Apple might not be willing to confirm the 2013 Haswell MacBook Pro release date, but as far as evidence the thing is at least on its way, we’re spoilt for choice. Following the surprise absence of the new Retina MacBook Pro line-up at WWDC 2013…which now feels like centuries ago…the eyes of the tech community have been scouring the industry for any and every clue going.
The latest smoking gun comes in the form of another vigorous effort by Apple to clear remaining MacBook Pro inventory and make room for the new Haswell model. As of right now, students are being offered rewards of up to $300 if they quit holding out for the 2013 machine and invest in a current model. Admittedly this comes in the form of a $200 discount with a $100 Apple Store gift card, but it’s still a pretty clear sign that shelf space is needed…and needed fast.
And it isn’t just the studious crowd that’s having discounts and incentives thrown at it. Hit up any of the biggest names in MacBook retail like Best Buy and you’ll find an array of discounts and freebies that keep getting more and more tempting by the day.
One of the ongoing rumors surrounding the whole Haswell MacBook Pro saga is that existing inventory figures were just too high for Apple to possibly introduce a new model back in June. As such, despite the fact that the 2013 variant has been ready to roll for months, its launch won’t happen until the current product lineup has sufficiently declined in numbers…or so the story tells.
As far as when to expect the new model goes, the student discount promotion ends on September 6, which could suggest that Apple has something planned for shortly afterwards. On the other hand though, it could just be that this is when the back-to-school shopping frenzy ends…we’ll leave you to decide that one.
In any case, all the discounts in the world might not prove enough to motivate buyers to invest in the existing MacBook Pro right now when it’s a given that the massively improved Haswell range is coming…it’s just a case of how long we’ll have to hold out.
