MacBook 12” 2016 vs. 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina: Full specs comparison

We have comprehensively analyzed the technical specifications for the MacBook 12” 2016 and 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina models. Our report includes intricate details such as the CPU, memory, storage, battery life, display quality, and other features.

MacBook 12” 2016 Pros

Reasons that MacBook 12” 2016 is better than 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina.

Newer manufacturing

2016 vs. 2015

About 42% lighter

MacBook 12” 2016 weighed 2.03 pounds, 42% lighter than the 3.48 pounds 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina.

WeightMacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Pound
2.03 lbs.
3.48 lbs.
Kilogram
0.92 kg
1.58 kg

2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Pros

Reasons that 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina is better than MacBook 12” 2016.

Slightly faster CPU performance

Intel Core i7-5557U inside 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina has a 19% better multi-core CPU performance score than the Intel Core m7-6Y75 inside MacBook 12” 2016.

Geekbench 5 multi-core score
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina - Intel Core i7-5557U
1,663
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina - Intel Core i5-5287U
1,619
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina - Intel Core i5-5257U
1,542
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m7-6Y75
1,390
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m5-6Y54
1,295
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m3-6Y30
1,058
Supports larger memory

The 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina supports a larger memory capacity than the MacBook 12” 2016. It supports up to 16GB versus 8GB of system memory on the MacBook 12” 2016.

Max system memory size
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
16 GB
MacBook 12” 2016
8 GB
Upgradable storage

The 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina comes with a single removable M.2 SSD slot that you can replace and upgrade in the future.

SlotsMacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
M.2
Onboard
Yes x1
10% larger display

The 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina has a 13.3-inch screen size 10% larger than the 12-inch MacBook 12” 2016.

Display size
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
13.3-inch
MacBook 12” 2016
12-inch

Key Similars

Similar characteristics share between MacBook 12” 2016 and 2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina.

Uses the same memory type and speed

Both laptops supports the same 1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM.

Memory type and speed
MacBook 12” 2016 - LPDDR3
1,866 MHz
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina - LPDDR3
1,866 MHz

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

MacBook 12” 2016 Price
2017 Apple Macbook with 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 (12-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Space Gray (Renewed)
2017 Apple Macbook with 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 (12-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Space Gray (Renewed)
By Apple
$353.00
Apple Early 2016 MacBook with 1.3GHz Intel Core m7 (12 inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Space Gray (Renewed)
Apple Early 2016 MacBook with 1.3GHz Intel Core m7 (12 inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Space Gray (Renewed)
By Apple
$375.00
Apple MacBook MF865LL/A 12-inch Laptop with Retina Display 512GB, Silver - (Renewed)
Apple MacBook MF865LL/A 12-inch Laptop with Retina Display 512GB, Silver - (Renewed)
By Apple
$414.98
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Price
Apple 60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for MacBook Pro with 13-inch Retina Display
Apple 60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for MacBook Pro with 13-inch Retina Display
By Apple
$72.00
$79.00 9% OFF
Apple MacBook Pro Retina MF843LL/A 13” Laptop, 3.1GHz Intel Core i7, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD, macOS 10.14 Mojave (Renewed)
Apple MacBook Pro Retina MF843LL/A 13” Laptop, 3.1GHz Intel Core i7, 16GB Memory, 512GB SSD, macOS 10.14 Mojave (Renewed)
By Apple
$461.03
2015 Apple MacBook Pro with intel I7 (15-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)- Silver (Renewed)
2015 Apple MacBook Pro with intel I7 (15-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)- Silver (Renewed)
By Apple
$329.34

Availability

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Released20162015
Release Date
  • Announced on April 19, 2016
  • Available on April 19, 2016
  • Announced on March 9th, 2015
  • Available on March 9th, 2015
Pricing
  • $1,299
    Intel Core m3-6Y30 | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,599
    Intel Core m5-6Y54 | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
  • $1,299
    Intel Core i5 5257U | 8GB RAM | 128GB SSD
  • $1,499
    Intel Core i5 5257U | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,799
    Intel Core i5 5287U | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
Generations-

