Apple Macbook Pro 15 inch 2011-02 MC723LL/A
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 23 scores (from 32 reviews)
Reviews for the Apple Macbook Pro 15 inch 2011-02 MC723LL/A
More Power! As the final version of the Apple MacBook Pro 15, we've chosen to test out the most powerful hardware configuration. The Intel i7-2720QM CPU coupled with the AMD Radeon HD 6750M should ensure outstanding performance. But, what are these powerful components housed within a sleek aluminum case truly capable of?
Source: Tech2.in.com
Archive.org versionAt Rs.1,04,900, it makes a very tempting buy if you're looking for both battery life and solid performance, which let’s face it, is very difficult to find on a Windows-based notebook. The refresh continues the legacy of the MacBook Pros before it, by delivering excellent build quality, good performance and really good battery life. There’s no point comparing this to a Windows-based notebook, since it’s not targeted at the average joe anyways, so let’s not even go there. While this is still the early refresh, it’s no slouch and will perform all your tasks just as well as the ‘Late 2011’ model, which we are expecting to get our hands on soon.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/06/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: ITNews Australia
Archive.org versionIf you’re looking for a portable workstation, it isn’t the winner it could have been; we’d avoid running intensive apps with it on your lap, for example. Of the three sizes, however, it holds the widest appeal. There’s something about paying less than $2000 for such an impressive piece of hardware that makes it feel like the best value of all the new MacBook Pros.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 06/24/2011
Source: Hardware Zone
Archive.org versionApple's notebook design has been solidly consistent for the last two years, and while we hesitate to call it perfect, we do note that some of its design ideas seem to have made its way to other notebooks made by other manufacturers. While there are some resemblances, they are different enough so as not to be called an outright copy.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 85% performance: 90% mobility: 95%
Source: Techtree.com
Archive.org versionHowever, there are somethings that still annoy us and we wish Apple would fix them, especially stuff like the USB ports and the heating issue. A Blu-ray drive and HDMI port on the machine itself wouldn't hurt either, but something tells us we won't see any of these. For a veteran Mac user these things won't be a major concern but it would keep those away who always wanted a Mac but stayed away because of these omissions. But at the end of the day, the pros far outweigh the cons. The MacBook has always been a delightful machine and the new improved hardware has just made it a lot better.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/21/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Pro
Archive.org versionBlisteringly quick, beautifully designed and with Thunderbolt technology, but at this huge price we’d expect a full set of features.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/04/2011
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 50% performance: 100% features: 83% ergonomy: 83%
Source: Notebooks.com
Archive.org versionAnother reason to go with an Apple is the support you get. A recent report found that Apple comes out on top in terms of user support. Having used a lot of computers from numerous manufacturers, the 15? Apple MacBook Pro beats them all.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/04/2011
Source: Digital Versus
Archive.org versionFollowing the 13.3 inch model, we're now running the 15.4 inch MacBook Pro through our test procedure. Although there are one or two disadvantages (noisy fan), you have to admit this 15.5 inch counts among the best on the market thanks to its finish and the performance of its components (screen, speakers, webcam, graphics card and processor). It is however extremely expensive.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Reg Hardware
Archive.org versionThe 15in MacBook Pro is a great machine. It looks the business, it's well made and, thanks to the new Intel chippery, goes like the proverbial off a shovel. Internals aside, this is not a major upgrade, but it maintains the MacBook Pro's lead. And its price point - you'll pay no more for this version than you would have done for the last one.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/14/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: T3
Archive.org versionWith better processors, more powerful graphics and Thunderbolt now nestled in Apple’s unibody design, there’s never been a better time to buy a MacBook Pro, though of course it’s by no means a must-have. In short, many will find the Pro over-powered and over-priced for their needs. But those who demand truly high-end portable performance – designers, video editors, photographers, musicians, hardcore gamers, inveterate show-offs – and want it all in a compact and stylish casing, will love the Pro.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/11/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: AnandTech
Archive.org versionFor as little attention as the 2011 MacBook Pro launch was given by Apple, there sure is a lot to talk about. The advantages are numerous. With the 13-inch MacBook Pro, under OS X at least, there simply aren't any downsides. You get much better CPU performance over the previous generation. In fact, the new 13 can outperform last year's 15 thanks to Sandy Bridge.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/10/2011
Source: Tech Advisor
