Home » compare

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. MacBook Pro 15” (2016) - Detailed Specs Comparison

Here is a side by side comparison between MacBook Pro 15” (2017) and MacBook Pro 15” (2016) specs including CPU, RAM, storage, battery, display, and more.

BY Conor Banett September 20, 2020 10:43 am

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

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 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.

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 15.4″ MacBook Pro 15” (2016) , we have a detailed tech specs comparison between both devices for you to check out here.

MacBook Pro 15” (2017) vs. MacBook Pro 15” (2016): Specs Comparison

	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	Compare With Please enter device name or part of it MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
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	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” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
Released	2017	2016
Release Info	Announced on June 5th, 2018	Announced on October 27, 2016 Available on November 15, 2016
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	$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

Display	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
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 (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 640 500 nits brightness Wide color gamut (P3)

Exterior	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
Size Comparison
Dimensions	13.75” x 9.48” x 0.61” (349.3 mm x 240.7 mm x 155 mm)	13.75” x 9.48” x 0.61” (349.3 mm x 240.7 mm x 155 mm)
Weight	Starting at 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg)	Starting at 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg)
Colors	Space GraySilver	Space GraySilver
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	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
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)	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)

Internal Specs	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
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	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
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	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
Discrete Graphics	AMD Radeon Pro 555 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory AMD Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory	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
Memory	16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage	256GB512GB configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD	256GB512GB configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD

Connectivity	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
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” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
Size	76 Wh lithium‑polymer battery	76 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 10 hours wireless web Up to 10 hours Apple TV app movie playback Up to 30 days of standby time
Power Supply	87W USB‑C Power Adapter	87W USB‑C Power Adapter

Software	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
OS	Shipped with macOS Sierra	Shipped with macOS Sierra
Built-in Apps	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player	PhotosiMovieGarageBandPagesNumbersKeynoteSiriSafariMailFaceTimeMessagesMapsNewsStocksHomeVoice MemosNotesCalendarContactsRemindersPhoto BoothPreviewMusicPodcastsTVBooksApp StoreTime MachineFind MyQuickTime Player

Camera & Audio	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
Camera	720p FaceTime HD camera	720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio	Stereo speakers with high dynamic range Three microphones 3.5mm headphone jack	Stereo speakers with high dynamic range Three microphones 3.5mm headphone jack

Misc	MacBook Pro 15” (2017)	MacBook Pro 15” (2016)
Sensors	Touch ID sensor	Touch ID sensor
Security	Touch ID sensor Apple T1 Chip	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 87W USB‑C Power Adapter USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
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 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: 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)

Popular Comparisons for MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for MacBook Pro 15” (2017):

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

Apple Mac mini (M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

MacBook Pro 13” (M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

MacBook Pro 15” (2018)

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

vs.

MacBook Pro 16” (2021)

Popular Comparisons for MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for MacBook Pro 15” (2016):

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Air 13” 2017

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Pro 16” (2021)

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Air 13” 2019

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Pro 15” Retina (2015)

MacBook Pro 15” (2016)

vs.

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

More on MacBook Pro 15” (2017)

Here are some related MacBook Pro 15” (2017) articles you might want to check out:

Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (2017): Specs – Detailed Specifications

Here's what you need to know about the 2017 Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch specifications including display size, resolution, processor, RAM, storage, camera, battery, and more.