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Aluminum Unibody MacBook Q&A - Updated March 14, 2009
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What are the differences between the "Unibody" 13-Inch MacBook and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models?
Please note that all Macs mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The "Late 2008/Unibody" 13-Inch MacBook and 15-Inch MacBook Pro were replaced by the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch MacBook Pro and 15-Inch MacBook Pro, respectively, on June 8, 2009.
The "Unibody/Late 2008" MacBook and MacBook Pro models have more in common than any series of MacBook and MacBook Pro. In fact, the models are so similar in many respects that branding them as separate lines largely is for marketing purposes alone.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (MacBook - Left, MacBook Air - Center, MacBook Pro - Right)
Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro "Unibody" models use an all new Aluminum iMac-esq black and silver case design milled from a single block of aluminum providing greater strength and a superior finish than previous systems.
The MacBook and MacBook Pro "Unibody" models also have the same new "no button" glass "multi-touch" trackpad with support for new "four finger" gestures and programmable "zones", and widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" displays that are LED-backlit (13.3" for the MacBook models and 15.4" for the MacBook Pro). For the first time, the "Pro" series does not have a "matte" or "anti-glare" display, even as an option. All of these models have "chicklet style" keyboards that are back-lit, with the exception of the low-end MacBook -- the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) -- which lacks the backlit functionality.
Connectivity is a major point of product differentiation. All of the models include AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital/analog audio in/out, and a new "Mini DisplayPort" that supports an external display at 2560x1600. However, the "Unibody" MacBook Pro models also include an ExpressCard/34 slot and one Firewire "800" port, whereas the "non-Pro" models lack an expansion slot and Firewire.
Internally, the "Unibody" MacBook and MacBook Pro are quite similar as well. All use 45 nm "Penryn" Intel "Core 2 Duo" processors with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip and a shared "on chip" level 2 cache (3 MB for all 13-Inch and 15-Inch systems except the high-end MacBook Pro, 2.53 GHz or 2.66 GHz, which have a 6 MB cache), a 1066 MHz frontside bus, 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500), support for Serial ATA hard drives, and an 8X DL "SuperDrive".
The major internal difference, however, is a substantial one. The MacBook models have a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M "graphics processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory", whereas the "Pro" models have dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400M as the "non-Pro" models.
Ultimately, the most notable differences between the "Unibody" MacBook and MacBook Pro models are that the "Pro" models have larger displays, dual graphics processors, "beefier" configurations, and support for ExpressCard/34 and Firewire. These differences are summarized below in greater detail:
| "Unibody/Late 2008" | MacBook | MacBook Pro 15" |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Speeds: | 2.0, 2.4 GHz | 2.4, 2.53, 2.66 GHz** |
| L2 Cache: | 3 MB | 3 MB, 6 MB |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M | GeForce 9600M GT GeForce 9400M |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Integrated & Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB† | 256 MB, 512 MB†† |
| Display Size: | 13.3" | 15.4" |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Default Memory: | 2 GB | 2 GB, 4 GB |
| Hard Drive Size: | 160, 250 GB | 250, 320 GB |
| SuperDrive: | 8X DL | 8X DL |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | Yes (1) |
| Firewire 800: | No | Yes (1) |
| USB 2.0: | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Ambient KB: | No*, Yes | Yes |
| Size (Inches): | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
| Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 5 Hours§ | 5 Hours§ |
| Price Range: | US$1299, US$1599 | US$1999, US$2499 |
You might also be interested in a side-by-side comparison between the "high-end" MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Unibody) and the "low-end" MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (Unibody). The difference between the "high-end non-Pro" and "low-end Pro" models has been narrowing with each successive release and now are quite close together in many respects:
| "Unibody/Late 2008" | MacBook 2.4 13" | MacBook Pro 2.4 15" |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Processor: | P8600 | P8600 |
| Processor Speed: | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| L2 Cache: | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Video System: | GeForce 9400M | GeForce 9600M GT GeForce 9400M |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Integrated & Dedicated |
| Video Memory: | 256 MB† | 256 MB, 512 MB†† |
| Display Size: | 13.3" Widescreen | 15.4" Widescreen |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display Support: | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Hard Drive Size: | 250 GB | 250 GB |
| Default Memory: | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| ExpressCard/34: | No | Yes (1) |
| Firewire 800: | No | Yes (1) |
| Ambient Keyboard: | Yes | Yes |
| Size (In Inches): | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
| Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Battery Life: | 5 Hours§ | 5 Hours§ |
| Apple Part No: | MB467LL/A | MB470LL/A |
| Price: | US$1599 | US$1999 |
* The MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) does not have a backlit keyboard.
** On March 3, 2009, Apple quietly replaced the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) with the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 15" (Unibody), which is identical apart from a faster 2.66 GHz processor (T9550).
† 256 MB of "video memory" is "borrowed" from system memory.
†† These models have dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.
§ Battery life as provided by Apple. Also see:
- What is the "Unibody" MacBook battery life in "real-world" tests?
- What is the 15-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro battery life in "real-world" tests? What is the difference in battery life when using the NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M?
- What is the 17-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro battery life in "real-world" tests? What is the difference in battery life when using the NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M?
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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