Apple finally killed the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Date:
Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:49:58 +0000

Description:
Apples laptop lineup is now much less confusing with the demise of its
13-inch MacBook Pro.

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Apple has killed off the 13-inch MacBook Pro , closing the chapter on one of Apples least attractive laptops in recent years. With it goes the Touch Bar, meaning Apples touch-sensitive strip is no longer available on any MacBook.

At the companys Scary Fast event , Apple introduced its family of M3 chips inside new MacBook Pro and iMac computers. Normally, we would expect the entry-level M3 chip to find its way inside the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but that didnt happen.

Instead, Apple brought this chip to the refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro , marking the first time this laptop has had anything but a Pro- or Max-branded chip since Apple silicon debuted in 2020.

That meant the 13-inch MacBook Pro was nowhere to be seen. Previously sold
for $1,299, its replacement now starts at a pricier $1,599, although it comes with a vastly superior Liquid Retina XDR display, double the starting storage and longer battery life. A clear-cut laptop lineup (Image credit: Apple)

The 13-inch MacBook Pro had long been something of an anomaly in Apples
laptop lineup. Despite its $1,299 price, it was outshone by the MacBook Air , which offered basically the same performance for $200 less. Its entry-level Apple Silicon chip was a solid performer, but did not fully justify the laptops Pro tag compared to Apples Pro and Max chips.

Now that its gone, Apples laptop range is decidedly less confusing. Instead
of offering a 13-inch laptop that doesnt fit within either the Air or Pro range, Apple now has a clear delineating marker between the two sides of its laptop collection.

Also gone with the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the Touch Bar, which now cannot be bought on any Apple product. Although it had plenty of potential, it never reached the heights Apple hoped for, with too few apps taking advantage of
its capabilities to truly be a compelling feature.

In the end, its unlikely too many people will mourn the passing of the
13-inch MacBook Pro. Previous buyers will be well served by the MacBook Air, while bona fide professional customers have a new 14-inch option to toy with. It was a long time coming, but the 13-inch MacBook Pro is finally no more.
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/apple-finally-killed-the-13-inch-macbook-p ro-with-touch-bar


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