MacBook Pro manufacturer date query and discount

[colinw123]

I purchased an m4 MacBook Pro today from the Apple Store and a strange thing happened, they gave me an education discount and a free set of EarPods, even though I said I am not in education, and don’t know anyone who is ?

When I first turned it on the battery was almost dead and the about screen says MacBook Pro, Nov 2024, and it had MacOS 15.2 on it.

Could they have stock as long as 9 months, if so I am very suprised, I thought it would say a 2025 date and have a newer os version.

Maybe they are doing this due to a new m5 coming out soon, so want to deplete their stock ?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Getting an older production release is not unusual. It has happened to me before.

Congrats on your new Mac.

 

[colinw123]

ok thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Apathist]

When I first turned it on the battery was almost dead and the about screen says MacBook Pro, Nov 2024, and it had MacOS 15.2 on it.

Could they have stock as long as 9 months, if so I am very suprised, I thought it would say a 2025 date and have a newer os version.

I don't have that machine, but I suspect the statement "Nov 2024" you're seeing on the About This Mac screen is actually a part of the model identification, not a date of manufacture.

 

[JPack]

I wouldn't be surprised. I doubt Apple Store reps are taught FIFO practice.

 

[MacCheetah3]

I don't have that machine, but I suspect the statement "Nov 2024" you're seeing on the About This Mac screen is actually a part of the model identification, not a date of manufacture.

I am wondering if that’s what the reference was to.

I don’t see any identified as “Nov 2024” only “Nov 2023” but it is possible.

Mac Manuals and Downloads - Apple Support

Manuals, technical specifications, downloads, and more for Apple software and hardware

support.apple.com

 

[MacCheetah3]

I wouldn't be surprised. I doubt Apple Store reps are taught FIFO practice.

It’s probably in the training materials. However, from experience, it’s one of the many practices that float by waiving, float by again, and still don’t get remembered. But that’s just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the typical high turnover retail staff.

By the way, I’m speaking from retail employee experience not at an Apple Store.

 

[Madonepro]

I am wondering if that’s what the reference was to.

I don’t see any identified as “Nov 2024” only “Nov 2023” but it is possible.

Mac Manuals and Downloads - Apple Support

Manuals, technical specifications, downloads, and more for Apple software and hardware

support.apple.com

The M4 was released in November 2024

 

[colinw123]

I don't have that machine, but I suspect the statement "Nov 2024" you're seeing on the About This Mac screen is actually a part of the model identification, not a date of manufacture.

ok thanks, that's posibble I guess.

 

[p33t3r]

ok thanks, that's posibble I guess.

It's not just possible, that's how About This Mac works. It shows the model identification. To get the manufacturing date for your specific machine you probably have to submit your serial number to Apple, as they are the only ones who know that information.

 

[MacCheetah3]

The M4 was released in November 2024

No matter how I stated the following, I felt like it could come off as snarky. I sincerely don’t mean it that way. I’m just explaining why I said what I did. Additionally, this may be a refresher/reminder for you. Hopefully, it also helps @colinw123

Here we go…

Apple has changed their identifiers several times over the decades. Many years ago, Apple would add “Early,” “Mid,” or “Late” if there was more than one of those (semi-specific) models released that same year. For example:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

Even if models were released at the same time, there would need to be a other segregation details. Beyond features such as display size, for example:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

When Apple Silicon launched, Apple used the processor (series) name as one of those details:

MacBook Air (M1, 2020) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

Sometimes, it is simply the release year:

Mac mini (2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

Mac mini (2024) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

Nonetheless, Apple has been quite good at showing these exactly as is in the “About” section(s):


One reason for the identifiers the way they are, excluding identifiers used for inventory and such (e.g., “Mac16,8”), is it relates to support services. For example:

Identify your MacBook Pro model - Apple Support

Use this information to find out which MacBook Pro you have, and where it fits in the history of MacBook Pro.

support.apple.com

Identify your MacBook Air model - Apple Support

Learn all the ways to identify your MacBook Air model.

support.apple.com

Identify your Mac mini model - Apple Support

Learn all the ways to identify your Mac mini model.

support.apple.com

Now we’ve arrived back, or at least near, to our current discussion.

It appears since 2023, Apple has ditched “Early,” “Mid,” and “Late” in favor of noting the month.

We have:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

Which seem like nice and simple identifying names. And coincidentally, they were released at the very beginning of the year, January. By the way, these are the M2 Pro and M2 Max equipped MBPs. Although, the first MBP M2, which was the base, launched in 2022. And that could have simply been “MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2022)” because the previous was the 13-inch M1 back in 2020.

