Why the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is still integral to Apple's lineup

Offering older models at entry-level prices.

- DAN MOREN

At various points during the past several years, Apple has been rated the most valuable corporation in the world. And it's pretty safe to assume the company didn't get to that point without being strategic about how it positions its products.

One big part of what's made Apple so successful is that the company makes sure it's got products at every price point. No, it doesn't compete in the super-budget department when it comes to devices-Apple is happy to leave those low-margin offerings to the likes of Android phones and Dell PCs-but when it does enter a market, it makes sure it always has a solid spread.

Of course, when you're a company that builds powerful, good-looking devices and values its profit margins, your options are somewhat limited when it comes to making your devices more affordable. Which has led to a key part of Apple's strategy across all its lineups: in with the old. Apple's made a science out of retaining older products and selling them at lower prices to plug holes in its product lineups, and it's a move that continues to serve the company well.

THIS OLD MAC

On the Mac side, keeping old models around to fit at a particular price point has been something the company's done for a long time. Long after Apple upgraded its laptops to Retina displays and eliminated optical drives, it continued to sell one older MacBook Pro model that included the latter but not the former (fave.co/3vk06b9). Likewise, the 21.5-inch iMac with a spinning disc drive made it until last fall (fave.co/3bfvLDP).