Is the end of the non-Retina MacBook Pro near?

MANILA, Philippines – Are you planning on buying the cheapest MacBook Pro available today? Better hurry as Apple will reportedly soon phase out the last remaining MacBook Pro model without a Retina display.

According to a report by DigiTimes, Apple’s suppliers from Taiwan said the tech titan will cease production of its 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro later this year.

The model, which was last updated in June 2012, is the only version without the better-than-Full HD Retina display. It is also the last remaining Apple notebook with an optical drive.

Apple introduced the more expensive Retina versions of its MacBook Pro series last October. Shortly after its release, the price of the entry level 13-inch Retina model was slashed to $1,299, only $100 more than the soon-to-be phased out model.

“The sources pointed out that Apple has been reducing its MacBook Pro prices, narrowing the price gap between the MacBook Pro and the one equipped with Retina,” reported DigiTimes’ Aaron Lee. “Apple stopped producing the 15-inch MacBook Pro in 2013 and will end production of its 13-inch model in 2014.”

In addition to discontinuing the non-Retina line, Apple is reportedly planning on releasing new additions to its Retina MacBrook Pro series.

Updated versions of the 13-inch and 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro models are expected to have Intel’s awaited Broadwell chips. Although the company has kept the release dates under wraps, analysts predict that the chips for the 15-inch model will be unveiled throughout this year, while the 13-inch chips are not expected for launch until the first quarter of 2015.

Last year, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a smaller but slimmer 12-inch MacBook with Retina display in the middle of 2014.

“We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a message to the company’s employees last year. – Rappler.com