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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)AppleMacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2011February 2011
Display
Screen size15.4″17″
Resolution1440 × 9001920 × 1200
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1440 × 900 native resolution and millions of colours. Optional 1680 × 1050 high-resolution glossy or antiglare display. Panel technologies, refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple; higher-resolution screens remain in details rather than unverified panel variants.17-inch LED-backlit glossy or optional antiglare display at 1920 × 1200. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh rate are unpublished in the maker sources read.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i7-2675QM, Intel Core i7-2760QM or Intel Core i7-2860QMIntel Core i7 2.2 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2011) or Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2011)
CPU cores44
CPU threads8–
GraphicsAMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB) or AMD Radeon HD 6770M (1 GB)AMD Radeon HD 6750M (1 GB GDDR5) + Intel HD Graphics 3000
Memory4 GB or 8 GB4 GB or 8 GB
Storage128 GB to 750 GB128 GB to 750 GB
CPUQuad-core Intel Core i7 at 2.2 GHz or 2.4 GHz with 6 MB L3 cache; optional 2.5 GHz with 8 MB L3 cache. Exact i7-2675QM and i7-2860QM identities confirmed by EveryMac; i7-2760QM by Notebookcheck’s tested upper model. Optional 2.5 GHz rows retain the upper AMD graphics combination; unproven lower-GPU pairings omitted.Quad-core Intel Core i7 at 2.2 GHz with 6 MB shared L3 cache or optional 2.3 GHz with 8 MB. Generic maker-clock records avoid an unverified Intel SKU assumption. TechRadar identifies Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz for the tested 2.2 GHz model; unpublished optional-processor peak clocks are omitted.
GPULower model: AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB GDDR5. Upper model: AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1 GB GDDR5. Both also use Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384 MB DDR3 shared memory and automatic graphics switching.AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1 GB GDDR5 plus Intel HD Graphics 3000 using at least 384 MB shared DDR3 memory; automatic graphics switching.
Memory type4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 in two SO-DIMM slots; configurable to 8 GB.4 GB or 8 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots.
Storage typeLower base: 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive; upper base: 750 GB 5400-rpm hard drive. Maker CTO options: 750 GB at 5400 or 7200 rpm, or 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. Configuration rows distinguish capacities and CPUs/GPUs; both 750 GB speeds share one capacity row. 8× slot-loading SuperDrive supports DVD±R DL, DVD±RW and CD-RW.750 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive; optional 500 GB 7200-rpm hard drive or 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB SSD with either processor. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 7 hoursUp to 7 hours
Battery capacity77.5 Wh95 Wh
Weight2.54 kg2.99 kg
Thickness24.1 mm25 mm
Width × depth364 × 249 mm393 × 267 mm
Battery life detailBuilt-in 77.5 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 7 hours wireless web in Apple’s test. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Built-in lithium-polymer battery; up to seven hours in Apple wireless-web testing. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger85 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, Ethernet, Thunderbolt3 × USB-A, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
Wi-Fi802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR2.1 + EDR
WebcamFaceTime HD cameraFaceTime HD camera (720p, Macworld)
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailOne Thunderbolt port up to 10 Gb/s, two USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, one FireWire 800 port up to 800 Mb/s, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC card slot, MagSafe, separate audio line-in and headphone/audio line-out ports, and Kensington lock slot. Thunderbolt provides native Mini DisplayPort output; DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI require separate adapters.One Thunderbolt port up to 10 Gbps, three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and optical digital audio output/headphone output. No SD card slot.
External displaysBuilt-in display plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both at millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring.Supports an external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen. Thunderbolt provides native Mini DisplayPort output; optional DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters and third-party HDMI adapters provide other connections.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys.Backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys.
TrackpadMulti-Touch trackpad supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three- and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag.Glass Multi-Touch trackpad with inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate and three/four-finger gestures.
SpeakersStereo speakers with subwoofersBuilt-in stereo speakers with subwoofers
MicrophonesOmnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grilleOmnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grille; supports an iPhone headset microphone.
In the boxMacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 85 W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord and documentation; OS X Lion and iLife.MacBook Pro, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, display cleaning cloth, software DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iLife ’11 and FaceTime; Apple Remote and display adapters sold separately.

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