MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) - can it be updated beyond Yosemite?

Verify you meet all the tech specs. Your mid 2012 is the last of the real work horses with the ability to user upgrade both RAM and SSD

Typically you are always better off running the most current macOS your machine will allow—especially for the built in security features.

Old app compatibility maybe one reason to hold back— you have to do your own homework here: https://roaringapps.com/apps

32-bit app compatibility with macOS... - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436

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https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?mt=12&l=en-us

macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP803?locale=en_US

System requirements macOS 10.15 Catalina

macOS Catalina will run on all Macintosh computers that supported Mojave:

MacBook: Early 2015 or newer

MacBook Air: Mid 2012 or newer

MacBook Pro: Mid 2012 or newer

Mac Mini: Late 2012 or newer

iMac: Late 2012 or newer

iMac Pro

Mac Pro: Late 2013 or newer; Mid 2010 or Mid 2012 if upgraded with a recommended Metal-capable GPU

Yes.

Find out how to do it here: How to upgrade to macOS Catalina - Apple Support

leroydouglas wrote:

Verify you meet all the tech specs. Your mid 2012 is the last of the real work horses with the ability to user upgrade both RAM and SSD

Maybe not the Retina. I thought that all Retina models had fixed RAM, although of course there are the aftermarket SSDs from OWC and Transcend.

GRG2012 wrote:

Can the operating system for a MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) be updated to Catalina?

OK , ok —sawry, did not read the retina part or glazed right over it 😉

Never heard the Retina 2012 referred to as "Retina, Mid 2012"— my mistake.

Typically this is reserved for the old work horse mid-2012 both the 13" and 15".

Carry on, you are in good hands with all the corrections in place.

leroydouglas wrote:

OK , ok —sawry, did not read the retina part or glazed right over it 😉

Never heard the Retina 2012 referred to as "Retina, Mid 2012"— my mistake.

Typically this is reserved for the old work horse mid-2012 both the 13" and 15".

Didn't specify the screen size, but the mid-2012 Retina models were on the market for maybe a year or less depending on the screen size. But of course we hear a lot about the last mid-2012 Unibody because it was on the market for more than 4 years and a ton were sold because it was cheaper and appealed to the DIYer.

It’s on the list for Catalina compatibility. However, it might need an incremental upgrade to El Capitan first.

The MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch)'s RAM is not upgradable.