Apple has revealed a refresh of the 13in MacBook Pro range, adding the Magic Keyboard present on the 16in model alongside more storage and, in the case of some models, Intel’s latest 10th-gen CPU too.
Here’s all you need to know about the new 13in MacBook Pro range, from release date and pricing to new features and spec. For a deep dive into Apple’s latest laptop, take a look at our full MacBook Pro 13in (2020) review.
When was the 13in MacBook Pro (2020) released?
As with most recent Apple product releases, the new MacBook Pro 13in range came with little fanfare. Announced via press release on 4 May 2020, the new 13in MacBook Pro range is available to buy via the Apple Store right now.
How much does the new 13in MacBook Pro cost?
The good news is that Apple has stuck to the pricing of the previous 13in MacBook Pro range while offering upgraded storage and, in the case of the two most expensive models, upgraded internals:
- 13in screen, 1.4GHz i5 processor (8th-gen), 8GB RAM, 256GB storage – £1299/US$1299
- 13in screen, 1.4GHz i5 processor (8th-gen), 8GB RAM, 512GB storage – £1499/$1499
- 13in screen, 2.0GHz i5 processor (10th-gen), 16GB RAM, 512GB storage – £1799/US$1799
- 13in screen, 2.0GHz i5 processor (10th-gen), 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD – £1999/US$1999
It’s worth noting that, as with the rest of Apple’s MacBook and Mac range, you can upgrade the spec as you want, offering up to 32GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD at a premium.
As well as the Apple Store, we expect retailers like Amazon and Currys PC World to stock the refreshed line in the coming days.
What’s new with the MacBook Pro 13in range?
In terms of physical design, not much has changed with the new MacBook Pro range. While rumours suggested Apple would make the jump to 14in, just as it did with the 15in to 16in shift on the latest larger MacBook Pro, it seems the company decided to stick with the portable form factor of a 13in laptop.
You’ll find the same stunning 13in Retina display, stereo speakers, Touch ID and the Pro-exclusive Touch Bar on the new MacBook range – so what exactly is new?
Hello Magic Keyboard
The biggest pain point of recent MacBooks has been the butterfly switch, and Apple knows it. Thankfully, like the 16in model, the new 13in MacBook Pro range sports Apple’s upgraded Magic Keyboard, replacing the butterfly mechanism that caused grief for so many MacBook users over the years.
The butterfly keyboard has proven highly controversial since its introduction in 2015, with widespread issues including keys being stuck, becoming unresponsive or repeating strokes. The move to the Magic Keyboard with more travel may convince people who have ditched Apple’s laptops to return.
Double the storage
Beneath the keyboard is where you’ll really notice a difference. First of all, the entire 13in MacBook Pro offers double the amount of storage without any kind of price increase, pushing the £1299/$1299 entry-level model from 128- to 256GB and the higher-end models to 512GB and even 1TB on the top-end £1999/$1999 model.
If that’s not enough for your needs, you can now add up to 4TB of SSD storage via Apple’s aftermarket customisation options.
More power on high-end models
But while the £1299/$1299 and £1499/$1499 models of MacBook Pro feature upgraded storage and the improved Magic Keyboard, you’ll still find the same 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. That’s enough for the majority of users, but power users may yearn for something a little more powerful.
That’s where the high-end models come in: sporting Intel’s latest 10th-gen quad-core i5 CPUs with Turbo Boost speeds of 4.1GHz, the new MacBook Pro range is 2.8 times faster than a dual-core 13in MacBook Pro (not the quad-core i5 present in the cheaper models) and the Iris Plus Graphics can provide up to 80 percent faster performance when compared to the previous-gen MacBook Pro range.
There’s also 16GB of 3733MHz RAM available as standard on the two more expensive variants, and if you need more, you can add up to 32GB of RAM for the first time.
That bump in performance should translate to a faster, smoother Mac experience whether you’re rendering 4K footage, designing a house or playing the huge collection of games available via Apple Arcade.
If you’re considering Apple’s tablets instead, check out our guides to the latest iPad and iPad Pro.
Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer
Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.