Difference Between Macbook And Macbook Pro

Apple currently has three laptops in their product lineup — the ultralight MacBook, the previous, only now cheaper ultralight MacBook Air, and the powerful and brand-new MacBook Pro. Together, they cover a wide range of portability, performance, and yeah, price points. And so, which Apple laptop is perfect for y'all?

Come across our choice for the all-time Apple laptop.

Apple laptop lineup

Apple tree's MacBook line comprises three product categories: the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. The systems are differentiated past their size, weight, and relative functioning, as well equally their toll.

Note: Apple has also chosen to continue the previous-generation fifteen-inch MacBook Pro (with the full complement of ports, from USB 3 to HDMI to an SD card slot) on the market place, which I'll refer to as MacBook Pro 2015 (opens in new tab), while calling the electric current generation MacBook Pro 2017. The older 13-inch MacBook Pro is no longer on sale, but you can nonetheless find some in Apple tree's Refurbished Mac (opens in new tab) shop.

Even so, it'due south useful to look at the current baselines.

Displays

The brandish is your window into apps and the internet. The bigger the brandish, the more yous have to carry, simply the more yous tin can see.

MacBook is currently offered in one size, 12 inches diagonal. That houses a 2304x1440 16:x aspect ratio display at 226 pixels-per-inch (ppi). That's what Apple tree terms a "Retina" display, meaning that at normal viewing distance, you tin't actually see the pixels anymore, and it appears similar you lot're looking at a photo or out a window.

MacBook Air now but comes in 13 inches (the eleven-inch model was discontinued in 2016). The thirteen-inch model has a 1440x900 16:10 display at 128 ppi. That's standard definition, non a high-definition Retina brandish like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. That means, from a normal viewing distance, you can yet see the individual pixels on the screen, almost like you're looking through a screen door.

MacBook Pro comes in ii sizes: The xiii-inch model has a 2560x1600 16:10 display at 227 ppi, and the 15-inch model has a 2880x1800 16:10 display at 220 ppi. They're Retina, like the MacBook, and so at normal viewing altitude you shouldn't see any obvious pixels.

The current 2017 MacBook Pro (as well every bit the 2016 models) also supports DCI-P3 wide colour gamut and other advanced technologies that provide brighter reds, deeper greens, and blacker blacks. It's like HDR for your display.

If y'all want a Retina display, you desire the MacBook or MacBook Pro.
If you want a DCI-P3 wide gamut display, you want a new MacBook Pro, from 2016 or later.
If y'all want the smallest possible display, you want the 12-inch MacBook.
If you want the largest possible display, you desire the fifteen-inch MacBook Pro.

External displays

Macs tin also drive external displays — extra monitors you buy and connect. This is useful if yous want a laptop on the become only more than of a desktop-like setup when you're dwelling house or at the office.

MacBook tin connect to USB-C displays or HDMI (with an adapter (opens in new tab)?tag=imoreb-twenty&ascsubtag=UUimUdUnU21613) upward to 4096x2304 at 60Hz. This is a decent upgrade over last yr'due south model, which didn't support external 4K displays.

MacBook Air can connect to a single 3840x2160 display at 60Hz over Thunderbolt.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 that Apple still sells can support upwardly to ii 3840x2160 external displays over Thunderbolt 2. It can also drive one 3840x2160 display over Thunderbolt and a 2nd 1920x1080 display at up to 60Hz, 3840x2160 at 30Hz, or 4096x2160 at 24Hz.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2017 supports one 5120x2880 (5K) display forth with the built-in display. If you adopt having ii external displays, information technology supports upwardly to two 4096x2304 (4K) displays at 60Hz with millions of colors — or two 3840x2160 displays at 60Hz with billions of colors.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro 2017 tin can drive up to two 5120x2880 (5K) displays, plus the congenital-in one of course. And since information technology sports four Thunderbolt 3 ports, you can become crazy and connect upwardly to four external displays: 4096x2304 (4K) at 60Hz and millions of colors, or 3840x2160 at 60Hz and billions of colors.

If yous desire to drive multiple external displays, y'all desire a MacBook Pro.
If you lot desire to drive multiple 5K external displays, you lot want a fifteen-inch MacBook Pro.

Webcam

How to set up FaceTime on your Mac (Prototype credit: iMore)

Apple tree'south laptops have built-in web cameras called FaceTime, after Apple tree's app of the same name. They allow you take selfies, appoint in video calls, and even browse codes.

MacBook has a 480p iSight camera. It'due south... non dandy.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have 720p cameras.

