Expect an Apple MacBook Pro price drop and support for 32GB RAM in 2017: Analyst

The ever-reliable Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that MacBook Pro prices will fall in 2017 and that 32GB RAM will soon be an option. Kuo is an analyst for KGI Securities and has a remarkable track record when it comes to predicting Apple’s plans. Apple’s latest MacBook Pros sell for $1,499 onwards today (Rs 1,29,000 in India). The top-end model is also limited to just 16GB RAM, which might seem like a lot, but may not be enough for pros. The restriction on the RAM is a result of the architecture that Apple chose for the new Pros. Apple is currently using Intel’s sixth generation SkyLake architecture, which requires DDR4 RAM (or LPDDR4) for optimal performance. Apple however, opted to go for LPDDR3 RAM, which significantly improves battery life, but caps RAM at 16GB. Kuo explains that Apple always prices its MacBooks high, but that it backs down in a few months. He adds that Apple will most likely move on to Intel’s upcoming Coffee Lake or Cannonlake CPUs in 2017, depending on availability, as well as LPDDR4 RAM. Together, these upgrades should result in improved performance, battery life and support for more RAM, reports 9to5Mac. If you’re holding off on a MacBook Pro purchase because of the price, you might want to heed Kuo’s words and wait for the inevitable price drop. If the lack of USB ports and SD card slot bother you, however, just get yourself an XPS 13 or the older MacBook Pro.