Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) vs Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)

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MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) compared with MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)

	AppleMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)	AppleMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)
Overview
Released
Released	June 2017	April 2016
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12″	12″
Resolution
Resolution	2304 × 1440	2304 × 1440
Panel
Panel	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Retina display; LED-backlit IPS; 16:10 aspect ratio; millions of colours	Retina display; LED-backlit IPS; 16:10 aspect ratio; millions of colours
Pixel density
Pixel density	226 ppi	226 ppi
Display features
Display features	Supported scaled resolutions of 1440 × 900, 1280 × 800 or 1024 × 640	Scaled resolutions of 1440 × 900, 1280 × 800 or 1024 × 640
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core m3-7Y32, Intel Core i5-7Y54 or Intel Core i7-7Y75	Intel Core m3-6Y30, Intel Core m5-6Y54 or Intel Core m7-6Y75
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	4	4
Graphics
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 615	Intel HD Graphics 515
Memory
Memory	8 GB or 16 GB (better)	8 GB
Storage
Storage	256 GB to 512 GB	256 GB to 512 GB
CPU
CPU	Dual-core seventh-generation Intel Core m3 at Apple's specified 1.2 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.0 GHz, Core i5 at 1.3 GHz with up to 3.2 GHz, or Core i7 at 1.4 GHz with up to 3.6 GHz; all with 4 MB shared L3 cache. Exact m3-7Y32, i5-7Y54 and i7-7Y75 identifiers confirmed by TechRadar. Apple's configured clocks differ from Intel's nominal base frequencies of 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 GHz respectively.	Dual-core Intel Core m3 at Apple's configured 1.1 GHz, up to 2.2 GHz; Core m5 at 1.2 GHz, up to 2.7 GHz; or Core m7 at 1.3 GHz, up to 3.1 GHz. All have 4 MB L3 cache. Exact m3-6Y30, m5-6Y54 and m7-6Y75 identifiers confirmed by Notebookcheck; Apple's configured base clocks differ from Intel's nominal frequencies.
GPU
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 615	Intel HD Graphics 515
Memory type
Memory type	8 GB of 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory; configurable to 16 GB	8 GB of 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage type
Storage type	PCIe-based onboard SSD; 256 GB with the 1.2 GHz Core m3 base or 512 GB with the 1.3 GHz Core i5 base. The 256 GB base can be configured with Core i5 or i7; the 512 GB base can be configured with Core i7.	PCIe-based onboard flash storage; 256 GB with the Core m3 base or 512 GB with Core m5; either can be ordered with Core m7
Cooling
Cooling	Fanless design (TechRadar)	Fanless design with no moving parts or vents
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 12 hours	Up to 11 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	41.4 Wh	41.4 Wh
Weight
Weight	0.92 kg	0.92 kg
Thickness
Thickness	13.1 mm	13.1 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	280.5 × 196.5 mm	280.5 × 196.5 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Lithium-polymer battery; up to 10 hours wireless web, 12 hours iTunes movie playback or 30 days standby. Apple's tests used the 1.3 GHz Core i5, 8 GB memory and 512 GB storage. Chassis tapers from 3.5 to 13.1 mm; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.	Up to 10 hours wireless web, 11 hours iTunes movie playback or 30 days standby; lithium-polymer. Maker specification sheet says 41.4 Wh; TechRadar's spec table says 39.4 Wh. Chassis tapers from 3.5 to 13.1 mm; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger
Charger	30 W USB-C Power Adapter, as listed in Apple's current technical specifications	29 W USB-C Power Adapter
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	Aluminium unibody enclosure
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey, Rose Gold	Rose Gold, Space Grey, Gold, Silver
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-C, headphone jack	USB-C, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.2	4.0
Webcam
Webcam	480p FaceTime	480p FaceTime
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	One USB-C port supporting charging, USB 3.1 Gen 1 up to 5 Gb/s and native DisplayPort 1.2; VGA and HDMI through separate USB-C multiport adaptors. 3.5 mm headphone jack.	USB-C supports charging, USB 3.1 Gen 1 up to 5 Gb/s and native DisplayPort 1.2; VGA and HDMI through separate multiport adaptors. The 3.5 mm jack supports iPhone headsets with remote and microphone. No Thunderbolt support (Macworld).
External displays
External displays	One external display up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz alongside the built-in screen, at millions of colours	One display up to 3840 × 2160 at 30 Hz alongside the built-in display, at millions of colours
Keyboard
Keyboard	Second-generation butterfly switches (TechRadar); full-size keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, individual LED backlighting, 12 function keys, four arrow keys and ambient light sensor	Full-size keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO individually backlit keys, 12 function keys, four arrow keys and an ambient light sensor; shallow butterfly mechanism (Macworld)
Trackpad
Trackpad	Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing, Force clicks and Multi-Touch gestures	Force Touch with pressure sensing, Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing and Multi-Touch gestures
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Dual microphones
In the box
In the box	MacBook; 30 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m), as listed in Apple's current technical specifications	MacBook; 29 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)