2020 13-inch MacBook Pro: Specs, Pricing, and More

Screen, enough or disappointing?

At exactly 13.3 inches and LED-backlit IPS technology, this MacBook Pro’s display is capable of reproducing a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 at 227 pixels per inch, as well as being compatible with millions of colors. It has a brightness of 500 nits and True Tone technology that adapts light and colors to the circumstances of your environment.

On paper it seems correct and we are not going to deceive ourselves, it is a screen that looks very good and in which few users will be able to make a complaint. Those video or photo editors who use it will be able to enjoy realistic colors that enhance their experience.

What maybe it backs down is not having 4K , which today is a very required resolution in many cases. It is not a drama, but it may be a reason for some users. Probably when Apple implements miniLED panels this can reach its range of laptops, but at the moment this is not possible with technologies such as those used for the panel of this equipment.

Intel Iris graphics Graphics Plus Graphics Plus 645 and Intel are also more than enough for this device, offering good performance in this regard.

Eighth and tenth generation processors

Apple has a problem with processors and it’s probably not all their fault. His collaboration with Intel made way for him several years ago to reach a greater number of users with his Macs and the consequent arrival of developers capable of creating programs present on other platforms. However, in recent years the supply chain is not very fine and the latest generation chips take a little longer to reach computers on the block.

It is known in the company environment that they are developing their own processors to add them to the Mac range in 2021, but for the moment Intel chips are still present. In the most basic configurations of this 13-inch MacBook Pro we find the eighth generation, in contrast to the most top of the range that already have the tenth generation.

These are the possible configurations:

• 8th Gen Intel Core i5 with Quad Core 1.4 GHz and up to 3.9 GHz with Turbo Boost and 128 MB eDRAM.
• 8th generation Intel Core i7 with quad-core 1.4 GHz and up to 4.5 GHz with Turbo Boost and 128 MB eDRAM.
• 10th Gen Intel Core i5 with quad core 2 GHz and up to 3.8 GHz with Turbo Boost and 6 MB shared Tier 3 cache.
• 10th Gen Intel Core i7 with 2.3GHz quad-core and up to 4.1GHz with Turbo Boost and 8MB shared Tier 3 cache.

This is perhaps one of the most difficult terrains to analyze considering that everything depends on the use of the user and that other components such as RAM have built-in. In any case it seems that any user could be satisfied with it in large part of its intensive uses, also highlighting an improvement in the cooling of these that avoid the overheating that was present in versions of previous generations.

Internal memory

As always, Apple has various configurations in its MacBook Pro. In the past, there were 128 GB of SSD that we had in the most basic version, which have now been doubled to 256 GB. Perhaps that amount is still insufficient for many, but at least it gives a greater margin and will allow those who regularly use cloud storage services such as iCloud to use the computer without any problem.

In total there are 5 available capacities: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB. All of them with SSD , which facilitates a fast reading and writing of data. Regarding the 4 TB cap, it is evident that it is an amount with which 99.9% of users will have no problems, since it is a very large capacity to never be able to fill it.

RAM

Another important point of any self-respecting computer is the RAM memory, which accompanies the processor when determining good performance and fluidity when executing complex actions or performing several at the same time. In this case we find these options:

• 8 GB of LPPDR3 at 2,133 MHz.
• 16 GB of LPDDR3 at 2,133 MHz.
• 16 GB of LPDDR4X at 3,733 MHz.
• 32 GB of LPDDR4X at 3,733 MHz.

Would 64 GB of RAM have come in handy for much more complex actions? Yes and no. That is, it is an interesting RAM for certain users but not for a large number in the end everything is better. Keep in mind that we are talking about a laptop, which in the end has a lower ventilation system than desktop equipment and excessive heating could affect it negatively. Therefore, the configurations offered by Apple, with the integration of PDDR4X is more than acceptable.

At last with Magic Keyboard

The butterfly keyboard added in MacBook in 2016 will go down in Apple’s history with the dubious honor of being one of the systems that has left more deficiencies in users. Now, with this new 13-inch MacBook Pro, the company has completely eliminated that mechanism from all its notebook computers.

The new scissor mechanism keyboard is known as Magic Keyboard and is not a casual name. This has the same mechanism and key travel as the namesake available on the iMac or the keyboard with trackpad available on the iPad Pro. The experience has improved considerably and users will no longer have the tedious problem of getting a key stuck. prevent you from writing correctly.

This also has a design identical to that of the 16-inch model, moving the ESC key to the left of the Touchbar and with the Touch ID on the other extreme right. And yes, the Touchbar is still present and also aims to give much less problems than it did in the past. Goodbye to headaches.

Camera and connectors, weakest points?

