Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): What’s the difference?

Apple’s new MacBook Pro is finally here, with Touch Bar, hefty price tag, and all.

Before you spend all your hard-earned cash, take a moment to compare the new laptop to its predecessor. Yes, the old model doesn’t come with that fancy OLED touch strip, but if you’re on a budget, every little bit counts, and not upgrading to the latest tech may be in your favour. However, you should know that the MacBook Pro (2016) also brings better graphics and streamlined connections.

Let’s get into the nitty gritty…

Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): Design

• MacBook Pro (2016) comes with Touch Bar and Touch ID sensor
• MacBook Pro (2016) is all-around thinner and lighter compared to predecessor

Both versions of the laptop feature an aluminium enclosure, LED-backlit display, and come in 13-inch and 15-inch model sizes as well as silver or space grey colour options. However, the MacBook Pro (2016) model exclusively features a Touch Bar with an integrated Touch ID sensor. It’s an OLED strip that sits at the top of the keyboard, where the standard function keys normally go.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016) model weighs 3.02 lbs (1.37 kg) and measures .59 x 11.97 x 8.36 inches (1.49 x 30.41 x 21.24 cm), while the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016) model weighs weighs 4.02 lbs (1.83 kg) and measures .61 x 13.75 x 9.48 inches (1.55 x 34.93 x 24.07 cm).

The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2015) model weighs 3.48 lbs (1.58 kg) and measures .71 x 12.35 x 8.62 inches (1.8 x 31.4 x 21.9 cm), while the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2015) model weighs 4.49 lbs (2.04 kg) and measures .71 x 14.13 x 9.73 inches (1.8 x 35.89 x 24.71 cm).

In other words, if you’re looking for an Apple laptop with a slightly new design, new functionality, and that’s relatively thin and light, you should consider the MacBook Pro (2016) over the MacBook Pro (2015).

Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): Display

• Both models offer 13-inch and 15-inch screen sizes
• Both models offer Retina displays with no change in resolution or ppi

The MacBook Pro (2016) offers a choice between a 13.3-inch LED-backlit Retina display with IPS technology and a 2560×1600-pixel resolution at 227 ppi and a 15.4-inch LED-backlit Retina display with IPS technology and a 2880×1800-pixel resolution at 220 ppi.

The MacBook Pro (2015) offers a choice between a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology and a 2560×1600-pixel resolution at 227 ppi and a 15.4-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology and a 2880×1800-pixel resolution at 220 ppi.

There is no difference in display quality between the Apple MacBook Pro (2016) model and Apple MacBook Pro (2015) model.

Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): Hardware and power

• Both models and sizes claim to offer 10 hours of web play
• The 15-inch MacBook Pro (2015) with Touch Bar offers better graphics on paper

The MacBook Pro (2016) 13-inch base model with Touch Bar offers a 2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 4MB shared L3 cache, 256GB SSD, 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory, Intel Iris Graphics 550, and built-in 49.2-watt-hour-battery (which equals up to 10 hours of web play), while the MacBook Pro (2016) 15-inch base model with Touch Bar offers a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache, 256GB SSD, 16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory, Radion Pro 450 with 2GB of GDD55 memory and Intel HD Graphics 530, and built-in 76.0-watt-hour-battery (equals up to 10 hours of web play).

The MacBook Pro (2015) 13-inch base model offers a 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache, 128GB SSD, 8GB of 1866MHZ LPDDR3 memory, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, and built-in 73.9-watt-hour-battery (which equals up to 10 hours of web play), while the MacBook Pro (2015) 15-inch base model offers a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache, 256GB SSD, 16GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 memory, Intel Iris Pro Graphics, and built-in 99.5-watt-hour-battery (equals up to 10 hours of web play).

In other words, the MacBook Pro (2016) offers a slightly better spec’d processor over its predecessor and much-improved graphics capabilities. The 15-inch model with Touch Bar specifically switched up a lot when it added Radion Pro 450 with 2GB of GDD55 memory and Intel HD Graphics 530, whereas last year’s model with no Touch Bar had Intel Iris Pro Graphics. So, if you want a machine that’s a bit faster and better equipped at handling intense graphics, consider the top-end, 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016).

One more thing: all models of the MacBook Pro (2016) and MacBook Pro (2015) feature a 720p FaceTime HD camera.

Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): Connections and ports

• The MacBook Pro (2016) ditched all the old ports in favour of Thunderbolt 3The MacBook Pro (2016) doesn’t even have an SDXC card slot

The MacBook Pro (2016) only features four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and USB 3.1, whereas the MacBook Pro (2015) comes with MagSafe 2 power port, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, two USB 3 ports, an HDMI port, and SDXC card slot. Both models also have a 3.5mm headphone jack. In other words, the MacBook Pro (2016) streamlined everything.

You can now charge and transfer data using the same port (all four of them) on the MacBook Pro (2016). However, you can’t plug in an SD card. If that matter a lot to you, and you don’t like USB-C, stick with the MacBook Pro (2015). Oh, and both models offer a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple MacBook Pro (2016) vs Apple MacBook Pro (2015): Price

• The MacBook Pro (2016) with Touch Bar is more expensive all around

The MacBook Pro (2016) 13-inch model with Touch Bar starts at $1,799, while the MacBook Pro (2016) 15-inch model with Touch Bar starts at $2,399. The MacBook Pro (2015) 15-inch model costs $1,299, while the 15-inch model costs $1,999.