How Much Time Do I have Left - Using A 2015 MacBook Pro?

[Fishrrman]

I have a 2015 MBP (or, more accurately, my sister now has it since I bought a 2021 MBP 14").

It still works well enough.

Speaking only for myself, I have NO concerns as to whether or not any Apple Mac is "still supported" by Apple software updates. I just use 'em.

 

[padams35]

I want to avoid laptops with dysfunctional keyboards, lack of real ports, lack of MagSafe, overheating MacBooks, Touch Bar, and whatever else Apple royally screwed up. So, whatever year that happens to be. I'll gander a guess something newer than a 2022.

Late 2021 or newer MacBook Pro.
- Return of MagSafe (Also in the 2022 and newer M2+ Macbook Airs)
- Return of HDMI output (Pro/Max only L2021-E2023 models; standard L2023+)
- Return of real function keys (Pro/Max only L2021-E2023 models; standard L2023+)
- Return of reliable scissor keyboard (all late 2019 and newer laptops)
- No cooling/overheating issues

That's what I replaced my 2015 MBA with... a certified refurbished 14" M1-Pro. Monterey was still working fine for me, but my MBA had a Mojave install that was reaching end life and I decided if I was going to upgrade the software and loose 32bit app support it was time to also upgrade the hardware for Apple Silicon laptop performance.

From a security standpoint I expect the final Monterey security update will come September or so, but if you use a 3rd party web browser then browser updates will probably continue for another 3 years give or take. If you are happy with your 2015's performance you could probably hold off a couple more years before upgrading.

 

[Macky-Mac]

I’m still new to macOS so forgive my ignorance. But, can’t you still use any previous Mac so long as it still “does the job”? I mean, you would need to keep up on news about hardware exploits that software cannot fix, but those machines should still do what you bought them for.. right?

yes, generally speaking, you can keep using old hardware as long as the apps you need to use will work on whatever OS and hardware you have

 

[Iwavvns]

yes, generally speaking, you can keep using old hardware as long as the apps you need to use will work on whatever OS and hardware you have

So, there is really no hurry to upgrade at all, so long as you don’t delete an app or reinstall the OS and have to download your apps all over again. Which means an M1 iMac should work just fine 20 years from now.

If I had an iMac or a Mac mini, I wouldn’t upgrade it at all.. ever. There is no battery to worry about, and it should still work 20 years from the day I bought it, unless something breaks. I don’t know why some people think that their computer is no good after the updates stop, that is clearly not the case.

 

[Yebubbleman]

- Return of HDMI output (Pro/Max models only)

The base suffix-less M3 14-inch MacBook Pro also has HDMI. It just doesn't have a third Thunderbolt port.

- Return of real function keys (Pro/Max models only, base 'M' MBP still has that 'feature')

As far as Apple Silicon Macs are concerned, the Touch Bar is only on the M1 and M2 versions of 13-inch MacBook Pro. The base suffix-less M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is those Macs natural successor, doesn't have the Touch Bar at all. It is gone from all currently shipping Macs.

 

[MalagLagoon]

A little side note on the usability of my 2015 MacBook Pro.

I'm not sure if this is related to an old operating system (Monterey) but Safari has slowly become dysfunctional with certain websites. I have to use other browsers for websites that previously worked flawlessly with Safari.

Either Safari itself isn't capable anymore or I have an old version of Safari (I always update everything all the time - so, if I do have an old version of Safari it's because I'm using macOS Monterey).

 

[Macky-Mac]

A little side note on the usability of my 2015 MacBook Pro.

I'm not sure if this is related to an old operating system (Monterey) but Safari has slowly become dysfunctional with certain websites. I have to use other browsers for websites that previously worked flawlessly with Safari.

Either Safari itself isn't capable anymore or I have an old version of Safari (I always update everything all the time - so, if I do have an old version of Safari it's because I'm using macOS Monterey).

What version of Safari do you have installed?

