How long will a MacBook Pro last?

[galstaph]

mid 2009 core 2 duo 17" owner here - still works well - nothing replaced - has taken a tower speaker to the screen a few years back and just dented the lid a bit - a little longer to boot but one of these days I may put in an ssd - maybe... I will not let go of my 17!!! (I'm also still running my 2009 mac pro as well, using it right now as a matter of fact - I've added usb 3.1 to it and put high sierra on it - but otherwise no major upgrades). Apple does know how to make good hardware (recent reports of faulty keyboards on newer mbp aside)!

 

[I(am not a)Robot]

I have a mid-2012 MacBook Pro (2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz) with 3MB L3 cache; 500GB HDD). I found this thread because I've been lusting after a new Mac, and I'm convincing myself I've still got some use left in the machine. Years ago I upgraded the RAM to 16GB (didn't notice much of a difference) and I replaced the battery about a year ago. I have a huge media collection, much of which is stored on external HDD, but I'm thinking about installing an internal 4TB SSD so i can have my entire media collection on the internal disc.

The internal SuperDrive died about six months ago, and I replaced it with an external unit that plays and writes Blu-ray. Not sure if I should replace the SuperDrive, or put another internal drive in that space.

Maybe I'll revisit replacement in 2022 or until death of the machine, whichever comes first?

 

[a-m-k]

I also have a mid-2012 MBP. I have only had to replace a hard drive bracket. (I can't ever remember the exact name.) That was years ago. I've learned a few tricks since then to keep my machine going. Yeah, I still have my days where its so slow and it froze every now and then, overall, I think it's done pretty good its a little over six years old. As of right now, I haven't even upgraded my memory for it. I am considering upgrading in the next few years, I just don't know when. I am waiting for something catastrophic to happen that renders it a irrepairable doorstop.

 

[currahee2100]

I have a mid-2012 MacBook Pro...

I also have a mid-2012 MBP....

I feel both of you, I was in the situation you were. I got the i7 though because I wanted it to last. So far I think I made the right call on that. My 2012 runs pretty strong. I removed the cd drive and put in a hard disk adapter so it has two hard drives. It also has 16GB of RAM.

But I felt like it was time for something new. I put in a new battery but it was clear it just wasn't lasting as long as it used to. Probably because the new MacOS requires more processing power than its predecessors.

I think you should look into getting a new MBP. Best buy does sales occasionally so keep an eye out. I got my 512GB 2018 touch 13" MBP for $1499. Which I believe was the same price as the 2012 I got. But I will say this, i think the upgrade will only be worth it if you get the 2018 model. The 2017 non touch still runs on dual core CPUs, which is what the 2012s have. Although there have been major architectural advances since then. It's just not worth it for the long run.

I don't regret it, I really like it. It's so nice being able to work outdoors since the screen is that bright. It's also really light, and it puts the MBP into the ultrabook territory. So portability is amazing.

 

[Kitber]

My mid 2010 15" MBP is still working after 10 years. I am writing this post on it. It has been used as a main computer for most of that time, including several years in dusty Afghanistan and baking hot Africa. I even spilled tea over the keyboard once. Then after leaving it in the sun for a few hours to dry it came back to life and booted up again.

In that time I have made some changes though. 2 new batteries. Upgraded the RAM from 4GB to 8. Increased storage to 512 GB SSD. Had 2 new chargers. Replaced the bottom housing and keyboard after dropping and bending it from about 3 feet up. Removed the optical drive for weight.

Also a few things stopped working. The NVIDIA graphics card started causing kernal panics a few years ago to I switched to the Intel only card. The two USB ports are a bit loose so you have to be careful. Mini-display port no longer works. The microphone is a bit muffled. Bluetooth sometimes crashes or drops out.

I have a new MBA that I take to the office and use for bluetooth, Apple TV and connecting external monitors. But I still use the MBP as my main machine at home because it is quick, has a nice big screen and is comfortable to use.

 

[wegster]

My white Santa rosa MacBook (refurb from Apple) still works.
My 2011 CTO MBP 15" with self-upgraded SSD and RAM - still works. I did replace the battery myself at one point as well.
My 2015 MBP 15" still works.

As much as I'm up for bashing on Apple when it's warranted (and it is at times, entire debacle of 2016-2018 MBP lineup, mini and pro abandonment, OS issues, current Radeon driver/excessive power consumption on the MBP16, ... ), their hardware has been quite reliable to date, for me and others I know.

 

[coldwaves]

I have used three MacBook Pros since 2011. All are 15 inch models.

The first is an early 2011 model. I had it for a little less than 3 years. The GPU was burned. Apple later recalled and repaired it for free.

The second one is a late 2013 model. I had it for a little over four years.Nothing wrong with it. It’s a work computer so I have to leave it when I moved for a new job.

The third one is a mid 2015 model. This is my current one. I have had it for 23 months. Now the battery is swollen. Apple will cover the repair. I plan to keep using it after the repair.

So two of the three MBPs I have used had some sort of major quality issue. But Apple’s customer service has been great. They fixed the problem when they recognize it.

 

[melman101]

Depends. My 2016 Touch Bar 16GB 512GB SSD 13” just bit the bucket. Won’t turn on. And out of AppleCare warranty. :-(. However, this is the first Mac I’ve owned that completely but the bucket.

 

[Codeseven]

Plugged in my beat up ol’ 2008 Unibody MBP (Core 2 Duo, 5400rpm HD) and it fired right up. I forget how slow the ol’ girl is but at the ripe old age of 12 years, what a champ!

 

[Queen6]

15" 2008 pre Unibody still runs just fans failing, 15" 2011 runs better than ever, 15" 2012 Retina is starting to show signs of it's age, 13" 2014 runs without issue. Rest are gone barring a 12" Retina MacBook only kept as an archive for some data. Only Mac's I've had outright die is a couple of 2011 MacBook Air's.

Q-6

 

[calliex]

I also have mid 2012 retina 15 inch MBP. It is going strong especially through this Covid crisis. Battery lasts about 3 hours, when it hits 50% tends to shut itself off. Was going to put in a new battery but after looking around looks like a crap shoot to get a reliable replacement. Can not get apple OEM batteries anymore. May pick up 2019 16 when the stores open up again.

 

[lagisibuk]

late 2013 and still great machine
mint condition like new

 

[AVBeatMan]

Have any of you got any kind of protection on your MBP's? Like a hard shell?

 

[calliex]

Have any of you got any kind of protection on your MBP's? Like a hard shell?

For about the first 5 years I had a hard shell case. More for the fact the aluminum body was kind of slippery to grab. The case to started crack and fall apart after 5 years. I threw it away and so far gone case less.There is a few dings in the aluminum. May not get a case when I get a new one. I keep my machines so long I don't worry sale value.

 

[pshufd]

My 2008 MBP 17 died in 2018. We have two from 2007 that still work though I haven't booted them in years. So I would expect ten years. I'm using 2014 and 2015 MBPs daily and I expect them to last until 2024 though I may replace them before then.