The latest MacBook Pro Retina models finally make an appearance. During its press event, Apple announced the 13-inch and 15-inch Haswell-powered MacBooks. Running on Intel's fourth generation processors, the latest laptops offer longer battery life and better graphics. Apple also cut the prices of both models by as much as $200. With the appealing features and lower price, which model should users go for?

Design and Overall Specs

The new MacBook Pro Retina transformed considerably. The 13-inch model is thinner and more appealing. It is also lighter complete with improved integrated graphics. The 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina, on the other hand, does not provide dedicated graphics for the entry-level variant. Apple opted for Iris Pro graphics instead of a NVIDIA GPU. The graphics option may be sufficient to force some buyers to choose the more expensive 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina.

The following enumerates the general specs of the MacBook Pro Retina line:

  • MagSafe 2 Power Adapter
  • two Thunderbolt 2 ports
  • two USB 3.0 ports
  • 720P faceTime HD Camera
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • SDXC card slot
  • HDMI Out
  • Headphone Jack
  • Dual mics

It is important to note that models compared in this article pertain to the late 2013 MacBook Pro Retina variants.

Display

As their name implies, the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina come with 13.4 and 15.4-inch screens. The screens are equipped with LED backlit displays and a glossy finish. Apple stopped offering the matte finish found on older models especially when it stopped selling 15-inch MacBook Pro none-Retina models.

The 13-inch version offers the following in terms of display:

  • 2560 x 1600 resolution
  • 227 pixels per inch
  • The device also provides a number of resolution support options like 1680 x 1050, 1440 x 900, and 1024 x 640.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro, on other hand, provides the following:

  • 2880 x 1800 resolution
  • 220 pixels per inch
  • The device also provides a number of resolution support options like1920 x 1200, 1680 x 1050, 1440 x 900, and 1024 x 640.

For portability concerns, the 13-inch MacBook Pro earns more points than the 15-inch. The 15-inch variant caters to more intensive screen and work requirements. Users should consider whether they will carry the device or not around. If not then screen size and resolution are better with the 15-inch version.

Performance

The latest MacBook Pro Retina provides a series of configurations. The processor and graphics combination separates the configurations of 13-inch and 15-inch models. The refreshed line runs generally on Intel's 4th generation Core i processors. However, Core i5 and Core i7 have different capabilities.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina only runs with dual-core 4th Generation processor options whereas its 15-inch counterpart runs with quad-core processors. Technically, quad-core processors offer better performance especially when users wish to complete a few things simultaneously. They are also better when working with applications developed to manage multiple threads.

The primary difference is the graphics. The 13-inch model ships only with Intel Iris graphics. While this is more powerful than older models' integrated graphics, some users need a dedicated GPU to make sure everything works smoothly.

The 15-inch model comes with Iris Pro graphics including a NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, with 2GB of GDDR5 RAM; it has a feature control that switches automatically between the two. Users cannot change the configurations of the 15-inch model. If they want the NVIDIA GPU, they have to buy the more expensive model which also offers twice the storage and RAM.

Pricing

The 13-inch model is available starting $1299 to $1499. THe 13-inch MacBook is available starting $1999 to $2599.

The right choice depends on the specifications users need to work with.