I've been having the same problem on an old 2014 iMac using Mojave OS10.14.6 with Safari version 14.1.2

Within the last year some websites have suddenly stopped loading images; or rather they may very briefly load the image and then it disappears. As you've experienced, other browsers still work for these websites, and other sites continue to load without a problem using Safari, so I'm suspecting that the issue has been caused by some update to the websites' software.

I have an M1 Mini that I use for applications that require a more up-to-date OS and software

 

[MalagLagoon]

What version of Safari do you have installed?

I've been having the same problem on an old 2014 iMac using Mojave OS10.14.6 with Safari version 14.1.2

Within the last year some websites have suddenly stopped loading images; or rather they may very briefly load the image and then it disappears. As you've experienced, other browsers still work for these websites, and other sites continue to load without a problem using Safari, so I'm suspecting that the issue has been caused by some update to the websites' software.

I have an M1 Mini that I use for applications that require a more up-to-date OS and software

I've got Safari Version 17.5 (17618.2.12.111.5, 17618)

I believe there might still be some websites using Flash - and I've always needed Firefox for those one or two sites. But, I don't count this as a Safari dysfunction. But, in roughly the last year, Safari has gotten worse. Like I said in my previous post entire websites that worked fine with Safari for the better part of a decade just don't work anymore (usually can't scroll) so I need Firefox for specific websites now. Sometimes Safari needs to be 100% exited and restarted for a website to work - just yesterday I couldn't navigate my OneDrive (viewed through an internet connection with a browser) - rebooting Safari fixed that issue. More and more I'm running into these issues with Safari now. I feel like I'm using a bogged down Microsoft Windows machine - sadly. My 2015 MBP isn't the same machine it once was.

EDIT: just moments ago I needed to reboot Safari. Sometimes while watching a YouTube video all the voices (or any sound) shift upward in pitch - making people sound like they've been sucking on helium. In the past I have documented this by creating a video showing this anomaly and the cure (rebooting). Anyway, I just thought I'd add this tid-bit.

 

[8767092]

Quick checklist.

Are you using any adblockers or similar extensions in Safari?

Have you used one of the cleaner apps like Onyx or Sonoma Cache Cleaner to see if it might be something like that?

Do browsers like Firefox exhibit the same or similar behavior?

Firefox with uBlock Origin (etc) will always perform better than Safari. It doesn't need to load the tracking javascirpt, ads, and bloat that comes with the net. I can't speak to OneDrive, but I never had luck with Microsoft stuff

 

[MalagLagoon]

Quick checklist.

Are you using any adblockers or similar extensions in Safari?

Have you used one of the cleaner apps like Onyx or Sonoma Cache Cleaner to see if it might be something like that?

Do browsers like Firefox exhibit the same or similar behavior?

Firefox with uBlock Origin (etc) will always perform better than Safari. It doesn't need to load the tracking javascirpt, ads, and bloat that comes with the net. I can't speak to OneDrive, but I never had luck with Microsoft stuff

I'm not stupid. I NEVER load up any of that junk onto my system - ever. I ALWAYS run a CLEAN system. If I wanted a bogged down crapola machine then I'd use Microsoft Windows with Norton installed.

 

[Macky-Mac]

I've got Safari Version 17.5 (17618.2.12.111.5, 17618)

I believe there might still be some websites using Flash - and I've always needed Firefox for those one or two sites. But, I don't count this as a Safari dysfunction. But, in roughly the last year, Safari has gotten worse. Like I said in my previous post entire websites that worked fine with Safari for the better part of a decade just don't work anymore (usually can't scroll) so I need Firefox for specific websites now. Sometimes Safari needs to be 100% exited and restarted for a website to work - just yesterday I couldn't navigate my OneDrive (viewed through an internet connection with a browser) - rebooting Safari fixed that issue. More and more I'm running into these issues with Safari now. I feel like I'm using a bogged down Microsoft Windows machine - sadly. My 2015 MBP isn't the same machine it once was.

hmmm your further description of the safari problem you're having seems different than the issue I've had

 

[8767092]

I'm not stupid. I NEVER load up any of that junk onto my system - ever. I ALWAYS run a CLEAN system. If I wanted a bogged down crapola machine then I'd use Microsoft Windows with Norton installed.

