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MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) vs MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
FigureMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Price£2,3493launch price£2,3494launch price
ChipCore i72.2GHz 6-core IntelCore i72.6GHz quad-core Intel
CPU6-coreCPU4-coreCPU
Memory16GBmemory, base16GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released12 July 20185Available online; Apple gave no in-store day27 October 20166Announced, no on-sale date given
Security updatesNot available7Security updates16 September 20248Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) is £2,349 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) is £2,349 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) · 349.3 × 240.7 mm footprintMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) · 349.3 × 240.7 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 (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Dimensions15.5 x 349.3 x 240.7 mm15.5 x 349.3 x 240.7 mm
Weight1.83 kg1.83 kg
ColoursSilver, Space GraySilver, Space Gray
PortsFour Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jackFour Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports44
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 3
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.9No USB-A ports.10
HDMINo HDMI port.11No HDMI port.12
SD card slotNo SD card slot.11No SD card slot.12
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.9No MagSafe port.10
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch IDFull-size backlit keyboard with Touch Bar with integrated Touch ID sensor
Touch IDYesYes
Touch BarYesYes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Display size15.4 in15.4 in
Resolution2880 x 18002880 x 1800
Pixel density220 ppi220 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display
Brightness500 nits500 nits
Wide colour (P3)YesYes

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Chip2.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i72.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.9Intel processor, not Apple silicon.10
CPU cores64
GraphicsRadeon Pro 555X with 4GB of GDDR5 memoryRadeon Pro 450 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching; Intel HD Graphics 530
Chip options2.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 or 2.9GHz 6-core Intel Core i92.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz; 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz; configurable to 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
Memory (base)16GB16GB
Memory (maximum)32GB16GB
Memory options16GB or 32GB16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents13No, as Apple documents13
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)4TB2TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Battery capacity83.6 Wh76 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles141,000 cycles14
Video playback (claimed)10 h10 h
Wireless web (claimed)10 h10 h
Included power adapter87 W87 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.15No fast charging.16

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth5.04.2
EthernetNo Ethernet port.11No Ethernet port.12
External displays (base)44

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersStereo speakers with high dynamic rangeStereo speakers with high dynamic range
MicrophonesThree microphonesThree microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Shipped withNot available17macOS Sierra6
Newest macOSmacOS Sequoia18macOS Monterey18
Model identifierMacBookPro15,118MacBookPro13,318
Model year20182016

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) against Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
SpecificationMacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)1MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)1,2261999319
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)4,819193,57119

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates MacBook Pro with faster performance and new features for pros · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates MacBook Pro with faster performance and new features for pros · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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

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  7. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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

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  9. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018): No USB-A ports. No MagSafe port. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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

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  11. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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

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  15. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018): No fast charging. Checked: Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  16. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016): No fast charging. Checked: Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  17. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates MacBook Pro with faster performance and new features for pros; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018). 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 (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates MacBook Pro with faster performance and new features for pros; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016). 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 (15-inch, 2016) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils Groundbreaking New MacBook Pro; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, 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 (15-inch, 2018)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)?

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