Late in that year, Apple released the M3-equipped MacBook Pros, the base M3 (14-inch) being segregated:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (16-inch, Nov 2023) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

In 2024, that trend continued:

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4, 2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4, 2024) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4 Pro or M4 Max, 2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4 Pro or M4 Max, 2024) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2024) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

And even though, on the lower tiers, Apple again segregates by CPU tier as well, there is no need to add a month for 2024 as these were the only MacBook Pros released that year.

Little did I know, Apple appears to be tripped up by its own, somewhat convoluted, naming scheme. And, at least this instance, identifies it as "MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4 Pro or M4 Max, 2024)” in documentation but stuck with a simpler “MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2024)” in macOS, for example:

 

[colinw123]

Thank you for taking the time to explain all these naming conventions that Apple used over the years. So it looks like there is no way of knowing a specific manufacturer date per laptop other than Nov 2024 etc. next time I’m in an Apple Store I will look at their about screens, just out of interest.

 

[MacCheetah3]

So it looks like there is no way of knowing a specific manufacturer date per laptop other than Nov 2024 etc.

Not since Apple began randomizing serial numbers.

Apple Planning Switch to Randomized Serial Numbers for Future Products Starting in 'Early 2021'

Apple will soon be making a significant change to its serial number format for future products that will see some key information stripped out. In...

www.macrumors.com

However...

On a portable, such as a MacBook Pro, the battery (pack) microcontroller has its own embedded/programmed manufacturing date — among monitoring and storing other info, of course. This doesn’t tell you when the Mac was manufactured. Although, if the battery is the original, you can reasonably assume the Mac was within 60 days, more often within 30 days.

 

[colinw123]

oh yes I forgot about this battery app, I just checked and mine says 25-01-2025, so as a rough estimate the Mac is within 30 - 60 days of this.

Thanks for reminding me about this app.

 

[Teletypewriter]

My M4 MacBook Base Laptop also displays a November 2024 on the "About this MAC" screen, even though it was purchased from Apple as a refurb on 2/14/25 (Valentine's Day). The initial purchase was back in November 2024, but the final customer purchase was in 2025.

 

[JPack]

You can determine the assembly date by looking at the "last charged" date. But it only works if you have not yet charged the notebook.

For instance, I bought an MBA in early August and the device was assembled in mid-April as evidenced below.

I too purchased a MacBook using the education discount. But instead of keeping the accessory, my accessory order was cancelled and I received a $179 refund. The total was US$729.

 

[colinw123]

You can determine the assembly date by looking at the "last charged" date. But it only works if you have not yet charged the notebook.

For instance, I bought an MBA in early August and the device was assembled in mid-April as evidenced below.

I too purchased a MacBook using the education discount. But instead of keeping the accessory, my accessory order was cancelled and I received a $179 refund. The total was US$729.

View attachment 2541152

Ok cool thanks for the tip, I did not make a note of what mine said, plus as the battery was nearly dead out of the box, 14%, I had to plug it in straight away.
Also it had 15.2 installed so looks like it was built maybe Feb 2025, only a guess.

 

[curnalpanic]

the battery was nearly dead out of the box, 14%

Should last for hours with Apple silicon!

 

[okkibs]

That's very typical if you buy it in the Apple Store. Those get shipments every couple months and yours seems to have been on the store shelf for about half a year. If you want an even newer one you gotta buy a custom config on the online Apple Store. You'll know it's a custom one that will be built for you if it the delivery date switches from in stock to a delivery date 1-3 weeks in the future. You can still pick it up in the store as well. Either way I wouldn't have bought it from an Apple Store anyways because various retailers run discounts and Apple does not.

 

[colinw123]

That's very typical if you buy it in the Apple Store. Those get shipments every couple months and yours seems to have been on the store shelf for about half a year. If you want an even newer one you gotta buy a custom config on the online Apple Store. You'll know it's a custom one that will be built for you if it the delivery date switches from in stock to a delivery date 1-3 weeks in the future. You can still pick it up in the store as well. Either way I wouldn't have bought it from an Apple Store anyways because various retailers run discounts and Apple does not.

ok thanks, well I did get a discount from the Apple Store even though I did not ask for it, I got £200 off and a free set of AirPods 4 with noise cancelling via an education discount, I mentioned it in my first post.

I am now wondering if I could return the AirPods for even more money off the cost of the laptop

 

[Madonepro]

I am now wondering if I could return the AirPods for even more money off the cost of the laptop

Unlikely, as you'd have to show an invoice or something similar to verify the purchase, and whilst they would take the item from you, then refund would be what they charged you on the invoice $0.

 

[colinw123]

yeh your probably right, although it is listed on the receipt as usual, but does say special offer as well.