Only a few weeks ago, Apple announced some good news: the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. It was a treat for us Mac enthusiasts – especially in these difficult times. That was until Apple doubled the price of the RAM upgrade for their lower-end model.
Our recent MacBook Pro 13-inch review compared the differences of the lower-end (refreshed) and higher-end (new) models. Here, we analyse the price hike in RAM, and what this means for your MacBook purchasing…
Why Apple has changed
Firstly, let’s get to grips with why Apple have increased the price. While they’ve adjusted their prices in the past, usually some time passes after the release. In this case, it hasn’t even been a month yet.
There’s been some rumours over their reasoning. Its sudden nature may mean that it was completely unexpected – perhaps being related to the supply chain, and Apple are having to pass the cost on.
Apple have confirmed that it’s actually a price correction. The increase in price of upgrading from 8GB to 16GB is uniform with their other devices, like the iMac and MacBook Air. They also confirmed that for those who bought the less costly RAM upgrade prior to the change, this will be honoured.
For those who haven’t, then it might be worth turning your attention to the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, which just got more cost-effective…
Lower-end vs higher-end
Before the price hike, to upgrade to 16GB RAM would have cost you only £0.80+VAT per week – but now it’s £1.60+VAT each week. This is a substantial difference.
Therefore, if you upgraded the refreshed 1.4GHz 512GB SSD machine to 16GB you’d be paying £14.55+VAT. But for only £0.40+VAT difference, you could get the new 2GHz model which already comes with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD plus a lot of other additional benefits. It has the advanced 2GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, for one. It also holds a better graphics card, making it particularly better for creative businesses.
With this in mind, if you want a 16GB 512GB machine, it’s a no-brainer to go for the new 13” model. In fact, it actually makes the answer to ‘which 13-inch MacBook Pro should you choose?’ much more straightforward.
You can fully analyse the differences between the two devices with our comparison chart:
| 13″ MacBook Pro – 1.4GHz with 256GB SSD (refreshed/lower-end model) | 13″ MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – 2.0GHz with 512GB SSD (new/higher-end model) |
| Intel Quad Core i5 1.4GHz | Intel Quad Core i5 2.0GHz |
| 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Intel Iris Graphics 645 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Magic Keyboard | Magic Keyboard |
| Touch Bar and Touch ID | Touch Bar and Touch ID |
| Two Thunderbolt 3 ports | Four Thunderbolt 3 ports |
MacBook Pro business leasing
Whilst deciding which 13-inch MacBook Pro to go for has been made easier, it doesn’t mean that paying for it is. Thankfully there is a way to reap the rewards of Mac devices like these, and without causing trouble for your finances: leasing.
On top of maintaining a positive cash flow, leasing offers extra benefits too. You can take advantage of advanced products like these, and don’t have to pay a large sum upfront. The lease payments also count as operating costs, and so you can be more tax-efficient with your business.
Plus, you don’t need to look any further for help with your Mac leasing. At Lease Loop, we’re true Mac enthusiasts who go the extra mile so we can find the best solution for you. This goes way beyond signing on the dotted line for the 13-inch MacBook Pro lease – we build long-term relationships with each and every one of our clients. Why? Because we love seeing them grow, and supporting them in any way we can.
Spark your own growth by speaking to us about your leasing needs. Get in touch with the friendly team here at Lease Loop today.