I don't mean to suggest you're stupid or loaded anything onto the Mac. There are many cases where a corrupt cache or similar can cause strange behavior.

Adblockers in Safari help reduce attack surface by reducing the number of third party servers you connect to and download from. Depending on what you're browsing, this can make Safari much faster.

Onyx and Sonoma Cache Cleaner are very old trusted software utilities that help cover the common issues that can come up from time to time. They can be put along side clearing the SMC or NVRAM if something funny happens.

You can see Macupdates reviews and information for Onyx and Sonoma Cache Cleaner for more information.

As far as Firefox vs Safari tests, that's mostly just to see if there is any slowness maybe in GPU acceleration or something like that. If Firefox is fast and Safari is not, that's an easy A/B test that it's software and related to Safari.

 

[StrollerEd]

I used the mid-2015 15inch MBP as my workhorse, waiting for the 'next best thing' to come along - which it did, in the form of the 16inch M1 MBP that I'm using now. I had some spending money and probably overspec'd, although I have no regrets on what is now my workhorse - just realisation that it is more of a luggable than a portable laptop.

I partly justified my decision to part with the mid-2015 15inch MBP in 2020 by passing it on to a daughter whose 2010 MacBook was struggling. She is still v happy with the mid-2015 15inch MBP for her purposes. If and when it dies or eventually becomes unusable, then I will probably pass on the 13in M1 MBA that I bought second hand as my portable laptop.

There are some good prices around for refurbished 14in and 16in MBPs with M1, M2 and even M3 chips, some very well spec'd wrt storage and 'unified memory' [RAM].

PS I've been asked to advise on a MacBook purchase recently and I'm sure you have heard good things about the 15in M3 MBA - that seems to be a sweet spot, either new or refurbished to afford the 16gb of unified memory.

 

[RUGERMAN]

Do you think Apple would loan me an M3 MacBook Pro 16" - to see if I like it or not?

Sure, it's called easy return within 14 days. Buy it,
use it for 2 weeks and see if it works for you.

 

[Macdctr]

I'm still using my 2015 MacBook Pro that I bought in 2015. I'm vaguely aware that support (which I guess would be security updates) will end soon-ish. But when? I need to plan on buying something newer. I'd likely buy from the Apple website - something newish (or maybe brand new). I want to avoid laptops with dysfunctional keyboards, lack of real ports, lack of MagSafe, overheating MacBooks, Touch Bar, and whatever else Apple royally screwed up. So, whatever year that happens to be. I'll gander a guess something newer than a 2022.

With regards to the title of this thread

"How Much Time Do I have Left - Using A 2015 MacBook Pro?"

As long as your 2015 laptop is doing everything you need it for then you have all the time in the world. If you want to update to an OS that Apple does not support for your 2015 Mac you can always install the current OCLP (Open Core Legacy Patcher) version and then go to the Mr. Macintosh web site to download the MacOS you're interested in running and install it using OCLP. It is not hard to do and I have done this to my 2015 laptops without issue. I have MacOS 14 Sonoma installed on them and they have been running this OS fine but compared to the M1/M2/M3 processor Macs, at a much slower rate. Still useable though. YMMV

 

[turbineseaplane]

Piece of junk
Send it to me for recycling

Address in PM ... can send prepaid shipping label

🙂

 

[MacBH928]

So, its really weird how these machines are lightening fast when you buy them but suddenly they become sluggish. I mean there is no new technology out there to make it outdated. Either way , mine is fast enough for what I want it to do and I am always worried some electronic piece might die on me. Biggest problem is when software apps no longer support the OS.

I feel sad to just throw this piece of equipment away as it is the same $2500 machine I bought back then. At 10 years old there is hardly any one who wants it for daily driver, even the OS and apps are not supported 😬

Probably until October but it’s not officially announced. You can use OCLP to get at least two more years of unofficial support though.

For new machines just get apple silicon and you’re fine no matter what model pretty much.

