Apple MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) vs Apple MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)

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, Early 2015) compared with MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)

	AppleMacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)	AppleMacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
Overview
Released
Released	April 2015	November 2018
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12″	13.3″
Resolution
Resolution	2304 × 1440	2560 × 1600 (better)
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
Pixel density
Pixel density	226 ppi	227 ppi
Colour range
Colour range	–	Millions of colours; sRGB rather than P3 (Macworld)
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 i5-8210Y
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	4	4
Graphics
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 5300	Intel UHD Graphics 617
Memory
Memory	8 GB	8 GB or 16 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	256 GB to 512 GB	128 GB to 1.536 TB (better)
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.	Eighth-generation dual-core Intel Core i5 at 1.6 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz, with 4 MB L3 cache; exact i5-8210Y identifier confirmed by Macworld and TechRadar. Apple T2 Security Chip with secure boot and storage encryption.
GPU
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 5300	Intel UHD Graphics 617; compatible Thunderbolt 3 external graphics processors supported
Memory type
Memory type	8 GB of 1600 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory	8 GB or 16 GB of 2133 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
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	PCIe-based SSD; 128 GB or 256 GB standard, configurable to 512 GB or 1.5 TB
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	Up to 13 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	39.7 Wh	50.3 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	0.92 kg (better)	1.25 kg
Thickness
Thickness	13.1 mm (better)	15.6 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	280.5 × 196.5 mm	304.1 × 212.4 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.	Up to 12 hours wireless web, 13 hours iTunes movie playback or 30 days standby; lithium-polymer. Apple's tests used 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. Chassis height tapers from 4.1 to 15.6 mm; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger
Charger	29 W USB-C Power Adapter	30 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C charging
Materials
Materials	Precision-milled aluminium unibody; polished stainless steel Apple logo	100% recycled aluminium enclosure
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey	Gold, Silver, Space Grey
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-C, headphone jack	2 × Thunderbolt 3, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.0	4.2
Webcam
Webcam	480p FaceTime	720p FaceTime HD
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 Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports with charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; 3.5 mm headphone jack
External displays
External displays	One external display up to 3840 × 2160 alongside the built-in screen, at millions of colours	One display at 5120 × 2880 and up to 60 Hz, or two at 4096 × 2304 and up to 60 Hz alongside the built-in display; VGA, HDMI and Thunderbolt 2 through separate adaptors
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	Third-generation butterfly mechanism (Macworld); 78 US or 79 ISO individually LED-backlit keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; ambient light sensor
Trackpad
Trackpad	Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing, Force clicks and Multi-Touch gestures	Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers; wide stereo playback
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Three microphones
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID
In the box
In the box	MacBook; 29 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)	MacBook Air; 30 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)