Retina MacBook

17 'Retina MacBook' stories January 2013 - April 2016

Report: New ultra-thin MacBooks coming later in 2016, featuring new metal-injection molded hinges

Benjamin Mayo Apr 15 2016 - 2:26 am PT

Although it seems inevitable that the MacBook lineup will see some significant changes this year, as a major upgrade has been due for a while, the rumor mill is yet to close in one particular design or release date. Earlier in the year, Digitimes was reporting new MacBooks (intended to supplant the MacBook Air) are due sometime before July, resembling 13 inch and 15 inch versions of the 12 inch Retina MacBook.

A new report from Digitimes today says otherwise, suggesting the new MacBooks will not be available until the second half of this year, although an announcement at WWDC still seems possible if Apple met the earlier side of that release range.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple begins shipping replacement USB-C cables to Retina MacBook owners

Chance Miller Feb 16 2016 - 3:50 pm PT

0 Comments

Last week, Apple launched a USB-C cable replacement program, saying that some cables shipped with the 12-inch Retina MacBook were faulty. Thea faulty adapters would result in the MacBook not charging or charging unreliably. Now, the first MacBook customers have started receiving their replacement cables, according to a post on Reddit and Twitter. The user did not request the cable from Apple.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Review: Satechi’s Type-C Hub is almost the perfect MacBook hub with USB 3 + SD Card ports

Zac Hall Nov 25 2015 - 3:26 pm PT

4 Comments

Satechi’s new Type-C USB Hub announced in October at first glance looks like the perfect solution for using single-port Retina MacBooks with wired accessories and SD cards. It adds three traditional USB 3.0 ports like MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros so you can plug in flash drives, Lightning cables, and most other USB accessories. It also reads SD cards and Micro SD Cards, just not at the same time. And the sleek hub is offered in Mac-matching colors that look almost official…

Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: SOL REPUBLIC Bluetooth headphones $70, Gold MacBook $1,149, Black Friday guides, more

Nov 18 2015 - 9:15 am PT

0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Choice of JBL Clip or Micro Bluetooth Speakers in multiple colors for $25 shipped (Reg. $40)

GENII’s CAST streaming box skirts copyright rules to beam your content to friends
Amazon Gold Box – Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker $75 shipped (Orig. $100)
Get your wings and a free can of Red Bull today at 7-Eleven stores
Sports/Fitness: extra 15% off Gerber tools/knives, Pelican Sport Backpack $40, more
Home: up to 40% off T-fal/Rachael Ray cookware sets from $50, more

Bluetooth On-ear Headphones: SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Air $70 shipped (Reg. $100), more

Apple’s 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB (Gold): $1,149 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

Amazon’s Black Friday deals go live later this week w/ mobile shoppers getting extra perks

Top 5 ways to score the year’s best online Black Friday deals

10 can’t-miss deals for the holiday season: HDTVs, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6s, more

Apple Watch sale at Best Buy, $50 off across the board, starting at $299 shipped (Open box $278)

20% off iTunes Gift Cards: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20

Giveaway: mophie juice pack reserve battery case for iPhone 6/s (multiple winners)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Black Friday Magazine Deals start now from under $4/yr: Wired, Popular Science, Dwell, Rolling Stone, GQ, ESPN, more

Games/Apps: Nintendo 3DS XL Retro NES Edition $160, iOS freebies, more
MacBook felt portfolio style sleeve: $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $17)
Media: Holiday classics on Blu-ray/DVD from $4, more
Daily Deals: Panasonic LUMIX Camera (DMC-ZS45) $90, 6700mAh Power bank $12,
Beauty & Grooming Essentials up to 40% off: Braun Wet & Dry Electric Shaver $40

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/667020820980604928 align=’center’]

BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:

Best of Black Friday – Streaming Media Players: Apple TV 64GB $180, Roku SE $20, 2-Pack Chromecast (2nd gen) $50, more

Best of Black Friday – Smart Home: Nest Thermostat $250 + $50 GC, Philips Hue kit $130

Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, Samsung 55-inch Smart $580 (Reg. $1,200), more

Best of Black Friday – iPads, Tablets and e-readers: iPad Air 2 from $360, Amazon Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more

Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more

Best of Black Friday – wearables: Fitbit Flex $59/Charge $90/more, $100 off Apple Watch, Android smartwatches, more

Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!

