Apple Launches 13-Inch MacBook Pro With Magic Keyboard

Today, Apple announced an updated version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is available to buy. It uses the new Magic Keyboard and takes advantage of Intel's latest 10th-generation processors.

The new model includes a 13.3-inch IPS display with a 2,560-by-1,600 resolution. The base model uses an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor running at 1.4GHz (boosting to 3.9GHz) with Iris Plus Graphics 645, and is supported by 8GB of 2,133MHz LPDDR3 RAM and a 256GB SSD. Battery life is rated at 10 hours using a 58Wh battery.

Prices start at $1,299, which is $150 more than the base model of the previous generation, but it does come with double the storage and is a faster laptop overall. It's possible to greatly improve that base spec by selecting a 10th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 processor running at 2.3GHz (boosting to 3.8GHz), 32GB of 3,733MHz LPDDR4X RAM, and a 512GB SSD, but the cost sky rockets to $2,399. There's further storage options available up to a 4TB SSD, which adds another $1,200 to the price.

Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing, commented, "Whether you're a college student, a developer, or a creative pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro delivers powerful performance, a stunning Retina display, and all-day battery life in our most portable pro notebook. Today we’re adding the new Magic Keyboard, doubling the standard storage, and boosting performance, making the 13-inch MacBook Pro an even better value for our customers ... With these updates, our entire notebook lineup features the Magic Keyboard for the best typing experience ever on a Mac notebook, offers twice the standard storage than before, and delivers even more performance."

The main draw for a lot of long-time MacBook Pro users will be that new keyboard. It's already proved very popular in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, with this new model having the potential to attract many pre-Butterfly keyboard MBP holdouts who've been waiting to upgrade without having to endure a faulty keyboard design.

Apple is already accepting orders for the new model online, and with a few of Apple's retail stores expected to open their doors this month, it shouldn't be too long before you can go buy one in-person as well. Anyone ordering online today can expect their laptop to arrive by May 8, but that could change quickly depending on demand.

:story: PC Magazine