Apple Announces 2015 15” Retina MacBook Pro, Cheaper 27” Retina iMac
by Ryan Smith on May 19, 2015 10:45 AM EST- Posted in
- Apple
- Mac
- MacBook Pro
- iMac
This morning Apple announced the release of the 2015 refresh of their 15” Retina MacBook Pro lineup. With the 13” rMBP having been updated with an Intel Broadwell processor back in March, we were expecting a similar update for the 15” model around this timeframe, however as it turns out Apple will be sticking with Haswell just a bit longer. Let’s jump into the specs.
15" Retina MacBook Pro Lineup | ||||||
Model | 2014 (base) | 2014 (high-end) | 2015 (base) | 2015 (high-end) | ||
Dimensions | 0.71 inch (1.8 cm) x 14.13 inches (35.89 cm) x 9.73 inches (24.71 cm) | |||||
Weight | 4.46 lbs (2.02 kg) | 4.49 lbs (2.04 kg) | ||||
CPU | 2.2GHz Core i7-4770HQ (Haswell) |
2.5GHz Core i7-4870HQ (Haswell) |
2.2GHz Core i7-4770HQ (Haswell) |
2.5GHz Core i7-4870HQ (Haswell) |
||
GPU | Intel Iris Pro | Intel Iris Pro + GeForce GT 750M (2GB) | Intel Iris Pro | Intel Iris Pro + Radeon R9 M370X (2GB) | ||
Display | 15" 2880 x 1800 IPS LCD | |||||
Memory | 16GB DDR3L | |||||
SSD | 256GB PCIe SSD (PCIe x2) | 512GB PCIe SSD (PCIe x2) | 256GB PCIe SSD (PCIe x4) | 512GB PCIe SSD (PCIe x4) | ||
Battery Capacity | 95 Wh | 99.5 Wh | ||||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 9 Hours | ||||
Price | $1999 | $2499 | $1999 | $2499 |
As far as the overall design goes, based on Apple’s specifications it does not look like the chassis has been updated in any way. The 15 rMBP’s dimensions are identical - it’s still 0.71” (18mm) thick – though the weight has gone up very slightly from 4.46lbs (2.02kg) to 4.49lbs (2.04kg). Nor have the ports changed, with a combination of USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, MagSafe 2, and not a Type-C port in sight.
However on the input side of matters the Force Touch trackpad, first introduced on the MacBook and 2015 13” rMBP, has finally made its way over to the 15” model. In the case of the MacBook Pro Apple isn’t looking to save space in the same manner as they were the MacBook, but rather the Force Touch trackpad represents the next generation of trackpads for the company thanks to its pressure-sensitive touch and the additional input options that unlocks.
Meanwhile on the inside, much to our surprise the processor situation remains unchanged. Apple has confirmed that the 15” rMBP continues to use Intel’s Haswell processors and not their newer Broadwell processors, and as a result the processors available for the 2015 15” rMBP are identical to the 2014 processor options.
Since the processors have not changed, this also means that the 2015 models offer the same Iris Pro-equipped CPUs across the entire 15” lineup, with all models including the 40EU Iris Pro 5200 GPU. On the other hand the optional discrete GPU for the rMBP has changed; it is now AMD’s just-introduced Radeon R9 M370X, which ships with 2GB of VRAM. Unfortunately we know very little about M370X at this time – AMD’s closest part we do have specs for is the Cape Verde based M375 – so at the moment we’re unsure if this is another Verde part or if it’s something else entirely.
Elsewere, on the storage side of matters the SSDs have seen a slight upgrade. Just like the 13" rMBP earlier this year, the new 15" rMBP is now using a wider, PCIe x4 SSD. This will double theoretical maximum through, though the actual performance impact remains to be seen.
The final notable change here is that both battery capacity and battery time have gone up. Battery capacity is now up to 99.5 Wh, up from 95 Wh in 2014. It will be interesting to see the first rMBP tear-down, to see if this comes from different battery chemistry or improved space utilization to allow a physically larger battery. In either case, battery life is now speced for 9 hours for both web browsing and video playback, up from 8 hours on the 2014 model. A whole additional hour on just a slightly larger battery may be a bit optimistic, especially if Apple hasn’t made any other power savings changes.
Retina iMac
Meanwhile the Retina iMac has also received a partial upgrade, with Apple realigning their SKUs. The big news here is that Apple has shoved the non-Retina 27” iMac into a corner, and now offers 2 27” configurations with Retina.
27" Retina iMac | ||||
Model | 2015 (base) | 2015 (high-end) | ||
CPU | 3.3GHz Core i5-4590 (Haswell) |
3.5GHz Core i5-4690 (Haswell) |
||
GPU | AMD Radeon R9 M290 (2GB) | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB) | ||
Display | 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS LCD | |||
Memory | 8GB DDR3 | |||
Storage | 1TB 7200RPM HDD | 1TB Fusion Drive | ||
Price | $1999 | $2299 |
The new $1999 base model is essentially a slightly cut down version of the original model launched late last year, and comes equipped with a 3.3GHz Intel Core i5-4590 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive (no Fusion Drive on the base model), and a Radeon R9 M290 for graphics. Meanwhile the original Retina iMac is unchanged in configuration and is now the high-end option for the iMac. At the same time its price has been brought down $200, from $2499 to $2299.
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vailr - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Is the discrete video part replaceable, or is it soldered on to the laptop's logic board?Could the AMD video part be replaced with something like an nVidia 970m video part?
ws3 - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Let's see.. That would be: No, Yes, and No.dragonsqrrl - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
NoNo
...
Crunchy005 - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Haha dude it's apple. It would be impossible for it not to be in that form factor. Maybe the giant ASUS desktop replacements but not a macbook. Also it's apple...kspirit - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
It's a wonder how everyone thinks that new Macbook Air with one port and an obscene pricetag was the first computer to have a forcepad. The reviewers are all creaming themselves over it.Folio 1040 had it a long time ago. Apple isn't really as novel as some people like to believe.
ws3 - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Just you put a MacBook with a force touch trackpad side by side with a Folio and you'll see the difference.kspirit - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
It's the same implementation... Windows has the Forcepad's force-based gestures too (like press harder to scroll faster, etc.)cloudgazer - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
It's not entirely the same implementation - the Folios only have the older Synaptics ForcePad which had no haptic feedback.http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2015/0...
What's amazing about the new Apple trackpads (and hopefully the new as yet unseen in the wild Synaptics trackpads) is that they feel exactly like they click, even though they don't.
KoolAidMan1 - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Implementation and execution are different things. Who did it first doesn't matter as much as who does it better.KPOM - Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - link
Exactly. If you don't tell someone that it uses haptic feedback, I would guess they wouldn't know it. Even knowing that it uses haptic feedback, it feels like a "regular" trackpad.