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Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A
Published April 16, 2010
All Mac Q&As >> Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A | Also See: All MacBook Pro Specs
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What are the differences between the "Mid-2010" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro models and the "Mid-2009" MacBook Pro models that they replaced?
Please note that all MacBook Pro models mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and quite useful for anyone considering one of these notebooks on the used market.
The "Mid-2010" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13-Inch "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 13-Inch, "Core i5" 2.4 15-Inch, "Core i5" 2.53 15-Inch, "Core i7" 2.66 15-Inch and "Core i5" 2.53 17-Inch -- look effectively identical to the "Mid-2009" models -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.26 13-Inch (SD/FW), 2.53 13-Inch (SD/FW), 2.53 15-Inch (SD), 2.66 15-Inch (SD), 2.8 15-Inch (SD) and 2.8 17-Inch (Mid-2009).
However, there are a number of internal differences as well as minor differences in capability, configuration, and introductory pricing that merit further evaluation.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.
External Differences
All of these models have a black and silver "Unibody" case -- milled from a single block of aluminum -- and all have a backlit keyboard and a "no button" glass multi-touch trackpad. However, the "Mid-2010" line has an enhanced trackpad with support for new "inertial scrolling" -- which Apple describes as an "intuitive way to scroll through large photo libraries, lengthy documents and long web sites."
All of these systems have LED-backlit displays and by default each display has a glossy finish. However, the 15-Inch and 17-Inch "Mid-2009" models were available with an anti-glare display via custom configuration for an additional US$50. By contrast, the 17-Inch "Mid-2010" model also is offered with an anti-glare display of the same size and price as its predecessor, but the "Mid-2010" 15-Inch models are offered with a high-resolution 1680x1050 display in either a glossy or anti-glare finish for an additional US$100 or US$150, respectively.
All "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" MacBook Pro models have a built-in non-swappable battery design, and this battery is not designed to be removed or serviced by end users although it can be replaced with a bit of effort. However, the "Mid-2010" line offers longer runtimes -- 10 hours (up from 7 hours), 8-9 hours (up from 7 hours), and 8-9 hours (up from 8 hours), for the 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch models, when compared to the "Mid-2009" line, respectively.
Connectivity Differences
With the exception of the Mini DisplayPort -- which supports an external display at 2560x1600 for all systems, but passes an audio signal for the "Mid-2010" series and not for the "Mid-2009" series -- connectivity is identical between models with the same display size. All of these Macs include AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, and a single Firewire "800" port.
However, the 15-Inch and 17-Inch models have optical digital/analog audio in/out and the 13-Inch models do not -- they lack optical audio in and instead has the same "combined optical digital output/headphone out (user-selectable analog audio line in)" port used by the iPhone. The 13-Inch and 15-Inch models have an SD card slot, whereas the 17-Inch models have an ExpressCard/34 expansion slot instead. The 17-Inch models also have three USB 2.0 ports and the 13-Inch and 15-Inch models only have two.
Identification Differences
Externally, the "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" lines unfortunately use the same model numbers as several other MacBook Pro models and EMC numbers are not listed externally at all, so they only can be externally differentiated by the serial number courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature.
In software, the "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" 13-Inch, 15-Inch and 17-Inch models can be identified by model identifier. When model identifiers are combined with processor speed, it is possible to pinpoint the exact model (but these identifiers are not available if the system will not boot).
Consequently, for the "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" MacBook Pro lines, the most convenient method to precisely identify these models is by the serial number using EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature.
Internal Differences
Internally, there are some similarities between the "Mid-2009" and "Mid-2010" lines -- all support the same 8 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500), support 3 Gb/s Serial ATA hard drives, and have an 8X DL "SuperDrive". However, processor types and speeds and graphics as well as the architecture used by 15-Inch and 17-Inch models are quite different from one another.
Comparison Charts
Complete details of each "Mid-2010" model and the "Mid-2009" model that each replaced are provided below.
The entry-level MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13-Inch gains modest improvements in processor speed, graphics, and configuration as well as a significant boost in battery life compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.26 13-Inch (SD/FW) replaced.
| 2.26 13" (Mid-2009) | 2.4 13" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core 2 Duo |
| Processor Number: | P8400 | P8600 |
| Processor Speed: | 2.26 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M |
GeForce 320M |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Integrated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Display Size: | 13.3" | 13.3" |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1280x800 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 160 GB | 250 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | No |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 |
| Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 10 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 58 W/Hr | 63.5 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MB990LL/A | MC374LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$1199 | US$1199 |
The high-end 13" MacBook Pro model
-- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 13-Inch -- also gains modest improvements in processor speed, graphics, and configuration as well as a significant boost in battery life compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 13-Inch (SD/FW) replaced.
