MacBook Pro 2015 and USB ports

applewitch wrote:

Macbook Pro 2015 with usb 2 ports need new External hard drive but they all appear to have usb 3 ports. Do I need an adapter? Any recommendations please for Ext H D and adapter.

No adapter is needed for a 2015. Most bus-powered external hard drives these days come with a USB-A to wide micro-B cable, and your MBP still has a USB-A ports. However, you might consider using a hub if you've got an external drive that doesn't have very high current demands. I've got a Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB that System Report says only requests 160 mA. It operates fine on an unpowered hub with a USB flash drive and a wireless mouse receiver connected to the same hub.

applewitch wrote:

Thanks Niel, May I take up more of your time please? I need a new Ext.HD because mine has just died with all data lost.

I used it for back ups and Time Machine and I have read that without an adapter it will run slower. Do you know if this is true please?

What do you mean by an adapter? Do you mean an external power supply? Most "bus-powered" external hard drives these days don't have an optional power port any more. Most are extremely efficient and can easily operate off of 500 mA (or sometimes less).

A 2015 MBP (13" or 15") has native USB 3.0 ports. Every MBP has USB 3.X ports starting with the mid-2012 models.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) - Technical Specifications

Connections and Expansion

• MagSafe 2 power port
• Two Thunderbolt 2 ports (up to 20 Gbps)
• Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)

No, you don’t. Just plug an USB 3 drive in.

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It’ll run at the highest speed supported by your computer, it, and any devices in between on the USB chain. No adaptors are needed or available.

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