13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Hands On: Reviews Roundup

Straight from the California Theatre at Apple’s Special event, we bring you a hands-on overview of the 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro. Select attendees had the opportunity to take a closer look at the new 13-inch retina MacBook Pro which has a sleek, refined look with a very consumer-focused feel. But “blow you away” factor has been missing with the high price tag associated with the Retina display and solid-state storage. A starting price of $1,700 for the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with retina display is a bit more expensive than a non-retina version of the MacBook Pro for $1,200. There’s plenty to get excited about, but will this model impress existing MacBook Pro users? Well, it’s already garnering near-universal praise across by journalists.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is 0.75 inches thick, 20 percent thinner than its predecessor, and is a pound lighter, making it “the lightest MacBook Pro” ever. The new MacBook Pro features a HD camera for FaceTime video conferencing camera and dual microphones. It has an Intel dual-core processor and 7-hour battery life. It also “power naps” – while it’s sleeping it automatically runs software updates and backs up contacts.  Here are the top hands-on reviews for the Apple’s 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro.
Engadget Review by Darren Murph:

For starters, it’s wildly thin. No, not manilla envelope thin, but thin enough to slip into most briefcases and backpacks without the consumer even noticing. Outside of that, it’s mostly a shrunken version of the 15-incher let loose over the summer. The unibody design is as tight as ever, with the fit and finish continuing to impress. In my estimation, this is Apple’s most deliberate move yet to differentiate the 13-inch MacBook Pro from the 13-inch MacBook Air.

TechCrunch Review by Darrell Etherington:

It’s clear that Apple wants this new version of its top-performer to take over as a product that redefines the laptop category, and judging by limited hands-on experience, there’s good reason to believe they’ll eventually get their wish, though not just yet. [..]

As for how it performed, it was very much like using the 15-inch rMBP, which is my main machine currently. In the hand, however, it feels significantly lighter, at about a pound lighter than the bigger model. That’s a big difference for a machine you carry around with you all day, and alone might sway some users, price considerations aside.

SlashGear Review by Vincent Nguyen:

Freshly announced today, and falling under our eager fingers straight after Apple’s San Jose launch event, the new notebook follows the successful route of its bigger brother. Gone is the optical drive, in comes the super-high-resolution screen, and wide open pop our wallets.

The screen size may be smaller – and lower resolution, too, at 2560 x 1600, though for an overall higher pixel density of 227ppi – but actually the 13-inch model is slightly thicker, at 0.75-inches. In contrast, the 15-inch Retina version is 0.71-inches thick. You don’t really notice the difference, however, and the advantage in weight, with near a full pound dropped, more than makes up for it.

The Verge Review by Nilay Patel:

The resolution settings for the display are just like the larger MacBook Pro – but the maximum allowed resolution is 1680 x 1050, unlike the 1920 x 1080 setting offered on the 15-inch model. Still, 1680 x 1050 is a tremendous option on a display of this size, though at the “best for Retina” setting the screen offers an effective 1280 x 800. If you’ve been using a 15-inch MacBook Pro for the screen size, the 13-inch just got a ton more attractive.

Wired Review by Christina Bonnington:

The new MacBook Pro is faster, thinner and far more pixel-packed than its predecessor. The screen, at 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, looks fantastic. It’s got a 29 percent higher contrast ratio and a 75 percent reduction in glare over its predecessor. If you’re comparing to an older MacBook Pro, the difference is “wow”-worthy. If you’re comparing to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the upgrade is right on par with what you’d expect.