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Retina Display MacBook Pro Q&A
Revision Published August 11, 2014
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What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch "Early 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
Please note that the "Early 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and is quite useful for anyone buying or selling one of these notebooks on the used market.
It would be easy to assume that the "Early 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models are differentiated by size. Although size is an important difference between the 13-Inch models and the 15-Inch models, it is far from the only difference.
The MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.5 13" and "Core i7" 2.9 13" -- which were introduced as the "Late 2012" models and Apple continued to sell revised configurations as part of the "Early 2013" line -- alongside the true "Early 2013" MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.6 13" and "Core i7" 3.0 13" and the 15-Inch "Early 2013" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.4 15", "Core i7" 2.7 15", and "Core i7" 2.8 15" -- have significant differences that are not as apparent as size.
Consequently, an in-depth evaluation can be particularly helpful to determine whether a 13-Inch or 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro is best for you.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Retina Display MacBook Pro - 15" Left, 13" Right)
External Differences
All 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models use similar and essentially "sealed" uniformly thick aluminum and glass designs, unlike the MacBook Air models, which are tapered from back to front. The 13-Inch models are 0.75 of an inch thick, 12.35 inches wide, and 8.62 inches deep when closed and weigh a little more than 3.5 pounds (1.62 kg), whereas the 15-Inch models are 0.71 of an inch thick, 14.13 inches wide, and 9.73 inches deep when closed and weigh a little less than 4.5 pounds (2.02 kg).
All of these systems have high-resolution LED-backlit widescreen "Retina" displays without "MacBook Pro" printed on the display bezel (it's only identified as "MacBook Pro" on the bottom), but the display size and resolutions are different. The 13-Inch models have a 13.3" widescreen 2560x1600 (227 ppi) display and the 15-Inch models have a 15.4" widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi) display. By default, the 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models run "pixel doubled" at 1280x800 and 1440x900, respectively, but with four times the detail of a "traditional" display.
All Retina Display MacBook Pro models have a full-size "chiclet-style" backlit keyboard, a glass "no button" trackpad with "inertial scrolling" support, integrated stereo speakers, dual microphones, and an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam. None have a built-in optical drive, although an external one can be purchased at extra cost, if needed or desired.
Connectivity Differences (or Lack Thereof)
Connectivity is the same for the 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models. Both lines include 3-stream 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, two "Thunderbolt" ports, an HDMI port, an audio out port, an SDXC card slot, and a "MagSafe 2" power connector port.
No Retina Display MacBook Pro models have Gigabit Ethernet or Firewire "800" ports, although Apple offers Thunderbolt-to-Gigabit Ethernet and Thunderbolt-to-Firewire 800 adapters at extra cost.
Identification Differences
Retina Display MacBook Pro models with the same display size share Model Numbers and Model Identifiers.
Specifically, the 13-Inch models share model number A1425 and the 15-Inch models share model number A1398. In software, the 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models collectively share the MacBookPro10,2 model identifier whereas the 15-Inch models share MacBookPro10,1.
Although the model identifiers in software are sufficient for some identification purposes, such as upgrading the SSD in the 13-Inch and 15-Inch models alike, the model numbers are not precise enough for most purposes.
Externally, the EMC Number is better for more unique identification. The "Early 2013" 13-Inch models are EMC number 2672 and the "Early 2013" 15-Inch models are EMC number 2673. Just as the site has for other models for many years, EveryMac.com has meticulously hand documented these details for your convenience.
Finally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature additionally can uniquely identify each one of the Retina Display MacBook Pro models by their serial numbers.
Internal Differences
Internally, these Retina Display MacBook Pro models have a number of similarities -- all of these systems use Intel's "Ivy Bridge" architecture, 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM that is soldered in place, SSD modules that can be upgraded, and batteries that are unfortunately glued in place -- but there are critical differences, too.
The 13-Inch models have dual core Intel "Core i5" or "Core i7" processors, 8 GB of onboard RAM that cannot be upgraded at all (later or even at the time of purchase), and an "integrated" Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares system memory.
The 15-Inch models, by contrast, have much faster quad core "Core i7" processors, 8 GB of onboard RAM that can be upgraded to 16 GB, but only at the time of purchase, and dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory as well as the same integrated graphics processor as the 13-Inch model. They have larger default flash storage, as well.
The internal flash storage is not intended to be upgraded in either model after purchase, but it can be upgraded after purchase, nevertheless. The 15-Inch systems have the storage as a removable module and the 13-Inch systems use the same removable module as the 15-Inch by default, but have a "drive caddy" of sorts, so physically larger, and less expensive, 2.5" SSD modules likely can be used, too.
The 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models both use internal batteries that provide approximately 7 hours of runtime in Apple tests, and both are glued in place, unfortunately. Replacing the battery in the 13-Inch models is needlessly difficult, but the process for the 15-Inch models is much worse and downright wasteful.
Comparison Chart
The differences between the "Early 2013" 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models are summarized below:
 13-Inch Retina |
 15-Inch Retina |
|
|---|---|---|
| Processor: | I5-3230M I7-3540M* |
I7-3635QM I7-3740QM I7-3840QM* |
| Cores: | 2 | 4 |
| Speed: | 2.6 GHz, 3.0 GHz* |
2.4 GHz, 2.7 GHz, 2.8 GHz* |
| Turbo Boost: | 3.2 GHz, 3.7 GHz* | 3.4 GHz, 3.7 GHz, 3.8 GHz* |
| L3 Cache: | 3 MB, 4 MB* | 6 MB, 8 MB* |
| SSD Capacity: | 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| SSD Upgrade: | 2.5" Drive Caddy** | Proprietary |
| Std RAM: | 8 GB | 8 GB, 16 GB |
| Max RAM: | 8 GB† | 16 GB† |
| GDDR5: | Integrated Only | 1 GB |
| Display: | 13.3" | 15.4" |
| Std Resolution: | 2560x1600 (227 ppi) | 2880x1800 (220 ppi) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 7 Hours |
| Battery Design: | Glued | Glued†† |
| Height: | 0.75 | 0.71 |
| Width: | 12.35 | 14.13 |
| Depth: | 8.62 | 9.73 |
| Weight: | 3.57 lbs | 4.46 lbs |
| Order No (US): | ME662LL/A |
ME664LL/A ME665LL/A |
| EMC No: | 2672 | 2673 |
| Model ID: | MacBookPro10,2 | MacBookPro10,1 |
| Original Price (US): | US$1699, US$1899* | US$2199, US$2799 |
* By default, the 13-Inch "Early 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro is offered with 256 GB of storage for US$1699 (ME662LL/A). It also can be customized with a faster 3.0 GHz Core i7 (I7-3540M) processor for an extra US$200. EveryMac.com documents this custom configuration as the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 3.0 13" (Retina).
** The 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models have the SSD module mounted in a 2.5" drive caddy which bodes particularly well for relatively simple and inexpensive upgrades.
† The 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models can be upgraded to 16 GB of RAM, but only at the time of purchase. The 13-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models cannot be upgraded to more RAM even at the time of purchase.
†† The battery design in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro is particularly awful and requires the disposal of unrelated, working parts just to replace the battery.
MacBook Pro Purchase & Sale Options
There are any number of places to purchase a new or used MacBook Pro. However, purchasing from a quality seller with extensive experience in the Mac market -- and after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new MacBook Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing and JemJem sell used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Pro, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Pro models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used MacBook Pro models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
Please also see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Pro model to any other Mac.
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