Walmart’s Black Friday ad leak hits with 4K UHDTV deals, iPad Air 2 $100 off, more
Target previews its top Black Friday deals, launches surprise one-day sale
Staples Black Friday Ad Revealed: iPad Air 2 from $374, mini 4 $300, more
Amazon plans dramatic Black Friday discounts for its Kindle, Fire TV Stick & Fire tablet
Amazon’s Black Friday Deals store is now open for business
eBay’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday will deliver deals on MacBooks, iPhone, iPad Air 2
GameStop Black Friday ad leak: PS4/Xbox One bundles $300, new Nintendo 3DS XL $180
Costco’s Black Friday ad includes deals on Chromecast (2nd gen), Fitbit Flex, more
Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak: Xbox One/PS4 bundles $300, more
Sam’s Club Black Friday ad leak: iPad Air 2 Cellular $175 off, Google Play $100 GC $80
Kohl’s Black Friday ad leak: more PS4/Xbox One $300 bundles, home goods, clothing
Sam’s Club One-Day Sale: iPhone 6s/Plus $100 off, iPad Air 2 64GB/128GB $150 off
HHGregg Black Friday: Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones $100, more
Sports Authority Black Friday Ad: Free gift cards w/ footwear, FitBit Charge HR $120
eBay calls on Black Friday shoppers to decide which products will get discounted this year
BJ’s Warehouse Black Friday ad hits with Samsung 4K UHDTV deals, fitness trackers
Sears Black Friday Ad: deals on Samsung 4K UHDTV’s, more
Black Friday ad leaks drop for Lowe’s, Menards, Cabela’s, and more
Grab 2 free ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ tickets during Black Friday at Kohl’s
The Office Depot & OfficeMax Black Friday ad doesn’t bring much to the table

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/666990079542484993 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

SanDisk Connect 32GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS/Android: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

App Store Free App of the Week: PDF Expert 5 goes free for the first time ($10 value)

Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($10 value)

Hitman Sniper for iOS hits its lowest price yet: $2 (Reg. $5)

Monitors: Dell 24-inch $240 (Reg. $275+), LG 34-inch UltraWide $400 (Reg. $460)
2-Pack SONOS PLAY:1 Starter Set for $349 shipped ($400 value)
Apple MFi Certified 3.1A 4ft Coiled Lightning Car Charger $12 (Reg. $20)
LG 43-inch HDTVs: Smart 4K + $150 Dell Gift Card $600 (Reg. $800+), more
Jabra MOVE Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: $60 shipped (Reg. $100)
Adobe Elements 14 w/ download: Photoshop as low as $40, Premiere $60
Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth: $298 shipped (Reg. $400)
Mackie CR4 4-inch Multimedia Monitor Speakers (Pair) $120 shipped (Reg. $150)
GoPro HERO4: Silver (Prime only): $329 (Reg. $400), Black $395 (Reg. $500)
Bluetooth: Venstart 10W Speaker $20 (Reg. $33), SoundPEATS In-ears $25 (Reg. $50)
Shoe-up with with casual shoes and Boots 85%+ off at Amazon’s MyHabit
iPhone 6/s 3100mAh MFi Apple-certified battery case: $21 Prime shipped (Reg. $43)
Apple MagSafe 2 Power Adapters from $34 shipped (Reg. $79)
12-month EA Access subscription: $25 (Reg. $30)
USB Deals w/ Prime shipping: Lumsing 10,400mAh Power Bank $13, more
Nest Cam 3-pack bundle launching this week for $497 ($100 savings)
Incase’s ‘Mystery Box’ gets you a $150 grab bag of Apple accessories worth $320
LEGO locations to offer free build sets in-store with registration
44 comic issues for free: Batman, Star Wars, Spawn, The Walking Dead, and more

