop family.
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