Image source: Apple.com

 

BY HANK KOEBLER

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

 

Apple is looking to expand its line of Retina MacBook Pros as early as September. An analyst for KGI Securities tells Apple Insider , expect a 13.3-inch Retina display Macbook Pro to join its 15-inch cousin soon.


“The analyst...claims customers will be drawn to the balance of power consumption and form factor as well as the unit's price which should be somewhat similar to Apple's non-Retina MacBook Pro.”

CNET has more on the potential price point, saying it...

“...would presumably be less expensive than Apple's 15-inch version... [which] begins at $2,199 and can run up to $3,750 when fully-loaded with add-ons. That's as opposed to the non-Retina version of the 15-inch model, which starts at $1,799 and has a substantially different hardware make-up.”

The KGI analyst says the new model will probably lack an optical disc drive. A reporter for Techno Buffalo says that could be a sticking point for Apple customers.

“If you’re the kind of person that needs to have an optical drive, then you’re definitely going to want to get the generation now. But, if the optical drive’s not important to you, wait a couple months and pick up an external superdrive and you’re good to go.”

One question users will have is whether the supply of the new MacBook can meet demand. MacGasm reports Apple is just now starting to catch up on shipping orders of the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro.

“Wait times for the MacBook Pro with Retina display have been reduced to only one or two weeks in the Apple Store... With such high demand for a product, it’s difficult to have enough supply to meet demand, but it looks like Apple is finally starting to catch up with orders.”

Apple hasn’t confirmed or denied the release rumors.