Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) vs Apple MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)

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MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) compared with MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)

	AppleMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)	AppleMacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)
Overview
Released
Released	April 2015	October 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of colours	Glossy TFT widescreen display with millions of colours; exact panel technology, brightness and refresh rate unpublished by Apple.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 M-5Y31, Intel Core M-5Y51 or Intel Core M-5Y71	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1 GHz (MacBook Late 2008)
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	4	–
Graphics
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 5300	Intel GMA X3100 (144 MB shared DDR2)
Memory
Memory	8 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 Intel Core M at Apple's specified 1.1 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.4 GHz, 1.2 GHz with up to 2.6 GHz, or 1.3 GHz with up to 2.9 GHz; all with 4 MB shared L3 cache. Exact M-5Y31, M-5Y51 and M-5Y71 identifiers confirmed by Macworld. Apple's configured clocks differ from Intel's nominal base frequencies; the M-5Y31 supports a configurable TDP-up frequency of 1.1 GHz.	2.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 800 MHz frontside bus. The chip record retains the maker’s clock and model without selecting an unverified Intel SKU.
GPU
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 5300	Intel GMA X3100 with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
Memory type
Memory type	8 GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 1 GB standard, configurable to 2 GB or 4 GB.
Storage type
Storage type	PCIe-based onboard flash storage; 256 GB with the 1.1 GHz base or 512 GB with the 1.2 GHz base; either can be ordered with the 1.3 GHz processor	120 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 160 GB or 250 GB. The Late 2008 launch notice confirms an 8× SuperDrive rather than the Early 2008 base model’s Combo drive on the combined archived sheet.
Cooling
Cooling	Fanless design with no moving parts or vents	–
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	–
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	39.7 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	Terraced lithium-polymer battery; up to 9 hours wireless web, 10 hours iTunes movie playback or 30 days standby. Apple's web and video tests used the 1.2 GHz Core M, 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 sheet does not publish them.
Charger
Charger	29 W USB-C Power Adapter	60 W MagSafe Power Adapter
Materials
Materials	Precision-milled aluminium unibody; polished stainless steel Apple logo	Polycarbonate enclosure
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey	White
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	4.0	2.0 + EDR
Webcam
Webcam	480p FaceTime	Built-in 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 supports iPhone headsets with remote and microphone. USB-C does not support Thunderbolt (Macworld).	Two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, 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 3840 × 2160 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, composite video and S-video.
Keyboard
Keyboard	First-generation butterfly mechanism; 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 separate button; 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; 29 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)	MacBook, 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.