Archive.org versionExternally, this 2011 revision to the 2008-design Apple MacBook Pro isn’t even evolutionary, since there’s no visible change - save a lightning legend logo by the Mini DisplayPort connector. But since that port is actually a Thunderport link, this may just turn out to be a revolutionary development in the history of personal computing. Now, at last, we can shift data between devices at 21st, rather than 20th-century speeds. But the other upgrades to this season’s MBP should not be forgotten: a Sandy Bridge quad-core processor that makes this portable as fast as a race-tuned desktop from last year; and AMD graphics that outpace the nVidia kit by a serious margin too. If you need workstation power in an inch-thick slab, we can’t think of any reason to look elsewhere for the best notebook on the planet.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/09/2011
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% features: 90% workmanship: 100%
Source: Techradar
Archive.org versionAt £1,849, the new 15-inch quad core Intel Core i7 MacBook Pro isn't cheap, but given the quality and the improvements it has enjoyed over the previous model, it represents very good value for money. It's the most capable MacBook Pro to date, and a real joy to use.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/08/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Engadget
Archive.org versionOf course, there's no getting around the fact that the MacBook Pro is still incredibly expensive and omits what should be no-brainer features -- $2,199 for two USB ports and no Blu-ray drive? -- but those are tradeoffs and prices professional Mac users have long become used to, just like this particular MacBook Pro design itself.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/04/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Trusted Reviews
Archive.org versionIf you can afford the admittedly high asking price, the MacBook Pro has a lot to offer. In terms of hardware, it's on par with any equivalent PC based laptop and adds in its own unique feature in the shape of ThunderBolt. The key point, though, is that still nothing else comes close to its beautifully designed and constructed chassis.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/04/2011
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% features: 90% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 100%
Source: Good Gear Guide
Archive.org versionIf you were considering a Macbook Pro recently but held off to see what the model refresh would bring, you might be disappointed. There aren't many innovative updates in the new Macbook Pro -- Thunderbolt is the only one worth writing home about, in our opinion -- but the extra processing power and graphics grunt are welcome.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Pocket Lint
Archive.org versionThe 15-inch top of the range model we tested certainly proves that it has the oomph to pack a punch and get the job done. Dropping down within the 15-inch range you get a slightly slower processor, while dropping down to the 13-inch models you’re only offered dual-core processors - a shame. So should you rush out and upgrade? For now we would hold off unless you have to, meaning this might be “one to skip”. It’s not that it's a bad system, far from it, in fact it’s very good. It’s just if you’re already rocking a MacBook Pro that is 2009 or later you are unlikely to benefit from the improvements at this time as much as you would want to justify the outlay. Thunderbolt is ready, but with no devices on the market, it's not ready for the primetime yet and the speed boosts are good but 2x isn’t much to write home about. If you’re new to the MacBook Pro fold, however, this will make an excellent power house of a machine allowing you to get your work and play done double quick.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Slashgear
Archive.org versionThe 2011 MacBook Pro range, then, does a solid job of building on the strengths of its predecessors while also introducing new functionality and speed. The Sandy Bridge processors make a compelling argument, and the dual graphics mean the notebook has a double life as a hardcore media cruncher and an everyday machine capable of lasting most of a workday on a single charge. Factor in OS X’s usability, strong build quality, and the future-proofing Thunderbolt provides, and the 2011 MacBook Pro adds up to a near-perfect speed demon beautifully wrapped up in a timeless chassis.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/01/2011
Source: V3.co.uk
Archive.org versionWith that sort of performance and battery life, and the arrival of the next-generation Thunderbolt technology, the new MacBook Pro will certainly appeal to Apple's professional users. It just leaves us wondering when the consumer-oriented white plastic MacBook is going to get an aluminium makeover for those of us on a tighter budget.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/28/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: CNet
Archive.org versionAfter a now-customary period of rumors, leaks, and anecdotal evidence, Apple's new generation of MacBook Pro laptops has arrived. It's a hefty investment, but the combination of new high-end Intel processor options and AMD graphics makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro an all-around powerhouse, with the new Thunderbolt I/O port as an added bonus.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/26/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Laptop Mag
Archive.org versionYou've got to credit Apple for finding a winning formula and tweaking it in just the right places. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro not only outperforms its predecessor, but also just about every other notebook by a fair margin. It has the same svelte design, yet incorporates next-generation Intel and AMD processors as well as Thunderbolt for high-speed data transfers. As always, though, Apple products command a premium: $2,199 is a steep price to pay for such performance. By comparison, a Dell XPS 15 with the same processor, but 6GB of RAM, a 7,200-rpm 750GB hard drive, Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics (and 2GB of video memory), a 1920 x 1080 screen, Blu-ray, a Skype-certified 2-MP webcam, and a nine-cell battery, costs about $700 less. Still, that system is much bulkier, weighs a pound more, and, even with the larger battery, doesn't last as long on a charge. As always, if you want the best, you have to pay for the best.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/25/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews
