Apple declares 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2012 'obsolete'
Apple has added the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display released in late 2012 to its list of obsolete products.
Credit: Apple
The specific model was first released in October 2012, and was Apple's first 13-inch MacBook Pro model to include a Retina Display. The obsolescence comes about nine years after the product's first release.
In June 2020, Apple also added the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display to its list of obsolete devices. That model was the first 15-inch portable Mac with Apple's Retina display technology.
Apple defines "vintage" devices as those that have not been manufactured for more than five years but fewer than seven years. "Obsolete" products, on the other hand, are those that have been discontinued for more than seven years.
Obsolete products are not able to receive hardware service from Apple technicians or Authorized Service Providers, with "no exceptions."
Credit: Apple
The specific model was first released in October 2012, and was Apple's first 13-inch MacBook Pro model to include a Retina Display. The obsolescence comes about nine years after the product's first release.
In June 2020, Apple also added the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display to its list of obsolete devices. That model was the first 15-inch portable Mac with Apple's Retina display technology.
Apple defines "vintage" devices as those that have not been manufactured for more than five years but fewer than seven years. "Obsolete" products, on the other hand, are those that have been discontinued for more than seven years.
Obsolete products are not able to receive hardware service from Apple technicians or Authorized Service Providers, with "no exceptions."
Comments
I am aware that eventually, I will have to break down and buy a new MBP. The new M series processors are a harbinger that the time for such a change is approaching sooner than later. However, I will never again own a computing device that will work as hard, as reliably, for such a long time as my trusty mid 2012 15" MBP.
Sad.
No dongles. A good keyboard. Ports galore.
I'd give anything for the exact same thing- with a USB C port, USB A port, Mag Safe power as well as USB C as an option. I'd be willing to concede the DVD drive- although I'm really starting to wonder about archiving all this 4K video- if someone is going to come out with a new solution....
Hard drives go bad...
The ball is in Apple’s court. They need to bring it on or we’ll all be living in Obsolescenceville with our vintage Macs for several more years.
I have 3.1 Mac Pro Tower. I can run Mojave but some apps look for a newer Intel chip and crash. So if your CPU chip is too old, yes it's not supported and newer apps will not run.
I get that products can't be supported forever, but when I look at the amazing photos that my Canon Pro 9500 MKll still produces, I feel like I'd be wasting money on a newer and comparable printer. I'd have to spend at least $600-800 or more. The only way I see myself getting rid of it is if they stop manufacturing the OEM Lucia inks.
That said, I don't understand why authorized repair shops are forbidden to do any repairs on a "obsolete" Mac if a part is still readily available. The keyboard backlight recently went out on mine and I bought an OEM replacement from OWC. I have to do it myself because I can't pay a repair shop to do it. There are YouTube videos online that have step-by-step instructions which I'm capable of doing. I just don't look forward to keeping track of over 70 tiny screws!
All that said, if I had to depend on that machine for my day-to-day I'd be tearing my hair out at its slowness. My main driver is a 2019 i9 15-MBP and it runs rings around the 2012 for any task you care to name. In truth I don't need the four USB-C/TB3 ports on this machine, as I use a grand total of ONE -- going to a small hub -- that handles all the various type ports I might need, including power, and wasn't expensive. This 15" weighs half a pound less than the mid-2012 13-inch because all those mostly-extraneous ports and those bulky mechanical hard drives. I have a LARGE bag full of dongles and wires I had to bring with me when I did presentations with the older machine in order to connect to various projectors, TVs, screens, audio systems, etc.
Probably still use it for another couple of years. That's when I'll go ASi for an iMac and laptop.
Hoping they make a 14” Apple silicon soon that will finally make me upgrade. However the loss of upgrade ability will be missed.