T-Mobile is discounting iPhone 6s/Plus by $100 when bought on an installment plan or outright

Huge savings on pre-owned Apple Watches, deals from as low as $261 shipped

Apple iPod Touch 5th gen 16-64GB sizes, multiple colors: $149-$199 shipped

Apple Magic Mouse 2 (open-box): $68 shipped (Reg. $80)

Apple iPad Mini 2, space gray or silver: $199 shipped ($70 off)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Pryme Vessyl skips the 8-cup rule for a user specific iPhone-connected recommendation

Mass Fidelity tries to solve virtual stereo sound with its new Core wireless speaker

What Watch uses Bluetooth connectivity to tab the memorable moments of your life
Pulse brings Bluetooth LE + iOS connectivity to a slew of Canon and Nikon DSLRs
Roku surprises with a new “special edition” streaming media player
Nintendo announces Zelda Twilight Princess HD remaster, more
Mophie introduces new power banks with a sleek aluminum design
Yuneec introduces its own stabilized 4K action camera

Satechi’s new compact USB-C hub adds 3 USB ports + SD card slots to single-port MacBooks

Zac Hall Oct 28 2015 - 12:17 pm PT

17 Comments

Update: Reviewed here.

We’ve already seen several crowdfunding campaigns for USB-C hubs to expand the capability of Apple’s 12-inch Retina MacBook, which features a single USB-C port for connecting accessories, and Satechi is joining the scene with its own USB-C hub available now.

Available in three color-matching aluminum finishes that fit Apple’s gold, silver, and space gray MacBooks, Satechi’s Type-C hub adds three USB 3.0 ports plus two SD card slots, both standard and Micro, to the USB-C-only Retina MacBook. This allows you to use standard USB cables and accessories like flash drives simultaneously with a single adapter. Satechi highlights its hub’s portable size, which appears to minimally extend the edge of the laptop with similar dimensions to an extra column of keys.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple now performing free repairs for ‘Staingate’ Retina MacBook screens with anti-reflective coating issues

Benjamin Mayo Oct 19 2015 - 2:36 am PT

28 Comments

Earlier in the year, a small-but-not-insignificant number of Apple customers complained about screen issues with their new Retina MacBooks and Retina MacBook Pros, specifically cases where the anti-reflective display coating leaves marks and stains on the screen, ranging from small corner blobs to large patches.

Several months later, Apple seems to have acknowledged the issue and launched a Quality Program to replace affected users’ hardware. The Staingate Facebook page now includes many reports of people successfully sending their MacBooks in for repair at Apple Stores. The existence of the program was first reported by MacRumors.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Early look at Windows 10 on the new Retina MacBook says it runs better than OS X

Ben Lovejoy May 15 2015 - 6:22 am PT

61 Comments

One of the first people to try Windows 10 on the new Retina MacBook says that it actually runs more smoothly than OS X. The comment was made by Computer Science major Alex King, who tried upgrading his Boot Camp installation of Windows 8.1 to the preview of Windows 10.

Here’s the real kicker: it’s fast. It’s smooth. It renders at 60FPS unless you have a lot going on. It’s unequivocally better than performance on OS X, further leading me to believe that Apple really needs to overhaul how animations are done. Even when I turn Transparency off in OS X, Mission Control isn’t completely smooth. Here, even after some Aero Glass transparency has been added in, everything is smooth. It’s remarkable, and it makes me believe in the 12-inch MacBook more than ever before.

If you’re fortunate enough to have taken delivery of your own Retina MacBook and want to try the experiment for yourself, be prepared for a few glitches along the way. King said that not all of the Boot Camp drivers automatically installed, there’s no Bluetooth support and some Windows apps (like Steam) look blurry because they don’t support the full resolution of the Retina display. But overall, the experience sounds like a good one.

If you’re still not sure whether you’re the target market for the new lower-powered, ultra-portable machine, you can check out our own in-depth review and one-month-in video of just what it can and can’t do.

