13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Rumored To Start At $1699

Apple’s upcoming media event, scheduled for the 23rd of this month, will not only see a smaller iPad, but also a new iMac, Mac Mini and a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro.

9to5Mac has gotten word on the pricing of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, specifically the entry level and the highest range models.

From 9to5Mac’s report:

We believe the entry model 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro will cost roughly $1,699 at launch, based on wholesale prices we received, while the higher spec model will cost $200 to $300 more.

The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is expected to have a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, up from the current 1280 x 800 pixels along with a considerable decrease in thickness and weight.

The estimated pricing of $1699 makes the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro $600 more expensive that the entry level 13 inch model. For comparison, the difference between the price of a 15-inch Retina and non Retina MacBook Pro is a little less, at $400.

The significant difference in the pricing of Retina and non Retina models can be primarily attributed to the high cost of solid state drives as compared to mechanical storage and of course the high resolution Retina display.