13 
WWDC 2012 is currently underway and Apple’s just busted out its new MacBook Pro, complete with incredible new Retina Displays, Intel’s Ivy Bridge and your choice of traditional HDDs and SSD. Apple’s managed to squeeze it down another 25 per cent in volume, meaning the 13-incher is just 1.8cm thick and 2kgs in weight.
The display is really where it’s at though, with a colossal 2880 x 1800 display on the 15.4-incher. That’s apparently, four times the number of pixels, 5,184,000 to be exact, which works out at 220 ppi — not quite iPhone 4S levels.
Specs wise the internals have also gotten a bump, up to 2.7GHz quad-core Intel i7s, up to 16GB of RAM and Nvidia’s new Kepler GeForce GT 650M graphics, which are 60 per cent faster than the previous generation. Like the new Ivy Bridge Air, you’ve got USB 3.0 ports joining Thunderbolt for some lightning quick connectivity. For the first time on a Mac you’ve also got HDMI out, which should please home theatre enthusiasts. The Magsafe power adapter also got slimmed down, which is bad news for anyone who was hoping to mix and match with previous machines, while you’ve got a 7-hour battery life and 30 days standby.
If you’re absolutely loaded you’ll also get the option for a SSD with a huge 768GB of storage. More? Two Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, an SD card, USB 3.0, and “MagSafe 2.” This computer is essentially the pinnacle of Apple technology. Little flourishes like dual microphones and a custom-designed asymmetrical internal fan (for quiet cooling) abound. Prices kick off at the familiar £999 for the 13-inch Pro, while the 15-incher clocks in at £1,499. Both ship with OS X Lion, but you’ll get a free upgrade to Mountain Lion once it hits.
Catch up on all of Apple’s WWDC announcements here
Press release below:
SAN FRANCISCO—June 11, 2012—Apple today unveiled an all new 15-inch MacBook Pro featuring a stunning Retina display, all flash storage and quad-core processors in a radically thin and light design. Measuring a mere 0.71 inches and weighing only 4.46 pounds, the completely redesigned MacBook Pro sets a new standard in performance and portability for pro users.
“The MacBook Pro with Retina display pushes the limits of performance and portability like no other notebook,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “With a gorgeous Retina display, all flash architecture and a radically thin and light design, the new MacBook Pro is the most advanced Mac we have ever built.”
The new MacBook Pro Retina display is the world’s highest resolution notebook display with over 5 million pixels, 3 million more than an HD television. At 220 pixels-per-inch, the Retina display’s pixel density is so high the human eye cannot distinguish individual pixels from a normal viewing distance, so text and graphics look incredibly sharp. The Retina display uses IPS technology for a 178-degree wide viewing angle, and has 75 percent less reflection and 29 percent higher contrast than the previous generation.
Featuring a precision engineered aluminium unibody design and an all flash storage architecture, the all new MacBook Pro is the lightest MacBook Pro ever and nearly as thin as a MacBook Air. Flash storage that is up to four times faster than traditional notebook hard drives enables the all new MacBook Pro to play four simultaneous streams of uncompressed 1080p HD video from internal storage.* The flash storage architecture also delivers improved reliability, instant-on responsiveness and 30 days of standby time.
The MacBook Pro with Retina display features the latest Intel Core i7 quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7 GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M discrete graphics, up to 16GB of faster 1600 MHz RAM and flash storage up to 768GB. Two Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 ports allow pro users to connect to multiple displays and high performance devices, and a new HDMI port offers quick connectivity to HDTVs.
The MacBook Pro battery delivers up to 7 hours of wireless productivity, and uses advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology to provide up to 1,000 recharges.** The MacBook Pro also features a FaceTime HD camera, glass Multi-Touch trackpad, full-size backlit keyboard, dual microphones, enhanced speakers, 3-stream 802.11n Wi-Fi and a thinner MagSafe 2 power port.