Having today and with 720p HD resolution on a computer is almost unthinkable, but this team has it. In fact, the entire Apple Mac range has this resolution. It is clear that nobody can pretend to take professional photos or videos with a laptop, but in the middle of the technological era in which video calls are in such demand, it is strange not to have at least a 1,080p revolution with which we can be seen with better quality. Therefore this is a weak point, although it should not overshadow the rest of the great features that the laptop has.

Connectors are another weak point in our judgment. We understand that the era of classic USB is over and having USB-C may be the most convenient, although sometimes you have to resort to external adapters. What seems incomprehensible is that in the most basic versions there are only two Thunderbolt ports , more considering that in many cases one will be busy with the charging cable. Luckily in the more expensive versions it does have 4 connectors.

Pricing of the 13-inch MacBook Pro

As you have already verified by now, this equipment has several available configurations. Increasing benefits in most cases involves an increase in money, so prices will vary.

From 1,499 euros

• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports: does not change the price.
• Processor:
  • 8th Generation 1.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) – No change in price.
  • 8th Generation 1.7 GHz Quad Core Intel Core i7 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz): + € 375 .
• RAM:
  • 8 GB of 2,133 MHz LPDDR3 memory: does not change the price.
  • 16 GB of 2,133 MHz LPDDR3 memory: + 125 euros.
• Internal memory:
  • 256 GB SSD: does not change the price.
  • 512 GB SSD: + 250 euros.
  • 1 TB SSD: +500 euros.
  • 2 TB SSD: + 1,000 euros.
• Pre-installed software:
  • Final Cut Pro X: + 329.99 euros.
  • Logic Pro X: + 229 euros.

From 1,749 euros

• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports: does not change the price.
• Processor:
  • 8th Generation 1.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) – No change in price.
  • 8th Generation 1.7 GHz Quad Core Intel Core i7 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz): + € 375 .
• RAM:
  • 8 GB of 2,133 MHz LPDDR3 memory: does not change the price.
  • 16 GB of 2,133 MHz LPDDR3 memory: + 125 euros.
• Internal memory:
  • 512 GB SSD: does not change the price.
  • 1 TB SSD: +250 euros.
  • 2 TB SSD: + 500 euros.
• Pre-installed software:
  • Final Cut Pro X: + 329.99 euros.
  • Logic Pro X: + 229 euros.

From 2,129 euros

• Four Thunderbolt 3 ports – Price unchanged.
• Processor:
  • 10th Gen 2GHz Quad Core Intel Core i5 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) – No change in price.
  • Tenth generation 2 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz): + 250 euros .
• RAM:
  • 16 GB of 3,733 MHz LPDDR4X memory: does not change the price.
  • 32 GB of LPDDR4X memory at 3,733 MHz: + 500 euros.
• Internal memory:
  • 512 GB SSD: does not change the price.
  • 1 TB SSD: +250 euros.
  • 2 TB SSD: + 750 euros.
  • 4 TB SSD: + 1,500 euros.
• Pre-installed software:
  • Final Cut Pro X: + 329.99 euros.
  • Logic Pro X: + 229 euros.

From 2,379 euros

• Four Thunderbolt 3 ports – Price unchanged.
• Processor:
  • 10th Gen 2GHz Quad Core Intel Core i5 Processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) – No change in price.
  • Tenth generation 2 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz): + 250 euros .
• RAM:
  • 16 GB of 3,733 MHz LPDDR4X memory: does not change the price.
  • 32 GB of LPDDR4X memory at 3,733 MHz: + 500 euros.
• Internal memory:
  • 1TB SSD: does not change the price.
  • 2 TB SSD: + 500 euros.
  • 4 TB SSD: + 1,250 euros.
• Pre-installed software:
  • Final Cut Pro X: + 329.99 euros.
  • Logic Pro X: + 229 euros.

Product guarantee

If you buy it in Europe you will enjoy a 2-year warranty, the first being covered by Apple itself. If you also buy it from the company, it will be 26 months that you will have covered. Apple’s website shows a year, but the truth is that this is due to a translation problem that does not conform to the reality of European laws. In fact, all you have to do is contact the company to confirm that this is a mistake.

You can also add the extended AppleCare + warranty , which will reduce your coverage period to 24 months. However, it could compensate when repairing the device for accidental damage not covered by the legal guarantee, since in many cases this can be done for free or in exchange for the payment of a small franchise.

Overall performance

The compendium of specifications of this MacBook Pro is very wide and there could be a multitude of combinations that result in better or worse performance. In general lines and regardless of these configurations, everything works very smoothly and the ‘Pro’ spirit of these small computers is recovered, which in recent years had played a less relevant role in favor of the high-end of the ‘Air’ and the also ‘Pro’ 15-inch.

Obviously, problems or mistakes can always arise when choosing one or another configuration adapted to your use, but the truth is that as a general rule you will not have any problem with this device if you decide to buy it.