MacBook Pro’s without pervasive failure issues?

[iOrbit]

I’m looking to buy an older unibody designed MacBook Pro, but I want to avoid getting a MacBook pro that is known to develop hardware failures. I haven’t followed MacBook products closely, but off the top of my head I am aware of these:

2010 - 2011 - 2012 dGPU failures, a prominent issue in the 2011 models particularly, less in the 2012 models? did the later models after these still experience GPU failures from regular use?

2012 MacBook Pro’s need their HDD cables replaced eventually.

2012 - retina ghosting / burn-in issues - did this problem persist in 2013-2015 models? I’m aware of the reflective coating on the display wearing away but I consider this a cosmetic issue with an easy fix available.

I’ve learned that flex gate Is the new design flaw in the most recent era of MacBooks. I’m looking for an older MacBook model that I can afford on eBay so I’m not looking at 2016+ models.

I also heard of battery issues in the 2015 MacBook pro models? Is this fairly wide spread?


the impression I’m getting is a non discrete 15inch MacBook Pro from 2013-2014 might be best? I used to hear the 2012 models were better with the dGPU issues but I’m not sure if replacement HDD cables solve the problem permanently or not.

 

[sb in ak]

What's your budget? Honestly I think batteries are a crapshoot on any of those older models. My late 2013 15" MBP had the swollen battery issue that I had repaired at the very end of my Applecare subscription. And while I love the machine, it crashes randomly, either possibly due to overheating or the discrete Nvidia GPU. Otherwise, I have been impressed just how good of a computer it is after 8 years. And then there is the issue of general declining battery health for anything of that age. Generally, it seems like the consensus is that the 2015 MBPs were sort of the high water mark of the 2012-15 rMBP era.

If it's at all within your budget, I'd look for a refurb M1 Air from the Mac store. You get a warranty, new battery, the newer SOC tech, and something that is going to be supported (and probably last) much longer. The M1 Airs seem to have a good reputation.