Alongside the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Apple just introduced a third new MacBook Pro model that's something of an unofficial successor to the MacBook Air. The company plans to continue selling its 13-inch Air, Phil Schiller said, but this specific MacBook Pro will likely be a preferable option for those who can afford its $1,499 price. (The 13-inch Air remains priced at $999.) It's 13 percent smaller in volume than the existing Air and weighs the same 3 pounds. It retains traditional, physical function keys — yes, like escape — so there's no Touch Bar on this version.
But the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro does get some of the same upgraded hardware found in its pricier counterparts like Thunderbolt 3 (two ports), the latest Intel processors, and improved second-generation butterfly keyboard. Unfortunately, like the other models, it also loses the SD card slot. You're also limited to 256GB of storage.
The screen is a Retina display, which alone may be enough to convince many consumers to step up from the Air. Rumors before today's event had suggested Apple might update the Air with USB-C ports and faster internals, but instead, Phil Schiller spent several minutes explaining all the ways in which this cheaper 13-inch Pro is such a superior machine. It begins shipping immediately, whereas the Touch Bar MacBook Pros won't launch for 2 to 3 weeks.
At this stage, the MacBook Air remains in Apple's lineup mostly for its alluring, low $999 price point. It's Apple's most inexpensive laptop, but no longer anywhere close to the company's best.
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