In loving memory of the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro: 5/19/2015 - 7/12/2018
- Nov 22, 2017 This is one of the best file transfer apps for MacBook Pro. Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.13 or later versions. Devices: Macbook, Windows. Pricing: Free Version. Conclusion of Article. Their thousands of software are available on the web but the best apps for Macbook Pro are some of them.
- Jul 12, 2018 In loving memory of the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro: 5/19/2015 - 7/12/2018 Today, Apple announced a big update to its Macbook Pro line of computers.
- IBENZER MacBook Pro 13 Inch Case 2015 2014 2013 end 2012 A1502 A1425, Hard Shell Case with Keyboard Cover for Old Version Apple Mac Pro Retina 13, Crystal Clear, R13CYCL+1 4.3.
- Apr 09, 2015 Right: 2015 Retina MacBook Pro with new Force Touch trackpad. The new MacBook Pro's design is, to borrow a famous Jony Ive adverb, unapologetically unchanged.
Nov 11, 2019 For a complete list of the pros and cons of the 2015 Retina MacBook Pro, check out the excellent EveryMac page on the subject. The highlights are that the older MacBook Pro still has a MagSafe 2.
Today, Apple announced a big update to its Macbook Pro line of computers. The company really souped-up the specs of the latest Macbook Pro model, the one that debuted in 2016 with the controversial butterfly keyboard, 4 sole USB-C ports, and Touch Bar in place of the function keys.
As Apple updated its website with the newest additions to the Macbook Pro family, something just as noteworthy came to light. Apple removed the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro model from its online store, officially killing off what some consider to be the best laptop ever made.
Wait.. Did Apple just announce they discontinued the 2015 15' MacBook? It's the best version they've made. I would pay money to put 32 gigs of ram in it..
— Nemoy Rau (@NRaush) July 12, 2018
My 2015 baseline MacBook Pro has honestly been killing it, definitely think the '15 models are the best on the market right now (I wouldn't work with the 16-17 dongle models..)
Exporting 1080p 60fps video, hours of photoshop maintaining 80% battery etc.
— Andrew Falchook (@falchook) November 26, 2017
On the wrong side of things, the 15'' 2015 MacBook Pro ( @marcoarment ‘s favourite) isn't available anymore.
— Alessandro (@alsoknownasale) July 12, 2018
In November of last year, Marco Arment, the co-founder of Tumblr and developer behind popular apps like Instapaper and Overcast, wrote a post that spread like wildfire, expressing how many Macbook Pro users felt when Apple announced the new Touch Bar model with its 2016 Macbook Pro refresh. Arment argued that the entire 2012-2015 Retina Macbook Pro model was the best laptop Apple ever created, with the mid-2015 one being its peak. The sentiments shared in his post about the 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro model – titled 'The best laptop ever made' – were echoedacrossthe web.
Before Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, he was involved in the design of the Retina Macbook Pro line of Apple computers that came out 8 months later in June of 2012. This model was continuously updated and upgraded with the latest specs until May 2015 with the mid-2015 model. This Macbook Pro model was heralded for its sleek design, light weight, fast processing power, its array of ports ranging from HDMI to two Thunderbolt ports, and MagSafe power adapter among other things. Even what the Retina Macbook Pro was missing, an internal CD/DVD Superdrive for example, was a well-timed move in response to where the industry was in terms of the lifecycle of that specific technology.
Even with last year's 2017 Touch Bar Macbook Pro roll out replacing the original 2016 Touch Bar model, Apple kept the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro in stock to satiate those who believed it to be the last great Macbook Pro model. Up until yesterday, you could purchase a brand new mid-2015 15-inch Macbook Pro, with fully maxed out specs (note that in the past year Apple removed the option to add a dedicated AMD Radeon R9 M370X GPU to the mid-2015 Macbook Pro), for just a little more than the low-end base model of the 2017 Touch Bars.
Unfortunately, with the launch of the 2018 Macbook pro model, you can no longer purchase a brand new 2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro from Apple. If you really want 'the best laptop ever,' you'll have to try your luck with used or refurbished models on eBay.
For those who hate the newest – and now only – Macbook Pro line, thanks to its lack of ports, annoying and flawed butterfly keyboard, and gimmicky Touch Bar; this discontinuation of the 2015 model is Apple's way of saying too bad, this is just the way things are now.
