Apple MacBook Pro 13" 2020 — Quad-Core i7 with 32GB RAM & Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports
The Apple MacBook Pro 13" 2020 (A2251) is the top-tier Intel-era 13" Pro — a 10th Gen quad-core i7 paired with a generous 32GB of LPDDR4X memory (double the standard configuration), a 512GB NVMe SSD, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID, and the bright P3 wide-colour Retina display. Backed by Reboot IT's 12-month warranty.
Key Benefits
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Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (10th Gen Ice Lake, quad-core): 4 cores / 8 threads up to 3.8 GHz turbo with 8MB cache and Iris Plus G7 graphics — the fastest Intel CPU Apple ever shipped in a 13" MacBook Pro.
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32GB LPDDR4X memory — rare and a major upgrade: double the standard 16GB, soldered LPDDR4X at 3733 MHz — massive headroom for Lightroom catalogues, Logic Pro sessions, Xcode projects, virtual machines, and dozens of browser tabs.
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Four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports: all four ports support 40Gbps data, dual external 4K (or single 5K) display, and 60W Power Delivery — dock once for displays, peripherals, storage and charging.
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13.3" Retina display, 2560×1600: 500-nit IPS panel with True Tone and the P3 wide colour gamut — razor-sharp text, accurate colour for design work, and 60% more pixels than a standard FHD laptop screen.
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Touch Bar with Touch ID + Apple T2 security chip: fingerprint sign-in plus Apple Pay authorisation, hardware-encrypted SSD and a Secure Enclave that handles boot verification automatically.
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Magic Keyboard (scissor mechanism): the reliable scissor design Apple returned to in 2020 — comfortable 1mm key travel and none of the dust-failure issues of the earlier butterfly keyboards.
Performance in Use
This 2020 MacBook Pro 13" is Apple's last and best Intel 13-incher — and the 32GB RAM in this configuration makes it especially capable. The Ice Lake i7-1068NG7 is a genuine quad-core performance chip (28W package power, not the lower-power Y-series in the MacBook Air), and the upgraded Iris Plus G7 graphics deliver smooth video playback, light photo editing and 4K external display output. Boot-to-desktop in seconds, with Outlook, Teams, Edge, Chrome, Office and Photoshop all launching near-instantly off the fast NVMe SSD.
Where the 32GB RAM really pays off is sustained creative and developer workflows. Large Lightroom catalogues stay responsive through bulk edits and exports, Logic Pro handles dozens of tracks with plug-ins, Xcode compiles fly through, and VS Code with multiple language servers and a Docker container stays snappy. Photographers and designers running 50+ layer Photoshop files or working in Affinity Designer and Sketch will appreciate having so much headroom — you'll never feel constrained by memory.
The 13.3" Retina display is still beautiful: 500 nits of brightness, True Tone to match ambient lighting, and the P3 wide colour gamut for accurate creative work. The Magic Keyboard (the scissor return after the butterfly debacle) is reliable and comfortable for all-day typing, and the Force Touch trackpad remains class-leading. Four Thunderbolt 3 ports mean genuine flexibility — charge from either side, run dual external displays, and connect high-speed SSDs all simultaneously.
Technical Specifications
| Brand |
Apple |
| Model |
MacBook Pro 13" 2020 (A2251 / MacBookPro16,2) |
| Processor |
Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (10th Gen Ice Lake, 4C/8T, 2.3 GHz base / 3.8 GHz turbo, 8MB cache, 28W) |
| Memory (RAM) |
32GB LPDDR4X 3733 MHz (soldered, not upgradeable) |
| Storage |
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD (soldered) |
| Graphics |
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (integrated, 64 EUs) |
| Display |
13.3" Retina IPS, 2560×1600, 500 nits, True Tone, P3 wide colour |
| Operating System |
macOS (supported up to macOS Sequoia) |
| Wireless |
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac, 2×2) + Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports |
4× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C, 40Gbps, DP, 60W PD), 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Camera |
720p FaceTime HD |
| Audio |
Stereo speakers with high dynamic range; three-mic array with directional beamforming |
| Security |
Touch ID, Apple T2 Security Chip (hardware-encrypted SSD, Secure Boot) |
| Keyboard |
Magic Keyboard (scissor mechanism), backlit, Touch Bar with Touch ID, Force Touch trackpad |
| Weight |
Approx. 1.4 kg |
| Warranty |
12-month Reboot IT return-to-base warranty (battery 30 days) |
Is It Right For You?
