X

MacBook Pro, Air and iMac set for retina display update

There are updates in the offing for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, iMac and Mac Pro, with hi-res retina displays all round.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
2 min read

Apple is about to max out on Macs. Ahead of annual Apple showcase WWDC, rumours suggest there are updates in the offing for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops and the iMac all-in-one, with retina displays, Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 all round.

Yearly Mac developer conference WWDC kicks off on Monday in San Francisco. Word on the street is that there will be four new versions of Apple's assorted laptop and desktop computer lines, bringing each line up to date with high-resolution screens to match the sharpness of the incredibly detailed retina display screens on the iPhone and iPad.

First up, we're expecting to see a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina display detail -- so called because your eyes can't distinguish individual pixels. The flagship Apple laptop is expected to get thinner and faster too, which is par for the course for an update. It may also ditch the optical drive for CDs and DVDs.

Aside from headline features like retina display, the adjustments to specs may not be that big. Hexus.net claims a leaked photo shows an uninspiring refresh for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, with Intel HD 4000 graphics, and faster 1,600MHz RAM.

Then there's the super-skinny MacBook Air, which since its last refresh has discovered that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery with the arrival of the ultrabook. Ultrabooks are Intel-powered rival slimline laptops such as the Samsung Series 5 and HP Envy.

The 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air will apparently get retina displays too. We doubt the Air is going to get any slimmer -- there's barely anything left to shave off -- but it will probably see an incremental specs bump.

Next up is the venerable iMac, for a jump in specs and retina-scorching action. And the professional-level Mac Pro and cheap and cheerful Mac mini could also be upgraded, although without screens they won't be threatening your eyeballs anytime soon.

Are you in the market for a new computer? How does Apple stack up against its rivals in the laptop and desktop world? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.