MacBook Pro Models Will Be Cheaper Next Year, Claims KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple last week unveiled finally delivered the long awaited refresh to its MacBook Pro lineup, and the new models are rather expensive. The starting prices for the 13-inch model without the Touch Bar, is $1,499 (Rs. 1,29,900 in India), while the 13-inch model with the Touch Bar is $1,799 (Rs. 1,55,900), and the 15-inch model starts at $2,399 (Rs. 2,05,900). KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that MacBook Pro prices can be expected to drop by the second half of 2017 however.

In a note to investors, the usually spot-on Kuo says Apple has in the past steeply priced the first generation of new MacBook Pro laptops, and then reduces prices with follow-up models the next year. Kuo also adds that the refreshed models launched next year may come with up to 32GB of RAM, if Intel releases its Cannonlake processors in time – which will have improved power consumption.

If Intel doesn’t, Kuo says Apple will launch its refreshed MacBook Pro models with Coffee Lake CPUs, and continue to use LPDDR3 RAM. The MacBook Pro 2016 lineup runs on 6th-generation Intel ‘Skylake’ Core processors.

Besides being thinner, faster, and lighter, Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup comes with a few design changes. They bear a context-sensitive Touch Bar OLED panel that replaces the function keys above the keyboard in some models. A Touch ID fingerprint sensor is now imprinted in the power button, and can enable payments via Apple Pay. The laptops now also bear improved speakers, which are placed on either side of the keyboard.