Reports: 13-Inch MacBook Pros To Get Retina Display

Two separate reports have predicted Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pros will soon be getting high-definition Retina displays.

Mac-centric blog AppleInsider received a note from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying that Apple would have a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display on store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season. At this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled Retina displays for the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Supply chain sources

On Wednesday, NPD DisplaySearch analysts Richard Shim and Jeff Lin wrote a blog post claiming a 13.3-inch 2560 by 1600 resolution panel was being prepared for production in the third quarter, which they based on their panel supply chain research.

“[Original design manufacturer] supply chain sources indicate that Apple will use this panel in a MacBook Pro unit to be launched in the fourth quarter,” the post read.

The Retina display, currently available on the latest versions of the iPad tablet and iPhone smartphone, as well as the recently launched MacBook Pro 15-inch edition, has impressed analysts and consumers alike with its high-definition display and stunning sharpness. Because the Retina display’s pixel density is so high, the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels, which means text in books, web pages and email is crisp at any size, and photos and other visual media appear incredibly crisp.

Aside from the unveiling of the 15-inch Pro, Apple made headlines with refreshes of its ultrathin MacBook Air, which now sports Intel third-generation Ivy Bridge Core processors, up to 512GB of flash storage and an upgraded 720p Facetime camera, and the debut of the company’s mobile operating system iOS 6, which sports a custom-built maps application to replace arch-rival Google’s mapping software and enhancements to the digital concierge platform Siri.

While brighter, better screens and 3D mapping applications are sure-fire crowd pleasers (and attractive to most all consumers), Siri’s upgrades could prove a boon to businesses looking to squeeze more productivity from their mobile devices.

A recent report from EasyAsk found US businesses could save up to $800 million (£510m) daily through Siri-like search applications. The study, which documented how workers are accessing information and how performance in the workplace can be improved with Siri-like solutions for the enterprise, found 49 percent of respondents said they believe a voice-enabled natural-language platform would make it easier to perform their jobs.

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