Apple MacBook Pro 13 - Early 2015

Overview

Although the fifth-generation Intel Core i5 processor and Force Touch trackpad are minor updates, this year's 13-inch Retina Apple MacBook Pro is still an easy top pick for high-end ultraportables.

-- As reviewed by PCMag

There is a new version available:

Apple MacBook Pro 14 - M1 Pro/Max

Check out the reviews, price history, pros/cons and more.

See it on Amazon: $1799

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 36 expert reviews

Excellent:

22
Good:

13
Average:

1
Bad:

0

9.0

User Score

Based on 951 reviews
as rated by users

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Last revision on March 22, 2021

Reviewers Liked

More than 11 hours of battery life in our tests
Retina display
Robust connectivity
New Force Touch trackpad
Two Thunderbolt 2 ports
Comes with iLife and iWork software suites

Reviewers Didn't Like

Only upgradable at time of order
Retina resolution no longer class-leading
No discrete GPU option

Direct Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick these products using a variety of criteria: they can be direct competitors targeting the same market segment or can be similar devices in terms of size, performance, or features.

Expert reviews and ratings

By T3 Magazine on October 05, 2016 100

The Pro's performance is still excellent in this respect, anyway. If you have specific needs that prioritise lightness and battery life, you might consider the 13-inch MacBook Air, but for the majority of users, this entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro...

By TechRadar AU on September 06, 2016 90

The 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro was arguably Apple's best laptop, and the 2015 model is better still. If your next MacBook needs to be reliable, powerful and practical, the newest MacBook Pro is the only way to...

By IT PRO on February 11, 2016 80

Its performance won't break any records, but the improved battery life provided by Intel's new Broadwell processor is genuinely...

By Alphr on February 04, 2016 100

See Related Apple MacBook (12-inch, 2015) review: Light and lovelyDell XPS 13 2015 review: The Windows ultraportable, perfectedDell XPS 15 2015 review: Is Dell's portable powerhouse the perfect Windows 10 laptop?Taken as a whole, the 13in MacBook Pro is...

By Computer Shopper on December 07, 2015 80

The competition is formidable, but Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina Display remains one of your best 13.3-inch laptop options. Read...

By goodhousekeeping.co.uk on July 01, 2015 84

The Apple Macbook Pro with Retina Display is Apple's top end laptop (from £999 to £1,999). Buy if you want Apple sophistication with great graphics and power. Don't buy if you want a...

By PC Authority on June 11, 2015 100

The new 13in MacBook Pro looks identical to last year's model, down to the last millimetre. But looks can be deceiving: this updated laptop quietly debuts Apple's brand-new Force Touch trackpad. It's a simple idea. Press gently and the pad responds...

By Macworld on May 26, 2015 90

I've always been a fan of the MacBook Pro with Retina display. Though my personal preference is for the 15-inch model, the 13-inch modeled I tested are attractive laptops in their own right. If you're have a older non-Retina Mac laptop, it's a good...

By Macworld UK on May 18, 2015 80

In last year's line-up, moving from entry to middle models of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display meant gaining more memory and more storage. With this year's range, it will cost you £200 just to add another ‘128 GB' (actually a change from 121...

By Expert Reviews on April 14, 2015 100

Performance-boosting upgrades and an overhauled touchpad keep the 13in MacBook Pro well ahead of the...

By Gadget Guy Australia on April 14, 2015 80

Make no mistake, Apple's MacBook is something special, and its lack of a model moniker tells us how confident Apple is that this is an example of a machine from the future, with a sexy thin and sleek look like no other, a beautiful screen, a truly light...

By The Verge on April 09, 2015 90

More times than not, the Verge score is based on the average of the subscores below. However, since this is a non-weighted average, we reserve the right to tweak the overall score if we feel it doesn't reflect our overall assessment and price of the...

By NotebookCheck on April 02, 2015 89

Till SchönbornChassis94 / 98 → 96%Keyboard92%Pointing Device99%Connectivity67 / 80 → 84%Weight68 / 78 → 77%Battery91%Display90%Games Performance57 / 68 → 84%Application Performance83 / 87 → 95%Temperature86 / 91 → 95%Noise89%Audio82 / 91 → 90%Camera63 /...

By MacNN on April 01, 2015 90

Although the new darling of the Apple MacBook line up is the all-new MacBook, Apple has given its popular 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display a solid refresh. While the stunning new MacBook caters to a select audience of users who value portability...

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Apple MacBook Pro 13 - Early 2015

Overview

Pros & Cons

Reviews

Price: $1,199

Apple MacBook Pro 14 - M1 Pro/Max

TechSpot Metascore

User Score

Reviewers Liked

Reviewers Didn't Like

Direct Competitors and Related Products

HP Spectre x360 13 / 13T Series

Asus ZenBook UX305

Dell XPS 13 - 2015

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Series

Expert reviews and ratings