How to Identify Macs
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
WIP
This guide focuses mainly on 2006 (Intel) to present Macs.
External Visual References
Optical Drive
DOES have an optical drive.
- MacBook 2006-2010 (A1181 and A1342)
- MacBook Pro non retina 2006-2012 (silver key MacBook Pro, A1278, A1286, and A1297)
- iMac 1997-2011 (Polycarbonate iMac, A1224, A1225, A1311, and A1312)
- Mac Pro 2006-2012 (A1186 and A1289)
DOES NOT have an optical drive.
- MacBook 2015-2017 (A1534)
- MacBook Pro Retina 2012-2015 (A1425, A1398, and A1502
- MacBook Pro USB C (A1706, A1707, A1708, A1989, A1990, A2159, A2141, A2289, and A2251)
- MacBook Air 2008-current (A1237, A1304, A1369, A1370, A1465, A1466, A1932, and A2179)
- iMac 2012-Current (A1418, A1419, A2115, A2116)
- Mac Pro 2013 and 2019 (A1481, A1991)
 | Optical drives were discontinued in 2012 on all Macs. Apple continued to sell the 2012 A1278 for four years. |
Display
NON Retina
- MacBook 2006-2010 (A1181 and A1343)
- MacBook Pro non retina 2006-2012 (silver key MacBook Pro, A1278, A1286, and A1297)
- MacBook Air 2008-2017 (A1237, A1304, A1369, A1370, A1465, and A1466)
- iMac 1997-2011 (Polycarbonate iMac, A1224, A1225, A1311, and A1312)
- iMac 2012-2017 (A1418 and 2012/2013 A1419)
Retina
- MacBook 2015-2017 (A1534)
- MacBook Pro Retina 2012-2015 (A1425, A1398, and A1502
- MacBook Pro USB C (A1706, A1707, A1708, A1989, A1990, A2159, A2141, A2289, and A2251)
- MacBook Air 2018-current (A1932 and A2179)
- iMac 2014-Current (A1418, A1419, A2115, A2116)
| In 2012 Apple sold both Retina and non Retina MacBook Pros. The A1418 was sold as both Retina and non Retina for 2015 and 2017 . |
ThunderBolt
DOES NOT have ThunderBolt
- MacBook 2006-2010 (A1181 and A1342)
- MacBook Pro non retina 2006-2012 (silver key MacBook Pro, A1278, A1286, and A1297)
- MacBook Air 2008-2017 (A1237, A1304, A1369, A1370, A1465, and A1466)
- iMac 1997-2011 (Polycarbonate iMac, A1224, A1225, A1311, and A1312)
- iMac 2012-2017 (A1418 and 2012/2013 A1419)