Archive.org versionFrom the short time we've had to play with the new MacBook Pros we have to admit we're suitably impressed. We'll have to reserve a full judgement on Thunderbolt until retail (not just prototype) products are available, and we'll be taking a proper look at a system in the next couple of weeks.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/25/2011
Source: Computer Shopper
Archive.org versionApple's latest line of MacBook Pros starts with a $1,199 13-inch version and goes all the way up to a $2,499 17-inch version. Here, we look at a mainstream configuration: the $2,199 15-inch version. The 15-inch version comes in two flavors and gets a hefty internal makeover over its predecessor. Apple's mid-level MacBook Pro gets a huge boost in power without an increase in price, giving it a large edge over its competition.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 94%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Notebookcheck
DE→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/22/2011
Rating: Total score: 87% performance: 89% display: 80% mobility: 84% workmanship: 98% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 87%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/18/2011
Rating: performance: 85% features: 40% display: 90% mobility: 20% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 40%
Source: Chip.de
DE→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/09/2011
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 74% performance: 100% features: 70% display: 96% mobility: 92% ergonomy: 77%
Source: ZDNet
DE→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/28/2011
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: HardwareLuxx
DE→EN Archive.org versionpositive: battery runtime and chassis; negative: few connection options
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 05/03/2011
Source: c't - 7/11
performance good, battery runtime and fan noise bad
Comparison, , Long, Date: 04/01/2011
Source: Mac Welt
DE→EN Archive.org versionperformance very good
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 03/18/2011
Source: PC Magazin
DE→EN Archive.org versionhigh performance increase, price very high
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/08/2011
Source: MuyComputer
ES→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/24/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PCM
NL→EN Archive.org versionSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/03/2011
Rating: Total score: 90%
Comment
Series:
The Retina display is a display which has high enough pixel density that the human retina can’t distinguish individual pixels and was first introduced as a cutting edge technology together with the iPhone 4. Thanks to the retina display, the iPhone 4 was called "Best device in its class" by The Wall Street Journal, and "Best smartphone on the market" by Engadget. The MacBook Pro with Retina display introduced at the WWDC in San Francisco in June 2012 is a separate product line, independent of the original MacBook Pro and should continue the success of the iPhone.
Apart from just the retina display, this new laptop also features a new design similar to that of the MacBook Air, but without Super Drive as well as Ethernet and FireWire 800 ports. Unlike the original MacBook Pro series with standard hard drive, it includes a Solid State Drive. In short, every technological advantage of Apple are concentrated on this new MacBook Pro with Retina display, from the amazing display found in the iPhone, iPad to robust system performance of the MacBook Pro as well as the portability, design and flash storage - this laptop has it all.
In particular the retina display is the sharpest computer display and outclasses every other laptop or computer display by far at the time of its introduction. It is that important that Apple even decided to call this laptop "MacBook Pro with retina display". In fact, the display alone outweighs the biggest disadvantage of the new MacBook Pro, the price – it's Apple we are talking about. If you can afford the steep entry price, this is the most amazing laptop money can buy.
AMD Radeon HD 6750M:
Essentially a renamed Radeon HD 6650M but with faster GDDR5 memory.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
2720QM: Fast Quad-core processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture with an integrated graphics card and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
15.40":
15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.
The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.2.6 kg:
With this weight, a laptop is rather heavier than average. Devices in this range shine more with screen size and performance than with mobility.
Apple: Apple is a US company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company is known for its innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and manufactures computers and consumer electronics as well as operating systems and application software. Apple is also a leading provider of software and services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud.
Apple has earned a reputation as a company that focuses on design and ease of use. As for their notebooks, they are mostly in the high-priced segment, have their own operating system, but also run Windows on the newer Macbooks.
Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world and has a loyal following of customers and fans. The company also has a strong presence in the entertainment industry, with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+. In 2023, Apple had an approximate 8% market share of global PC sales, ranking it 4th after Lenovo, HP, and Dell.
83.96%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
