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

Apple · MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

Released May 2015

A 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro with quad-core Intel processors, a Force Touch trackpad and an optional dedicated Radeon graphics processor.

Model history · 5 models, 2012–2015
  1. 2012MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)Compare
  2. 2013MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)Compare
  3. 2013MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)Compare
  4. 2014MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)Compare
  5. 2015MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
Size
15.4″
Display
IPS LCD
Processor
Intel Core i7
Memory
16 GB
Weight
2.04 kg
Battery
9 h

What reviewers say

Reviewers welcome faster storage, longer endurance and the Force Touch trackpad. Macworld finds a useful graphics improvement but is disappointed by the unchanged processor generation. TechCrunch values the screen but finds the size awkward on aircraft.

From macworld.com and techcrunch.com

Display

Screen size
15.4″
Resolution
2880 × 1800
Panel
IPS LCD
Brightness
300 nits
Touchscreen
No
Display type
Retina display; LED-backlit IPS; millions of colours
Pixel density
220 ppi
Colour range
Standard colour gamut (sRGB)
Display features
Apple specifies a 900:1 contrast ratio; scaled resolutions of 1920 × 1200, 1680 × 1050, 1280 × 800 or 1024 × 640

Performance

Processor
Intel Core i7-4770HQ, Intel Core i7-4870HQ or Intel Core i7-4980HQ
CPU cores
4
CPU threads
8
Graphics
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 or AMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)
Memory
16 GB
Storage
256 GB to 1 TB
CPU
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.
GPU
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 type
16 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L onboard memory
Storage type
PCIe-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

Battery and size

Battery life (maker's claim)
Up to 9 hours
Battery capacity
99.5 Wh
Weight
2.04 kg
Thickness
18 mm
Width × depth
358.9 × 247.1 mm
Battery life detail
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.
Charger
85 W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter with cable management system
Materials
Aluminium enclosure

Connections

Ports
2 × Thunderbolt 2, 2 × USB-A, HDMI, headphone jack, SD card slot, MagSafe 2
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth
4.2
Webcam
720p FaceTime HD
Operating system
macOS
Port detail
Two 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 displays
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.
Keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, inverted-T arrow keys and ambient light sensor
Trackpad
Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing, Force clicks and Multi-Touch gestures
Speakers
Stereo speakers
Microphones
Dual microphones
In the box
MacBook Pro; MagSafe 2 Power Adapter; power cord; AC wall plug

Configurations

ProcessorMemoryStorageGraphics
Intel Core i7-4770HQ16 GB256 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4770HQ16 GB512 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4770HQ16 GB1 TBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4870HQ16 GB256 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4870HQ16 GB512 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4870HQ16 GB1 TBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4980HQ16 GB256 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4980HQ16 GB512 GBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4980HQ16 GB1 TBIntel Iris Pro Graphics 5200
Intel Core i7-4870HQ16 GB512 GBAMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-4870HQ16 GB1 TBAMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-4980HQ16 GB512 GBAMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-4980HQ16 GB1 TBAMD Radeon R9 M370X (2 GB GDDR5)

Pros and cons

Pros

  • HDMI, SDXC and USB-A connections alongside Thunderbolt 2
  • Force Touch trackpad with pressure-sensitive controls
  • Supports two external 4K displays

Cons

  • Memory is fixed at 16 GB
  • HDMI 4K output is limited to 30 Hz
  • 720p webcam

Closest rivals

Model
SizeDisplayProcessorMemoryWeightBatteryReleased
15.4″–Intel Core 22 GB – 4 GB––Feb 2008
15.4″–Intel Core 21 GB – 3 GB–5 hOct 2006
15.4″IPS LCDIntel Core i78 GB – 16 GB2.02 kg7 hFeb 2013

Previous model: MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014). Newer model: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016).

Sources

  1. support.apple.com/en-gb/111955
  2. apple.com/uk/newsroom/2015/05/19Apple-Introduces-15-inch-MacBook-Pro-with-Force…
  3. macworld.com/article/667359/macbook-pro-15in-2-5-ghz-review.html
  4. macworld.com/article/667387/macbook-pro-15in-2-2-ghz-review.html
  5. everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-i7-2.8-15-dual-gr…

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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