Retina Display MacBook Pro FAQ @ EveryMac.com

Revision Published January 28, 2021

Also see: MacBook Pro Specs | All Mac Q&As

The MacBook Pro line received a second update on June 5, 2007, with new Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT video cards and faster processor options. LED backlighting was added to the 15-inch model's screen, and its weight was reduced from 5.6 pounds (2.5 kg) to 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg). Apple's 'complete secrecy' — Apple alleges ex-MacBook Pro designer leaked secret details to reporter Apple: Ex-employee leaked future hardware products, sought favors from reporter.

EveryMac.com's 'Retina Display' MacBook Pro Q&A answers questions about the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 MacBook Pro models that are crafted from a single piece of aluminum and have a 13-Inch or 15-Inch 'Retina Display.'

These notebooks do not have a name on the display bezel (they only have 'MacBook Pro' text on the bottom of the notebook). They also lack an optical drive, so collective identification is possible by these two points alone. However, they additionally can be spotted by model numbers A1398, A1425 and A1502.

Questions range from 'How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?' to 'Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?' and include everything in between.

Please note that all Retina Display MacBook Pro models have been discontinued.

The previous 'Unibody' MacBook and MacBook Pro systems have 'MacBook' or 'MacBook Pro' text on the bottom display bezel and have internal optical drives.

These 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch notebooks are model numbers A1278, A1286, and A1297, respectively.

EveryMac.com offers separate 'Unibody' MacBook Q&A and 'Unibody' MacBook Pro Q&A that cover these earlier models.

EveryMac.com covers earlier 'pre-Unibody' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2006 until 2008, in the Original MacBook Pro Q&A as well as later 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro models, sold from 2016 to 2021, in the 'Touch Bar' MacBook Pro Q&A and current MacBook Pro models in the 'Apple Silicon' MacBook Pro Q&A.

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Most Frequently Asked Retina Display MacBook Pro Q&As:

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?

How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it the same storage and process as the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it possible?

How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default?

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?

How fast are the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?

What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?

How fast are the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?

Software Compatibility Q&As:

What version of OS X is pre-installed on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run Mac OS X software written for the PowerPC processor?

How do you install software on the Retina Display MacBook Pro without an optical drive?

How do you restore the operating system on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run iPad apps?

Can the Retina Display MacBook Pro run Windows or Linux?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (15' Mid-2015):

What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

How fast are the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' Early 2015):

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

How fast are the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Mid-2014):

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Mid-2014' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2014' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Late 2013' models replaced?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Mid-2014' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the MacBook Air?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2014' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Late 2013):

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Late 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are all the differences between the 'Late 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Early 2013' models replaced?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Late 2013' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2013' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' & 15' Early 2013):

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Late 2012' models replaced?

What are all the differences between the 15-Inch 'Early 2013' Retina Display MacBook Pro models and the 'Mid-2012' models replaced?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air? Which is best for me?

How fast are the 13-Inch and 15-Inch 'Early 2013' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced? How fast are they compared to the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Early 2013' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (13' Late 2012):

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Late 2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are the major differences between the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, the 'regular' 13-Inch MacBook Pro, and the 13-Inch MacBook Air?

What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Late 2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro?

How fast are the 13-Inch Retina Display 'Late 2012' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, 13-Inch non-Retina Display MacBook Pro, and 13-Inch MacBook Air 'Mid-2012' models?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2012' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it for me?

Comparison & Performance Q&As (15' Mid-2012):

What are all the differences between the 15-Inch Retina Display 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models?

What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2012' regular MacBook Pro and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro?

How fast are the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?

How fast is the graphics performance of the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to the models replaced?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

Upgrades & Expansion Q&As:

What custom processor options are available for the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Do they have a processor that can be upgraded?

How do you upgrade the RAM in the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What type of RAM do they use? How much RAM do they actually support? Is it even possible to upgrade the RAM?

How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible?

How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it the same storage and process as the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it possible?

Is it possible to add a second SSD or hard drive to a Retina Display MacBook Pro?

Which SD card storage solution is best for the Retina Display MacBook Pro? Which models are compatible? Is this type of storage safe?

What kind of expansion slots are provided by the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

Display & Video Q&As:

How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default?

What type of video processor is provided by the Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it 'dedicated' or 'integrated' memory? Is it upgradable?

Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?

How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required?

What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages?

Battery, Power & Connectivity Q&As:

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2013' and 'Mid-2014' 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to earlier models?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Mid-2012' and 'Early 2013' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced?

What is the 'real-world' battery life of the 'Late 2012' and 'Early 2013' 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? How does the battery life compare to the 15-Inch Retina Display and 13-Inch 'Mid-2012' non-Retina Display MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?

How do you replace the battery in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it even possible?

How do you replace the battery in the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it more or less difficult than the 15-Inch Retina Display models? Is it possible?

What is the difference between the 'MagSafe 2' power connector on the Retina Display MacBook Pro and the 'MagSafe' power connector on earlier MacBook Pro models? Are they interchangeable?

How is it possible to physically secure the Retina Display MacBook Pro without a security port?

What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages?

What is HDMI?

What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?

What is 802.11ac? How is it different from 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11g, and 802.11n?

Design, Configuration, & Purchasing Q&As:

Who designed the Retina Display MacBook Pro?

Where can I buy a Retina Display MacBook Pro?

What are the custom configuration options for the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one for me?

What are the 'pros and cons' of the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is one right for me?