Open Legacy Core Patcher is a cool project that provides compatibility beyond Apple's intended support. There are a few glitches here and there depending on how old your hardware is. 2015 is new compared to some people still using their Mac Pros from 2009. With that said, it's an expensive piece of equipment and it's still useful and usable.

Things have come a long way in almost 10 years. You can find videos like

that show the Macbook Pro memory upgrade process from one of the US based shops. If you upgrade the OS, memory, and storage, the computer might have quite a lot of life left. It won't be as fast as a $3500 - $5000 M4 unit, but $300 in upgrades isn't $5000.

What are the downsides to this? I have a feeling that if it could be supported Apple would not pull the plug on releasing a newer OS for these machines. Something probably might go wrong.

 

[snipr125]

Good thing about the 2015 MBP is that it has a fast SSD so transferring files in and out is very fast, even though it has a very slow intel i5 broadwell compared to M chips. Still use mine as my main ‘Mac OS’ device although my IPP m4 is my everyday laptop now.

 

[bobnugget]

What are the downsides to this? I have a feeling that if it could be supported Apple would not pull the plug on releasing a newer OS for these machines. Something probably might go wrong.

From a security perspective, you are giving full access to your machine (above OS level) to a crew of hobbyist developers, who may unwittingly introduce security holes into your OS, or even worse, have a bad actor in the group who is trying to hack old macs. All of this is pretty unlikely (you aren't very likely to score big money from someone running an 11 year old laptop, there are better hacking targets out there).

From a usability perspective - OCLP sometimes breaks with Mac OS updates, particularly if you run the latest OS. Not all OS features work, although most of them do. You have to go through a process of re-installing patches after every OS update (which is now automated!). You can avoid most of this by running the previous OS version (i.e. Sonoma, or, even better, Ventura instead of Sequoia) as Apple doesn't change things in older OSs too often.

For my usage - this is fine. My main machine that I use for secure dev/banking is a modern M1 machine. My daughter uses a 2015 MacBook Pro 13" rescued from the junk pile at work, and my son uses my 2012 MacBook Pro 15". Both of these machines run Ventura nearly flawlessly, running the latest apple apps and versions of Office for homework.

From the current state of OCLP, it looks like they may not be too great on Sequoia (Photos doesn't currently work, which would be a showstopper), but they should still be down for two more years of Apple security updates even if the OCLP team don't work around this, which they probably will.

 

[chrono1081]

I like my 2015 MacBook Pro. I was referring to the seriously poor quality laptops that Apple were putting out for nearly half a decade. Apple MacBooks were so bad that people were starting to switch to Microsoft Windows.

With my 2015 MBP I never had a problem with the keyboard, I use all ports every week on my 2015 MBP - so there's no need to keep a box of ugly dongles with wherever I go, there's no gimmicky Touch Bar, it isn't overheating, the trackpad isn't oversized (causing annoying and time wasting issues with the cursor or accidental clicks), and it has a MagSafe power connector.

What's not to like?

Other than end of support for macOS - there aren't many issues with my 2015 MacBook Pro.

As someone who had many of those laptops as did my team at work I can assure you those "issues" were vastly blown out of proportion. Those laptops were fine. We never had a single failed butterfly keyboard on any of them at work and we had well over 150 machines over the years, yet if you went by these forums you'd think it was a 100% failure rate. The touch bar was useful as hell if you customized it or had software that utilized it. It was great in Xcode and Final Cut. I personally preferred the USB-C ports (and would prefer more USB-C ports over the SD card slot and HDMI slot in the current MacBook pros, USB-C is far more flexible.)

 

[MacBH928]

From a security perspective, you are giving full access to your machine (above OS level) to a crew of hobbyist developers, who may unwittingly introduce security holes into your OS, or even worse, have a bad actor in the group who is trying to hack old macs. All of this is pretty unlikely (you aren't very likely to score big money from someone running an 11 year old laptop, there are better hacking targets out there).

From a usability perspective - OCLP sometimes breaks with Mac OS updates, particularly if you run the latest OS. Not all OS features work, although most of them do. You have to go through a process of re-installing patches after every OS update (which is now automated!). You can avoid most of this by running the previous OS version (i.e. Sonoma, or, even better, Ventura instead of Sequoia) as Apple doesn't change things in older OSs too often.

