The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20170701071021/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-2016-comparison

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SQL Server 2016

Build intelligent, mission-critical applications using a scalable, hybrid database platform that has everything built in—from in-memory performance and advanced security to in-database analytics.

Compare Microsoft SQL Server versions

Features	SQL Server 2016	SQL Server 2014	SQL Server 2012	SQL Server 2008 R2	SQL Server 2008

Features

SQL Server 2016

SQL Server 2016 SQL Server 2014 SQL Server 2012 SQL Server 2008 R2 SQL Server 2008

In-memory OLTP*
In-memory columnstore*
Buffer pool extension to SSD
Resource Governor

AlwaysOn*
Enhanced virtualization support and live migration

Transparent data encryption*
Backup encryption support
Fine-grained auditing
Separation of duties

Cloud-readiness

Backup to Azure

Disaster recovery to Microsoft
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Management and programmability

Distributed replay
Policy-based management
Enhanced programmability

BI and analytics

PowerPivot for Excel
Integration services managed as a server
Hadoop connector via Apache Sqoop
Tabular BI semantic model*
Master data services*
Data quality services*

*SQL Server Enterprise and Business Intelligence editions only.