None of them have 1080p cameras.

If webcam quality is of import to you lot, get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
If webcam quality is really important to y'all, you'll need to get an external camera and plug it in.

Processors

The central processing unit (CPU) is what drives the estimator. The smaller and more power-efficient the processor, the less information technology tin do just the quieter it is and the longer information technology can practise it for. With a bigger and more powerful processor, the fan noise kicks in, merely then does the pure speed. You can besides take more than processor cores, which lets you do more things at in one case.

MacBook uses Intel'southward low-power Y series of Kaby Lake processors, which let it run completely fanless and ever whisper-quiet. The entry-level model sports a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m3, while the stepped-upwardly models have a i.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5. Y'all tin configure a MacBook with up to a ane.4 dual-core Intel Core i7, but keep in listen these Y-series of chips aren't as powerful as the dual-cadre Core i5 and Core i7 chips available for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, or the quad-cadre Cadre i7 chips in the 15-inch MacBook Pro. All the MacBook processors take 4MB L3 enshroud.

MacBook Air uses Intel Cadre processors of the Broadwell generation, currently 2 generations behind. They start with 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 enshroud, or you can step up to a 2.2GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 with 4MB shared L3 cache.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 had Broadwell processors. Information technology starts with a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6MB shared L3 cache only goes up to 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Cadre i7 with 6MB shared L3 cache.

The brand-new 2017 MacBook Pro sports Intel'southward newest Kaby Lake processors. The 13-inch model without the Affect Bar sports a 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, or a two.5GHz dual-cadre Intel Core i7, each with 64MB of eDRAM. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Affect Bar is even faster, with a 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, a 3.3GHz dual-cadre Intel Core i5, or a iii.5GHz Intel Core i7. They all have 64MB of eDRAM also.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro has quad-cadre Intel Cadre i7 processors. The 2.8GHz version has 6MB of shared L3 cache, while the ii.9GHz and 3.1GHz options have 8MB of L3 enshroud.

If yous want a MacBook with good performance, pace upward to the i5 or i7.
If y'all desire high functioning, you want a MacBook Pro.
If you want maximum performance for things like video editing, you desire a quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro 2017.

Graphics

The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles rendering and pushing the pixels. That includes everything from the macOS interface to photo and video editors to video games. The more powerful the GPU, the more than pixels it can render and button, and the smoother and meliorate the animations, apps, and 3D you'll get.

MacBook has Intel Hard disk drive Graphics 615. It'south plenty to bulldoze the built-in Retina brandish and a single 4K external display, merely it's integrated graphics, so intensity isn't its thing.

MacBook Air has Intel HD Graphics 6000. Again, it's enough to bulldoze the built-in standard resolution display and a single external brandish (not 4K, unfortunately), but information technology's integrated and that always has limits.

MacBook Pro 2015 has Intel Iris Pro Graphics. Every bit built-in graphics go, it'southward better than previous generations, but it's still built-in. Apple no longer allows you to upgrade the graphics in this model, either.

The new xiii-inch MacBook Pro has Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 in the version without Affect Bar, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 in the version with Touch on Bar. The 15-inch version has both Intel HD Graphics 630 for low ability and discreet graphics for high performance, and automatically switches betwixt the ii. There are options for Radeon Pro 555 with two GB of GDDR5 retentivity, and Radeon Pro 560 with 4 GB of GDDR5 retention.

If you want a lot of graphical power, you desire a new MacBook Pro.
If you lot want the biggest graphics heave you can get, y'all want the 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Radeon Pro 560.

Battery Life

These days, the one thing more important than ability is power efficiency. It doesn't matter how fast your laptop is if it runs out of juice. So, both Intel on the chipset side and Apple on the macOS side have been working on making everything last longer.

With a 41.4 watt-hour battery, MacBook is rated for up to x hours of spider web browsing, 12 hours of iTunes movie playback, and 30 days of standby.

The 13-inch MacBook Air'southward 54 watt-hour battery is rated for up 12 hours of web browsing, 12 hours of iTunes moving picture playback, and 30 days on standby.

The older 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 is rated for up to 9 of web browsing and iTunes movie playback, and thirty days on standby.

All versions of the MacBook Pro 2017 are rated for 10-hours of web browsing or iTunes motion picture playback and xxx days on standby. The 13-inch model without the Bear upon Bar sports a 54.v watt-hour battery, while the Touch Bar model's battery is 49.2 watt-hours. The 15-inch models have a 76 watt-hour battery.

