[davidhepworthh]

the price has gone up so much why is this

[Just_Me_D]

I do not know. I assume, however, that Apple feels that the price is appropriate for the product it is selling. If enough consumers buy it then they will be proven correct, but if consumers shun it en masse then they will be proven wrong...

[Jinal_JCS]

Maybe because of the R&D and production money spent on the new OLED bar.

[AustinIllini]

Maybe because of the R&D and production money spent on the new OLED bar.

No way that R&D money was worth $300 a device. $100 maybe...

[xtremeled]

Apple products have always been the most expensive.

[Rob Phillips]

The MacBook PRO line is a premium line with a premium price. Keep in mind the old model is being kept around with the same price point and it will still beat the pants off of most of the competition.

[Acmore]

They have always been expensive. Compare the prices to the surface books. I think the Macs are a better deal. I have been very happy with the dependability of Macs and think it makes up for their price, so does IBM. There are options out there so if they are to expensive go get another machine, Windows, Linux Chromebook you have options.

[nikkimd11]

the price has gone up so much why is this

I am asking myself the same question, I have a 2011 MacBook Pro base model and the price about $1100, now a base model is $1499, that is a significant difference

[alxgcs]

Quite saddened that they increased the price so drastically this time around

Would also have liked a 15 inch with the regular function keys instead of all of them having the (expensive) Touch Bar

[Breuklen]

For me it's a head-scratcher. I already expected premium pricing for the new Macs. But this is ridiculous. Given the high entry costs and the takeaways, I can't see myself getting another Mac any time soon, if ever again.

[Matty]

the price has gone up so much why is this

Thats a good question. Over the past few years Apple has been fairly consistent with their pricing. Maybe the price of the 'Touch Bar' is much more than we anticipate?. Apple price things very strategically based on their other products and they don't want prices overlapping. Otherwise some products may be left out.. (Just My Opinion)

[Matty]

Quite saddened that they increased the price so drastically this time around

Would also have liked a 15 inch with the regular function keys instead of all of them having the (expensive) Touch Bar

Luckily Apple have provided the 13" inch version with the nomad function keys. I think having 4 different versions of the same laptop was just too many models and people might get confused.
Sure its got a little less power and less ports but its still a little better than the 2015 Macbook Pros

[samosIM]

Pricing, for me is in-line with what I typically buy when I upgrade. I tend to max out, but this time I know the 2TB SSD drive is more than I need. My last Retina MacBook Pro 15" (early 2013 I believe) totaled about $5000. So, with Apple Care + will be about $4000, I believe.

The lower end options are apparently significantly higher in price than earlier. I suggest doing a careful spec comparison if it is a U.S. purchase. If the purchase is outside the U.S., check the foreign exchange rate (at the time you made your earlier purchase vs. now). Another consideration is any additional transaction fee imposed by the foreign country.

[robertk328]

Quite saddened that they increased the price so drastically this time around

Would also have liked a 15 inch with the regular function keys instead of all of them having the (expensive) Touch Bar

They're still selling the 2015s if you want that.

[n8ter#AC]

I do not know. I assume, however, that Apple feels that the price is appropriate for the product it is selling. If enough consumers buy it then they will be proven correct, but if consumers shun it en masse then they will be proven wrong...

It's already being heavily discounted by third parties, so it's hard to use this logic to justify the price. People may buy it only because they could get $250-300+ off from a third party like Amazon... That doesn't mean it justifies the price. Quite the opposite. The price at the point of sales needs to be considered, not simply "did they buy one."

[n8ter#AC]

No way that R&D money was worth $300 a device. $100 maybe...

R&D isn't done on a "per device sold" basis. Also, I doubt there is much R&D they had to do for this, considering the tech they used had already been used in other devices like the Apple Watch and iPhone.

$100 per device is beyond laughable. $300 is criminal.

Apple is starting to look like the Mylan (EpiPen) of PC manufacturers, at this point.

In fact, your "R&D" excuse is exactly the type of B.S. they were peddling.

If R&D cost that much, imagine how much a Surface Book would have cost for the base model if Microsoft had used that logic? $2,299?

[Just_Me_D]

It's already being heavily discounted by third parties, so it's hard to use this logic to justify the price. People may buy it only because they could get $250-300+ off from a third party like Amazon... That doesn't mean it justifies the price. Quite the opposite. The price at the point of sales needs to be considered, not simply "did they buy one."

I thought I answered the question with "I don't know", followed by an "assumption" that can be proven or disproven by how well it sells or don't sell.

[n8ter#AC]

I thought I answered the question with "I don't know", followed by an "assumption" that can be proven or disproven by how well it sells or don't sell.

