Are we seeing different Apple store pages or something? Different (lower-numbered) iris graphics, slower ram, et c. What are you seeing?
[EDIT] discovered via Wikipedia that it is the same processor generation, just a weaker version. Also, USB-C ports cut down from 4 to 2. The non-touchbar Macbook seems to be designed to make people not buy it. And it's still more expensive than the previous entry level.