With the Late 2016 refresh, Apple has dropped the words “with Retina Display” from the names of its MacBook Pro models. Retina displays are standard across the board on all MacBooks. What’s new is the Touch Bar, which replaces the dedicated row of function keys that have been present on Mac notebooks since the 68040 era.
The Late 2016 15-incher is the thinnest 15″ MacBook Pro yet at 0.61″ (15.5 mm). This is due in part to moving away from legacy ports to the newer, smaller USB-C port, which is used for charging, video, 40 Gbps Thunderbolt, and 10 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2. The 15″ MacBook Pro now has four USB-C ports, two on each side of the machine.
There’s less range of CPU speeds than ever before. The base model runs its quad-core i7 at 2.6 GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.5 GHz), the step-up model at 2.7 GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.6 GHz), and the top-end build-to-order version at 2.9 GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.8 GHz). At this time we don’t yet have Geekbench results measuring the performance difference between these three Skylake CPUs.
As with other recent 15″ models, 16 GB of memory is standard – and there is no option for more than that.
There’s a built-in 720p FaceTime HD webcam that supports today’s widescreen displays.
The base 2.6 GHz model has a 256 GB PCIe-based SSD and a $2,399 price tag, up $400 from the low-end Mid 2015 model, while the 2.7 GHz version includes a 512 GB SSD at $2,799 retail, up $300 from last year’s “better” model. 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB SSDs are available for both models.
In its ongoing back-and-forth on graphics processors, this time Apple has left behind Nvidia and gone with Radeon Pro 450 or 455 graphics with 2 GB of video memory and automatic graphics switching between it and Intel HD Graphics 530. Radeon Pro 460 with 4 GB of video memory is a build-to-order option.
The new model is rated at 10 hours of battery power and includes Bluetooth 4.2 along with 802.11ac WiFi for wireless connectivity.
The Late 2016 MacBook Pros ship with macOS 10.12.1 Sierra and can run all later versions of OS X, which are free upgrades.
Closed Lid Mode: All Intel ‘Books support “lid closed” (or clamshell) mode, which leaves the built-in display off and dedicates all video RAM to an external display. To used closed lid mode, your ‘Book must be plugged into the AC adapter and connected to an external display and a USB or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard (you might also want to consider external speakers). Power up your ‘Book until the desktop appears on the external display and then close the lid. Your ‘Book will go to sleep, but you can wake it by moving the mouse or using the keyboard. The built-in display will remain off, and the external monitor will become your only display.
To resume use of the internal display, you need to disconnect the external display, put the computer to sleep, and then open the lid. This will wake up your ‘Book and restore use of the built-in display.
Battery life is claimed to be 10 hours of wireless productivity.
Details
- introduced 2016.10.27 at US$2,399 (2.6 GHz quad-core i7, 256 GB SSD) and US$2,799 (2.7 GHz, 512 GB SSD). 2.9 GHz build-to-order option.
- Identifier: MacBookPro
- Model no.:
- Part no.:
Mac OS
- ships with macOS 10.12.1 Sierra
Core System
- CPU: 2.6/2.7/2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Skylake
- Level 2 cache: 6/8 MB shared cache
- Bus: 2133 MHz
- RAM: 16 GB
- Performance, Geekbench 4
- 2.6 GHz: unknown
- 2.7 GHz: unknown
- 2.9 GHz: unknown
Video
- GPU: Radeon Pro 450 or 455 graphics with automatic graphics switching to Intel HD Graphics 530. Radeon Pro 460 with 4 GB available as a build-to-order option.
- VRAM, Intel HD: uses 384 MB of system memory
- VRAM, Nvidia: 2 GB
- Video out: Thunderbolt 3 (VGA, HDMI, and ThunderBolt 2 supported with optional adapters)
- supports up to two displays to 5120 x 2880 resolution and billions of colors
- supports up to four displays to 4096 x 2304 resolution and billions of colors
- display: 15.4″ (38 cm) 2880 x 1800 220 ppi color active matrix and “millions of colors”
- supports 1920 x 1200, 1650 x 1050, 1280 x 800, and 1024 x 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio
- allows mirroring to external display or extended desktop mode
Drives
- Hard drive: 256/512 GB solid state drive (SSD) standard on PCIe bus, 1 and 2 TB available
- optical drive: external only
Expansion
- Thunderbolt 3: 4 USB-C ports, up to 40 Gbps
- USB: 4 USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, up to 10 Gbps
- FireWire 400: optional via Thunderbolt adapter
- FireWire 800: optional via Thunderbolt adapter
- Ethernet: optional via Thunderbolt adapter
- WiFi: 802.11ac AirPort Extreme built in
- Modem: No longer offered by Apple
- Bluetooth: BT 4.2 built in
- ExpressCard/34: none
- SD Card Slot: none
- expansions bays: none
- IR receiver: none
- webcam: FaceTime 720p HD camera
Power
- battery: 76 Watt-hours, 10 hours of wireless productivity
- AC adapter: 87W USB-C Power Adapter
Physical
- size: 9.48 x 13.75 x 0.61″ (240.7 x 349.3 x 15.5 mm)
- Weight: 4.02 pounds (1.83 kg)
Online Resources
- Mac Notebook Value for the College Student, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2009.08.20. “…Apple ‘Books represent the best long-term value for money spent, not to mention user experience….”