For my usage - this is fine. My main machine that I use for secure dev/banking is a modern M1 machine. My daughter uses a 2015 MacBook Pro 13" rescued from the junk pile at work, and my son uses my 2012 MacBook Pro 15". Both of these machines run Ventura nearly flawlessly, running the latest apple apps and versions of Office for homework.

From the current state of OCLP, it looks like they may not be too great on Sequoia (Photos doesn't currently work, which would be a showstopper), but they should still be down for two more years of Apple security updates even if the OCLP team don't work around this, which they probably will.

How dangerous is it if I use it for my main machine where I have my password vault and do banking?
like do they have above OS level full access in the BOOT partition, or they can cross into MacOS too?

As someone who had many of those laptops as did my team at work I can assure you those "issues" were vastly blown out of proportion. Those laptops were fine. We never had a single failed butterfly keyboard on any of them at work and we had well over 150 machines over the years, yet if you went by these forums you'd think it was a 100% failure rate. The touch bar was useful as hell if you customized it or had software that utilized it. It was great in Xcode and Final Cut. I personally preferred the USB-C ports (and would prefer more USB-C ports over the SD card slot and HDMI slot in the current MacBook pros, USB-C is far more flexible.)

But it felt like typing on a table though right?
Now I am typing on macbook 2015 and I feel like if the key travel is less it would be more comfortable and faster to type, but I rather have a functioning keyboard than a malfunctioning one especially when it is not a personal DIY fix.

 

[profcutter]

As someone who had many of those laptops as did my team at work I can assure you those "issues" were vastly blown out of proportion. Those laptops were fine. We never had a single failed butterfly keyboard on any of them at work and we had well over 150 machines over the years, yet if you went by these forums you'd think it was a 100% failure rate. The touch bar was useful as hell if you customized it or had software that utilized it. It was great in Xcode and Final Cut. I personally preferred the USB-C ports (and would prefer more USB-C ports over the SD card slot and HDMI slot in the current MacBook pros, USB-C is far more flexible.)

I wouldn’t say it was blown out of proportion at all. I didn’t have 150, but my wife had one. Its keyboard was replaced twice and the display had to have the ribbon cable replaced. Not great for a machine she rarely took outside the house, never ate in front of, and had for 3 years. Her M1 air is running great, with none of these problems.

The problems with the keyboards were so serious that Apple not only issued 3 revisions, but abandoned the keyboard entirely, and had repair extensions for them. They don’t do that for small problems. I’m glad your 150 never had these problems, I’d suggest you play the lottery!

 

[bobnugget]

How dangerous is it if I use it for my main machine where I have my password vault and do banking?
like do they have above OS level full access in the BOOT partition, or they can cross into MacOS too?

They have full access to everything - OCLP loads before the OS and then tricks it into running on a machine it doesn’t support. It works very similarly to a “rootkit” - loading before the OS, and modifying what the OS sees, but you know it is there. It also modifies kernel extensions and adds drivers into the operating system so has wide reaching access and control.

However, I don’t think the team are doing anything nefarious and am happy to use this software - it’s just you are not getting the same protection you are just running Apple software. Running OCLP would be a no-no by most IT security certification and I wouldn’t use it in a business context. You would probably be fine using it personally too, but it’s more risk and some people wouldn’t take that risk.

 

[MacBH928]

They have full access to everything - OCLP loads before the OS and then tricks it into running on a machine it doesn’t support. It works very similarly to a “rootkit” - loading before the OS, and modifying what the OS sees, but you know it is there. It also modifies kernel extensions and adds drivers into the operating system so has wide reaching access and control.

However, I don’t think the team are doing anything nefarious and am happy to use this software - it’s just you are not getting the same protection you are just running Apple software. Running OCLP would be a no-no by most IT security certification and I wouldn’t use it in a business context. You would probably be fine using it personally too, but it’s more risk and some people wouldn’t take that risk.

sounds good for a side machine but not a main machine