Apple’s Scary Fast event took the tech world by surprise, and for Mac enthusiasts, it was indeed a treat this season. In a move reminiscent of a Halloween slasher movie, Apple has officially put an end to the life of one of its most controversial laptops, the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Over the years, this model had shone brightly with its Pro-level specifications and impeccable build quality. However, as Apple continued to unveil newer laptops and integrated its own chips into the Mac, the 13-inch MacBook Pro gradually lost its appeal. Given the circumstances, Apple’s decision to discontinue the 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t come as a shock.
The laptop encountered a rough patch in 2016 with the introduction of the Touch Bar, part of a major redesign. The new look brought a thinner chassis, alterations to the keyboard, a larger trackpad, Touch ID, and the removal of all ports except the Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack. The Touch Bar itself divided opinions, with some users praising its innovation while others found it less practical. Apple eventually phased out the Touch Bar with the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models but retained it in the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
In 2023, the 13-inch MacBook Pro remains a decent laptop, but it no longer justifies the investment. The base model boasts Apple’s M2 chip, with an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB storage, both of which can be upgraded for an extra cost. For daily tasks and light work, it still performs adequately. However, in the realm of “Pro” laptops, it falls short, especially with the superior offerings like the new MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which boasts a better screen and the necessary ports for professional users. Despite this, Apple has long touted the 13-inch MacBook Pro as one of its best-selling models, likely due to its more budget-friendly price point.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro may have persisted as a budget-friendly Pro option, starting at $1,299, while the cheapest 14-inch model was $1,999. However, with the recent introduction of the M3 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,599, the 13-inch model simply no longer fits the equation. This rationalizes Apple’s decision to discontinue this particular MacBook Pro version.
