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MacBook 12” 2016 vs. MacBook Air 11” 2015 - Specs Comparison

Here is a comparison between the specifications of the MacBook 12” 2016 and MacBook Air 11” 2015, including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.

By Conor Banett

January 24, 2024 10:13 am

MacBook 12” 2016 vs. MacBook Air 11” 2015

The MacBook 12” 2016 features the 4.5W 6th Generation Intel Skylake dual-core Intel Core m3-6Y30 up to dual-core Intel Core m7-6Y75 with the boost speed up to 3.10 GHz. While the MacBook Air 11” 2015 features the 15W 5th Generation Intel Broadwell dual-core Intel Core i5-5250U up to dual-core Intel Core i7-5650U with the boost speed up to 3.10 GHz.

If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 12″ MacBook 12” 2016 and the 11.6″ MacBook Air 11” 2015 , we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

MacBook 12” 2016 vs. MacBook Air 11” 2015: Specs Comparison

	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook 12” 2016	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook Air 11” 2015
Availability
Released	2016	2015
Release Info	Announced on April 19, 2016 Available on April 19, 2016	Available on March 10, 2015
Pricing	$1,299 Intel Core m3-6Y30 \| 8GB RAM \| 256GB SSD $1,599 Intel Core m5-6Y54 \| 8GB RAM \| 512GB SSD	$899 Intel Core i5 5250U \| 4GB RAM \| 128GB SSD $1,099 Intel Core i5 5250U \| 4GB RAM \| 256GB SSD

Display	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Size	12 Inches	11.6 Inches
Info	Retina display 12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors 16:10 aspect ratio Supported scaled resolutions: 1440 by 900 1280 by 800 1024 by 640	11.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors Supported resolutions: 1366 by 768 (native), 1344 by 756, and 1280 by 720 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio; 1152 by 720 and 1024 by 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768 and 800 by 600 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio

Exterior	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Size Comparison
Dimensions	11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm)	11.8” x 7.56” x 0.11 - 0.68” (300 mm x 192 mm x 3 - 17 mm)
Weight	Starting at 2.03 pounds (920 g)	Starting at 2.38 pounds (1.08 kg)
Colors	SilverSpace GrayGoldRose Gold	Silver
Keyboard and Trackpad	Full-size backlit keyboard with: 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys with ambient light sensor Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures	Full-size backlit keyboard with: 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement) with ambient light sensor Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
Ports	One USB Type-C port with support for: Charging USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps) Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately) HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)	1 x Thunderbolt 2 port Supports data transfers up to 20 Gbps. 2 x USB 3.0 ports Supports data transfers up to 5 Gbps. 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x MagSafe 2 power port

Internal Specs	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Processor	6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 2 cores, 4 threads, 0.90 → 2.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 2.70 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W	5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5250U 2 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 → 2.70 GHz, 3MB Cache, 15W 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5350U 2 cores, 4 threads, 2.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB Cache, 15W
Integrated Graphics	6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Intel® HD Graphics 515 24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz	5th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-5250U Intel® HD Graphics 6000 48 Execution Units, 300 → 950 MHz 5th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-5350U Intel® HD Graphics 6000 48 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
Memory	8GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	4GB Configurable to 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage	256GB512GB PCIe-based onboard flash storage.	128GB256GB Configurable to 512GB flash storage.

Connectivity	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Wi-Fi	802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible	802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology	Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Battery	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Size	41.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery	38 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life	Up to 10 hours of wireless web Up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time	Up to 9 hours of wireless web Up to 10 hours of iTunes movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply	29W USB-C Power Adapter	45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter With cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port.

Software	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
OS	Shipped with OS X El Capitan	Shipped with OS X El Capitan
Built-in Apps	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSafariMailMessagesFaceTimeCalendarNotesApp StoreiTunesiBooksMapsContactsReminders	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSafariMailMessagesFaceTimeCalendarNotesApp StoreiTunesiBooksMapsContactsReminders

Camera & Audio	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
Camera	480p FaceTime HD camera	720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio	Stereo speakers Dual microphones 3.5 mm headphone jack Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone	Stereo speakers Dual microphones Headphone port Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone

Misc	MacBook 12” 2016	MacBook Air 11” 2015
In the box	MacBook 29W USB-C Power Adapter USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)	MacBook Air 11″ Power adapter AC wall plug Power cord
Warranty	Limited Warranty and Service Your MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2275.	Limited Warranty and Service Your MacBook Air comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2775.
More	Video Support Intel HD Graphics 515 Dual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors	Video Support Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors Thunderbolt digital video output Native Mini DisplayPort output DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately) VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately) Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately) HDMI audio and video output using third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (sold separately)