How many people still use old MacBook Pro?

[Allen_Wentz]

I've had a MBP 2015 15" sitting idle for a long time. I finally got around to replacing the dead battery and started using it again.

Of all the "pre-M1" Macbooks, I think this one is a definite keeper! It runs everything I can throw at it.

I also have a MBP 17" that I wish was as good as this 15", but alas.....its too old to really be a "modern" system.
I cant bear to toss it, though. that screen is fantastic. Wish they had made a Retina 17" MBP.

I upgraded to M2 MBP with 96 GB RAM but still use the 2016 MBP with 16 GB RAM for couch surfing. It works fine as long as I do not try to multi-task, in which case it bogs down pretty quickly.

I too have a 17" that I miss using the matte display. As much as I like the M2 MBP its glossy display might drive me to upgrading to nano texture sooner rather than later. I am thinking M5 may bring thinner MBPs and I might like that.

 

[Macdctr]

I'm still using my 2015 15-inch MBP and have the latest version of OCLP and MacOS 15.4 beta installed on it. I use this Mac to play movies I have stored on it on my big screen home theater system. I occasionally run updates to keep everything current on it. So far no issues at all in it's performance

 

[TechnoMonk]

I still use 2014 MBP as local utility machine. It’s not connected to the outside world. Though most of what it did is done by a M4 base machine mini.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I am working with a MBP 15 Retina with 16Gb of Ram, from 2015, and it's a good machine to manage office apps, web browsing, video or Netflix, and not to bad with amateur video editing (iMovie and actually learning Davinci) in HD. It could render 4K or 8K with a certain amount of time, but we can not compare with the Silicon cpus performances. I have tested all the MacOSes on my MBP with OCLP and I do not recommend to go farther than Monterey, because it feels less responsive and runs hotter. It could run Sonoma ? Yes, I have had it for a week for testing purposes, but I think it's not the way. In this 'old' machine, Monterey is the most recent version of MacOS that could runs flawlessly.

This macbook has good speakers, 1 HDMI/2 USB ports/SD card reader (useful for photographers) and can manage 2 monitors (not my case because I do not need them) with his 2 thunderbolt ports. The user experience working with it is so pleasant that if you do not need the ultimate MacOS features, or very big performance on graphics (4K or 8K renders for example) there is no point to switch over a M1/M2/M3. I can scan documents with my iPhone, insert photos in Notes/Numbers/Pages/Keynote etc. Highly recommended if you are not a Professional Video Editor. A similar MBP of the current range from Apple could costs 3.000€ (16Gb Ram + 1Tb HD).

Agreed, Monterey is appropriate.

 

[MalagLagoon]

I'm still using my Mid 2015 MacBook Pro Retina - 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 - 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3.

I bought it new from the Apple store in November of 2015. Sadly, that MBP had a bad GPU that I did not recognize in time to get a refund or exchange. I suffered with the bad GPU periodically hard-crashing the system until 2017 when I had enough and decided to buy a refurbished 2015 MBP with the same specs. And, you better believe I got Apple Care this go around and made damn sure there wasn't any major issues.

My second 2015 MBP has worked fine ever since. I still have the original MBP and occasionally use that laptop as a backup machine - like the time Apple had the battery recall and needed to send my good laptop off for that repair.

Lessons learned: Up until 2015 I had only used Windows machines and had become rather tolerant of severe crashes - this is partly why I didn't immediately take my first MBP back to the Apple store upon witnessing the severe GPU crashes. Be sure to catch hardware issues as quickly as possible. Don't doubt yourself. For me Apple Care is the way to go. Yeah, it's gravy for Apple - but what else are you going to do after spending thousands of dollars only to discover a very real hardware flaw six months down the road?

A friend of mine emailed me asking if he should get a Mac (for music). I told him I like Apple quite a lot and use that for music all the time - and then I added: Apple is either really REALLY good - or really bad - get Apple Care. I didn't go into the GPU hardware issue of my 2015 MBP.