First 12″ MacBook 1.3GHz benchmarks: top model rivals 1.4GHz iMac, 2014 MacBook Air

Jeremy Horwitz Apr 25 2015 - 7:50 am PT

29 Comments

Following Apple’s shipments of the first 1.3GHz versions of the 12″ MacBook this week, benchmarks have started to appear online for the new Intel Core M-5Y71 machine. Geekbench 3 shows the following results for each model, which vary based on the testing mode (32/64-bit) and number of processor cores used (single or multiple cores).

MacBook 1.1GHz

32-Bit: Single-Core Average 2212, Multi-Core Average 4070
64-Bit: Single-Core Average 2428, Multi-Core Average 4592

MacBook 1.2GHz

32-Bit: Single-Core Average 2348, Multi-Core Average 4603
64-Bit: Single-Core Average 2579, Multi-Core Average 5185

MacBook 1.3GHz

32-Bit: Single-Core Average 2387, Multi-Core Average 4673
64-Bit: Single-Core Average 2816, Multi-Core Average 5596

The 1.3GHz MacBook’s 64-Bit scores represent 16%-22% improvements over the 1.1GHz model, and 8%-9% gains over the 1.2GHz model. On April 27, we updated the 32-Bit scores now that additional benchmarks have been posted; they show smaller gains over the lower-speed models. More details are below…

Expand
Expanding
Close

12-inch MacBook teardown provides closer look at its tiny motherboard, terraced battery design

Chance Miller Apr 14 2015 - 8:06 pm PT

4 Comments

We saw teardowns of the 2015 MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro last month, but now a Feng.com user has provided us with the first teardown of the all-new 12-inch MacBook. Apple heavily touted the internal design of the laptop during its unveil last month and today’s teardown gives us a closer look at what exactly the company had to do in order to make the 12-inch MacBook as small as possible.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple begins Apple Watch pre-orders & 12-inch MacBook sales, supplies limited

Chance Miller Apr 10 2015 - 12:04 am PT

85 Comments

Update: Shipment dates are all over the place for the Apple Watch. Many models are already showing delivery dates in June, while the Edition shows an August arrival date. Some 12-inch MacBook models still ship in 1-3 business days.

As expected, the highly anticipated Apple Watch is now available for pre-order through Apple’s online store. Likewise, the new 12-inch MacBook is now available for purchase through the online store. Pre-orders of the Apple Watch and sales of the MacBook are also live in the Apple Store app on iOS devices. You can also now make appointments to try-on an Apple Watch at an Apple Store.

Expand
Expanding
Close

12-inch MacBook review roundup: The future of the notebook, but USB-C, keys and speed are issues

Chance Miller Apr 9 2015 - 9:27 am PT

37 Comments

We originally reported that Apple was preparing to release a redesigned 12-inch MacBook in January and the company made the device official during its Spring Forward event. The 12-inch MacBook doesn’t go on sale until tomorrow, April 10th, but reviews have already started pouring in today.

The all-new 12-inch MacBook has been completely redesigned and is the thinnest MacBook Apple offers. The laptop sports a 2304×1440 resolution display and is just 13.1mm thick at its thickest point. To get the laptop this thin, Apple made compromises and those compromises have made many potential buyers worry. The new MacBook only features a single USB-C port, with Apple encouraging users to use adapters to fulfill their other needs. Performance concerns also arose when benchmarks allegedly emerged from the laptop showing performance on-par with that of a 2011 MacBook Air. You can read our roundup of all the 12-inch MacBook reviews below:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Geekbench results from 12-inch MacBook show similar performance to 2011 MacBook Air

Chance Miller Apr 1 2015 - 6:37 pm PT

26 Comments

Even though the device is not yet available, an early unboxing gave us a hands-on look at Apple’s upcoming 12-inch Retina MacBook this morning, and now Geekbench results (cached) from the device have emerged giving us a look at what kind of performance we can expect from it. As we predicted, the Geekbench process tested the performance of the entry-level 12-inch Retina MacBook, which packs an Intel Core M-5Y31 processor clocked at 1.1GHz with Turbo Boost to 2.4GHz.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple Store refurbished Retina MacBook Pros dip to lowest prices ever, now start below $1,000

Jul 29 2014 - 6:09 am PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

Apple quietly released an updated lineup of Retina MacBook Pros earlier this morning and as a result, previous generation (which, let’s be honest, aren’t a big step down) refurbished models have received notable price drops.

