Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) vs Apple MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) compared with MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)

	AppleMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)	AppleMacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
Overview
Released
Released	June 2017	February 2008
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12″	13.3″
Resolution
Resolution	2304 × 1440 (better)	1280 × 800
Panel
Panel	IPS LCD	–
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Retina display; LED-backlit IPS; 16:10 aspect ratio; millions of colours	Glossy TFT widescreen display with millions of colours; exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished by Apple.
Pixel density
Pixel density	226 ppi	–
Display features
Display features	Supported 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 2 Duo T8100 or Intel Core 2 Duo T8300
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	4	–
Graphics
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 615	Intel GMA X3100 (144 MB shared DDR2)
Memory
Memory	8 GB or 16 GB (better)	1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB
Storage
Storage	256 GB to 512 GB (better)	120 GB to 250 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.	2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo T8300, with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 800 MHz front-side bus. Exact chip identities are established by Geekbench’s contemporary tested-machine configurations.
GPU
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 615	Intel GMA X3100 (144 MB shared DDR2)
Memory type
Memory type	8 GB of 1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory; configurable to 16 GB	Two SO-DIMM slots for 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); 1 GB standard at 2.1 GHz, 2 GB at 2.4 GHz, configurable to 4 GB.
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.	White 2.1 GHz starts at 120 GB with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive; white 2.4 GHz starts at 160 GB and black 2.4 GHz at 250 GB with an 8x SuperDrive. Build-to-order 160 GB and 250 GB drives run at 5400 rpm. Configurations follow the Early 2008 launch models rather than the different Late 2008 white model on the combined archived sheet.
Cooling
Cooling	Fanless design (TechRadar)	–
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 12 hours	–
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	41.4 Wh	55 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	0.92 kg (better)	2.27 kg
Thickness
Thickness	13.1 mm (better)	27.5 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	280.5 × 196.5 mm	325 × 227 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.	Removable 55 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Battery-life hours omitted because the archived maker specification does not publish them.
Charger
Charger	30 W USB-C Power Adapter, as listed in Apple's current technical specifications	60 W MagSafe Power Adapter
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	Polycarbonate enclosure
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey, Rose Gold	White and black; base storage and optical drive vary by colour as described above. The configurations table combines colour variants with matching processor, memory and storage.
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-C, headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 5	AirPort Extreme draft 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.2	2.0 + EDR
Webcam
Webcam	480p FaceTime	iSight camera
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.	Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini-DVI, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output. Display adapters sold separately.
External displays
External displays	One external display up to 4096 × 2304 at 60 Hz alongside the built-in screen, at millions of colours	One external display up to 1920 × 1200 alongside the built-in screen; Mini-DVI adapters support DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video.
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 keys, 12 function/media keys and four arrow keys
Trackpad
Trackpad	Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing, Force clicks and Multi-Touch gestures	Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Built-in stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Built-in omnidirectional microphone
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, display cleaning cloth, removable battery, 60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08; Apple Remote sold separately.