Still Using My 2015 MacBook Pro – Worth Keeping in 2025?

[Scepticalscribe]

Hi everyone,


I’m in the UK and still rocking my MacBook Pro 13” from early 2015. I wanted to share my setup and get some opinions on holding onto these older machines in 2025.


Specs:

• Upgraded to 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD installed
• Screen replaced with one from an identical model — looks pristine
• Brand new battery installed (0 cycles)
• Running macOS Sequoia, which feels surprisingly smooth

Cosmetic-wise, it has some light wear around the edges but no major dents or scratches. The screen is great, and the machine runs very reliably.

Would love to hear from others still using older MacBook Pros! Do you think these machines are still worth it for everyday tasks? Or is it time to upgrade?


Thanks!

As @Happy_John has already argued in a thoughtful post, this is a matter of differentiating between "want" and "need", and of determining and deciding upon your computing wants (and needs), rather then following fashion, marketing, and novelty.

If you need a new computer, that is one thing, and then, irrespective of design or other changes, I would suggest that you buy a new - or refurbished - computer.

However, if you simply want a computer, ask yourself why you think you want it, and, if the answer suffices, go ahead and source and buy one.

 

[leifp]

If you can keep using it without issue and you do not have sensitive information on it, go for it! The longest I keep Apple tech is until the OS offers only security updates, then I start the search for a new model.

 

[Elternbaum]

Wife uses one that is a 2015. Had a new battery fitted, works fine, just seems a bit slow!!

 

[Happy_John]

Wife uses one that is a 2015. Had a new battery fitted, works fine, just seems a bit slow!!

What version of macOS is it running? (Are you using OCLP to put more up-to-date OS version on it?)

I had a 15" MBP 2015, I found that going above Monterey (12.x.x) did make the machine feel more sluggish. Monterey was the sweetspot of "newness" and "nippiness".

 

[Elternbaum]

What version of macOS is it running? (Are you using OCLP to put more up-to-date OS version on it?)

I had a 15" MBP 2015, I found that going above Monterey (12.x.x) did make the machine feel more sluggish. Monterey was the sweetspot of "newness" and "nippiness".

I think it runs on Catalina from memory, don't shoot me if i'm wrong

 

[Happy_John]

I think it runs on Catalina from memory, don't shoot me if i'm wrong

Sounds right. Catalina's old but solid.

 

[Elternbaum]

Sounds right. Catalina's old but solid.

It works fine and she loves it, so will keep it till it packs up!

 

[Happy_John]

It works fine and she loves it, so will keep it till it packs up!

Yep, don't mess with your wife's devices unless it's absolutely necessary, even with good intentions.

I've had to learn that lesson. What I'll think as "making it better" she'll see as "making it different and weird".

 

[colonelbutt]

Hi everyone,


I’m in the UK and still rocking my MacBook Pro 13” from early 2015. I wanted to share my setup and get some opinions on holding onto these older machines in 2025.


Specs:

• Upgraded to 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD installed
• Screen replaced with one from an identical model — looks pristine
• Brand new battery installed (0 cycles)
• Running macOS Sequoia, which feels surprisingly smooth

Cosmetic-wise, it has some light wear around the edges but no major dents or scratches. The screen is great, and the machine runs very reliably.

Would love to hear from others still using older MacBook Pros! Do you think these machines are still worth it for everyday tasks? Or is it time to upgrade?


Thanks!

the key question is, does it do what it needs to do for you ? if so dont change.
there is shiny shiny thing though

 

[ignatius345]

Do you think these machines are still worth it for everyday tasks? Or is it time to upgrade?

Honestly I think you are the only one who can answer that question for yourself, as it depends entirely on your expectations and the nature of your usage. I think it's "time to upgrade" when the machine can't do what you need or want it to do. There are people on here happily using machines 20 or more years old, and there are people who are finding that comparatively recent machines don't meet their needs or expectations.

All things being equal, I think keeping any piece of hardware in service if it works for you is a good thing, as it takes less of a toll on the environment and on one's own wallet.

 

[Happy_John]

I think it's "time to upgrade" when the machine can't do what you need or want it to do.

This. Everything else is just marketing.

 

[chrono1081]

If it's within your means to upgrade I would personally upgrade, the difference is insane.

I had a top of the line 16 inch intel MacBook Pro, 64 gigs ram, max processor and graphics options, a roughly $5000 machine... and my M2 Air blew that machine out of the water.

 

[Christopher Kim]

Yep, don't mess with your wife's devices unless it's absolutely necessary, even with good intentions.

I've had to learn that lesson. What I'll think as "making it better" she'll see as "making it different and weird".

Lol - there's now 2 distinct questions here. Should you upgrade if it's yourself, like OP, and should you upgrade if it's for your wife

As a fellow Apple enthusiast, whose wife also has a 2015 15" MBP... I also got a battery replacement for her maybe 4 years ago.

I've offered numerous times that if she's good, we should upgrade her to a base model 15" MBA. She likes the bigger screen, but absolutely doesn't need the power of the "Pro"... Didn't really back then (primarily bought the 15" MBP because she wanted the bigger screen, and this was the only option pre-15" MBA release), and definitely doesn't now (in the era of M-series chips that are so good already for most users).

She's said no, that she's good lol. @Happy_John is a wise man (lol) and absolutely right. Sometimes, it's not worth it, and is often viewed "net negative" by the wife!

 

[rx7dude]

2015 15" MBP
Original Owner. I just brought it back into service after sitting on the shelf for a couple of years. I still have Mojave on it for some old games. Also still using Bootcamp to run Inventor.

It's been a great machine, I've traveled across America and Europe with it.

Upgraded the NVME a while ago to 2TB.
Now a days, for heavy lifting, I have a 7,1 MP.

One of these days I'll get a new MBP. Love that modern screen but can't justify spending $5K to get 2TB.

 

[Macdctr]

I have had my 2015 13inch MBP for awhile now and use it occasionally. I have Open Core Legacy Patcher 2.4.1 (current version) installed and Sequoia OS 15.7 running on this laptop without any apparent issue. It is no where as fast as my M3 Pro MBP 14inch but still a very solidly built laptop and reliable.

The speakers are poor quality compared to the speakers on my 2017 MacBook or my 2023 MBP14 but I can always connect a bluetooth speaker if I want better sound quality. For most things this 13inch does a very well job even in 2025.

You can see the computers I am using in my signature below.

 

[goldberg]

I'm in the UK writing this on my mid-2010 MacBook Pro purchased new and still going strong.

It gets used for several hours every day, and still does most of what I need. It's had extra memory and an SSD added which has helped extend its life. It's running High Sierra with the added advantage of APFS. TimeMachine backups are done using FireWire - remember that ?

My only gripe: when the batteries expand as they get old, this makes the trackpad difficult to use.

I've considered installing OCLP to move it to a later OS, but my perpetual licences for CAD and music notation would probably not survive the upgrade.

Because of the licence issue, I'll likely carry on using this machine until either it (or I) develop a terminal condition !