Anyway - the reason why I'm on this forum is that it's time. It's time to retire my 2015 MBP. I use Parallels with Windows 10 (or 11) and my tired old 2015 MBP cannot keep up anymore. Poor thing.

On the topic of hardware flaws - I'm here reading posts about MacBook Pros - and if there are any huge issues and/or machines I should avoid. I'll probably buy a higher end refurbished capable of running Parallels and the demanding engineering software that I use.

Anywho - I am quite fond of my 2015 MBP - it's been a cumulative ten years (this November). A VERY good run. Well done old man!

 

[sgage]

I have a 2017 MBP that still works perfectly. It seems very happy running Ventura. I would love to have a newer M-whatever one, but for what I do this machine is more than adequate. When it starts getting flaky, I'll probably get an MBA.

 

[savagewatts]

I’m still rocking my late 2014 MBP.

 

[Climb14er]

I was using my late 2014 MBP Intel 8/256 till last week when I migrated data to new M4 MBP 16/512 14 inch and could not be happier with the decision. The old one still runs but have to plug it in often and with no OS or security updates, in this world of cyber criminals, and even with IOS, don’t want to deal with intrusions. Since my partner got hit for $7K from her bank, which we recovered, we do not take any chances dealing with cyber criminals. And I like the new M4 even better at $1350 from Microcenter.

 

[marcoago]

I'm still using an old "fat" mid-2012 15" MacBook Pro. I upgraded it over time, increasing RAM to 16GB and put two SSDs for 1.5TB total. Battery lasts only 1h, though.

 

[redheeler]

2019 16”, since I guess all Intel models are considered “old” now. Had since new and still works fine though not as quick as Apple Silicon. Hopefully it’ll get at least one more major release of MacOS officially.

 

[zarathu]

My wife has a 2018 13 inch Intel MBP. She won’t give it up. I offered her a 16 inch M1Pro. I have the current mac and her hand me down iPhone 12. She has the new iPhone 16, and an old mac. We do different kinds of work, and the old MBP works find for email and writing which is what she does.

 

[OldMacPro2]

I guess we are "light" MacOS users, because I can still get my work done on MacOS versions as old as High Sierra and Big Sur.

Yes, I know about OCLP, and I have Sequoia running on a MBP 2015 15", but that's more for fun than anything.

On my "main" system, the MBP 15" 2017, I'm sticking with Ventura. That Macbook Pro, which has a "horrrible" reputation, still works like a champ for me. Guess I was just lucky to not get a lemon.

 

[OldMacPro2]

I'm still using an old "fat" mid-2012 15" MacBook Pro. I upgraded it over time, increasing RAM to 16GB and put two SSDs for 1.5TB total. Battery lasts only 1h, though.

I've put a new battery in my 2015 15" MBP. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and makes it a lot more usable. The battery was like $40 off eBay. Ifixit wanted closer to $100, but I didn't see the need to spend that much.

 

[TechRunner]

My son-in-law is still working with a 15" 2015 MBP, my daughter a 13" 2017 MBP. But they're both rapidly nearing end-of-useful-life, so they'll need to upgrade at some point in the near future.

 

[DMG35]

I have a 2015 that is in mint condition and still works beautifully. I don't use it for everything, but when at home on the couch for email and basic tasks its still an awesome machine.

 

[marcoago]

I've put a new battery in my 2015 15" MBP. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and makes it a lot more usable. The battery was like $40 off eBay. Ifixit wanted closer to $100, but I didn't see the need to spend that much.

I replaced it twice from iFixit. Its batteries last 2, 3 years only, way less than Apple's.

 

[racerhomie]

I use a Mid 2017 MacBook Pro 13’ Function Key as my primary machine. It’s got a 512 GB SSD. Thats why I haven’t bothered with Apple Silicon Macs yet. They have integrated SSDs. I like to have at least 512GB on my primary machine as base storage. It lasts 3.5hrs on battery, 5.5hrs on documents viewing, so its good enough

 

[Mega ST]

I still use my intel MBP 2018 besides my brand new MBP M4 MAX 64/2.
Let's see for how long? I like the new one very well. Typing this on the new one.

