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MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) vs MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro against MacBook
FigureMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Price£1,5993launch price£1,0494launch price
ChipCore i72.2GHz quad-core IntelCore M1.1GHz dual-core Intel
CPU4-coreCPU2-coreCPU
Memory16GBmemory, base8GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to9 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released19 May 20155Released10 April 20156Available online; Apple gave no in-store day
Security updates16 September 20247Security updates ended2 February 20267Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook Pro is £1,599 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook is £1,049 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) · 358.9 × 247.1 mm footprintMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) · 280.5 × 196.5 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 (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Dimensions18 x 358.9 x 247.1 mm3.5–13.1 x 280.5 x 196.5 mm
Weight2.04 kg0.92 kg
ColoursNot available8Silver, Gold, Space Gray
PortsMagSafe 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 slotUSB-C port, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports2No Thunderbolt ports.9
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 2Not available10
USB-A ports2No USB-A ports.9
HDMIHDMI portNo HDMI port.11
SD card slotYesNo SD card slot.11
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeYesNo MagSafe port.11
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted T arrangement)Full-size keyboard with LED-backlit keys
Touch IDNo Touch ID.12No Touch ID.11

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Display size15.4 in12 in
Resolution2880 x 18002304 x 1440
Pixel density220 ppi226 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display
Brightness300 nitsNot available13
Wide colour (P3)No wide colour (P3) display.14Not available13

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Chip2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i71.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.14Intel processor, not Apple silicon.9
CPU cores42
GraphicsIntel Iris Pro GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 5300
Chip options2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz; 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz; configurable to 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core M
Memory (base)16GB8GB
Memory (maximum)16GB8GB
Memory options16GB8GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents15No, as Apple documents15
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)1TB512GB
Storage options256GB, 512GB or 1TB256GB or 512GB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Battery capacity99.5 Wh39.7 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles161,000 cycles16
Video playback (claimed)9 h10 h
Wireless web (claimed)9 h9 h
Included power adapter85 W29 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.12No fast charging.11

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth4.24.0
EthernetNo Ethernet port.12No Ethernet port.11
External displays (base)21

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera480p FaceTime camera
SpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesDual microphonesDual microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Shipped withOS X Yosemite17OS X Yosemite18
Newest macOSmacOS Monterey19macOS Big Sur20
Model identifierMacBookPro11,4 or MacBookPro11,519MacBook8,120
Model year20152015

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook Pro1MacBook2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)9562169921
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)3,371211,20021

Sources

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

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New £1,599 iMac with Retina 5K Display · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New £1,599 iMac with Retina 5K Display · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  6. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 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, 15-inch, Mid 2015) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New £1,599 iMac with Retina 5K Display. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  9. MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015): No Thunderbolt ports. No USB-A ports. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) - Tech Specs. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  10. Doesn’t apply: no Thunderbolt port

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  11. MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No MagSafe port. No Touch ID. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015): No Touch ID. No fast charging. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015): No wide colour (P3) display. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 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 Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New £1,599 iMac with Retina 5K Display · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 9 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. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro. 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, 15-inch, Mid 2015) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New £1,599 iMac with Retina 5K Display, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook. 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) - Tech Specs; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook, 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 (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook (Retina, 12-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.