- Finding the Best Values in Apple’s MacBook Matrix, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2009.07.21. With prices ranging from $999 to $2,499, speeds from 1.86 to 2.8 GHz, and sized from 13 to 17 inches, what’s right for you?
- Protect your notebook against loss, theft, data loss, and security breaches, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2009.08.25. 10 percent of laptops are lost or stolen every year. Tips on preventing theft, securing your data, and recovering from a lost, stolen, or broken notebook.
- The perfect Mac: MacBook Pro or iMac?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.11. The 15″ MacBook Pro with antiglare could be the perfect Mac, but the iMac also has much to commend it.
- Optimized Software Builds Bring Out the Best in Your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac’s Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac’s CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
- Low End Mac’s Safe Sleep FAQ, Dan Knight, Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.15. What is Safe Sleep mode? Which Macs support it? How can you enable or disable it? And more.
- The Safe Sleep Mailbag, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.06.15. Safe Sleep mode is enabled by default on modern MacBooks. How it works, and how to change how it works.
- Mac ‘Book Power Management Adventures, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2009.05.19. If your ‘Book won’t power up, shuts down while your working, or has other power issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear things up.
- Ubuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
- Notebooks and blackouts, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.12.23. When the power goes out, a notebook computer with long-lasting batteries lets you keep working for hours and hours.
- New MacBook trackpad takes some getting used to, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.12.22. The large glass trackpad is a joy to use in many ways, but it can be frustrating for longtime notebook users and has issues with Boot Camp.
- The ‘Better Safe Than Sorry’ Guide to Installing Mac OS X Updates, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
- Why You Should Partition Your Mac’s Hard Drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. “At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the ’emergency’ partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics.”
- Software to keep your MacBook cool, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.11.25. Heat is the enemy of long hardware life. Two programs to keep your MacBook running cooler.
- Just right: Papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear MacBooks, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.11.20. Some people like small and light notebooks, others prefer huge desktop replacements, but the best value tends to be in the middle.
- Kensington Ci95m Wireless Mouse: Great battery life, smooth performance, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.11.13. Kensington’s slim wireless mouse is well built, works smoothly, has great battery life, and avoids Bluetooth pairing and wake-up issues.
- Debunking the Apple Tax, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.10.31. “…no one else is offering the quality of computer construction that Apple offers in the same price range.”
- One OS to rule them all, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.10.29. With Fusion or Parallels letting you run Windows at full speed, Mac OS X gives you the best of both worlds.
- How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here’s the simple process.
- Apple Trumps Microsoft in Making the 64-bit Transition Transparent to Users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
- Does running OS X system maintenance routines really do any good?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly – but can’t if your Mac is off or asleep.
- Tricking out your notebook for superior desktop duty, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.07.29. For desktop use, you don’t need to be limited by the built-in trackpad, keyboard, and display or a notebook’s compromised ergonomics.
- Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it’s grown into a very useful tool.
- Win the depreciation game by buying on the low end, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.06.24. The worst depreciation afflicts high-end models. By buying a less powerful version, choosing certified refurbished, or picking up a used computer, you’ll come out ahead.
- 16:9 computer displays: Let’s not go there, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.06.17. “…there’s no reason our computer displays should match the proportions of our television displays.”
- SheepShaver brings Classic Mac OS to Intel Macs and Leopard, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.05.20. Mac OS X 10.5 doesn’t support Classic Mode. Neither does Leopard. But SheepShaver lets you emulate a PowerPC Mac and run the Classic Mac OS.
- Windows on Macs: Three paths for integration, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.05.14. Mac users have three routes for running Windows apps: Run Windows using Boot Camp or virtualization, or use a compatibility layer such as WINE.
- Where’s the best MacBook value: Top, bottom, or middle?, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.04.29. When it comes to MacBook and MacBook Pro value, the top-end model is usually the worst value, but which model holds the sweet spot?
- Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X – don’t forget to backup first.
- We need more than 2 USB ports in MacBooks, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.01.14. There’s something wrong when you can’t plug a flash drive, mouse, and printer into a notebook computer at the same time.
- Does a college freshman need to run Windows on a MacBook?, Al Poulin, My Turn, 2007.07.24. While you can run Windows on today’s Intel-based Macs, is there any reason most college students would want to or need to?
- 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How Much Difference Does It Make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini – and all the models in between.
- Simple ergonomics for the road warrior, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.01.16. The benefits of external keyboards and mice, laptop stands, typing gloves, and anti-RSI software for notebook users.
- To AppleCare or not to AppleCare?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.20. Consumer Reports, which generally recommends against extended warranties, says AppleCare makes sense. But does it?
- Better laptop performance: What’s the best upgrade?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.10.09. Memory, CPU, bus speed, and hard drives all impact performance and battery life. Which upgrades will give you the most up time in the field?
- Drive matters, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.06.14. There’s more to picking the right hard drive than size, spindle speed, buffer size, and price. But how can a 5400 rpm drive ever outperform a 7200 rpm drive?
- Power strategies for using your ‘Book in the field: Batteries and AC adapters, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.06.05. One or two extra batteries and at least one spare AC adapter can be essential when you’re traveling and need to get hours and hours of use from your ‘Book.
- MacBook Pro Technical Specifications
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