New Retina MacBook Pro Processor Bumps Offer Minor 3-5% Performance Improvements - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

New Retina MacBook Pro Processor Bumps Offer Minor 3-5% Performance Improvements

Following last week's introduction of new processors for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Primate Labs has analyzed benchmarks coming in from the new machines through the company's popular Geekbench 2 software.

Unsurprisingly, the benchmarks reveal a roughly 3-5% increase in Geekbench scores for each of the processor bumps. For the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple bumped each of the three available processors by 100 MHz, accounting for the minor benchmark improvements.

geekbench_retina_mbp_early_2013_15

One thing to note is that the new mid-range Retina MacBook Pro has the same speed processor as the old high-end Retina MacBook Pro. However, the new mid-range model is slightly slower than the old high-end model. While this seems surprising at first, the difference is easily explained by comparing the two processors: the old high-end processor has more cache than the new mid-range processor.

For the 13-inch lineup, the 100 MHz speed bumps were limited to machines based on the high-end stock configuration starting at 256 GB of storage, with those machines also seeing a 3-5% improvement in Geekbench scores.
geekbench_retina_mbp_early_2013_13
Aside from the processor improvements for the Retina MacBook Pro lineup, Apple also reduced pricing on the 13-inch models by $200-$300, increased RAM on the high-end 15-inch stock configuration, and reduced pricing on storage options.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

Apples Biggest Week of 2026 Details on Every New Product Announced Feature Sans Text

Apple Now Selling Parts for Seven New Devices Unveiled Last Month

Wednesday April 8, 2026 6:40 pm PDT by
Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones, iPads, Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices." Apple today started selling parts and tools for seven new...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

Apple to Upgrade These Two Devices With OLED Displays Later This Year

Friday April 17, 2026 7:49 am PDT by
Apple plans to release iPad mini and MacBook Pro models with OLED displays this year, according to industry sources who spoke to South Korea's ETNews. The current iPad mini and MacBook Pro models have LCD displays with either LED or mini-LED backlighting. The move to OLED technology would result in improved image quality, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks. ...
14 16 inch 2021 mbps back to back feature

MacBook Pro With Touch Screen and New Mac Studio Likely 'Postponed'

Sunday April 19, 2026 7:00 pm PDT by
The global memory chip shortage may result in the next MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models launching later than expected, according to the latest rumor. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has repeatedly stated that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a touch screen are slated to launch in late 2026 to early 2027. In his Power On newsletter today, though, he said to be prepared for the laptops to...

Top Rated Comments

172 months ago
Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

But they're a computer company first and a gadget company second, it's just the gadgets are available for far less than a Mac and sell in far higher quantity. They've been offering very slim laptops with decent enough specs for quite some years before the Windows Ultrabook/Google Chromebook systems came out to "try" and compete with them and only beat them on cost.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
172 months ago
still, macbooks are a waste of money.

----------



Yes it would be because then they wouldn't look like they're totally incompetent. 3-5% boost? really?

Based on what? The opinion of someone who just uses facebook and plays angry birds?

There's loads of uses for a Macbook that couldn't be done with some tablet toy or lousy netbook/chromebook that's only geared up as a glorified browser/email client. Think on-location video editing, DJs/EDM Producers, people in the design industry who need a decent system and OS to use with robust system-wide colour management and accurate font-rendering or people who simply want the option of not running Windows as their OS of choice and don't want to get all geeky and opt for a compromising nightmare of open source nonsense.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
172 months ago
Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

I hope they don't just stick to phones and tablets. Apple's computers are awesome, especially considering the need for bootcamp. Makes my work life a lot easier!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
172 months ago
Stick to phones and tablets Apple.

Well, they could have simply not bumped the processors... would that have been better?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
172 months ago
Sounds like most people here are confused. Apple does not make the CPU.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
172 months ago
I'm pretty sure that's what they are currently doing. There hasn't been a single update to the rMBP in over 4 months. I know I will not be buying an Apple laptop / desktop again unless they do a major overhaul in their approach at conducting business.

Not a single update in over 4 months? Is that considered a long time? Apple has pretty much always released a major overhaul/change once every year, and I don't see why that has to change when it comes to their laptops.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Motoring | News | Travel | Reviews | South Africa