OS X Lion, iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes and other Apple apps including Aperture and Final Cut Pro X have been updated to take full advantage of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display. The updated Aperture 3.3 also includes revolutionary new image adjustment features and now supports a unified photo library so photographers can move seamlessly between iPhoto and Aperture.
The all new MacBook Pro ships with OS X Lion. Starting today, customers who purchase a Mac are eligible for a free copy of OS X Mountain Lion when it becomes available. Mountain Lion introduces innovative features including the all new Messages app, Notification Center, system-wide Sharing, AirPlay Mirroring, Game Center and the enhanced security of Gatekeeper. With iCloud built into the foundation of OS X, Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to keep your content up to date across all your devices.
Pricing & Availability
The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/uk), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers. The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz, 8GB of memory and 256GB of flash storage starting at £1,799 inc VAT (£1,499.17 ex VAT); and with a 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz, 8GB of memory and 512GB of flash storage starting at £2,299 inc VAT (£1,915.83 ex VAT). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz, up to 16GB of memory and flash storage up to 768GB.
No 17 inch retina display? boo!
Are Apple actually calling it Retina Display? o_o
A nice spec sheet anyways. I think, for the money, it could’ve done with a better GPU, but that’s nit-picking. :>
It does seem like a nice kit indeed. Very tempting.
Personally, I can’t justify £1.5k on a laptop. If I had that sorta cash burning a hole in my pocket, I think it’d be soon buying my a MBP…
To be or not to be…
Become a student – I’ll be getting a 15% discount
Or buy Windows and get a 33% discount…
What I always loved about the MBP was that it was a top of the range laptop, but it didn’t sacrifice on, well, much to be honest. It had all the kit that I really need, no more, no less. Now, this screen is really too high res, it’ll lower performance, and battery life. I have friends who were chewing up a days work on their MBPs. With this display, and the new thin body, I think these people will be no more. I really wish Apple would prioritise the real world uses instead of the unnecessary glamour. Just my 2 cents.
So get the new MacBook pro instead!?
You mean the new, slightly upgraded, non-retina one? If I had the money, I’d be tempted. But now it’s the not-newest model, I’d feel bad haha. I’m unable to take my own advice due to a hatred of spending more than £200 on anything but the latest stuff.
I just though all the extra battery will counter the display and gpu’s extra power consumption, while the new cooling system will take care of the, well, cooling. (but yeah there’s not getting away from the fact it’s pushing 4x the pixels to do the same tasks).
Yeah, but it’s also thinner, so I dunno… But Apple say 7 hours, and Apple’s estimates do tend to be realistic. Ah well, I’m not going to be able to afford one for 3 years at least, and by then it will make little odds
Does the new 13inch model come with a Retina display or not!? anyone please?!
Sorry I meant does the new 13inch macbook pro come with a retina display?! or is it only the 15inch macbook pro?
Page could’ve been a bit clearer;
three models are definite; 13″Macbook Pro, 15″ Macbook Pro, and the NEW 15″ Macbook pro.
The NEW 15″ Macbook Pro is the only one with the Retina display, and also lacks an optical disk drive, opts for flash memory, and is thinner then before.
It’s also got a base price of £1500. Basically designed to be an expensive and more powerful Macbook Air/Macbook Pro hybrid.
Scratch that, base price of £1800, with the top of the range MBP being £2200.
Screw that.
how about some damn info on what is actually happening with the 13inch macbook pro?! Is that any thinner? has it lost the optical drive?!? what the duck is going on with it?
re: new power plug jobby,
there is an adaptor to make it usable with older magsafes and by apple standards it’s a very reasonable £9
Specs I want, it goes to 3,000GBP ? at-least 600 to 700GBP just for the Retina Display? Got no choice though!!!!
” The Magsafe power adapter also got slimmed down, which is bad news for anyone who was hoping to mix and match with previous machines”… Unless they got the MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter.
Apple has put the “Pro” back in Macbook Pro.