Apple has finally updated its 13- and 15-inch Retina display MacBook Pros, with speedier 64-bit fourth-gen Intel Core processors, the latest graphics, longer battery life, faster flash storage, next generation Wi-Fi, and slightly lower prices, starting at $1,299 US for the 13-incher, $1999 for the 15-inch model.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro comes standard with fourth gen dual-core Intel Core i5 processors up to 2.6 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz.  New integrated Intel Iris graphics deliver up to 90 percent faster performance than the previous generation MacBook Pro with Retina display, according to Apple.
The 13-inch model can also be configured with faster dual-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro boasts fourth gen quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.5 GHz.  The 15-inch model includes Intel Iris Pro graphics, or Iris Pro and GeForce GT 750M discrete graphics with 2GB of video memory.  The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display can be configured with faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.6 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8 GHz.

Both models now have PCIe-based flash storage that offers up to 60% faster read speeds than the previous generation.  They also include the latest Wi-Fi standard (802.11ac), which promises speeds up to three times faster when connecting with an 802.11ac router.  Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports deliver up to 20Gbps of bandwidth to each external device you connect, and an HDMI port connects to HDTVs and projectors.

The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro promises up to nine hours of battery life, two hours more than the previous generation, and up to nine hours of movie playback, according to Apple.  The new 15-inch MacBook Pro offers up to eight hours of battery life, one hour more than the previous model, and up to eight hours of movie playback.  The updated MacBook Pro measures 0.71-inches, a little over twice the thickness of Apple’s new iPad Air.

Hands-on previews

For the best hands-on previews of the newest MacBook Pro with Retina display, check out CNET, Laptop Magazine, and The Verge.

OS X Mavericks and iWork

The updated MacBook Pro ships with OS X Mavericks, which is now available for free from the Mac App Store. Apple counts more than 200 new features in Mavericks, including power-efficiencies like dynamic video memory allocation, “Compressed Memory” that shrinks inactive memory data, and improved OpenCL support.

Check out Engadget’s in-depth review of Mavericks, or take the plunge and download it at apple.com/osx. Macworld has posted a handy in-depth installation guide.

Apple also announced new iPads, a new iMac, and the availability of free iWork and iLife suites with the purchase of every new Mac or MacBook.  The iWork suite–which includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote–lets you create, edit and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and store them in your iCloud account.

Apple goes “greener”

Apple has faced backlash in recent years from environmental activists who accused the company of ignoring manufacturing safety and sustainability, but Apple has gradually been making its products “greener”.  Apple says that the new MacBook Pro meets strict Energy Star 6.0 requirements and boasts an EPEAT Gold rating.  According to Apple, the new notebook uses highly recyclable materials including PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, and its displays are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass.

Availability

MacBook Pro with Retina display is available today from Apple.com, Apple retail stores, and select resellers including most major electronics retailers.  The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.9 GHz, 4GB of memory, 128GB of flash storage, and Intel Iris graphics starting at $1,299 (US); and with a 2.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.9 GHz, 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage, and Intel Iris graphics starting at $1,499 (US); and with a 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz, 8GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage, and Intel Iris graphics starting at $1,799 (US).  Configure-to-order options include faster dual-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz, up to 16GB of memory and flash storage up to 1TB.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2 GHz, 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel Iris Pro graphics starting at $1,999 (US); and with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.5 GHz, 16GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage, and Intel Iris Pro and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics starting at $2,599 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.6 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.8 GHz, up to 16GB of memory and flash storage up to 1TB.

Additional specifications, configure-to-order options, and accessories are available from Apple.

Non-Retina MacBook Pro: one left

Although Apple didn’t announce it at its event, the company has pulled all but one non-Retina MacBook Pro from its MacBook Pro lineup, according to Macworld.  If you don’t need Retina, $1199 buys you the 13-inch model with a 2.5GHz dual-core Core i5 processor.