July 29, 2014 - 15:42 AMT
Apple launches faster Retina display MacBook Pro lineup

Apple has updated its MacBook Pro with Retina display lineup with faster processors across the board and more RAM in the base 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch models, that kick off at $1,299 and $1,999, respectively. The new processors are 200 MHz faster than before, BetaNews reports.

Both the entry-level and mid-range 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pros come with a 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz), while the high-end model packs an even faster 2.8 GHz processor (with Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz). The base model gains 8 GB of RAM in the new generation, twice as much as its predecessor offered, but retains its 128 GB of internal storage.

The mid-range 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro, which comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, costs $1,499. The beefier model, with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage, goes for $1,799. Available hardware upgrades include: 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 for $100, 3.0 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 for $300 (just $200 for the top of the line model), and 16 GB of RAM for $200, BetaNews says.

Other highlights include: 13.3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 (227 pixels per inch); Intel Iris Graphics; 720p FaceTime HD camera; two Thunderbolt 2 ports; two USB 3.0 ports; SDXC card slot; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.0; OS X 10.9 Mavericks; nine hours of Wi-Fi web browsing or video playback; physical dimensions of 31.4 x 21.9 x 1.8 cm and weight of 1.57 kg.

The entry-level 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro offers a 2.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (with Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz), while the high-end model comes with a 2.5 GHz processor (with Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz). The former ships with 16 GB of RAM, which is double than before, and 256 GB of internal storage.

The high-end 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro, which features 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage, can be had for $2,499. Available hardware upgrades include: 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor for $100 (only for the base model), 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor for $300 (just $200 for the high-end model), 512 GB of internal storage for $300 (only for the base model), and 1 TB of internal storage for $800 (just $500 for the high-end model), BetaNews says.

Other highlights include: 15.4-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2,880 by 1,800 (220 pixels per inch); Intel Iris Pro Graphics (high-end model also gets Nvidia's GeForce GT 750M with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory); 720p FaceTime HD camera; two Thunderbolt 2 ports; two USB 3.0 ports; SDXC card slot; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.0; OS X 10.9 Mavericks; eight hours of Wi-Fi web browsing or video playback; physical dimensions of 35.89 x 24.71 x 1.8 cm and weight of 2.02 kg.