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MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) vs MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
FigureMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Price£1,4493launch price£9994launch price
ChipCore i52.0GHz dual-core IntelCore i52.7GHz dual-core Intel
CPU2-coreCPU2-coreCPU
Memory8GBmemory, base8GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base128GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to12 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released27 October 20165Available online; Apple gave no in-store day9 March 20156Released
Security updates16 September 20247Security updates ended16 September 20247Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) is £1,449 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) is £999 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprintMacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) · 314 × 219 mm footprint

Footprints from above, from Apple’s published dimensions, drawn to one scale and superposed. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Dimensions14.9 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm18 x 314 x 219 mm
Weight1.37 kg1.58 kg
ColoursSilver, Space GrayNot available8
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jackMagSafe 2 power port, two Thunderbolt 2 ports (up to 20 Gbps), two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps), HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, SDXC card slot
Thunderbolt ports922
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 2
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.102
HDMINo HDMI port.11HDMI port
SD card slotNo SD card slot.11Yes
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.10Yes
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keysFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted T arrangement)
Touch IDNo Touch ID.11No Touch ID.12
Touch BarNo Touch Bar.11Not available13

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Display size13.3 in13.3 in
Resolution2560 x 16002560 x 1600
Pixel density227 ppi227 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display
Brightness500 nits300 nits
Wide colour (P3)YesNo wide colour (P3) display.14

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Chip2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i52.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.10Intel processor, not Apple silicon.14
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel Iris Graphics 540Intel Iris Graphics 6100
Chip options2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz; configurable to 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz; 2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz; configurable to 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz
Memory (base)8GB8GB
Memory (maximum)16GB16GB
Memory options8GB or 16GB8GB or 16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents15No, as Apple documents15
Storage (base)256GB128GB
Storage (maximum)1TB1TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB or 1TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Battery capacity54.5 Wh74.9 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles161,000 cycles16
Video playback (claimed)10 h12 h
Wireless web (claimed)10 h10 h
Included power adapter61 W60 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.11No fast charging.12

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth4.24.0
EthernetNo Ethernet port.11No Ethernet port.12
External displays (base)22

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersStereo speakers with high dynamic rangeStereo speakers
MicrophonesTwo microphonesDual microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Shipped withmacOS Sierra17OS X Yosemite18
Newest macOSmacOS Monterey19macOS Monterey19
Model identifierMacBookPro13,119MacBookPro12,119
Model year20162015

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)9442091820
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)1,894201,78120

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils Groundbreaking New MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display & MacBook Air · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils Groundbreaking New MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  6. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display & MacBook Air · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  7. endoflife.date — Apple macOS · third-party figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  8. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display & MacBook Air. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  9. Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): Thunderbolt 3. MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015): Thunderbolt 2.

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  10. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): No USB-A ports. No MagSafe port. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  11. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No Touch ID. No Touch Bar. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015): No Touch ID. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Doesn’t apply: this Mac predates the Touch Bar

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  14. MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015): No wide colour (P3) display. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  15. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  16. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  17. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils Groundbreaking New MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display & MacBook Air · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  19. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  20. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, nano-texture option, GPU cores, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart has no Metal score for this Mac (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils Groundbreaking New MacBook Pro; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, nano-texture option, GPU cores, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart has no Metal score for this Mac (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display & MacBook Air, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.