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Retina Display MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published August 11, 2014
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What are all the differences between the 13-Inch and 15-Inch "Late 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models?
Please note that the "Late 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.
Of course, the "Late 2013" 13-Inch MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.4 13", "Core i5" 2.6 13" and "Core i7" 2.8 13" -- have smaller displays than their 15-Inch contemporaries -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.0 15" (IG), "Core i7" 2.3 15" (IG), "Core i7" 2.6 15" (IG), "Core i7" 2.3 15" (DG), and "Core i7" 2.6 15" (DG) -- but there are several other differences that are at least as important.
Consequently, a detailed evaluation of all of the "Late 2013" MacBook Pro models can be quite helpful to determine which model is best for you.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. ("Late 2013" MacBook Pro -- 13" Left, 15" Right)
External Differences
All 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models use similar and essentially "sealed" aluminum and glass designs of uniform thickness and do not have "MacBook Pro" printed on the bottom display bezel like earlier "pre-Retina" MacBook Pro notebooks. The 13-Inch and 15-Inch "Late 2013" systems both are 0.71 of an inch thick, but the 13-Inch models are 3.46 pounds (1.57 kg) and the 15-Inch models are 4.46 pounds (2.02 kg).
The "Late 2013" MacBook Pro models all have a high-resolution LED-backlit widescreen "Retina" display, but the 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.
Connectivity Differences (or Lack Thereof)
Connectivity is the same for the 13-Inch and 15-Inch "Late 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models. Both lines include 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, two "Thunderbolt 2" ports, an HDMI port, an audio out port, an SDXC card slot, and a "MagSafe 2" power connector port.
Thunderbolt-to-Gigabit Ethernet and Thunderbolt-to-Firewire 800 adapters also were offered at extra cost.
Identification Differences
The "Late 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models with the same display size share external Model Numbers. Specifically, the 13-Inch models share model number A1502, and the 15-Inch models share model number A1398. Both model numbers are shared with earlier and later systems.
These model numbers may be "close enough" for some purposes. However, EMC Numbers, externally, and Model Identifiers, in software, are better for more unique identification. As always, EveryMac.com has carefully hand documented these details for your convenience.
The"Late 2013" 13-Inch models all are EMC number 2678. The 15-Inch models with "Iris Pro" integrated graphics -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.0 15" (IG), "Core i7" 2.3 15" (IG), and "Core i7" 2.6 15" (IG) -- are EMC number 2674 and the 15-Inch models with dual graphics processors -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.3 15" (DG) and "Core i7" 2.6 15" (DG) -- are EMC number 2745.
In software, the "Late 2013" 13-Inch models collectively share the MacBookPro11,1 model identifier whereas the 15-Inch models are MacBookPro11,2 or MacBookPro11,3, depending on whether or not they have a single integrated graphics processor or dual graphics processors, respectively. The subsequently introduced "Mid-2014" models also share the same respective model identifiers, though.
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, the "Late 2013" MacBook Pro models have a number of similarities -- all of these systems use Intel's "Fourth Generation" architecture, more commonly known as "Haswell," and have 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM that is soldered in place, storage modules that use a PCIe 2.0 x2 interface and can be upgraded, and batteries that are glued in place -- but there are important differences, too.
The 13-Inch models have dual core Intel "Core i5" or "Core i7" processors, 4 GB or 8 GB of onboard RAM that cannot be upgraded after purchase (it could be upgraded to 16 GB of RAM at the time of purchase at additional cost), and an "integrated" Intel Iris 5100 graphics processor that shares system memory.
The 15-Inch models, by contrast, have much faster quad core "Core i7" processors, 8 GB or 16 GB of default onboard RAM (that like the 13-Inch models could not be upgraded beyond 16 GB at the time of purchase or after purchase at all), and either a single Iris Pro 5200 graphics processor or dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics processor with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory in addition to the Iris Pro 5200 graphics processor.
The internal flash storage is not intended to be upgraded in any of these models after purchase, but it can be upgraded after purchase, nevertheless. The 13-Inch and 15-Inch models alike use the same proprietary "blade" type PCIe-based storage.
The internal batteries on the 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models provide an estimated 9 hours and 8 hours of battery life, respectively.
Comparison Chart
The differences between the "Late 2013" 13-Inch and 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models -- processors, storage, memory, video systems, displays, battery life, identifiers, and original prices -- are summarized below:
 13" Late 2013 Int. Graphics |
 15" Late 2013 Int. Graphics |
15" Late 2013 Dual Graphics |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Processors: | I5-4258U I5-4288U I7-4558U |
I7-4750HQ I7-4850HQ I7-4960HQ |
I7-4850HQ I7-4960HQ |
| Cores: | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Speed: | 2.4 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.8 GHz |
2.0 GHz 2.3 GHz 2.6 GHz |
2.3 GHz 2.6 GHz |
| Turbo Boost: | 2.9 GHz 3.1 GHz 3.3 GHz |
3.2 GHz 3.5 GHz 3.8 GHz |
3.5 GHz 3.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache: | 3 MB, 4 MB | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Std. Storage: | 128, 256, 512 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage Upgrade: | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Std. RAM: | 4 GB, 8 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Max RAM: | 16 GB† | 16 GB† | 16 GB† |
| Video Card(s): | Iris 5100 |
Iris Pro 5200 |
Iris Pro 5200 GeForce GT 750M |
| GDDR5: | Integrated Only | Integrated/128 MB* | 2 GB |
| Display: | 13.3" | 15.4" | 15.4" |
| Std. Resolution: | 2560x1600 (227 ppi) | 2880x1800 (220 ppi) | 2880x1800 (220 ppi) |
| Battery Life: | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | 8 Hours |
| Battery Design: | Glued | Glued | Glued |
| Height: | 0.71 | 0.71 | 0.71 |
| Width: | 12.35 | 14.13 | 14.13 |
| Depth: | 8.62 | 9.73 | 9.73 |
| Weight: | 3.46 lbs | 4.46 lbs | 4.46 lbs |
| Order No: | ME864LL/A ME865LL/A ME866LL/A |
ME293LL/A | ME294LL/A |
| EMC No: | 2678 | 2674 | 2745 |
| Model ID: | MacBookPro11,1 | MacBookPro11,2 | MacBookPro11,3 |
| Orig. Prices (US): | US$1299 US$1499 US$1799 |
US$1999 | US$2599 |
† The "Late 2013" Retina Display MacBook Pro models could be upgraded to 16 GB of RAM, but only at the time of purchase. RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase.
* The Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics processor shares 1 GB of memory with the system for graphics function, but also has 128 MB of "Crystalwell" embedded DRAM on the CPU package to provide additional memory bandwidth.
MacBook Pro Purchase & Sale Options
There are any number of places to purchase a new or used MacBook Pro. However, purchasing from a quality vendor 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 refer to EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Pro model to any other Mac.
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