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Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) vs Apple MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)AppleMacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2019May 2015
Display
Screen size16″15.4″
Resolution3072 × 19202880 × 1800
PanelIPS LCDIPS LCD
Refresh rate60 Hz–
Brightness500 nits300 nits
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeRetina display; LED-backlit IPS; millions of coloursRetina display; LED-backlit IPS; millions of colours
Pixel density226 ppi220 ppi
Colour rangeWide colour (P3)Standard colour gamut (sRGB)
Display featuresTrue Tone; selectable refresh rates of 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94 and 60 HzApple specifies a 900:1 contrast ratio; scaled resolutions of 1920 × 1200, 1680 × 1050, 1280 × 800 or 1024 × 640
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i7-9750H, Intel Core i9-9880H or Intel Core i9-9980HKIntel Core i7-4770HQ, Intel Core i7-4870HQ or Intel Core i7-4980HQ
CPU cores6 or 84
CPU threads12 or 168
GraphicsAMD Radeon Pro 5300M (4 GB GDDR6), AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (4 GB GDDR6), AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (8 GB GDDR6) or AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (8 GB HBM2)Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 or AMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)
Memory16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB16 GB
Storage512 GB to 8 TB256 GB to 1 TB
CPUNinth-generation Intel Core i7 at 2.6 GHz (six cores, Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz, 12 MB shared L3 cache), Core i9 at 2.3 GHz (eight cores, up to 4.8 GHz, 16 MB cache) or Core i9 at 2.4 GHz (eight cores, up to 5 GHz, 16 MB cache). Exact i7-9750H, i9-9880H and i9-9980HK identifiers confirmed by RTINGS. Apple T2 Security Chip.Quad-core Intel Core i7 at 2.2 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz, 2.5 GHz with up to 3.7 GHz, or 2.8 GHz with up to 4 GHz; all with 6 MB shared L3 cache. Exact i7-4770HQ and i7-4870HQ identifiers confirmed by Macworld, and i7-4980HQ by EveryMac.
GPUAutomatic switching between Intel UHD Graphics 630 and Radeon Pro 5300M 4 GB GDDR6, Radeon Pro 5500M 4 GB or 8 GB GDDR6, or Radeon Pro 5600M 8 GB HBM2. The 5600M appears in Apple's updated spec sheet and was not a launch graphics option. The 2.3 GHz Core i9 starts with 5500M 4 GB and 1 TB storage; the 2.4 GHz Core i9 can also upgrade the lower base configuration (RTINGS).Intel Iris Pro integrated graphics; discrete-graphics configurations add AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB GDDR5 and automatic graphics switching. Upgrading the processor on the integrated-graphics base does not add the Radeon GPU.
Memory type2666 MHz DDR4 onboard memory; 16 GB standard, configurable to 32 GB or 64 GB16 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L onboard memory
Storage typeSSD; 512 GB standard with the 2.6 GHz Core i7 or 1 TB with the 2.3 GHz Core i9; configurable to 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB or 8 TB as appropriatePCIe-based flash storage; 256 GB integrated-graphics base configurable to 512 GB or 1 TB, and 512 GB discrete-graphics base configurable to 1 TB
CoolingRedesigned fans and larger vents; Apple states 28% higher airflow and a 35% larger heat sink than the preceding design–
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 11 hoursUp to 9 hours
Battery capacity99.8 Wh99.5 Wh
Weight2 kg2.04 kg
Thickness16.2 mm18 mm
Width × depth357.9 × 245.9 mm358.9 × 247.1 mm
Battery life detailLithium-polymer battery advertised as 100 Wh, with an actual rating of 99.8 Wh in Apple's footnote; up to 11 hours wireless web or Apple TV app movie playback and 30 days standby. Tested with the 2.3 GHz Core i9, 16 GB memory and 1 TB SSD. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Lithium-polymer battery; up to 9 hours wireless web or iTunes movie playback and 30 days standby. Apple's battery tests used the 2.2 GHz Core i7, 16 GB memory and 256 GB storage. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger96 W USB-C Power Adapter85 W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter with cable management system
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium enclosure
ColoursSilver, Space Grey–
Connections
Ports4 × Thunderbolt 3, headphone jack2 × Thunderbolt 2, 2 × USB-A, HDMI, headphone jack, SD card slot, MagSafe 2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth5.04.2
Webcam720p FaceTime HD720p FaceTime HD
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailFour Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports supporting charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; 3.5 mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 2 ports up to 20 Gb/s with native Mini DisplayPort video, two USB 3 ports up to 5 Gb/s, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 2 power and 3.5 mm headphone jack with digital/analogue line output and iPhone headset support; separate Thunderbolt Ethernet and FireWire adaptors available
External displaysUp to two displays at 6016 × 3384 and 60 Hz, or four at 4096 × 2304 and 60 Hz, at over a billion colours, alongside the built-in display. Native DisplayPort over USB-C; VGA, HDMI, DVI and Thunderbolt 2 through separate adaptors.Two external displays up to 3840 × 2160 alongside the built-in screen; HDMI supports 1080p at up to 60 Hz, 3840 × 2160 at 30 Hz or 4096 × 2160 at 24 Hz. Mini DisplayPort adaptors provide DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI.
KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with scissor mechanism and 1 mm travel; 65 US or 66 ISO keys, inverted-T arrow keys, physical Escape key, Touch Bar and ambient light sensorFull-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, inverted-T arrow keys and ambient light sensor
TrackpadForce Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gesturesForce Touch trackpad with pressure sensing, Force clicks and Multi-Touch gestures
SpeakersSix-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers; wide stereo sound and Dolby Atmos playbackStereo speakers
MicrophonesThree-microphone array with directional beamformingDual microphones
BiometricsTouch ID–
In the box16-inch MacBook Pro; 96 W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)MacBook Pro; MagSafe 2 Power Adapter; power cord; AC wall plug

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