Suggestions on easily upgradable used MacBook

[FormerBigDaddy]

So I'm currently running a 13" Early 2011 MacBook Pro. A couple of years ago I upgraded the ram and hard drive and it runs great. However it's pretty bulky compared to todays models and sometimes the display cuts in and out. Also haven't had much success finding good replacement batteries.

Anyways, I'm thinking of looking for a replacement and interested in getting something used but easily upgradable to compete with speed and performance of a new model. I know that some of the new MacBooks are not very user friendly in terms of working on them or aren't very upgradable at all.

I figured this would be a fun question to answer for someone. Obviously I'd like lighter and thinner, better display, etc. I'm NOT a fan of some of the newer keyboards that don't give much feedback when you tap them. So the question is... what year, model, etc would you get that can be beefed up easily that's MUCH friendlier on the pocket than getting something new or recent/referb? Doesn't necessary have to be a Pro either.

 

[maflynn]

Given that 2012 rMBP is a virtually sealed laptop, your options are basically nil. That is you'll be replacing your 9 year old MBP with an 8 year old (2012 cMBP).

My advice, either accept the fact that if you want a thin and light (and faster) Mac, you will have to get one that is not upgradeable, OR change over to a windows laptop that offers you the level of upgradability that you desire.

 

[fs454]

Doesn't exist. I would drop the requirement for an upgradeable machine if you want something newer than 2012 and a better display than what you've got now - fully upgradeable Mac laptops haven't been offered basically since yours was made.. All the non-upgradeable models are SSD only from the factory, so you won't be needing to upgrade a hard drive, and MacBooks of all kinds have been configurable with 16GB of RAM for 8+ years now so just find one that's well specced in terms of SSD storage and RAM during the buying process.

I would take a look at a 2015 15" retina MBP with 500+GB SSD and 16GB of RAM if you are avoiding the butterfly keyboards. It's about the same weight as your 2011 13" and sports a much bigger, much better Retina display. If you can stomach a butterfly keyboard, the non-touchbar 13" MacBook Pros from 2017 have an upgradeable (but proprietary size) SSD, but I still don't think this is a criteria I'd buy a MacBook for.

 

[robvas]

The only thing you can upgrade on the 2013-15 models is the SSD