| 2.53 13" (Mid-2009) | 2.66 13" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core 2 Duo |
| Processor Number: | P8700 | P8800 |
| Processor Speed: | 2.53 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M |
GeForce 320M |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Integrated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Display Size: | 13.3" | 13.3" |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1280x800 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 250 GB | 320 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | No |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 |
| Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 10 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 58 W/Hr | 63.5 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MB991LL/A | MC375LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$1499 | US$1499 |
The low-end 15" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.4 15-Inch -- gains the largest relative improvements of any of the "Mid-2010" models when compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15-Inch (SD) that it replaced. The "Mid-2010" model has a significantly faster processor and dedicated rather than integrated graphics. It also has improvements in configuration and battery life as well as a US$100 higher price tag.
| 2.53 15" (Mid-2009) | 2.4 15" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core i5 |
| Processor Number: | P8700 | I5-520M |
| Processor Speed: | 2.53 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | None | 2.93 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M | Intel HD Graphics/GeForce 330M |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Integrated/Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB | 256 MB/256 MB |
| Autoswitching: | N/A | Yes |
| Display Size: | 15.4" | 15.4" |
| Native Resolution: | 1440x900 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 250 GB | 320 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | No |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
| Weight: | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 8-9 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 73 W/Hr | 77.5 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MC118LL/A |
MC371LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$1699 |
US$1799 |
The mid-level 15" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.53 15-Inch -- gains notable improvement in processor speed, graphics, and configuration as well as a boost in battery life compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 15-Inch (SD) replaced.
| 2.66 15" (Mid-2009) | 2.53 15" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core i5 |
| Processor Number: | P8800 | I5-540M |
| Processor Speed: | 2.66 GHz | 2.53 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | None | 3.06 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M GeForce 9600M GT |
Intel HD Graphics GeForce 330M |
| Video Type: | Integrated/Dedicated | Integrated/Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB/256 MB | 256 MB/256 MB |
| Autoswitching: | No | Yes |
| Display Size: | 15.4" | 15.4" |
| Native Resolution: | 1440x900 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 320 GB | 500 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | No |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
| Weight: | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 8-9 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 73 W/Hr | 77.5 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MB985LL/A | MC372LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$1999 | US$1999 |
The high-end 15" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.66 15-Inch 2.8 15-Inch (SD) -- likewise gains significant improvement in processor speed, graphics, and configuration compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 15-Inch (SD) replaced. Battery life has been improved too and it costs US$100 less.
| 2.8 15" (Mid-2009) | 2.66 15" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core i7 |
| Processor Number: | T9600 | I7-620M |
| Processor Speed: | 2.8 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | None | 3.33 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M GeForce 9600M GT |
Intel HD Graphics GeForce 330M |
| Video Type: | Integrated/Dedicated | Integrated/Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB/512 MB | 256 MB/512 MB |
| Autoswitching: | No | Yes |
| Display Size: | 15.4" | 15.4" |
| Native Resolution: | 1440x900 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 500 GB | 500 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | Yes | Yes |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | No |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
| Weight: | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 8-9 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 73 W/Hr | 77.5 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MB986LL/A |
MC373LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$2299 |
US$2199 |
Finally, the 17" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.53 17-Inch -- gains worthwhile improvements in processor speed, graphics, and configuration compared to the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 17-Inch (Mid-2009) replaced. The "Mid-2010" model costs a welcomed US$200 less as well.
| 2.8 17" (Mid-2009) | 2.53 17" (Mid-2010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Type: | Core 2 Duo | Core i5 |
| Processor Number: | T9600 | I5-540M |
| Processor Speed: | 2.8 GHz | 2.53 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | None | 3.06 GHz |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M GeForce 9600M GT |
Intel HD Graphics GeForce 330M |
| Video Type: | Integrated/Dedicated | Integrated/Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB/512 MB | 256 MB/512 MB |
| Autoswitching: | No | Yes |
| Display Size: | 17.0" | 17.0" |
| Native Resolution: | 1920x1200 | 1920x1200 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 500 GB | 500 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| SD Card Slot: | No | No |
| ExpressCard/34: | Yes | Yes |
| Firewire 800: | Yes (1) | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (3) | Yes (3) |
| Ambient KB: | Yes | Yes |
| Trackpad: | Multitouch | Inertial Multitouch |
| Size (Inches): | 0.98 x 15.47 x 10.51 | 0.98 x 15.47 x 10.51 |
| Weight: | 6.6 lbs (2.99 kg) | 6.6 lbs (2.99 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 7 Hours | 8-9 Hours |
| Battery W/Hr: | 95 W/Hr | 95 W/Hr |
| Apple Order No: | MC226LL/A | MC024LL/A |
| Intro Price: | US$2499 |
US$2299 |
Ultimately, most users likely would be quite happy with the enhanced performance and other improvements provided by the "Mid-2010" models. However, the "Mid-2009" models remain well worth consideration, particularly given discount prices on the used market.
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Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook or MacBook Pro model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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