Exterior

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Dimensions11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm)12.35” x 8.62” x 0.71” (314 mm x 219 mm x 18 mm)
WeightStarting at 2.03 pounds (920 g)Starting at 3.48 lb (1.58 kg)
Colors
Silver Space Gray Gold Rose Gold
Silver
Keyboard and TrackpadFull-size backlit keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys with ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
  • Full-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement) with ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures

Display

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Size12 Inches13.3 Inches
InfoRetina display
  • 12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
  • 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • 16:10 aspect ratio
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1280 by 800
    • 1024 by 640
Retina display
  • 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1680 by 1050
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1024 by 640
  • 300 nits brightness
  • Standard color gamut (sRGB)
  • 900:1 contrast ratio

Ports

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
One USB Type-C port with support for:
  • Charging
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
  • Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output
  • VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
  • HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Ports
Image Source: Apple
Left (5)
  • 1 x power port
    MagSafe 2
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 2
    DisplayPort, 20Gbps
  • 1 x USB-A
    USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)
  • 1 x headphone jack
    Headphone/Microphone
Right (3)
  • 1 x full-size SD card slot
  • 1 x HDMI
  • 1 x USB-A
    USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)

Internal Specs

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Processor
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
    2 cores, 4 threads, 0.90 → 2.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  2. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 2.70 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  3. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  1. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5257U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 2.70 → 3.10 GHz, 3MB Cache, 28W
  2. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5287U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 2.90 → 3.30 GHz, 3MB Cache, 28W
  3. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5557U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 3.10 → 3.40 GHz, 4MB Cache, 28W
Integrated Graphics
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz
  2. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz
  3. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
  1. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5257U
    Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100
    48 Execution Units, 300 → 1050 MHz
  2. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5287U
    Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100
    48 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
  3. 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5557U
    Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100
    48 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
Memory
8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
8GB
configurable to 16GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage
256GB 512GB
PCIe-based onboard flash storage.
256GB 512GB
configurable to 1TB SSD

Connectivity

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Wi-Fi
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0 wireless technologyBluetooth 4.2 wireless technology

Battery

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Size41.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery74.9 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life
  • Up to 10 hours of wireless web
  • Up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback
  • Up to 30 days of standby time
  • Up to 10 hours wireless web
  • Up to 12 hours of iTunes movie playback
  • Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply29W USB-C Power Adapter60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter
With cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port.

Software

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
OSShipped with OS X El CapitanShipped with OS X Yosemite
Built-in Apps
Photos iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Safari Mail Messages FaceTime Calendar Notes App Store iTunes iBooks Maps Contacts Reminders
Photos iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Siri Safari Mail FaceTime Messages Maps Notes Calendar Contacts Reminders Photo Booth Preview iTunes iBooks App Store Time Machine

Camera & Audio

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Camera480p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
    • Support for audio line out (digital/analog)

Misc

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
Sensors-
  • Ambient light sensor
In the box
  • MacBook
  • 29W USB-C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
  • 13‑inch MacBook Pro
  • MagSafe 2 Power Adapter
  • Power cord
  • AC wall plug
WarrantyLimited Warranty and ServiceYour MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2275. Your MacBook Pro with Retina display comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple‑authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2775.
MoreVideo Support
  • Intel HD Graphics 515
  • Dual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors
Video Support
  • Intel Iris Graphics 6100
  • Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels on up to two external displays, both at millions of colors.
  • Thunderbolt digital video output
    • Native Mini DisplayPort output
    • DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI output supported using Mini DisplayPort adapters (sold separately)
  • HDMI video output
    • Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
    • Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
    • Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz

Key Features

MacBook 12” 20162015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina
At Glance
Released in Early
2016
16:10 QHD
12”
1440p 60Hz
Weight
2.03 lb
0.92 kg
Up to
Intel Core m7-6Y75
2C/4T, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz
Geekbench 5
639
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,390
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 515
24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3
Released in Early
2015
16:10 WQXGA
13.3”
1600p 60Hz
Weight
3.48 lb
1.58 kg
Up to
Intel Core i7-5557U
2C/4T, 3.10 → 3.40 GHz
Geekbench 5
795
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,663
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100
48 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
Configurable up to
16GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3
2015 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Ports

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