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Should I upgrade my MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)?

11 years old · Not on the current macOS; endoflife.date lists Big Sur security support as ended 2 February 2026

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)1MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook against MacBook Air M5
FigureMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Price£1,0493launch price£1,2994Apple UK store
ChipCore M1.1GHz dual-core IntelM5chip
CPU2-coreCPU10-coreCPU
GPUNot available5GPU8-coreGPU
Memory8GBmemory, base16GBunified memory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base512GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released10 April 20156Available online; Apple gave no in-store day11 March 20267ReleasedIn Apple Stores; pre-order from 4 March 2026.
Security updates2 February 20268Security updates endedNot available9Security updates

Software support

Security updates
Not available10
macOS
macOS Big Sur, not the current macOSThe MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) is not on the current macOS (macOS 27 Golden Gate); the newest it runs is macOS Big Sur. endoflife.date lists security support for Big Sur as ended on 2 February 2026.

MacBook and the MacBook Air M5

Apple no longer sells the MacBook 12-inch; this site’s fixed list of ended lines names the MacBook Air 13-inch line as its replacement. The newest base-tier Mac in the MacBook Air 13-inch line that Apple still sells.

Specifications

Body

Body: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Dimensions3.5–13.1 x 280.5 x 196.5 mm11.3 x 304.1 x 215 mm
Weight0.92 kg1.23 kg
ColoursSilver, Gold, Space GraySky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight
PortsUSB-C port, 3.5 mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt portsNo Thunderbolt ports.112
Thunderbolt versionNot available12Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.11No USB-A ports.13
HDMINo HDMI port.14No HDMI port.15
SD card slotNo SD card slot.14No SD card slot.15
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.14Yes
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with LED-backlit keysBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Touch IDNo Touch ID.14Yes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Display size12 in13.6 in
Resolution2304 x 14402560 x 1664
Pixel density226 ppi224 ppi
Display typeRetina displayLiquid Retina display
BrightnessNot available5500 nits
Wide colour (P3)Not available5Yes
Nano-texture optionNot available5No nano-texture display option.15

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Chip1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core MApple M5 chip
Apple siliconIntel processor, not Apple silicon.11Yes
CPU cores210
Super coresNot available16417
Efficiency coresNot available16617
GPU coresNot available58
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 53008-core GPU, 10-core GPU18
Neural Engine coresNot available1916
Chip options1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M; 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core MM5 with 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU
Memory (base)8GB16GB
Memory (maximum)8GB32GB
Memory options8GB16GB, 24GB or 32GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents20No, as Apple documents20
Memory bandwidthNot available21153 GB/s
Storage (base)256GB512GB
Storage (maximum)512GB4TB
Storage options256GB or 512GB512GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB
Media engineNot available19Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engineAV1 decode

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Battery capacity39.7 Wh53.8 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles221,000 cycles22
Video playback (claimed)2310 h18 h
Wireless web (claimed)9 h15 h
Included power adapter29 WNo power adapter in the box.15
Fast chargingNo fast charging.14Yes

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Wi-Fi802.11ac Wi-FiWi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth4.06
EthernetNo Ethernet port.14No Ethernet port.15
External displays (base)12

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Camera480p FaceTime camera12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View
Camera resolutionNot available2412 MP
SpeakersStereo speakersFour-speaker sound system
MicrophonesDual microphonesThree-mic array with directional beamforming

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Shipped withOS X Yosemite25Not available26
Newest macOSmacOS Big Sur27macOS 27 Golden Gate28
Model identifierMacBook8,127Mac17,329
Model year20152026

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) against Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)
SpecificationMacBook1MacBook Air M52
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)699303,57630
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)1,2003017,06230

The rest of the range at the price

Macs from other lines with a price read from Apple’s UK store, released within a year of the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) and priced within a quarter of its £1,299 at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026, nearest price first. Each links to its side-by-side table, with your MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) or, where that pair is not one this site indexes, with the MacBook Air M5 (13-inch).

Trade-in and used prices

No used or trade-in figures for the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015): we have not matched it to a CeX listing we can confirm is this exact Mac, and we would rather show nothing than a near miss.

The MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) is £1,299 new at Apple’s UK price as read on 22 September 2026; we hold no trade-in figure for the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) yet.

More

Sources

  1. 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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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Air M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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

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  4. Apple UK store — 13-inch MacBook Air M5, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU — From £1,299 · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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

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  7. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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

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

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  10. Apple publishes no end date of its own; the date in the macOS row is endoflife.date’s record, not Apple’s. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 2 Oct 2026

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  11. 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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  12. Doesn’t apply: no Thunderbolt port

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  13. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 14 Sep 2026

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  14. 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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  15. MacBook Air (13-inch, M5): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No power adapter in the box. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  16. Doesn’t apply: this is an Intel processor, and Apple lists a total core count only

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  17. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 14 Oct 2026

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  19. Doesn’t apply: Apple silicon feature; this Mac has an Intel processor

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

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  21. Doesn’t apply: Apple publishes it only for Apple silicon

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

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  23. Two different Apple tests. MacBook: iTunes movie playback. MacBook Air M5: Video streaming.

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  24. Not published by Apple (Apple states resolution: 480p FaceTime camera)

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

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  26. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers. Read 9 Oct 2026

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

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  28. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  29. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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

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Not published by Apple

MacBook. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, 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.

MacBook Air M5. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers, read 9 Oct 2026.

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