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Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
Overview
ReleasedJune 2009October 2008
Display
Screen size13.3″15.4″
Resolution1280 × 8001440 × 900
PanelTN LCD–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeLED-backlit glossy widescreen LCD, millions of colours; TN panel identified in Notebookcheck’s exact-model review. No antiglare option; refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz (MacBook Pro 13-inch, Mid 2009) or Intel Core 2 Duo P8700Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008)
CPU cores22
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 9400MNVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M or NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M
Memory2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB2 GB or 4 GB
Storage128 GB to 500 GB128 GB to 320 GB
CPUDual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.26 GHz or 2.53 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus. The upper P8700 identity is confirmed by Notebookcheck. EveryMac lists P7550 or P8400 for the lower model, so its chip record retains the maker’s model and clock without selecting one silicon variant.Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache or 2.53 GHz with 6 MB; 2.8 GHz with 6 MB is configurable only from the upper base, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear. 1066 MHz frontside bus; clock records avoid unverified Intel SKU assumptions.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memoryNVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M; NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M. GPU memory varies with processor configuration. The integrated GeForce 9400M and discrete GeForce 9600M GT are selectable alternatives; changing GPU requires logout, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear.
Memory type1066 MHz DDR3 in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 8 GB. Lower model starts with 2 GB and supports 4 or 8 GB; upper starts with 4 GB and supports 8 GB.1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 4 GB. Lower base starts with 2 GB; higher has 4 GB.
Storage typeLower base has 160 GB and upper base 250 GB, both 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drives. Configurable 250 GB, 320 GB or 500 GB hard drive, or 128 GB or 256 GB SSD; rows preserve base memory and storage restrictions confirmed by Macworld. 8× slot-loading SuperDrive supports DVD±R DL, DVD±RW and CD-RW.Lower base has a 250 GB and higher a 320 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive. Maker configurable options include 250 GB or 320 GB 7200-rpm drives, or a 128 GB SSD. All 128 GB rows are SSD configurations; higher-base 250 GB rows represent the faster configurable hard drive. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 7 hours–
Battery capacity60 Wh–
Weight2.04 kg2.49 kg
Thickness24.1 mm–
Width × depth325 × 227 mm–
Battery life detailBuilt-in 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery from Apple’s model-specific sheet; the launch notice instead lists 58 Wh. Up to 7 hours wireless productivity in Apple’s launch test. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Removable lithium-polymer battery; capacity and battery-life hours omitted because the surviving maker sources read do not publish them. Apple lists 5.5 lb; the main 2.49 kg reference weight is explicitly published by Ars Technica. Ars lists enclosure dimensions 14.35 × 9.82 × 0.95 inches; metric dimensions omitted.
Charger60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management85 W MagSafe Power Adapter
MaterialsAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpadAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad
ColoursSilverSilver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack, SD card slot, Ethernet2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
Wi-Fi802.11n draft; compatible with 802.11a/b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR2.1 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight cameraBuilt-in iSight camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, Mini DisplayPort, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet, SD card slot, MagSafe, combined headphone/line input with optical digital output, and Kensington lock slot. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI require separate adapters.2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. Display adapters sold separately.
External displaysBuilt-in screen plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both with millions of colours; dual display and video mirroringMini DisplayPort supports an external display up to 30 inches; separate DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters required. A numeric external resolution is omitted because it is not stated in the surviving maker sources read.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keysFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys
TrackpadGlass Multi-Touch trackpad with scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and dragGlass Multi-Touch trackpad with integrated button; scrolling, pinch, rotate and three-finger/four-finger swipes.
SpeakersStereo speakersBuilt-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesOmnidirectional microphoneBuilt-in microphone above the Escape key
In the boxMacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 60 W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, software DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Leopard and iLife ’09MacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 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 and display adapters sold separately. The former SP499 specification URL is no longer available; maker launch notice and exact user guide supply core facts.

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