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MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) vs MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook against MacBook Pro
FigureMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Price£1,0493launch price£1,5994launch price
ChipCore m31.1GHz dual-core IntelCore i72.2GHz quad-core Intel
CPU2-coreCPU4-coreCPU
Memory8GBmemory, base16GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to11 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to9 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released20 April 20163ReleasedIn Apple Stores; available online from 19 April 2016.19 May 20155Released
Security updates16 September 20246Security updates ended16 September 20246Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook is £1,049 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Pro is £1,599 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) · 280.5 × 196.5 mm footprintMacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) · 358.9 × 247.1 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Dimensions3.5–13.1 x 280.5 x 196.5 mm18 x 358.9 x 247.1 mm
Weight0.92 kg2.04 kg
ColoursRose Gold, Space Gray, Gold, SilverNot available7
PortsUSB-C port, 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 portsNo Thunderbolt ports.82
Thunderbolt versionNot available9Thunderbolt 2
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.82
HDMINo HDMI port.10HDMI port
SD card slotNo SD card slot.10Yes
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.10Yes
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit 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.10No Touch ID.11

Display

Display: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Display size12 in15.4 in
Resolution2304 x 14402880 x 1800
Pixel density226 ppi220 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display
BrightnessNot available12300 nits
Wide colour (P3)Not available12No wide colour (P3) display.13

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Chip1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core m32.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.8Intel processor, not Apple silicon.13
CPU cores24
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 515Intel Iris Pro Graphics
Chip options1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core m3; 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m5; 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core m72.2GHz 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 4.0GHz
Memory (base)8GB16GB
Memory (maximum)8GB16GB
Memory options8GB16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents14No, as Apple documents14
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)512GB1TB
Storage options256GB or 512GB256GB, 512GB or 1TB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Battery capacity41.4 Wh99.5 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles151,000 cycles15
Video playback (claimed)11 h9 h
Wireless web (claimed)10 h9 h
Included power adapter29 W85 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.10No fast charging.11

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth4.04.2
EthernetNo Ethernet port.10No Ethernet port.11
External displays (base)12

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Camera480p FaceTime camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesDual microphonesDual microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Pro2
Shipped withOS X El Capitan16OS X Yosemite17
Newest macOSmacOS Monterey18macOS Monterey19
Model identifierMacBook9,118MacBookPro11,4 or MacBookPro11,519
Model year20162015

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. 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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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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

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  7. 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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  8. MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016): No Thunderbolt ports. No USB-A ports. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  9. Doesn’t apply: no Thunderbolt port

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  10. MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016): 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 2016) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  11. 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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  12. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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

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  16. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish · Apple’s figure · read 9 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 Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 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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Not published by Apple

MacBook. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, nano-texture option, GPU cores, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7: the Mac chart has no entry for this Mac, so no figures are shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) - Technical Specifications; Identify your MacBook Pro model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Updates MacBook with Latest Processors, Longer Battery Life & New Rose Gold Finish, read 9 Oct 2026.

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.

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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)?

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