You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Which MacBook Pro model year is best?

I am a student looking to upgrade from 10 year old HP laptop. Need best bang for the buck. On a budget and want best used MacBook Pro model year. Which year MacBook Pro would you reccomend?

Posted on Feb 26, 2022 7:14 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 27, 2022 3:29 PM

A mid 2012 macbook pro non-retina is excellent. You need to upgrade both the glacially slow 5400 rpm hard drive and add some RAM and it’ll be a fast workhorse. I did that. remember though that it is now 10 years old, an eternity for electronics. But it is the last model that was easily user upgradable.

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 27, 2022 3:29 PM in response to TallGuy91

A mid 2012 macbook pro non-retina is excellent. You need to upgrade both the glacially slow 5400 rpm hard drive and add some RAM and it’ll be a fast workhorse. I did that. remember though that it is now 10 years old, an eternity for electronics. But it is the last model that was easily user upgradable.

Feb 27, 2022 4:11 PM in response to TallGuy91

TallGuy91 wrote:

I am a student looking to upgrade from 10 year old HP laptop. Need best bang for the buck. On a budget and want best used MacBook Pro model year. Which year MacBook Pro would you reccomend?



Support for your product, help with order placed, help making a purchase

https://contactretail.apple.com/Help


Refurb, clearance, open box returns:

Certified Refurbished Products - Apple

Feb 27, 2022 1:18 PM in response to TallGuy91

TallGuy91 Said:

"Which MacBook Pro model year is best?: I’ve read the some of the older models are easier to make upgrades on, is there any truth to that?

———-


For me, 2017 is the oldest in that I use. Updating is just fine. But with an obsolete device, it would become across as be tough to find updates, being they become trustworthy as time goes on.


As for updating, extreme obsolete items give you the option to update hardware in it. In newer Macs, all hardware is soldered into the LogicBoard. So, upgrading hardware is not an option.

Which MacBook Pro model year is best?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.