A limited but growing number of 2015 MacBook Pro users have turned to the MacRumors discussion forums with complaints about user interface lag on OS X Yosemite. The lag results in slow or choppy animations and graphics across multiple areas of OS X, including opening Mission Control or Launchpad, launching full-size applications, resizing windows and scrolling through web pages.


A pair of threads related to the issue have received close to 200 replies and 20,000 views within the discussion forums, with some users that previously experienced UI lag offering advice on how to resolve the problem. One potential solution involves resetting the Mac's PRAM, while temporary workarounds listed include increasing contrast and reducing transparency under the Accessibility menu in System Preferences.

Forum Discussion Threads

  1. " 2015 Macbook Pro's Intel Iris 6100 is so choppy in Yosemite" posted by cookies!
  2. "2015 rMBP problems: 5-6 hours of battery life & major UI lag" posted by Youhoney

It is worth noting that new Macs may experience slower performance after booting up for the first few times as the computer indexes. It is also recommended that affected users perform a clean installation of OS X Yosemite to ensure that the issues are not the result of restoring from a backup. But the issues persist for some, with MacRumors forum member "cookies!" claiming that his 2015 MacBook Pro has "the most significant lag" of "any laptop on Yosemite" he's ever used.

"I know that Retina displays are taxing on GPUs, but the Intel 6000 series seems incapable of driving this display without extreme choppiness in Yosemite for a number of actions— Mission Control, switching between windows, opening new windows, etc," reads a post in the MacRumors forums. "This is the most significant lag I've experienced on any laptop on Yosemite. My old 2010 Macbook Pro 13" doesn't lag this bad on Yosemite."

While complaints of user interface lag have resurfaced following Apple's release of the 2015 MacBook Pro, similar issues have been reported in the Apple Support Communities, Reddit, Stack Exchange and MacRumors discussion forums by owners of 13" and 15" mid-2012 through mid-2014 Retina MacBook Pro models. The problems appear to be mainly limited to notebooks running OS X Yosemite.

Top Rated Comments

paul00 Avatar
139 months ago
The answer is to turn on Reduce Transparency under Accessibility.

After that, I've had no more lag on my rMBP 2012 . . .

Looks ugly though. One of the most important aspects of Yosemite's design was transparency and yet even the top laptops in Apple's range (i.e. quad i7 & dedicated GPU) can't handle it? That's ridiculous. It's like getting a ferrari and saying "just drive below 60mph otherwise it gets really unstable."
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
elmateo487 Avatar
139 months ago
i don't get it HD5100 is more capable than HD6100 ?

More likely shoddy drivers. Or interaction with the drivers.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avenged110 Avatar
139 months ago
UI lag? I thought it was called Yosemite...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Miguel Cunha Avatar
139 months ago
Lightroom on Yosemite vs Lightroom on Windows 8.1 (same computer via bootcamp) is light and day.

You meant "night and day", right?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
paul00 Avatar
139 months ago
Funny. My 3 years old original 15 Retina Macbook Pro is still waiting for a miracle update that will finally make it work like it's supposed to. It's still laggy, safari falls apart all the time, using scaled resolution makes it really unresponsive and many apps are just way too slow. Lightroom on Yosemite vs Lightroom on Windows 8.1 (same computer via bootcamp) is light and day. I really can't imagine what using the new macbook is going to be like...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
snorkelman Avatar
139 months ago
Looks ugly though. One of the most important aspects of Yosemite's design was transparency and yet even the top laptops in Apple's range (i.e. quad i7 & dedicated GPU) can't handle it?"
Always found it laggy on 2012 rMBP regardless of those settings - opening folders on the desktop is one that's embarrassingly clunky

my current use of yosemite amounts to:

Open lid on late 2012 rMBP
download and install latest build
open a few folders on desktop
shake head
close lid
stick back in drawer till next build gets released
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...