2012 15" MacBook Pro: Retina or non-Retina??

[robvas]

At this point in time, which would you choose? Let's assume one laptop is $500 and the other is $550. Similar condition, one is the base model Retina and the other is the base model non-Retina.

They are both 6 years old, you could upgrade the non-Retina to 16GB/1TB SSD, but there's the old 1440x900 screen, and the larger/chunkier case.

There seems like there's not much options to repair the Retina model, although you can do the mSATA SSD upgrade.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I'd get a 2012 Retina and immediately take it to Apple for a battery replacement (while you can, since these will be obsolete by December) and have a very nice computer for the next 2 years.

 

[Rocko99991]

I'd get a 2012 Retina and immediately take it to Apple for a battery replacement (while you can, since these will be obsolete by December) and have a very nice computer for the next 2 years.

Is there some battery replacement program happening or just to buy the battery for $129?

 

[Painter2002]

Is there some battery replacement program happening or just to buy the battery for $129?

Just to buy the battery for $129. If you get the retina model its best to have apple replace it (non-retina model is an easy battery replacement), but do note that Apple will tell you that if anything else is wrong with the machine that prevents a successful replacement they will charge extra for those repairs. If you know for a fact there are no other issues then having Apple replace it is the best way to go.

 

[Rocko99991]

Just to buy the battery for $129. If you get the retina model its best to have apple replace it (non-retina model is an easy battery replacement), but do note that Apple will tell you that if anything else is wrong with the machine that prevents a successful replacement they will charge extra for those repairs. If you know for a fact there are no other issues then having Apple replace it is the best way to go.

Thanks. Is 2012 the last year you can get non-retina?

 

[Smoovejayy]

Yes. Well, there is the MBA.

 

[Painter2002]

Thanks. Is 2012 the last year you can get non-retina?

Yes it was the last year they had the non-retina model.

I personally owned the mid 2012 15" non-retina model, with the high-resolution matte screen, and it was pretty awesome. It was actually faster than the 2014 13" MacBook Pro that I also had. Granted I had personally upgraded the harddrive to an SSD. This was the last easily upgradable MacBook Pro (you can upgrade some of the other retina MacBook Pros, but it was a little more challenging for the non-technically inclined).

 

[Rocko99991]

Yes it was the last year they had the non-retina model.

I personally owned the mid 2012 15" non-retina model, with the high-resolution matte screen, and it was pretty awesome. It was actually faster than the 2014 13" MacBook Pro that I also had. Granted I had personally upgraded the harddrive to an SSD. This was the last easily upgradable MacBook Pro (you can upgrade some of the other retina MacBook Pros, but it was a little more challenging for the non-technically inclined).

Awesome. It looks like 2012 will support Mojave as well. Thanks.