(Keep in mind that iTunes pic playback is hardware accelerated, then playing YouTube videos in Chrome will consume way more ability, for instance.)

If you want the longest battery life possible, and don't miss having a Retina display, get the xiii-inch MacBook Air.

Memory

The amount of random access memory (RAM) in your Mac determines how many apps you can proceed live at a time, how big your photograph or video editing projects tin be without having to swap data out back and along on the drive, and otherwise keeps everything super fast.

MacBook comes standard with 8 GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and you can upgrade that to xvi GB at purchase time.

The older Macs don't allow y'all choose how much RAM to get. The xiii-inch MacBook Air but comes with eight GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro 2015 only comes with 16 GB of 1600MHz DDR3L retentivity.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2017 (with or without Touch Bar) starts with eight GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory and tin go to sixteen GB. The xv-inch MacBook Pro 2017 but comes with xvi GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 retentivity.

If RAM is of import to you, you desire the MacBook Pro.

Storage

Storage used to consist of big, noisy hard drive platters that spun effectually and didn't accept well to bumps or power problems. Now they're solid state — flash fries with no moving parts. They don't concur as much as old-fashion difficult drives and are all the same more expensive, simply they're ultra-fast and far more resilient.

MacBook comes with 256 GB of PCIe storage but can be upgraded to 512 GB.

MacBook Air comes with 128 GB of PCIe storage but can be upgraded to 256 GB or 512 GB.

The xv-inch MacBook Pro 2015 comes with 256 GB of PCIe storage only tin exist upgraded to 512 GB or one TB.

The xiii-inch MacBook Pro 2017 starts at 128 GB of PCIe storage on the model without the Touch Bar, and the Touch Bar model starts at 256 GB. You lot tin upgrade any of those to 512 GB or one TB. The xv-inch MacBook Pro 2017 starts with 256 GB PCI Wink storage on the low-end model, 512 GB PCIe Flash storage on the high-end model, and both can go to ii TB. Apple besides upgraded the drives in its 2017 models to read and write faster, with upwards to three.2 GB per second read speeds.

If you lot want the fastest storage possible, yous want a 2017 MacBook Pro.
If you want the largest amount of storage possible, you want the fifteen-inch MacBook Pro 2017.

Connectivity

All of Apple's current laptops come up with born Bluetooth four.2 for pairing to headphones and other accessories (the MacBook Pro 2015 and MacBook Air accept Bluetooth 4.0) and 802.11ac Wi-Fi for connecting to wireless routers and, through them, the cyberspace.

None of Apple's current laptops include cellular radios, but you lot can easily tether them to your iPhone or iPad if you take 1.

Ports

Wired connections like USB, Thunderbolt, and HDMI let you lot connect to high-operation accessories like external displays, drives, networks, and more than.

MacBook has a single USB-C port that tin connect to USB-C drives; standard USB, VGA, or HDMI with adapters; and to plug in and recharge with a USB or AC adapter. It likewise has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The 13-inch MacBook Air has 2 USB iii ports, one Thunderbolt ii port, an SDXC carte slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Ethernet is available with an adapter. It charges via a MagSafe 2 port.

The MacBook Pro 2015 has the most ports: two USB 3, two Thunderbolt two, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Ethernet is available with an adapter.

The thirteen-inch MacBook Pro without the Impact Bar has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C), while both the xiii- and 15-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar have iv Thunderbolt three ports (USB-C). All the same, the two ports on the right side of the xiii-inch model aren't full speed.

If y'all want the near ports available on an Apple tree laptop, yous want the 2015 MacBook Pro.
If you go with a newer laptop, USB-C hubs can help you connect peripherals to a MacBook Pro or MacBook

Force Affect trackpad

Apple now uses Forcefulness Impact engineering for their trackpads. It uses a Taptic Engine to simulate the click feeling of a traditional trackpad, but over the unabridged surface, and without the actual mechanical switch. Some people don't like the feeling, but information technology adds pressure sensitivity, is less prone to breaking downwards, and tin can be used in ways far beyond a regular trackpad.

MacBook and MacBook Pro have the Forcefulness Touch trackpad.

MacBook Air has the traditional trackpad.

If you want a standard trackpad, get the MacBook Air.
If you want the Force Touch trackpad, get the MacBook or MacBook Pro.

Keyboards

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 2015 use Apple'south older scissor switch organization that's a bit looser but also has much better travel.

