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Retina Display MacBook FAQ @ EveryMac.com
Update Published August 14, 2019
Also see: MacBook Specs | All Mac Q&As
EveryMac.com's Retina MacBook Q&A answers questions about the 2015, 2016, and 2017 aluminum MacBook models with a 12-Inch "Retina Display."
These notebooks are visually distinctive and the only razor thin notebooks with "MacBook" on the display bezel. However, they additionally can be spotted collectively by the A1534 model number.
Questions range from "What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2017' 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models?" to "How do you connect external storage to the Retina Display MacBook? What options are available? Is it possible?" and include everything in between.
Please note that all Retina MacBook models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently and can be quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these notebooks on the used market.
EveryMac.com also offers a separate Retina MacBook Pro Q&A, Retina MacBook Air Q&A, and Pre-Retina MacBook Air Q&A that likewise may be of interest.
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Most Frequently Asked Retina Display MacBook Q&As:
How do you connect external storage to the Retina Display MacBook? What options are available? Is it possible? Are adapters required?
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?
What are all the differences between the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models?
How do you transfer data from an older Mac to a Retina Display MacBook? Are adapters required?
What type of internal storage do the Retina Display MacBook models use? Is it possible to upgrade it?
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?
What are all the differences between the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models and the "Early 2016" models replaced?
How do you restore the operating system on the Retina Display MacBook models?
What is USB-C? What adapters are available for the Retina Display MacBook USB-C port?
What are the "pros and cons" of the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it for me?
Software Compatibility Q&As:
What version of OS X is pre-installed on the Retina Display MacBook models?
How do you install software on the Retina Display MacBook without an optical drive?
How do you transfer data from an older Mac to a Retina Display MacBook? Are adapters required?
How do you restore the operating system on the Retina Display MacBook models?
Can the Retina Display MacBook run iPad apps?
Can the Retina Display MacBook run Windows or Linux?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (Mid-2017):
What are all the differences between the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models?
What are all the differences between the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models and the "Early 2016" models replaced?
How fast are the "Mid-2017" MacBook models compared to one another? How much faster are they than the "Early 2016" models replaced? How fast are they compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?
What is the "real-world" battery life of the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Compared to its predecessor, is it really improved as much as Apple claims?
What are the major differences between the 12-Inch Retina MacBook, 13-Inch Retina MacBook Air, and the 11-Inch/13-Inch non-Retina MacBook Air? Which is best for me?
What are the "pros and cons" of the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (Early 2016):
What are all the differences between the "Early 2016" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models?
What are all the differences between the "Early 2016" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models and the "Early 2015" models replaced?
What are the differences between the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook and the 11-Inch/13-Inch MacBook Air? Which is best for me?
How fast are the "Early 2016" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models compared to one another? How much faster are these models than the "Early 2015" line replaced? How fast are they compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?
What are the "pros and cons" of the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it for me?
Comparison & Performance Q&As (Early 2015):
What are all the differences between the "Early 2015" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models?
What are the differences between the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook and the 11-Inch/13-Inch MacBook Air? Which is best for me?
How fast are the "Early 2015" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook models compared to one another? How fast are these models compared to the 11-Inch and 13-Inch MacBook Air models? How fast are they compared to the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro?
What are the "pros and cons" of the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it for me?
Upgrades & Expansion Q&As:
What custom processor options were available for the Retina Display MacBook models? Could the processor be upgraded?
What type of RAM do the Retina Display MacBook models use? Can it be upgraded?
What type of internal storage do the Retina Display MacBook models use? Is it possible to upgrade it?
How do you connect external storage to the Retina Display MacBook? What options are available? Is it possible? Are adapters required?
Display & Video Q&As:
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?
What type of video processor is provided by the Retina Display MacBook? Is it "dedicated" or "integrated" memory? Is it upgradable?
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?
Battery, Power & Connectivity Q&As:
What is the "real-world" battery life of the "Early 2015" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it really as long as Apple claims? How does it compare to the MacBook Air and Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
What is the "real-world" battery life of the "Early 2016" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? How does it compare to the "Early 2015" MacBook models replaced and the MacBook Air?
What is the "real-world" battery life of the "Mid-2017" 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Compared to its predecessor, is it really improved as much as Apple claims?
Is it possible to replace the battery in the Retina Display MacBook? How?
What is USB-C? What adapters are available for the Retina Display MacBook USB-C port?
What type of power connector does the Retina Display MacBook use? Is it compatible with "MagSafe" power connectors?
How do you connect an external display to the Retina MacBook? What is the maximum supported resolution? What adapters are required?
How do you connect external storage to the Retina Display MacBook? What options are available? Is it possible? Are adapters required?
How do you connect the Retina Display MacBook to a wired Ethernet network? Is it even possible?
Design, Configuration, & Purchasing Q&As:
Who designed the Retina Display MacBook?
Where can I buy a Retina Display MacBook?
What are the custom configuration options for the Retina Display MacBook models?
What are the "pros and cons" of the 12-Inch Retina Display MacBook? Is it for me?
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