Apple will reportedly end production of its 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro later this year and focus on thinner, higher-resolution Retina display laptops.
The company did the same thing last year when it decided to discontinue the 15-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro. After it dropped that model, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has remained the only one currently available without a Retina display, but that may well change soon.
The 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro saw its last update in June 2012, and it now seems that it's reaching its end of life, according to a new report citing supply chain sources in Taiwan.
"Apple is expected to stop production of the 13-inch MacBook Pro in the second half of 2014 and will replace the product line with thinner models equipped with a Retina display," reveals DigiTimes. "Meanwhile, Intel will offer second-generation ultrabooks in the fourth quarter of 2014, pushing the notebook industry further into the ultra-thin era, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers."
"The sources pointed out that Apple has been reducing its MacBook Pro prices, narrowing the price gap between the MacBook Pro and the one equipped with Retina. Apple stopped producing the 15-inch MacBook Pro in 2013 and will end production of its 13-inch model in 2014."
The current 13-inch MacBook Pro with a high-resolution Retina display now costs just $100 more than the non-retina model, so it would make sense for Apple to ditch the cheaper variant and focus on higher-end devices.
Recent reports have also claimed that consumers are more drawn to Retina devices and the company was getting ready to discontinue its second-generation non-Retina iPad, as the newer models, including the latest iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina display, were gaining more ground.
If the latest news turns out to be true, Apple may discontinue its 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro at or around the same time it releases its next-generation MacBook Pro line.
Nothing is confirmed at this point, but there's no denying that Retina models are now far more successful than their non-Retina counterparts. The 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro has had a good run, but its days may be numbered.
