The base model runs a 2.4 GHz quad-core Core i7 processor (with Turbo Boost to 3.4 GHz) and has 8 GB of system memory and a 256 GB SSD with a $2,199 price tag, while the “better” version increases speed to 2.7 GHz (3.8 GHz with Turbo Boost) and includes a 512 GB SSD.Īpple offers a number of build-to-order options: Upgrade system memory from 8 GB to 16 GB for $200 (because memory is soldered to the system board, you cannot upgrade memory after you buy your Retina MacBook Pro), choose a 768 GB SSD on the 2.6 GHz model, and boost the faster model a bit further with a 2.8 GHz quad-core i7 (3.8 GHz Turbo Boost). The Retina MacBook Pro adopts Intel’s newest, more efficient Ivy Bridge processor technology, which incorporates Intel HD Graphics 4000 (up to 60% faster, according to Apple) in the CPU. The new HD camera also supports today’s widescreen displays.

There’s also an improved webcam, the 720p FaceTime HD camera with three times the resolution of previous MacBook FaceTime cameras. Best of all, Apple uses the same port for USB 2.0 and 3, while the standard in the PC world is separate ports for each protocol. There are already a lot of USB 3 drives on the market, and they are far more affordable than Thunderbolt drives. The improved USB specification is over 10x as fast as USB 2.0 and has half the bandwidth of Thunderbolt. Like the MacBook Air, the Retina MacBook Pro does not have a built-in optical drive and uses SSD instead of a traditional hard drive.Īs with the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, it has built-in USB 3. It is almost 1/4″ thinner than the 15″ MacBook Pro.

That’s MacBook Air thin, but unlike the Air, this model doesn’t have a wedge design. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display (quite a mouthful) is the thinnest MacBook Pro ever at 0.71″. Nine months after introducing the first MacBook Pro with a Retina Display, Apple has speed bumped its top-end notebook.

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