At the low end, the October 2012 (first generation) 13-inch model has dropped $59, which has made it the first refurbished Retina MacBook Pro with a 1 year Apple warranty to dip below $1,000. This pricing isn’t completely unprecedented as we have tracked new models at $999.

A best bet: Prices for the 2013 Haswell model now start at $1,019. That’s down from $1,099 (that $20 extra will go a long way on battery life alone).

You can browse Apple’s entire refurbished offerings, but keep in mind quantities are extremely limited and popular models tend to sell out quickly. Be sure to check back frequently because inventories are constantly being replenished. Apple refurbished products have a reputation for being nearly as good as new and are still eligible for AppleCare.

Best Buy continues to be the best place to buy a new MacBook for anyone with access to an .edu email address. The big box retailer offers students an additional $100 off already discounted MacBook prices. All other buyers should follow our buying guides and 9to5Toys to keep up with the best Mac deals.

New Retina MacBook Pros can drive 4K displays at 60Hz – when running Windows, Mac OS needs new drivers

Ben Lovejoy Dec 23 2013 - 5:51 am PT

20 Comments

Tests by French site Mac4Ever.com found that current model Retina MacBook Pro machines can use their Thunderbolt 2 connections to drive the Sharp PN-K321 4K display at 60Hz when running Windows 8.1 with the latest NVidia drivers, rather than the 30Hz possible with OS X. This suggests that OS X will be able to do the same when Apple updates the rMBP video/Thunderbolt 2 drivers.

While 30Hz is good enough for movies, our own Seth Weintraub found on his bargain Seiki that it gives a poor experience when scrolling webpages, and is of course completely unusable for games. 60Hz, in contrast, gives a smooth experience when using a computer. The mystery had been why the latest Retina MacBook Pros, with Thunderbolt 2 support, were limited to 30Hz when the specs should have made them capable of double this – and the video drivers appear to be the answer …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Putting 4K and the iPad mini Retina display into perspective

Jordan Kahn Oct 30 2013 - 2:05 pm PT

9 Comments

Curious how the resolution of Apple’s new Retina iPad mini compares to your devices of the past and the 4K and even 8K displays that will soon become standard resolutions? DoghouseDiaries put together the graphic below that shows relative screen resolutions, comparing everything from a Retina iPad mini to an Apple II and future 3840 × 2160 4K displays just beginning to hit the market:

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro for $1515, 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro $1980 at Amazon, Best Buy

9to5 Staff Feb 1 2013 - 9:28 am PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon dropped the price of the Retina MacBook Pro to $1999 with free shipping. That’s tied for the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this product. Apple sells the refurb for $100 less (with Tax in more locations which negates the savings).

Amazon also has the 13-inch MacBook Pro for $1515.59. The sale compares with $1469 for a refurb with the same Tax equalizer.

The sale is in response to Best Buy knocking $200 off MacBook Pros (and $20 more off from in-store pickup). The effective price of a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro is $1980.

If you are holding out for a MacBook Air, check back with us tomorrow, we’ll have the lowest prices you can find on MacBook Airs across the board.
Expand
Expanding
Close

The Apple Store begins offering Retina 15″ MacBook Pro refurbs starting at $1869

Seth Weintraub Jan 4 2013 - 6:52 pm PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

This evening, Apple began offering refurbished Retina MacBook Pros at the online Apple Store at significant 15% discounts, yielding savings of over $500 on high end models (below). 15-inch Retina MacBooks normally retail at $2200 but we’ve seen them as low as $2,000 (which is also the EDU discount price).

Apple refurbished products are packaged and look like new and come with the same one year of AppleCare. See all of the best prices on Apple Products on our Apple product pages.

Thanks Jason!
Expand
Expanding
Close