 

[nigelbb]

Like other posters I am still using a 2015 MBP. In fact I have several all bought used off eBay. I use one in clamshell mode as a desktop with a 40" monitor hooked up to peripherals like a Blu-ray burner. My current go to laptop is a 15" 2015 2.8GHz MBP with 16GB memory & AMD Radeon R9 graphics that cost just £200. I upgraded with a 2TB NVMe SSD. Battery life at around two hours is the only downside.

 

[M.Shaw]

I have the 2012 15” MBP- in daily use for around 9 hours straight, tethered to a Phase One digital back which only works over FireWire & this was the last machine to have FW. Has the Matt screen option and I put in 2nd Ssd drive which backs up the main drive every 15 minutes.

It is starting to run hot & I do live in fear of the know graphics card failure, which would invariably be half way through a shoot…

 

[OldMacPro2]

I have a 2017 MBP that still works perfectly. It seems very happy running Ventura. I would love to have a newer M-whatever one, but for what I do this machine is more than adequate. When it starts getting flaky, I'll probably get an MBA.

I've got a 2017 15" MBP, i7 2.8Ghz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 555.

Technically, it's my "most modern" Mac, but I think compared to 90% who post on these forums, it's ancient. And it's the only Mac that I own which will run unpatched Ventura.

Bought it from my son, who bought it new, then decided he didn't want a Macbook Pro. He barely used it and I've only used it sparingly. So it's still running like a brand new one.

Kind of funny all the hate that these particular models (15" 2017 MBP) recieve on various forums and Youtube. I think it's a great laptop!

 

[sgage]

I've got a 2017 15" MBP, i7 2.8Ghz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 555.

Technically, it's my "most modern" Mac, but I think compared to 90% who post on these forums, it's ancient. And it's the only Mac that I own which will run unpatched Ventura.

Bought it from my son, who bought it new, then decided he didn't want a Macbook Pro. He barely used it and I've only used it sparingly. So it's still running like a brand new one.

Kind of funny all the hate that these particular models (15" 2017 MBP) recieve on various forums and Youtube. I think it's a great laptop!

I think it's a great laptop, too. Mine has the same specs as yours, except a 512GB SSD. It was given to me by my nephew a couple of years ago, in brand new condition. For some reason he got a different machine shortly after he got this one, and hardly used it all all, so he just put it in the closet. He used to work for Apple, and did a stint in the refurb department, so it came to me completely clean and with the totally original 'unboxing experience', which was fun.

My girlfriend had a 2014 MBP, and I will admit I preferred that keyboard, and the MagSafe power connector. But the TouchID is pretty convenient, I will say. The keyboard is fine once I calibrate to it. The display is beautiful. It really is a great device, and I find myself using it more and more (my main computer is a Linux desktop).

 

[Argyboy]

I have a Mac Pro 5,1, a MacBook Pro 2012 13 inch and a MacBook Pro 15 inch 2015 in regular circulation, all running Ventura or Sonoma through OCLP. They do everything I need them to.

 

[Steve121178]

My old late 2013 MacBook Pro now runs the latest version of Fedora which I mess around with/learn Linux related stuff.

My old 2011 MacBook Air runs the latest version of Ubuntu for messing around with/learning Linux stuff.

Both of them got a new lease of life when I installed the Linux distros on them. I'll probably get around to installing Fedora on my old late 2012 iMac at some point. Fedora is my distro of choice & runs like an absolute champ on my old hardware.

 

[MBAir2010]

I try to use my early intel macbooks as much as possible!
as last summer I only used a MacBook Pro 2012 only running mountain lion for the entire month of July
without any problems or regrets as that streamed every second of the Tour de France.
my MacBook Air 2010 still has a 5 hour battery life and can still compute and create in 2025.
I still regret using the m1s since  cannot or simply refuses
to province adequate software for those computers nowadays.