UPDATE: July 12, 2018, 2:56 p.m. EDT: Apple appears to have moved the 2015 Macbook Pro to the Apple store clearance page. This may be your last chance to snag a brand new one, so get them while they last!
Retina MacBook Q&A
Update Published August 15, 2019
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How do you connect an external display to the Retina MacBook? What is the maximum supported resolution? What is the best USB-C monitor to use? What adapters are required?
The 'Early 2015' and 'Early 2016' Retina MacBook models each can simultaneously support the internal display as well as an external display at a resolution as high as 3840x2160 at 30 Hz. Although they can be connected to a 4K display via HDMI, they are not capable of using a 4K display at 60 Hz like MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models available at the same time.
The final Retina MacBook models -- the 'Mid-2017' series -- on the other hand, can simultaneously support the internal display as well as up to 4096x2304 at 60 Hz on an external display.
Adapter Options for Older Displays
All Retina MacBook models have a single USB-C port -- and not any kind of 'traditional' external display port -- so an adapter is required to connect an older display.
When the first Retina MacBook was released in 2015, an adapter was the only option, but times have changed, and native USB-C monitors now also are available readily.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (USB-C Display Adapters)
Specifically, Apple provides two options to connect an external monitor to the Retina Display MacBook -- the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (MJ1K2AM/A), which has an HDMI port, and the Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (MJ1L2AM/A), which has an old school VGA port. If your display is equipped with HDMI or VGA, you then will just need a 'traditional' HDMI or VGA cable in addition to the relevant adapter.
The Best USB-C Displays
If you already have a quality external display of sufficient resolution, an adapter is a good option.
However, if it makes sense to purchase a new display regardless of connectivity or you would prefer to not have to use an adapter with your Retina MacBook to connect an external display, it is most convenient to purchase a display with native USB-C capability.
Although lower resolution displays also will work, it generally is best to purchase an external display that supports the maximum resolution that the notebook can drive. For the 'Early 2015' and 'Early 2016' Retina MacBook models that is 3840x2160 at 30 Hz.
Two native USB-C monitors with a native resolution of 3840x2160 are the 27-Inch LG Class 4K UHD and the BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR.
Photo Credit: LG Class 4K UHD (Left), BenQ EW3270U 4K HDR (Right)
The 'Mid-2017' Retina MacBook supports a native resolution up to 4096x2304 at 60 Hz. One display that supports this resolution is the 21.5-Inch LG UltraFine 4K. It also will work with the earlier Retina MacBook models, but at a reduced refresh rate of 48 Hz.
Photo Credit: LG (UltraFine 4K)
All of these displays also power the Retina MacBook while connected which is critical for a notebook dependent on a single USB-C port.
Site sponsor Adorama sells these adapters with free shipping for all. Site sponsor OWC sells the LG Class 4K UHD display.
What type of video processor is provided by the Retina Display MacBook? Is it 'dedicated' or 'integrated' memory? Is it upgradable?
Each Retina MacBook has an Intel 'integrated' video processor and each is more powerful than its predecessor:
| MacBook | Model Identifier | Video Processor |
| Early 2015 | MacBook8,1 | HD Graphics 5300 |
| Early 2016 | MacBook9,1 | HD Graphics 515 |
| Mid-2017 | MacBook10,1 | HD Graphics 615 |
Regardless of model, the graphics processor in the Retina MacBook models share 1.5 GB of system memory and it cannot be upgraded at the time of purchase or later.
How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default? Freeware audio editing software.
The Retina Display MacBook models, regardless of generation, have a 12' color display with 2304x1440 native resolution at 226 ppi. However, the screen is 'pixel doubled' so that it effectively looks like half the resolution, just with more four times as much detail as a pre-Retina display. Doubled, the resolution would be 1152x720, and that is an option, but it ships scaled as 1280x800 by default to provide more 'room' on screen. In addition to the default, scaled resolutions of 1440x900, 1280x800, 1152x720, and 1024x640 are choices, too.
Photo Credit: EveryMac.com
Unlike the Retina Display MacBook Pro and Retina 4K/5K iMac models, there is no way to see additional resolutions, such as the native one, within the 'Displays' Control Panel on the Retina MacBook.
However, for more resolution options, the free Retina DisplayMenu and inexpensive QuickRes and SwitchResX third-party software may be of interest.
If you find QuickRes or SwitchResX useful, EveryMac.com strongly encourages registering the software to support continued development.
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