MacBook and MacBook Pro 2017 use a 2d generation dome and butterfly switch system to achieve a flatter keyboard and keep the laptop thin. It'south an improvement over the first butterfly-switch keyboard in the 2015 MacBook, but fundamentally a similarly stable typing experience.

If you love the original12-inch MacBook keyboard, yous'll love the improved version in the new MacBook and MacBook Pro.
If you hate the 12-inch MacBook keyboard, y'all might desire to stick to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro 2015.

Touch Bar and Touch ID

The college-end thirteen-inch and every 15-inch MacBook Pro 2017 includes the Touch Bar. OLED with a matte finish that matches the feel of the keyboard keys, information technology can display Esc and function keys and system and media controls, just similar the old function row. But information technology can also display curated, contextual shortcuts for any app you're working in at the time. That includes volume sliders, content scrubbers, color selectors, and anything else a developer can dream upwards.

To the right of the Bear upon Bar is Touch ID. Once exclusive to iPhone and iPad, now you can accept it on the Mac. It works off an Apple T1 chip, which is similar a tiny, integrated iOS device embedded right in the MacBook Pro. Information technology handles the secure enclave and secure presentation of Apple Pay information, but that fusion is hidden abroad.

All you encounter is the sensor. Place your registered finger on it and you're authenticated! You can fifty-fifty use it for fast account switching, authorizing App Store purchases, and unlocking your 1Password vault.

If you desire a traditional office fundamental row, stick with the lower-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, the MacBook, the MacBook Air, or the MacBook Pro 2015.
If you want the new Bear on Bar and Touch ID, you want a higher-cease MacBook Pro 2017.

Colors

Rose Gold MacBook — Rose Aureate MacBook (Image credit: iMore)

For a long time, Apple just made laptops with silver, bead-blasted aluminum finishes. The dewdrop-blasted aluminum part is notwithstanding true, but recently Apple tree has started adding some colors to the Mac lineup.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 2015 just come in argent aluminum.

MacBook comes in silvery, space greyness, gold, and rose gold.

MacBook Pro 2017 comes in silver or space grey.

If you actually want a color other than silverish or infinite greyness, y'all desire the MacBook.

Who should get the MacBook?

MacBook is ideal for executives, managers, and travelers who desire the absolute lightest Mac, but i that still has all the latest technologies.

If you want the closest thing to an iPad in Mac wear that's incredibly light, ridiculously portable, with an incredible display, and you're not turned off past the poor camera and lower performance, then you desire the MacBook.

See at B&H (opens in new tab)

Who should become a MacBook Air?

MacBook Air is ideal for those who want a Mac laptop at the lowest possible toll and something that's still ultra-portable without sacrificing ports.

If y'all want an ultralight Mac that nonetheless has multiple USB ports and a Thunderbolt Port, and you're not turned off by the standard resolution display and mechanical trackpad, then you desire the MacBook Air.

Run across at B&H (opens in new tab)

Who should go a MacBook Pro 2015?

The 2015 MacBook Pro nevertheless packs plenty of punch, at a lower toll bespeak, and with all the legacy ports you can throw a cable at. It'due south for professionals who need the near power, memory, and storage possible, bigger screen options, and for whom weight and price aren't issues.

If you want Retina only don't care nearly wide gamut color, if the Bear on Bar and Touch ID hold no appeal, and Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C are a futurity you tin can't meet yet amid USB Type A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 2 accessories galore, save some greenbacks and consider the 2015 MacBook Pro.

See at Apple (opens in new tab)

Who should get the new MacBook Pro 2017?

The newly updated MacBook Pro is cut edge but besides cuts some things out. Gone are the legacy ports and in their place the fastest I/O possible, inside and out. It'due south for those who want the bleeding edge and don't care what it costs.

If y'all want a DCI-P3 broad gamut display and the best screen tech in the business organisation, a larger Force Touch trackpad, a lighter and denser chassis, the fastest Kaby Lake chips, discreet graphics on all xv-inch models, and Touch Bar and Touch ID on the college finish 13-inch and all 15-inch versions, you want a new MacBook Pro.

Come across at B&H (opens in new tab)

Withal undecided?

If yous're still having problem choosing between the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, make sure to pay our Apple tree notebooks discussion forums a visit and go function of our awesome online community.

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business organization, reaching a combined audience of over 40 1000000 readers a calendar month. His YouTube aqueduct, Vector, has over 90 chiliad subscribers and xiv million views and his podcasts, including Debug, take been downloaded over 20 meg times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a quondam manager of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the engineering science industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.