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

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

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
FigureMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Price£1,0493launch price£1,0494launch price
ChipCore m31.1GHz dual-core IntelCore M1.1GHz dual-core Intel
CPU2-coreCPU2-coreCPU
Memory8GBmemory, base8GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to11 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released20 April 20163ReleasedIn Apple Stores; available online from 19 April 2016.10 April 20155Available online; Apple gave no in-store day
Security updates16 September 20246Security updates ended2 February 20266Security updates ended
Price
The MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) is £1,049 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) is £1,049 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) · 280.5 × 196.5 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Dimensions3.5–13.1 x 280.5 x 196.5 mm3.5–13.1 x 280.5 x 196.5 mm
Weight0.92 kg0.92 kg
ColoursRose Gold, Space Gray, Gold, SilverSilver, Gold, Space Gray
PortsUSB-C port, 3.5 mm headphone jackUSB-C port, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt portsNo Thunderbolt ports.7No Thunderbolt ports.8
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.7No USB-A ports.8
HDMINo HDMI port.9No HDMI port.10
SD card slotNo SD card slot.9No SD card slot.10
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.9No MagSafe port.10
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit keysFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit keys
Touch IDNo Touch ID.9No Touch ID.10

Display

Display: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Display size12 in12 in
Resolution2304 x 14402304 x 1440
Pixel density226 ppi226 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Chip1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core m31.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.7Intel processor, not Apple silicon.8
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 515Intel HD Graphics 5300
Chip options1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core m3; 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m5; 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core m71.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core M
Memory (base)8GB8GB
Memory (maximum)8GB8GB
Memory options8GB8GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents11No, as Apple documents11
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)512GB512GB
Storage options256GB or 512GB256GB or 512GB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Battery capacity41.4 Wh39.7 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles121,000 cycles12
Video playback (claimed)11 h10 h
Wireless web (claimed)10 h9 h
Included power adapter29 W29 W
Fast chargingNo fast charging.9No fast charging.10

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth4.04.0
EthernetNo Ethernet port.9No Ethernet port.10
External displays (base)11

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Camera480p FaceTime camera480p FaceTime camera
SpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesDual microphonesDual microphones

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) against Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
SpecificationMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)1MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)2
Shipped withOS X El Capitan13OS X Yosemite14
Newest macOSmacOS Monterey15macOS Big Sur15
Model identifierMacBook9,115MacBook8,115
Model year20162015

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) · 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) · 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 Unveils All-New MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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

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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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  11. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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

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  13. 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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  14. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple Unveils All-New MacBook · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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

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Not published by Apple

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: brightness, refresh rate, wide colour (P3), 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015). Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: brightness, refresh rate, wide colour (P3), 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 (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)? · 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.