MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. M1 MacBook Pro 13” - Specs Comparison

Here is a comparison between the specifications of the MacBook Pro 15” (2017) and M1 MacBook Pro 13”, including differences in the chip, memory, storage, display, battery, ports, and more.

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. M1 MacBook Pro 13”

The MacBook Pro 15” (2017) features the 45W 7th Generation Intel Kaby Lake quad-core Intel Core i7-7700HQ up to quad-core Intel Core i7-7920HQ with the boost speed up to 4.10 GHz. While the 2020 M1 MacBook Pro 13” features the 10W Apple M-Series ARM 64-bit 8-core Apple M1 (8C, 8G) with a clock speed of 3.20 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” (2017) and the 13.3″ M1 MacBook Pro 13” (2020), we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. M1 MacBook Pro 13”: Specs Comparison

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) image

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

M1 MacBook Pro 13” image

M1 MacBook Pro 13”

Key Features
What's new
  • 7th-gen Intel Kaby Lake Core i7 processors up to 3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.1 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
Better Performance
With the new Apple M1 Chip paired with the MacBook Pro's active cooling system, it's 2.8 times faster than the previous generation. The 8-core GPU is up to 5 times faster allowing smooth graphics performance.
Better Battery Life
It's a MacBook Pro with the longest battery life ever made, with up to 20-hours of watching movies and 17 hours of web browsing.
Better FaceTime HD camera
With the latest Apple Image Single Processor (ISP) in the M1 chip, image quality is better in noise reduction, greater dynamic range, and improved auto white balance.
More
  • Supports latest USB 4
  • Supports latest Wi-Fi 6
  • Better security with new Secure Enclave in M1 chip
  • Studio-quality mics for super clear recordings and calls
What's missing
  • Supports only one extended 6K@60Hz display, while the older Intel version supports up to two 4K@60Hz.
  • Not supports for external Thunderbolt-3 enabled graphics processors (eGPUs).
AvailabilityMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Released20172020
Release InfoAnnounced on June 5th, 2018Announced on November 10th, 2020
Pricing
  • $2,399
    Intel Core i7 7700HQ | 16GB RAM | 256GB SSD | Radeon Pro 555
  • $2,799
    Intel Core i7 7820HQ | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | Radeon Pro 560
  • $1,299
    Apple M1 Chip | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,499
    Apple M1 Chip | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
DisplayMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Size15.4 Inches13.3 Inches
InfoRetina 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 (P3)
Retina display
  • 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1680 by 1050
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1024 by 640
  • 16:10 aspect ratio
  • 500 nits brightness
  • Supports wide color (P3)
  • True Tone technology
ExteriorMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Size Comparison
Dimensions13.75” x 9.48” x 0.61” (349.3 mm x 240.7 mm x 155 mm)11.97” x 8.36” x 0.61” (304.1 mm x 212.4 mm x 15.6 mm)
WeightStarting at 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg)Starting at 3.1 pounds (1.4 kg)
Colors
Space GraySilver
Space GraySilver
Keyboard and TrackpadBacklit 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
Backlit Magic Keyboard with:
  • 65 (U.S.) or 66 (ISO) keys including 4 arrow keys in an inverted‑T arrangement
  • Touch Bar
  • 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
PortsFour Thunderbolt 3 (USB‑C) ports with support for:
  • Charging
  • DisplayPort
  • Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s)
  • USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB‑C) ports with support for:
  • Charging
  • DisplayPort
  • Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s)
  • USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
  • Headphone
Internal SpecsMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Processor
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ
    4 cores, 8 threads, 2.80 → 3.80 GHz, 6MB Cache, 45W
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7820HQ
    4 cores, 8 threads, 2.90 → 3.90 GHz, 8 MB Cache, 45W
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7920HQ
    4 cores, 8 threads, 3.10 → 4.10 GHz, 8 MB Cache, 45W
  • Apple M1
    8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz, 10W
Integrated Graphics
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ
    Intel® HD Graphics 630
    24 Execution Units, 350 → 1100 MHz
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7820HQ
    Intel® HD Graphics 630
    24 Execution Units, 350 → 1100 MHz
  • 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7920HQ
    Intel® HD Graphics 630
    24 Execution Units, 350 → 1100 MHz
  • Apple M1
    Apple M1 iGPU
    8 Graphics Cores, 1280 MHz
Discrete Graphics
  • AMD Radeon Pro 555 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
  • AMD Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory
Memory
16GB
of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
  • 8GB
    4266 MHz LPDDR4X onboard memory
  • Configurable to 16GB
Storage
256GB512GB
configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD
  • 256GB512GB
    SSD
  • Configurable to 1TB or 2TB
ConnectivityMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Wi-Fi
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
  • 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible
BluetoothBluetooth 4.2 wireless technologyBluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
BatteryMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Size76 Wh lithium‑polymer battery58.2 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 17 hours wireless web
  • Up to 20 hours Apple TV app movie playback
Power Supply87W USB‑C Power Adapter61W USB‑C Power Adapter
SoftwareMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
OSShipped with macOS SierraShipped with macOS Big Sur
Built-in Apps
PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player
PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player
Camera & AudioMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio
  • Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
  • Three microphones
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
  • Wide stereo sound
  • Support for Dolby Atmos playback
  • Studio-quality three-mic array with directional beamforming
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
MiscMacBook Pro 15” (2017)M1 MacBook Pro 13”
Sensors
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
Security
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Apple T1 Chip
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Apple T2 Security Chip
In the box
  • 15‑inch MacBook Pro
  • 87W USB‑C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
  • MacBook Pro 13”
  • 61W USB‑C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
WarrantyYour 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 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.
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 millions of colors
  • Up to four displays with 3840-by-2160 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
  • Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:
    • One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
  • Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
    • Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
    • VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)
M1 MacBook Pro 13” image

M1 MacBook Pro 13”: Key Features

Better real-world application performance

When compared to the previous generation, the new M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro can:

  1. Build code in Xcode up to 2.8x faster.
  2. Render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x faster.
  3. Fluidly design intricate game scenes in Unity Editor up to 3.5x faster.
  4. Perform ML tasks in Create ML up to 11x faster.
  5. Separate out beats, instrumentals, and vocal tracks from a recording in real-time in djay Pro AI, thanks to the amazing performance of the Neural Engine.
  6. Playback full-quality, 8K ProRes video in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a single frame.
  7. Compile four times as much code on a single charge, thanks to the game-changing performance per watt of the M1 chip.

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