13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Said to Carry 'Unprecedented' Battery Design, Same Port Layout as 15-Inch Model

With multiple reports now indicating that Apple will be introducing its 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro at next week's rumored media event, details on the machine are also beginning to leak out.

According to a forum thread [Google translation] posted to Chinese site WeiPhone.com last week, the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro will indeed be launching late this month. The report claims that it will carry the same thermal design as the larger 15-inch model, but with only one contact pad indicating that it will not include a discrete graphics chip.

The source reports that the 13-inch model will include an "unprecedented" battery design and offer the same set of ports seen on the 15-inch model: MagSafe 2, a pair of Thunderbolt ports, a USB port, and a headphone jack on the left and a USB port, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader on the right.

13 inch retina macbook pro display 1
The report's source has also added a pair of photos showing what is claimed to be the display of the 13-inch model wrapped in plastic atop the same part from the 15-inch model. It doesn't appear that part can be conclusively identified as for a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro given the poor quality of the photos and an inability to assess the thickness of the display assembly, but it does appear consistent with the 15-inch Retina display and lacks the "MacBook Pro" branding seen on the bezel of non-Retina models.

13 inch retina macbook pro display 2
The forum poster does have at least some track record of obtaining photos of unreleased product parts, as he previously posted a photo of the current 15-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro's graphics chip and surrounding logic board components a day before the machine was announced.

Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Top Rated Comments

dlewis23 Avatar
143 months ago
Not having discrete graphics could be a letdown.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tingler Avatar
143 months ago
Apple's suppliers have been dropping the ball. I don't want to know about the product before Apple announces it. Somebody fix this.

Yeah, me neither. Wait, what am I doing on a MacRumors forum again?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipodmac Avatar
143 months ago
iMac Please!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yetieater Avatar
143 months ago
Apple's suppliers have been dropping the ball. I don't want to know about the product before Apple announces it. Somebody fix this.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
143 months ago
Apple's suppliers have been dropping the ball. I don't want to know about the product before Apple announces it. Somebody fix this.

You sir, are on the wrong site.....
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Watabou Avatar
143 months ago
Hey there's actually been a lot of Mac news this week! What is this? Some kind of "Mac" rumors site? :mad:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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