✓ Best for Creative pros and developers who need 32GB RAM in a portable Mac; Lightroom and Photoshop users wanting plenty of memory headroom; Xcode developers; anyone needing native x86 macOS for software that doesn't run well on Apple silicon via Rosetta; users who specifically need four Thunderbolt 3 ports for docking; buyers wanting Touch Bar with Touch ID in a compact 13" form factor. |
✗ Not for Users who prioritise battery life (Apple silicon M-series MacBooks easily double the runtime); heavy 4K video editing or 3D rendering (integrated Iris Plus only); anyone wanting MagSafe or HDMI without dongles; users needing more than 512GB internal storage without external Thunderbolt SSDs; buyers wanting the latest macOS Sequoia AI features (not all are available on Intel Macs). |
Condition Grades
| Grade |
Cosmetic Description |
Battery |
| A — Excellent |
Minimal signs of use, may have very light marks only visible on close inspection. Fully tested and refurbished. |
70%+ health |
| B — Good |
Light wear consistent with prior business use — minor scuffs, marks or palm-rest shine. Fully functional, screen and keys in normal working condition. |
50–70% health |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 32GB RAM significant?
The vast majority of 2020 MacBook Pro 13" units shipped with 8GB or 16GB — 32GB was a premium build-to-order upgrade that cost an extra A$600 new. It's the maximum RAM this model ever supported, and it transforms what the machine can handle in 2025 — Lightroom catalogues, large Photoshop files, Logic Pro sessions, Docker, virtual machines and dozens of browser tabs all stay smooth.
What version of macOS does it run?
The MacBook Pro 13" 2020 (A2251) is officially supported up to macOS Sequoia (macOS 15). We ship each unit with a fresh, fully set-up install of the latest compatible macOS, ready to use out of the box.
How does it compare to an M1 / M2 MacBook?
Apple silicon M1/M2 MacBook Pros have better battery life and better single-threaded performance per watt. However, this Intel i7-1068NG7 is the highest-performance Intel chip Apple shipped in a 13", and the 32GB RAM exceeds what the base M1/M2 MacBook Air offers (which max at 16GB / 24GB). For x86-specific workflows or older professional apps that don't run perfectly under Rosetta, this Intel Pro is genuinely useful.
Can the RAM or SSD be upgraded later?
No. On the 2020 MacBook Pro 13" both the RAM and SSD are soldered to the logic board, so the 32GB / 512GB configuration is fixed. The good news is 32GB is the maximum this model ever shipped with.
Is the keyboard reliable? I've heard about the butterfly issues.
Yes — the 2020 MacBook Pro 13" uses Apple's redesigned Magic Keyboard with the reliable scissor mechanism (not the problematic butterfly keyboard). Apple specifically returned to scissor switches with this model to eliminate the dust-failure issues of 2016–2019 MacBook Pros.
What's included in the box?
The laptop plus a compatible USB-C power adapter. No original box, manuals or extra accessories.
What about shipping and returns?
Shipping rates calculated at checkout based on size and destination. 14-day change-of-mind returns accepted on unmarked units. Standard 12-month Reboot IT warranty covers any hardware faults.
12-Month Reboot IT Warranty. Every MacBook Pro is fully tested, professionally cleaned and reinstalled with a fresh, supported copy of macOS before dispatch. If anything fails within the warranty period we'll repair or replace it. Battery cells carry a separate 30-day warranty. Shipping rates calculated at checkout. Reboot IT has been Melbourne's trusted refurbished IT specialist since 2001.