MacBook Pro 2013 Rumor Roundup

Apple AAPL is expected to unveil the latest MacBook Pro upgrades during its media event on Tuesday, October 22. The upgrades are not believed to carry any significant changes in terms of the design, weight or form factor. But many enhancements are anticipated, including new Haswell processors from Intel INTC. What else can consumers look forward to this week? Read on to find out. 1080p Camera If you're going to use FaceTime on a MacBook Pro that features a Retina Display (one of the highest-resolution displays of any computer), you should probably have a comparable camera. Apple is expected to finally deliver a comparable FaceTime camera, one that provides full-HD resolution. Better Battery Life Who wouldn't want a MacBook that could last all day? With Haswell processors, the new MacBook Pros could boost their batteries to 12 hours. That amount might be greatly reduced by power users (graphic designers, animators, videographers, etc.) and those who watch tons of online video. Even so, the battery bump should provide a nice increase over the previous generation. Related: iPad 5 Rumor Roundup Faster Internet MacBook Air, the first Mac that featured 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, is bound to be old news once the 2013 MacBook Pros are upgraded. Not all networks and routers can take advantage of the new Wi-Fi tech, but this is one of those buying-for-future features that Pro users love. Lower Prices There aren't any rumors suggesting that Apple will change the current pricing structure of the MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,199 for the basic 13-inch model and starts at $1,499 for the Retina Display iteration. However, Apple has lowered the price of the 13-inch MacBook Air by $200 over the last two years. The company has also reduced the price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display by $200 (the original MSRP was $1,699 when it was released last fall). Mac sales are declining, thanks to the growth of iPads and the trend toward less frequent upgrades. This could inspire Apple to knock a few more bucks off the MSRP. Imminent Release While the rumored specs are on everyone's mind, the number-one question that potential MacBook Pro buyers want to know is this: when is it coming out? Apple has been known to release new Macs shortly after they are unveiled. This time around, the company is rumored to release the new MacBook Pros three days after they are unveiled. This would place them in stores on Friday, October 25 -- exactly two weeks before the new iPads are rumored to arrive. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report. Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benzinga. You can reach him at louis(at)benzingapro(dot)com. Follow him @LouisBedigianBZ