Best 13" MacBook & MacBook Pro Deals
2009.11.13
Apple redesigned the white MacBook in mid-October. The new model runs a bit faster, uses
unibody construction, has a slightly larger footprint, loses a little
weight, gains LED backlighting, loses FireWire, gets a 7 hour battery,
and doesn't get an SD Card
slot. All for the same $999 retail price.
For a more detailed perspective on the latest consumer MacBook, see
The Late 2009
MacBook Value Equation.
Now that Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow
Leopard" is shipping, prices are adjusting based on capabilities.
None of the first generation MacBooks (the ones with Intel Core Duo
CPUs) support 64-bit operation, and only the models with nVidia 9400M
graphics support OpenGL. See individual model profiles to learn which
Snow Tiger technologies are supported.
Apple introduced the 13" MacBook Pro (MBP) on June 8, 2009. The 13"
MBP replaced the Unibody
MacBook, adding FireWire 800 and an SD Card slot, increasing speed,
and reducing price. The 13" MacBook Pro is
available at 2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz speeds with 160 GB and 250 GB hard
drives respectively. The entry-level model retails for US$1,199 - just
$200 more than the polycarbonate MacBook White.
All MacBooks have a 1280 x 800 glossy display, and all current
models include a dual-layer SuperDrive. The current 2.26 GHz MacBook
has a 250 GB hard drive and 2 GB of RAM (expandable to 8 GB).
Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" is
supported on all MacBooks. If you want to upgrade an older MacBook to
10.5, be sure to check our Best
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Deals. Mac OS X 10.6 requires 1 GB of RAM (we
recommend at least 2 GB) and will run on all Intel-based Macs.
The Core 2 CPU runs quite a bit cooler and has power at the same
clock speed than the Core Duo. Because the Core Duo MacBooks tend to
run hot, we recommend the Core 2 models. Additionally, only Core 2
models support 64-bit operation.
We strongly recommend running the MacBook with at least 1 GB
of memory. If you can swing it, max out to 3 GB - or 8 GB, the recently
discovered maximum for the Late 2009 MacBook. (See Is More RAM More Important than Matched RAM in
the MacBook? for more on unmatched memory.)
The best deals are marked in bold type in the full listings below.
Canadian dealers are listed separately. Listings note RAM/hard drive
size.
Best Used MacBook Prices (shipping additional except as noted)
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo Combo, $570 + shipping, MacResource
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo SD, white, $600 + shipping, TechRestore
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo SD, black, $660 + shipping, MacResource
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $649 + shipping, Mac in the Box
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $679 + shipping, ExperCom
- 2.1 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $769 shipped, Power Max
- 2.16 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $749 shipped, Apple Palace
- 2.16 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $795 shipped, Apple Palace
- 2.2 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $730 + shipping, TechRestore
- 2.2 GHz Core 2 SD, black, $889 shipped, Power Max
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 SD, white, $909 shipped, Power Max
Best Refurbished MacBook Prices, ground shipping included
- refurb 2.13 GHz MacBook Whote, $749, Apple
- HOT refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, $899,
Apple
- refurb 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, $999, Apple
- refurb 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, $1,299, Apple
Best New MacBook Prices, no rebate, ground shipping included
- 2.13 GHz White, $880 shipped, B&H
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, open box, $999 shipped, Power Max
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,082 shipped, Amazon.com
- 2.26 GHz Late 2009, $989 shipped, B&H
- 2.26 GHz MBP, $1,169 shipped, Amazon, B&H, Mac Connection
- 2.53 GHz MBP, $1,410 shipped, Amazon, B&H
Best New MacBook Prices, after rebate, ground shipping
included
- 2.13 GHz White, $880 shipped, B&H
- 2.0 GHz Unibody, open box, $999 shipped, Power Max
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,082 shipped, Amazon.com
- 2.26 GHz Late 2009, $925 shipped, Mac Connection
- 2.26 GHz MBP, app. $1,110 shipped, MacMall
- 2.53 GHz MBP, $1,390 shipped, MacMall
Recent Memory Prices (per module)
- PC5300
(pre-Unibody): 512 MB, $4.99; 1 GB, $17.96; 2 GB (Core 2 only),
$33.99
- OWC offers a
PC5300 4 GB module for $144.99 and a 6 GB kit for $189.99. These only
work in Santa Rosa and later MacBooks.
