Apple announces new Mac Pro: Smaller, more powerful, and made in the USA

By AJ Dellinger June 10, 2013

MacPro — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

“Can’t innovate anymore, my ass,” Apple executive Phil Schiller said on stage as he revealed the new Mac Pro.

Back in May, Tim Cook mentioned new Macs would be made in the U.S., but we didn’t know which Mac Cook was referring to. According to Schiller, it’ll be the updated Mac Pro.

Mac_Pro_wwdc_2013_comparison — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just as we expected, today at WWDC 2013, Apple teased a reboot of the Mac Pro that will likely excite power users. Shaped like a trash can from Crate and Barrel, the cylindrical design of the Mac Pro is considerably smaller than the most recent version and will be an eighth of the volume of the 40 pounds of computer the previous Mac Pro was.

That doesn’t mean it hasn’t packed in the features, though. It will ship with the next generation 12-core Intel Xeon, 256-bit processor. “This is the first Mac ever that comes standard with dual GPUs,” Schiller said. The Mac Pro is capable of 7 teraflops of performance, which may or may not be a number that is totally made up. But it sounds impressive either way. “It’s 10 times faster than any hard drive you could put in a Mac Pro before,” Schiller said.

You’ll also have plenty of places to plug things in with four USB 3.0 ports and six Thunderbolt 2 ports – yes, we said Thunderbolt 2. Also, all of the ports light up, which is a nice touch, making it easier to see what ports are what when you’re in the darkness of the editing bay (after all, these are meant for the more Pro audience). The desktop will also support up to three 4K displays.

Mac Pro 2013 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The new Mac Pro, designed and built in the United States, will ship sometime in the fall. Check back for more news on the new Mac Pro.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…

Computing

Best Apple deals: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook

Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.

Apple has been a big player in the tech space for a long time, and it has pioneered some of the technology we use today, such as best wireless earbuds and the best smartwatches. If that wasn't enough, it even makes some of the best best laptops and best tablets on the market, so pretty much whatever tech you're looking for, Apple has an excellent version of it. Not only that, but Apple's ecosystem is also easily one of the best available, with only Samsung really competing in that space, and if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, then it makes sense to continue buying stuff from Apple.

Of course, Apple tech can be quite pricey, which is why we've gone out and searched through various big retailers to find you some of the best deals we can find. That includes everything from the MacBook to the AirTag, so hopefully, you can find the perfect deal that fits your needs and budget.
Apple AirTag (4-Pack) -- $80, was $99

Computing

The Vision Pro is already in trouble. Here’s how Apple can turn the tide

A man wears an Apple Vision Pro headset.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset lit the world on fire when it was announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023, and again when it launched in February of this year. But in the months since, it’s apparently been losing steam, with sales down and people staying away from in-store demonstrations. That doesn’t bode well for Apple’s “next big thing.”

The key question, though, is whether this an actual problem for Apple. And if so, what can the company do about it?
In free fall?
If you read Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, you’ll see some concerning reporting, at least from Apple’s perspective. Citing staff at Apple’s retail stores, Gurman claims that “Demand for [Vision Pro] demos is way down. People who do book appointments often don’t show up.”

Computing

The XPS 16 is fighting an uphill battle against the MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 16 sitting on desktop with flowers.

It took a few years, but Dell finally updated the design of its two largest XPS laptops. The XPS 15 gave way to the XPS 14, while the XPS 17 was replaced by the XPS 16. The latter gained the ultramodern look of the XPS 13 Plus, complete with a glass palm rest, a hidden haptic touchpad, and a row of LED function keys.

It's a significant update but places the XPS 16 in direct competition with the Apple MacBook Pro 16. That's an excellent matchup with proven performance and battery life and an elegant design that's solid, if a lot more conservative.
Specs and configurations