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MacBook Air Q&A

Update Published August 11, 2019

All Mac Q&As >>MacBook Air Q&A (Home) | Also See: All MacBook Air Specs

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How do you replace or upgrade the battery in the MacBook Air? Is it even possible or is it glued in place?

The battery in all MacBook Air models is 'integrated,' which means it is not designed to be replaced by end-users, and it certainly is not easily 'swappable' like the battery in 'pre-Unibody' MacBook and MacBook Pro models.

The MacBook Air battery is replaceable, though. Thankfully, no soldering is required and Apple did not secure the battery in place with adhesive, either.

Official Replacement Option

Officially, when the battery life of any MacBook Air drops enough to justify replacement -- and it is no longer under warranty -- one is required to provide Apple with the entire MacBook Air for service.

Additional information is available from the company website -- and the price varies in different countries -- but as of the date last updated, it costs US$129 in the US, C$149 in Canada (originally C$209), £99 in the UK (originally £159), and A$199 in Australia (originally A$229) to have Apple replace the battery (including the battery itself).

If you live close to an Apple Store, you can opt for same-day service with an appointment. If you do not, you may alternately have the battery replaced by mail, which takes 3-4 days.

Self-Replacement Option

Although it might be a bit of a stretch to refer to battery replacement as a 'hack' per se, as it is rather straightforward, it is entirely possible to replace the battery yourself.

Replacing the battery yourself not only saves a bit of money, but it also can save time, and it can be much more secure as you are not required to turn your entire notebook over to a third-party, either. However, be very certain to purchase a quality battery. A low quality battery may not hold a charge for as long as a quality one, but it also may leak or even cause a fire.

AnandTech was the first to tear into the original MacBook Air and found that it is not difficult to replace the battery, although it does require the removal of a whopping nineteen screws.

Image Credit: AnandTech (Original MacBook Air -- Bottom Panel Removed)

The battery replacement procedure is quite similar for subsequent models. However, starting with the 'Late 2010' series, Apple uses five-point 'Pentalobe' screws (which some refer to as 'Security Torx' screws) on the exterior to more seriously discourage end-users from 'tinkering' with their computer. The battery assembly likewise is attached with T5 Torx screws. It's not really any more difficult to replace the battery in these models, it just requires a more obscure screwdriver.

Identification Help

Not all MacBook Air models use the same battery, so it is critical to identify your MacBook Air correctly in order to purchase a compatible battery.

The MacBook Air can be identified by the Model Identifier 'closely enough' to an exact match for the purpose of replacing the battery. In turn, each model can be uniquely identified via model identifier and one or more secondary identifiers (like processor speed and/or processor type).

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature -- as well as the EveryMac app -- also can uniquely identify these models by the Serial Number, which is listed on the bottom of the notebook in small type toward the hinge and within the operating system alongside the model identifier. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.

To locate the model identifier in software, select 'About This Mac' under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the 'More Info...' button. If the MacBook Air is running OS X 10.7 'Lion' or later, you will need to click the 'System Report' button after clicking 'More Info...' as well. EveryMac.com has carefully hand documented each model identifier for your convenience.

The model identifiers for each of these models follows:

Battery Replacement Instructions

For the original, 'Late 2008,' and 'Mid-2009' MacBook Air models you essentially have to remove the bottom case (ten screws), unscrew the battery (nine screws), and finally, just unplug the battery and remove it.

The procedure is slightly different for the original model and the 'Late 2008/Mid-2009' models and a bit different for the 'Late 2010' and subsequent models, too.

Site sponsor Other World Computing both provides quality, compatible batteries (complete with the correct screwdriver) and has precisely documented the replacement steps for each, as well:

Original MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir1,1)

Late 2008/Mid-2009 MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir2,1)

Late 2010 11' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir3,1)

Late 2010 13' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir3,2)

Mid-2011 11' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir4,1)

Mid-2011 13' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir4,2)

Mid-2012 11' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir5,1)

Mid-2012 13' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir5,2)

Mid-2013/Early 2014 11' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir6,1)

Mid-2013/Early 2014 13' MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir6,2)

As of the date last updated, quality batteries are few and far between for the 'Early 2015' and 'Mid-2017' MacBook Air models, but these models should not need to have their batteries replaced yet, either.

After watching the video for your model, it should be clear that replacing the battery is simple. When you remove the screws, though, pay careful attention to where each screw goes. In particular, some screws are longer than others.

However, if you do not feel comfortable doing the work yourself, hiring a professional is a good idea.

Battery Replacement Summary

Ultimately, those with modest technical skills can easily replace the battery in the MacBook Air models themselves should they choose to do so. Replacing the battery requires nothing more than a compatible, quality battery and the correct screwdriver or screwdrivers.

Macbook Pro Late 2008 Efi Firmware Update

It cannot be stressed enough that it is very important to purchase a quality battery. Low quality batteries may not hold a charge for as long as a quality one, but even may leak or cause a fire.

Battery Purchase Options

Macbook Pro Early 2008 Firmware Update

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor OWC offers quality batteries for nearly all MacBook Air models.

In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells OWC batteries with free shipping.

In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells OWC batteries with fast shipping and no customs duties.

Macbook Pro Late 2008 Os Update

In Australia, site sponsors Macfixit and Upgradeable are local distributors of OWC batteries with fast delivery and more.

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EveryMac.com is provided 'as is' without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the author thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Use of any content or images without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.