- 1066 DDR3
(nVidia graphics): 1 GB, $17.96; 2 GB, $38.99; 4 GB, $239
- OWC
offers a PC6400 2 GB module for the nVidia MacBook White for $46.99, a
4 GB module for $145.99, and a 6 GB kit for $189.99.
-
OWC offers a 1066 DDR3 2 GB module for Unibody models for $49.99, a
4 GB module for $259.99, a 6 GB kit for $307.99, and an 8 GB kit (Late
2009 MacBook only) for $499.99.
Best Mac OS X Prices
Be sure to factor in shipping costs and possible sales tax. Your
best value depends on whether you need/want a color printer, extra RAM,
etc.
Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card
purchases, and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in
alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.
Core Duo models are listed before Core 2 models, which are more
efficient and run cooler. Unibody and MacBook Pro models are also
separated. Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Not responsible
for typos. Please email any corrections or additional sources with
competitive prices toDan Knight
.
Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits
you.
New, Demo, & Apple Refurbished
Amazon.com
Free ground shipping from Amazon.com, may be
additional cost from other sources. Amazon.com collects sales tax on
orders shipped to KS, KY, ND, and WA.
- 2.13
GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $934 + $31.15
shipping
- 2.26
GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $959.99 shipped
- 2.4
GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,059.99 + $21.99 shipping
- 2.26
GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,168.95 shipped
- 2.53
GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,410 shipped
Apple Store US
Apple collects sales tax on orders shipped to most
states. Free ground shipping.
Apple Store Canada
Apple offers free shipping.
B&H offers free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2
GB/160/SD, $879.95 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $989 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$1,168.95 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD,
$1,410 shipped
Ground shipping can add $13 or more. Club Mac
collects sales tax on orders shipped within California. Free Epson
Stylus printer and Parallels Desktop (after mail-in rebates).
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $988.99 less $65 mail-in
rebate = $923.99
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,168.99 less $50 mail-in
rebate = $1,118.99
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,473.99 less $75 mail-in
rebate = $1,398.99
Free ground shipping.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999.99 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,498.88 shipped
Ground shipping can add $20 or more. LA Computer
collects sales tax on orders shipped within California.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $999
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499
Free ground shipping. Mac Connection collects sales
tax on orders shipped to AL, CT, IL, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OH, TN, and
TX.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/160/SD,
$989.99 less $65 mail-in rebate = $924.99 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$1,169 less $50 mail-in rebate = $1,119 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD,
$1,474 less $75 mail-in rebate = $1,399 shipped
Ground shipping can add $10 or more. MacMall
collects sales tax on orders shipped to CA, IL, MN, TN, and WI.
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $984.99 less $50 mail-in
rebate = $934.99
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$1,179.99 less $80 mail-in rebate = $1,099.99
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD,
$1,474.99 less $95 mail-in rebate = $1,379.99
Ground shipping may add $28 or more.
- open box 2.1 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $899.99
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,149
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,199
Free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $929 shipped
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,299 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499 shipped
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/256 SSD/SD, $2,294 shipped
- open box 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899
shipped
- open box 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $999 shipped
- open box 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,149 shipped
- open box 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,149 shipped
Free ground shipping.
- 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $899.99 shipped
- 2.4 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199.99 (demo, $1,129.99)
- 2.26 GHz MacBook (Late 09), 2 GB/250/SD, $999.99 shipped
- 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,199.99 (demo, $1,099.99)
- 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,499.99 (demo, $1,449.99)
- several custom configurations available
Apple Refurbished
MacBooks
Free ground shipping. Apple collects sales tax on
orders shipped to most states.
