I have a 2012 Macbook Pro running Sierra that has a weak battery that really needs replacing. I was hoping to keep this until the 1st or 2nd Gen ARM Macs come out as a replacement. Thing is that the battery replacement would cost me nearly $200 CDN after conversion and shipping. I'm wondering if it's even smart to invest any more money into this now, especially if resale value is going to be next to nothing next year. The other option was to get a 2020 Intel Macbook Air now, and sell the Pro. I'm also hesitant on that due to the Intel chip.
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Replace battery on 2012 MBP and wait, or get a 2020 Intel model?
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In my opinion, old devices that do not have the capability to function well deserves to be replaced. In your case, I suggest buying a new laptop computer. You may also consider the purpose when you are buying a new laptop. Like what you are doing with it and what you want to do with it.
I finally replaced the battery in my 2012 rmbp several months ago. I plan on getting the last intel 16” mbp that Apple makes (I need intel for my work software for the foreseeable future), so that update could be anywhere from now to two years from now, which means I need this 2012 mbp to last me at least until then. After I update, I may just keep the 2012 around for certain older software. But whether I keep it or sell it or give it away, nobody can use a mbp with a bad battery, so I figured best to replace it regardless. Because this machine is absurdly frozen in time. Other than the battery, it still runs like the day I got it. I think partially because I kept it on older macOSes. But now with the new battery, it really is like new.
The Newer Technology batteries are relatively inexpensive at US$87.75 for Retina or US$89.75 for the others. Any local professional could follow the videos they have to replace the battery, though the Retina version takes much more work.
I'm in Canada, so after the conversion, shipping, and taxes it comes out to just under $200 CDN.
This is a difficult calculation! I assume your MBP runs fine except for the battery. It should be upgradeable to Catalina that should get updates until 2022. So you could buy yourself two more years for $200 CDN. The resale value at the moment is...? A new MBA base model is...? Assuming you would use a new MBA for five years, you could calculate the yearly costs in comparison to a new machine at the end of 2022, with some unknown variables in it.
(I have a MBP early 2015 and decided this year to keep it for a while. Luckily, I could get a new battery from Apple as it is not vintage yet. And it will get updates for a longer time as it can run Big Sur.)
(I have a MBP early 2015 and decided this year to keep it for a while. Luckily, I could get a new battery from Apple as it is not vintage yet. And it will get updates for a longer time as it can run Big Sur.)
Is the 2012 MBP fine for your use cases to cover the next year or two? If so, would you purchase this MBP in its condition with a new battery for $200? Spreading $200 over one or two years is not bad at all, considering that a new MBA will cost you at least $1299 CAD before taxes. And how much would get in resale if you were to do so now?
The dual core in my 2015 13" MBP was bogging things down for my use cases, so I decided to get a 2020 MBP instead of waiting for ARM. I personally would have avoided the 1st gen anyways, so it didn't make sense for me to deal with my 2015 for another 1-2 years. It still sold pretty well, given the ports and durability of it.
The dual core in my 2015 13" MBP was bogging things down for my use cases, so I decided to get a 2020 MBP instead of waiting for ARM. I personally would have avoided the 1st gen anyways, so it didn't make sense for me to deal with my 2015 for another 1-2 years. It still sold pretty well, given the ports and durability of it.