Upgrade the Memory from 4 GB to 8 GB

16 GBs is the max for that model.

Does it increase the speed of the laptop?

Only if you were using swap files with the 4GBs of RAM.

Suggested: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_16 00MHz_SDRAM

If you have a 5400 rpm mechanical HD, your biggest improvement in speed would be to replace it with a SSD.

Note: you posted in the wrong forum area, this one is for 12" Retina MacBooks. MacBrook Pros have their own forum area.

Unless you are running with 6GB or more now, ElCapitan and later take about a 100 percent toll on your computer speed, by simulating needed RAM on the Boot Drive. The Minimum cost to get out of the paging Rut for ordinary tasks is replacing one 2GB DIMM with one 4GB DIMM for about US$40 if in the US.

Vendors will tell you that is not optimal, and they are correct. The penalty for running mis-matched DIMMs is under 5 percent, and you are paying a hugely larger penalty than that every day you wait.

sultan160 wrote:

What is the estimated cost to upgrade the memory from 4 GB to 8 GB for MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)? Does it increase the speed of the laptop?

Thanks in advance!

Upgraded RAM will certainly be beneficial. 4GB RAM barely cuts it.

An SSD will make your Mac fly like a new one. You can get everything you need from macsales/owc.

If you upgrade the HD at hte same time definitely install a new SATA cable at the same time.

Apple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and More

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012), macOS (10.13.6), i7 480GB SSD 16GB RAM

One thing to keep in mind is the main drawback to a SSD over the one you have now is cost, unless you are willing to downsize your general file storage or go with external storage.

As for speed increase, it depends upon what applications you run and how many you run at the same time. If you run memory hungry applications, or many applications which end up requiring more RAM than you have in your computer then it can slow things down a bit because then the computer turns to using its internal drive for RAM (see "swap" mentioned in another post). Your internal drive is probably a slower one so this will be particularly painful with that drive. A SSD drive will give you a big speed boost, but can cost approximately ten times what a conventional drive costs for the same storage space. You can install a 120 GB drive for about $100 (if you do it yourself), but for comparison a 1TB HDD will cost under $100.