- refurb 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, $749
shipped
- refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $899 shipped
- refurb 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $999 shipped
- refurb 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro, 4 GB/250/SD, $1,299 shipped
- refurb 2.13 GHz MacBook White (May 09), 2 GB/160/SD, C$799
- refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, C$1,049
Used & Reseller
Refurbished MacBooks
Free ground shipping. 60 day warranty.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/60/Combo, $595 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $625 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 1 GB/80/SD, $725 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $695 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/SD, $745 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 1
GB/120/SD, $749 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 1
GB/160/SD, $795 shipped
Estimated shipping is $15.50.
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, 2 GB/120/SD, $679
Ground shipping may add $31 or more. Prices reflect
a 10% off sale which appears to end at 10:00 p.m. daily. Gainsaver
replaces the stock SuperDrive or Combo drive with a CD-ROM, removes
AirPort Extreme, and often includes less RAM and a smaller hard drive
than originally shipped with the computer. Units are untested unless
you pay $25 for diagnostics. 30 day warranty. Gainsaver is located in
Long Beach, California. There is a 20% restocking fee for returns, and
Gainsaver is unlikely to refund your credit card - instead, the company
prefers to issue a store credit, according to
customers. Gainsaver has also been accused of
bait-and-switch tactics by several customers. We list these because of
their excellent prices for those who might not need a SuperDrive, are
willing to upgrade RAM and hard drives themselves, and are willing to
deal with Gainsaver when they know
the company's policies in advance. Because these Macs have been
downgraded, we do not include Gainsaver's prices when listing "Best
Deals". Caveat emptor.
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/20/CD, $422.10
- 1.83 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $449.10
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/20/CD, $449.10
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/20/CD, $494.10
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $467.10
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $503.10
- 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $467.10
- 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $521.10
- 2.2 GHz Core 2, white, 512/20/CD, $485.10
- 2.2 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $539.10
- 2.4 GHz Core 2, black, 512/20/CD, $584.10
Ground shipping may add $18 or more. LA Computer
collects sales tax on orders shipped within California. 30 day
warranty.
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD,
$649
- 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $649
- several other configurations listed
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $649
Ground shipping may add $28 or more.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white,
512/60/Combo, $569.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/SD, $629.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/80/SD,
$659.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $699.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/SD, $749.99
Free ground shipping.
- used 1.83 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/60/Combo, $649 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $669 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/SD, $729 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/80/SD, $789 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $689 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1.5 GB/60/SD, $769 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 2 GB/80/SD, $859 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2 Unibody, 2 GB/160/SD, $929 shipped
- used 2.1 GHz Core 2, white, 1
GB/120/Combo, $769 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $769 shipped
- used 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 2 GB/160/SD, $889 shipped
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $829 shipped
- used 2.2 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD,
$889 shipped
- used 2.4 GHz Core 2, white, 2 GB/160/SD,
$909 shipped
- lots of other configurations listed
Free ground shipping.
- used 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $999.99 shipped
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 1
GB/60/SD, $599.99
- used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $699
- used 2.2 GHz Core Duo, white, 1
GB/80/SD, $729.99
Ground shipping may add $19 or more 60 day warranty.
Apple Remote $9.99 additional.
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/Combo, $569.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/60/Combo, $649.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, black, 512/80/Combo, $699.99
- used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, white, 512/80/Combo, $739.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $769.99
- used 2.0 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/120/Combo, $799.99
- wireless remote, $9.99
Need something thinner and lighter with most of the power? Check out
our Best MacBook Air Prices.
Need something bigger and more powerful? See our Best 15" MacBook Pro Prices and
our Best 17" MacBook Pro
Prices. 
B&H offers free ground shipping.
Ground shipping averages $30. Mac of All Trades has
the highest product turnover of any used Mac dealer we track and
collects sales tax on orders shipped within FL.
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