Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Upgraded Macbook Pro 2012

pikachusykes

pikachusykes

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 10, 2015
14
1
Earth
Hello, i wanted to buy a macbook, but i wanted to buy like an older one to save money. right now, i can't make a decision between an upgraded Macbook pro 2012 with 8 gbs of ram and 13 inch macbook air 2014 base model. i'd be usually the laptop for basic stuff like watching youtube and doing school work and stuff. Which do you think i should get? which do you think is better? i can't really decide.
 
pikachusykes said:
i'd be usually the laptop for basic stuff like watching youtube and doing school work and stuff. Which do you think i should get? which do you think is better?
Click to expand...

The 2014 MBA will be lighter and have better battery life.

I'd go with the MBA.
 
pikachusykes said:
what about a late 2013 macbook pro with the retina display?
Click to expand...

This is you best choice flash storage, brilliant screen, great video card, fast CPU, good connectivity and ports, great battery life, to be honest it is much the same as a 2015 rMBP.
 
Samuelsan2001 said:
This is you best choice flash storage, brilliant screen, great video card, fast CPU, good connectivity and ports, great battery life, to be honest it is much the same as a 2015 rMBP.
Click to expand...
On July 1st, I bought a brand new mid 2012 MacBook Pro from Best Buy for $1099. With the money I saved, I upgraded the RAM to 16 GB, and swapped out the 500 GB HDD with a 960 GB SSD I bought in February for my old 2009 MBP. I am really happy with it. I could have bought the MBA, but chose the Pro because it is the last model that is fully upgradable. Since Apple still makes this model, I know that it will be supported for at least the next 5 years.
 
jfalberti said:
On July 1st, I bought a brand new mid 2012 MacBook Pro from Best Buy for $1099. With the money I saved, I upgraded the RAM to 16 GB, and swapped out the 500 GB HDD with a 960 GB SSD I bought in February for my old 2009 MBP. I am really happy with it. I could have bought the MBA, but chose the Pro because it is the last model that is fully upgradable. Since Apple still makes this model, I know that it will be supported for at least the next 5 years.
Click to expand...

Yeah and you miss out on PCIe SSD speeds, the retina screen and the far better portability due weight loss and thinning, your graphics card was poor in 2012 and is shocking by today's standards and you have no 4 k support.

This is I'm sure fine for what you want I don't doubt but there are downsides to the 2012 non retina MBP that need to be pointed out, not least is the price I wouldn't pay more than 700 dollars for one new and more like $400 for one second hand.
 
What are you looking to run?

Knowing its intended purpose, will help with the purchase decision.

Its hard to make a recommendation without knowing how it will be used.
 
Since you're looking at a retina MBP, and based on your OP, I think this comes down to battery life vs. retina screen.

The Macbook Pro will have a considerably nicer screen that's much easier on the eyes. IMO, very valuable to a student staring and writing papers at 2am.

The Macbook Air will give you much, much better battery life (ridiculously great) and will be a bit thinner and lighter in the process. Both have admirable build quality, and people genuinely love both models.

If it were me, I'd definitely go for the MBP. I can't imagine using the Air's screen in 2016. However, if battery life is more important, the Air is clearly the better choice for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back