Apple, as the master of branding that it is, has managed to turn Retina Display into more than a brand. Their high-definition displays are an industry standard that are now seen with respect. Some would go as far as saying these are the “best displays around”… but are they?
I will not deny Apple laptops have some stunning screens. Especially now that the newest 13-inch and 15-inch Macbook Pros are blessed with Retina Displays. We are here to tell you Apple is not the only one offering such super high definition screens, though.
As with the previous generations, the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro have the same 13.3-inch Retina display with the same 2560x1600 resolution and True Tone technology built-in.
Macbook Pro Retina 2015 Specs
While they are often overshadowed by Apple, the marketing beast, there’s plenty of non-Apple options with amazingly high resolution panels. In fact, these often carry higher-resolution screens compared to the 15-inch Retina Display’s 2880x1800p screen.
- New 2015 Retina MacBook Pro review: Force Trackpad. The one physical difference between the new 13-inch Pro and the old one is the trackpad. Like the 12-inch MacBook, the 13-inch Pro gets the.
- Apple 60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter lets you plug in and charge your 13-inch MacBook Pro. Get fast, free shipping when you shop online. (MacBook Pro with 13-inch Retina display) $79.00 Check Out with Apple Pay. If you are running OS X Lion (10.7) or later go to the “ ” menu at the top left of your screen, choose “About this Mac.
Jump on the list below if you are not willing to give Apple or OS X a try, but need more than a mundane 1080p display.
Dell XPS 15
This bad boy won’t come at a very affordable price, but it will offer some stunning specs, a great design and an unreal display. You can customize it to have an Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, up to 1 TB of internal storage and more. It’s a BEAST!
It’s display measures in at 15.6 inches and sports a resolution of 3200x1800p.
Samsung ATIV Book 9 plus
The Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus is a great option for those looking to get an amazing display laptop with less cash. Available for only $1150 from Amazon (at the time of this post’s publishing), it is a great alternative for the otherwise expensive Macbook Pro.
I will say this is one of my favorite laptops in the list, in terms of design, though. It’s display measures in at 13.3 inches and the resolution is also 3200x1800p. Specs are not as powerful as the XPS, as this laptop sports an Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD.
Lenovo Yoga Pro 2
Want a more unique form-factor? Lenovo’s Yoga line is known for its flexible and adaptability. These are great portable laptops for carrying around to any type of situation. Their new version also offers a display that can easily go against a Retina Display.
The laptop is very well designed and has a backlit keyboard, as well as the ability to upgrade to an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of internal storage. Prices are also quite accessible.
HP Envy 14
If what you want is a stunning Retina-like display on a very tight budget, you will be hard-pressed to find something cheaper than the HP Envy 14. It’s going for under $800 at the time of this posting.
It carries a 14-inch 3200x1800p display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. This one probably offers the best bang for your buck.
Fujitsu LifeBook U904
This one is pricier, but it comes with a great build quality and pretty good specs. That 14-inch screen does have a 3200x1800p resolution. The Intel Core i5 processor and 6 GB of RAM will also take care of work very well.
About battery cycles
When you use your Mac notebook, its battery goes through charge cycles. A charge cycle happens when you use all of the battery’s power—but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge.
For example, you could use half of your notebook's charge in one day, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two. In this way, it might take several days to complete a cycle.
Batteries have a limited amount of charge cycles before their performance is expected to diminish. Once the cycle count is reached, a replacement battery is recommended to maintain performance. You can use your battery after it reaches its maximum cycle count, but you might notice a reduction in your battery life.
Knowing how many charge cycles your battery has and how many are left can help you determine when a battery replacement is required. For best performance, replace your battery when you reach its maximum cycle count.
Follow these steps to access information about your Mac notebook battery, including its cycle count:
- Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu. Choose System Information.
- Under the Hardware section of the System Information window, select Power. The current cycle count is listed under the Battery Information section.
Best Programs For Macbook Pro
Identify your computer
Apple audio mixing software. Cycle count limits vary between Mac models. For help identifying your Mac notebook, use the Tech Specs page or these articles:
Cycle count limits
Best mp3 recorder software. Use the table below to see the cycle count limit for your computer's battery. The battery is considered consumed once it reaches the limit.
Computer | Maximum Cycle Count |
MacBook | |
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) | 1000 |
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008) | 500 |
MacBook (Mid 2009) MacBook (Early 2009) MacBook (Late 2008) MacBook (Early 2008) MacBook (Late 2007) MacBook (Mid 2007) MacBook (Late 2006) MacBook (13-inch) | 300 |
MacBook Pro | |
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) | 1000 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2008) | 500 |
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4/2.2GHz) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy) MacBook Pro (15-inch) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHz) MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (17-inch) | 300 |
MacBook Air | |
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019) MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010) | 1000 |
MacBook Air (Mid 2009) | 500 |
MacBook Air (Late 2008) MacBook Air | 300 |
Learn more
See these resources for more information about the batteries in your Apple notebook.