That terrible assumption validates the first statement. My reply wasn't to you :not knowing," it was in response to the assumption that followed that statement.

It's an assumption that simply doesn't exist because the numbers don't work out that way. They are too obviously misleading.

This is like Amazon saying the Fire Phone was a success even though they sold 80% of them when it was discounted down to $1-200 (from an initial $650 retail price).

It doesn't work that way. Pricing yourself too high costs you sales as people who are looking for a new PC are more likely to just buy a competing device as a result; in this case, probably running a completely different platform - which can affect sales in other areas for obvious reasons.

I think Apple just thinks the devices are worth that much. If they feel that, then that's something they'll have to contend with. Typically, they are fairly stern with their pricing, so expecting them to drop them (at least drop them in a relatively low span of time) is a bit foolish [IMO]. They're going to stick with the pricing. This isn't an iPhone situation where they are trying to get into a new market.

They also don't have many advantages to lean on, either. Windows notebooks have fantastic battery life, precision trackpads, great keyboards and top notch hardware/design, as well. Basically you're paying a premium for macOS and the Apple Brand... I'm not sure that's the best selling point in the current market.

[red5gary]

I'm guessing because of new tech, new parts. Cost of producing them has probably gone up. Cost of shipping parts. The Apple name is never affordable.

[Just_Me_D]

That terrible assumption validates the first statement. My reply wasn't to you :not knowing," it was in response to the assumption that followed that statement.

It's an assumption that simply doesn't exist because the numbers don't work out that way. They are too obviously misleading.

This is like Amazon saying the Fire Phone was a success even though they sold 80% of them when it was discounted down to $1-200 (from an initial $650 retail price).

It doesn't work that way. Pricing yourself too high costs you sales as people who are looking for a new PC are more likely to just buy a competing device as a result; in this case, probably running a completely different platform - which can affect sales in other areas for obvious reasons.

I think Apple just thinks the devices are worth that much. If they feel that, then that's something they'll have to contend with. Typically, they are fairly stern with their pricing, so expecting them to drop them (at least drop them in a relatively low span of time) is a bit foolish [IMO]. They're going to stick with the pricing. This isn't an iPhone situation where they are trying to get into a new market.

They also don't have many advantages to lean on, either. Windows notebooks have fantastic battery life, precision trackpads, great keyboards and top notch hardware/design, as well. Basically you're paying a premium for macOS and the Apple Brand... I'm not sure that's the best selling point in the current market.

You stated that the "newest" MacBook Pro devices have already been significantly dropped in price by some sellers? Please display a few links backing that up. As for my assumption, it is not terrible, but hey, if you see it that way, so be it. Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

[Not Quite Right]

Did you know that Apple hasn't raised the price of the MacBook Pro since it's induction by Steve Jobs in '06? Did you also notice that only when you can't afford to buy something is it overpriced? Please haters go buy all the $300 dollar Windows laptops your heart desires, it will just make the line at The Apple Store that much shorter for when I go to pick up my new 15" MBP ...

[AustinIllini]

R&D isn't done on a "per device sold" basis. Also, I doubt there is much R&D they had to do for this, considering the tech they used had already been used in other devices like the Apple Watch and iPhone.

$100 per device is beyond laughable. $300 is criminal.

Apple is starting to look like the Mylan (EpiPen) of PC manufacturers, at this point.

In fact, your "R&D" excuse is exactly the type of B.S. they were peddling.

If R&D cost that much, imagine how much a Surface Book would have cost for the base model if Microsoft had used that logic? $2,299?

Did you quote the wrong post? I'm with you. I'm so angry about the prices of these devices.

Apple is making laptops a luxury, which is criminal in a generation still falling in the realm of Moore's Law.

[Jamieson Jann]

Is the price increase on the base model just due to 256gb SSD being the base now? When I upgraded the 2015 version from 128 to 256, the price is the same as the 2016 update.

[anon(9776449)]

The prices don't surprise me anymore. It's expensive? Yes it is. And it will be always expensive. Maybe apple find that the prices are fair for the product they are selling or maybe they know that apple is a major company and although the price they gonna sell it. Steve Jobs once have said they don't make cheap so... yeah.

[StraightlineBoy]

Luckily Apple have provided the 13" inch version with the nomad function keys. I think having 4 different versions of the same laptop was just too many models and people might get confused.
Sure its got a little less power and less ports but its still a little better than the 2015 Macbook Pros

This is Apple doing the equivalent of the 16Gb iPhone again - sure there is a cheaper model but we know you'll hate yourself for buying it because as well as not having the touch bar, we've put in slower RAM, a much slower CPU and a worse graphics set. I don't see anything lucky about this for buyers! It's the classic Apple upsell with bells on!