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MacBook Pro 15” (2016) vs. MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015) - Specs Comparison

Here is a comparison between the specifications of the MacBook Pro 15” (2016) and MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015), including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.

By Conor Banett

January 24, 2024 10:13 am

MacBook Pro 15” (2016) vs. MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)

The MacBook Pro 15” (2016) features the 45W 6th Generation Intel Skylake quad-core Intel Core i7-6700HQ up to quad-core Intel Core i7-6920HQ with the boost speed up to 3.80 GHz. While the MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015) features the 47W 4th Generation Intel Crystal Well quad-core Intel Core i7-4770HQ up to quad-core Intel Core i7-4980HQ with the boost speed up to 4.00 GHz.

If you are in the market looking for a laptop and don't know what's the difference between the 15.4″ MacBook Pro 15” (2016) and the 15.4″ MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015) , we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

MacBook Pro 15” (2016) vs. MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015): Specs Comparison

	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Key Features
What's new	6th-gen Intel Skylake Core i7 processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz Up to 16GB of LPDDR3 memory Powerful Radeon Pro discrete graphics with 2GB or 4GB of video memory in every configuration Up to 2TB of SSD storage Apple T1 Chip Touch Bar and Touch ID

Availability	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Released	2016	2015
Release Info	Announced on October 27, 2016 Available on November 15, 2016	Announced on March 9th, 2015 Available on March 9th, 2015
Pricing	$2,399 Intel Core i7 6700HQ \| 16GB RAM \| 256GB SSD \| Radeon Pro 450 $2,799 Intel Core i7 6820HQ \| 16GB RAM \| 512GB SSD \| Radeon Pro 455	$1,999 Intel Core i7 4770HQ\| 16GB RAM \| 256GB SSD $2,499 Intel Core i7 4870HQ \| 16GB RAM \| 512GB SSD

Display	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Size	15.4 Inches	15.4 Inches
Info	Retina display 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2880-by-1800 native resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors Supported scaled resolutions: 1920 by 1200 1680 by 1050 1280 by 800 1024 by 640 500 nits brightness Wide color gamut (P3)	Retina display 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2880-by-1800 native resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors Supported scaled resolutions: 1920 by 1200 1680 by 1050 1280 by 800 1024 by 640 300 nits brightness Standard color gamut (sRGB) 900:1 contrast ratio

Exterior	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Size Comparison
Dimensions	13.75” x 9.48” x 0.61” (349.3 mm x 240.7 mm x 155 mm)	14.13” x 9.73” x 0.71” (358.9 mm x 247.1 mm x 18 mm)
Weight	Starting at 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg)	Starting at 4.49 lb (2.04 kg)
Colors	Space GraySilver	Silver
Keyboard and Trackpad	Backlit Magic Keyboard with: 64 (U.S.) or 65 (ISO) keys including 4 arrow keys Touch Bar with integrated Touch ID sensor 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 Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
Ports	Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) ports with support for: Charging DisplayPort Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)	2 x Thunderbolt 2 ports Supports data transfers up to 20 Gbps. 2 x USB 3.0 ports Supports data transfers up to 5 Gbps. 1 x HDMI port 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x SDXC card reader 1 x MagSafe 2 power port

Internal Specs	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Processor	6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.60 → 3.50 GHz, 6MB SmartCache, 45W 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6820HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.70 → 3.60 GHz, 8 MB Smart Cache, 45W 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6920HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.90 → 3.80 GHz, 8 MB Smart Cache, 45W	4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4770HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.20 → 3.40 GHz, 5 MB Cache, 47W 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4870HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.50 → 3.70 GHz, 6 MB Cache, 47W 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4980HQ 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.80 → 4.00 GHz, 6 MB Cache, 47W
Integrated Graphics	6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ Intel® HD Graphics 530 24 Execution Units, 350 → 1050 MHz 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6820HQ Intel® HD Graphics 530 24 Execution Units, 350 → 1050 MHz 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6920HQ Intel® HD Graphics 530 24 Execution Units, 350 → 1050 MHz	4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4770HQ Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200 40 Execution Units, 200 → 1200 MHz 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4870HQ Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200 40 Execution Units, 200 → 1200 MHz 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-4980HQ Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200 40 Execution Units, 200 → 1300 MHz
Discrete Graphics	AMD Radeon Pro 450 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory AMD Radeon Pro 455 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory AMD Radeon Pro 460 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory	AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
Memory	16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	16GB 1600 MHz DDR3L onboard memory
Storage	256GB512GB configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD	256GB512GB configurable to 1TB SSD

Connectivity	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (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 4.2 wireless technology	Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology

Battery	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Size	76 Wh lithium‑polymer battery	99.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life	Up to 10 hours wireless web Up to 10 hours Apple TV app movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time	Up to 9 hours of wireless web Up to 9 hours of iTunes movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply	87W USB‑C Power Adapter	85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter With cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port.

Software	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
OS	Shipped with macOS Sierra	Shipped with OS X Yosemite
Built-in Apps	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewiTunesiBooksApp StoreTime Machine

Camera & Audio	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Camera	720p FaceTime HD camera	720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio	Stereo speakers with high dynamic range Three microphones 3.5mm headphone jack	Stereo speakers Dual microphones 3.5 mm headphone jack Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone Support for audio line out (digital/analog)

Misc	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)	MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)
Sensors	Touch ID sensor	Ambient light sensor
Security	Touch ID sensor Apple T1 Chip
In the box	15‑inch MacBook Pro 87W USB‑C Power Adapter USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)	15‑inch MacBook Pro MagSafe 2 Power Adapter Power cord AC wall plug
Warranty	Your MacBook Pro comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one‑year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ for Mac to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax.	Your MacBook Pro with Retina display 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 Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and: Up to two displays with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors Up to four displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors Thunderbolt 3 digital video output Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C VGA, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)	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 up to two external displays, both at millions of colors Thunderbolt digital video output Native Mini DisplayPort output DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI output supported using Mini DisplayPort adapters (sold separately) HDMI video output Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz