Whats the oldest MacBook Pro that supports MacOS 11 at least, preferably higher than that, because I use a 2011 13in MacBook Pro

If you want a used or older Mac, I would recommend purchasing one from 2018 or newer. You will still get security updates for these models. If you get one with a decent or new battery, it should last all day without a charge. I would however recommend getting an Apple Silicon model though because my M2 MBA is way better than my old intel 2020 MBA.

It may also be beneficial to get a windows laptop if you’re looking to into engineering but definitely check with your college requirements before making that decision.

I hope that helps.

Joshua_510 Said:

"Whats the oldest MacBook Pro that supports MacOS 11 at least, preferably higher than that, because I use a 2011 13in MacBook Pro: I currently use a 2011 MacBook Pro with 8GB RAM and a 128 SSD, and many of the things I want to download I either don't have space for or my Mac is too old, as I'm running MacOS 10 or X.[...]"

-------

Tips on Clearing Mac storage:

Clear [lots of] Space. Read the following...

Clearing Space on a Mac:

Mac Storage:

Try clearing internal storage. Do so, though use of the following:

What Space to Clear:

A. Clear Temporary Internet Files:

Clear your Temporary Internet Files(Cookies & Cache) of Safari:

• Cookies perform remembrance of certain site-entered data.
• Cache keeps a snapshot of the last time you visited a site.

Go Here: Manage Cookies and Website Data in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

Also...



B. Clean TV and Music Libraries:

Remove all unneeded files from your TV and Music Libraries. Full-Movies take up 2-4GB typically, and a bunch of those would take up a load of storage, ideally. So, if you have any movies that are not needed, then delete them.

Also...



C.See these Links:

• Free Up Storage Space on your Mac - Apple Support

• Optimize Storage Space on your Mac - Apple Support

• See Used and Available Storage Space on your Mac - Apple Support

macOS 11 (“Big Sur”) is not one of the “most recent three” - and macOS 12 (“Monterey”) soon won’t be.

Even macOS 13. (“Ventura”) will fall off that list in about a year to a year and a half from now. You may want to look for a Mac that is compatible with Sonoma and that will be compatible with Sequoia.

Re: “college starts in exactly a week, so I want to upgrade my computer as a Mechanical Engineering Major”

Check with your college to see what they recommend or require. If they require you to use programs that run only on Windows, you might need to get a Windows notebook whether that is your preference or not.

Joshua_510 Said:

"Whats the oldest MacBook Pro that supports MacOS 11 at least, preferably higher than that, because I use a 2011 13in MacBook Pro"

-------



Determining which Update(s) will Install:

I. Verify Compatibility:

A. Start Here: Learn About Compatibility and how to Identify your Specific Mac Model - Apple Support

B. How to Verify:

II. Reveal your Model:

What is the Model of your Mac? To find out...

1. Go to: Apple menu
2. Click: About this Mac
3. View: Second Line-Down

then...

II. Compare the Results:

• macOS Sonoma is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
• macOS Ventura is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
• macOS Monterey is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
• macOS Big Sur 11 Hardware Requirements - Apple Support
• macOS Catalina 10.15 - Hardware Requirements - Apple Support
• macOS Mojave 10.14 - Hardware Requirements - Apple Support
• macOS High Sierra 10.13 - Hardware Requirements - Apple Support
• macOS Sierra 10.12 - Hardware Requirements - Apple Support

III. If Compatible:

• Back Up your Mac First:  Be certain you Create a Time Machine Backup of your Mac, so that way you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reconfiguration.

My MBA M2 (16, 256) is a really solid computer and I have not really noticed any significant performance issues. I do a lot of work in CAD and graphic design and apple silicon is really good. A MacBook Pro will have even better performance. All I can say is get what works for you and good luck in college.

Apple Silicon Macs cannot run Intel versions of Windows. You would need to run Windows 11 for ARM in that Parallels virtual machine. Windows 11 for ARM can run some off-the-shelf Windows/Intel applications, but there is overhead and there are limitations. See the Microsoft and Parallels sites for details.

If your college heavily recommends Windows laptops, but only gives out low-end Windows laptops and ChromeBooks, you might want to put your money towards buying a high-end Windows laptop that is better than the ones they give out.