Is the 2012 Unibody MacBook Pro still the King in 2020?

[@SebasCoghi]

I have had this computer since 2012 and it has just gotten better over time, during the last 3 years I've upgraded to 16 GB of memory, 2 TB of solid state drive, new battery and keyboard. Couldn't be any happier with this computer, it has given me everything and more.

[@sneedsneed460]

"What the heck is that old beast" is the exact reaction I get everywhere with my 2012 Thinkpad W530. When I owned a mid-2012 people barely had any idea it wasnt brand new. This design really is timeless

[@madhavagrawal8303]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWatg2CujryMnKs

[@ChengTeoh]

Yay, you are doing a review of the Macbook pro that I've been using since I bought it in 2014! The upgradeability of this particular Macbook is the only reason I've kept using this machine instead of buying a new macbook.

[@Hunter_RQ]

Same here got it back in 2014 for $1400. Still running amazing and just changed the thermal paste. Got a higher benchmark score than when I bought it.

[@garv_renjhen]

Same lol my dad also bought it in 2014 but gave it to me an year ago or so and I think it is still a great deal

[@YungFidel2x]

I use the mid 2010 all white unibody MacBook and it works like a champ!

[@jeramybearamy8539]

@@YungFidel2x I've got the late 2010. Added two SSD's and upgraded RAM to 8GB (which i'm told it maxes out at) I've lugged it around in a backpack for years and it's finally showing it with a single line down the screen, so I can replace the screen, live with it as is, or buy a 2012 and get the better bus speed (SATA 3 vs SATA 2, I believe)

[@snushiess]

@@Hunter_RQ i have a 2012 macbook pro 4gb ram, but it doesn't work, do you think it's worth refurbishing? / is it possible to upgrade the ram for it?

[@theleemanshow]

look at those lovely ports. I'm still using the mid 2012 :) as of writing to this comment, I replaced it with SSD and it was blazing fast :)

[@gumiteam3625]

same. just bought a san disc 512gb ssd .16gb 1600mhz ram + the i7 35someting at 2.9ghz and 13 inc display with big sur on it. love it

[@dejw1982]

Same, but I build in the second ssd instead of cd drive. works great.

[@DS-rq7bs]

Just bought late 2011

[@DS-rq7bs]

@@dejw1982 hey could you please tell me how to do that or if I am not professional in doing this ! So should I do that ?

[@dejw1982]

@@DS-rq7bs You need to buy a special socket. And unscrew a few pieces. If you never open your mac its better to give this to computer service or some nerds ;)

[@DanFallon1981]

This was the MBP that switched me from windows. and man in 2012, and fully specced out this was not only a thing of beauty, but an absolute beast! My first one died due to a glass of wine being spilled on it, so I bought another. It lasted for years as well! When my partner needed a new laptop she got this one-- it's still going strong. I now am using a late 2019 15" for work, but it just doesn't have the same "heart" as this old one did. plus, DVD drive! Firewire was useful for my old audio interface, but the I/Os on this model was why I was so in love with it. Wish they'd bring it back!

[@catholiccowboy]

Still rockin my early 2011, hasn’t failed yet.

[@LazarusMcPush]

catholiccowboy what OS are you running it on?

[@kajetanrabiega6030]

catholiccowboy dude, don't want to worry you, but sell it, while you still can 😂 I didn't know about the whole #radeongate thing, while I bought mine 2011 MBP 15" two years ago. I didn't really read any reviews prior to my unfortunate purchase. It is my first Apple computer. Having heard so much good stuff about Macs and what reliable machines they are I just assumed that they are immune to failure or something. As Luke was saing in the video these models are bound to fail sooner or later. So finally the day has come for my machine: the infamous Radeon GPU failed on me - I was so pissed off it almost turned me off buying any Mac ever again... Until I fixed it. I managed to bypass the discreet graphics and use the integrated card permanently. Worked fine except for decrease in graphics department, obviously. But yesterday it failed again and it won't cooperate this time. I tried everything... I'm yet to find a working fix. So now I'm stuck at home because of pandemic without a working computer. Should've sold it right after I fixed it... But if there's one thing I know it's that if I manage to repair it I'm selling it immediately and buying a Retina, preferably 2015, cause they are said to be the most reliable ones. I won't ever make the same mistake: buying expensive equipment without doing extensive research on the reliability. So to sum up, I warn you: sell yours before it breaks down. And it will eventually. Buy yourself a more reliable model, if you can't afford newer ones, even the 2010 will do - they at least won't turn into a brick overnight. Cheers 😉

[@catholiccowboy]

@@LazarusMcPush Sierra. og battery, 500 ssd, and 16gb ram. Its fast as ever

[@catholiccowboy]

@@kajetanrabiega6030 I got it mine in 2011 so if it dies i still got my monies worth. Plus I wouldn't want to screw someone over in these hard times

[@kajetanrabiega6030]

@@catholiccowboy Fair play

[@stevehuber6499]

I have the 13 inch version of this. Bought it as a base model. I upgraded the ram from 4 to 8 gb and swapped out the HDD out for a SSD. Still runs beautifully.

[@ikkentim]

Bought my first MacBook back in 2012 (this one) upgraded ram and ssd a few years later and I am still happily using it till this date. Battery is still working quite well, have seen people buy 2 or 3 new laptops in the meantime because they got slow or broke. I’m really amazed at how well this MacBook aged. Very sad to see upgradability disappear since.

[@Jordan-hz1wr]

And the battery is only a hundred or so dollars to have it sent to Apple and have it replaced for another 1000 charging cycles. Sounds like incredible value to me.

[@kentbyron7608]

I bought a used Macbook Pro 13" 2012 with a cracked plastic screen, bought the parts to fix it on Amazon including a toolkit, plastic screen replacement and heat gun for $60 total. I watched KZbin videos to learn how to repair the screen. It took 2 hours but I was very very careful. Success and I had never done it before! Then I dropped a Crucial MX500 1TB SSD into it , and put 16 GB of RAM in it and it works amazingly well and it's 2020. It's running Mojave like a champ. It cold boots in about 40 seconds. Thanks for this video, Luke! You're an A+++ communicator.

[@steve_the_designer]

To this day I’m still rockin my mid 2012 2.7 i7 MBP Retina (a little thinner) for design work. I run heavy Illustrator, Photoshop, Cinema 4D and Keyshot - even Catalina - no issues. It set me back $4K at the Apple store 8 years ago, but the processor is still relevant today, and haven’t come close to maxing the 750Gb SSD. Paid for itself many times over.

[@IcebergGamingTop10s]

“What the heck is that old beast?” - I get that look, whatever laptop I’m using.

[@UnderEu]

@Dr ROLFCOPTER! I was about to say that 😛

[@WarriorsPhoto]

LOL, no matter what kind of Laptop? Even an Apple laptop?

[@KelzCasa]

The look I get when I need windows at work on the old T440P

[@mathewchen6471]

You tell them that it’s the last real MacBook and not the junk that is made today.

[@IcebergGamingTop10s]

@@mathewchen6471 Somehow I don't think they're referring to the computer :(

[@medievaljon]

just upgraded my 15" mid-2012. With the upgrade its now awesome again.

[@kjuarez29]

Still have mine. Upgraded to the ram to 16GB and threw in a 1TB SSD, took out the Super Drive and threw in a 750GB SSD. To this day the thing is still a beast!

[@JOSELOUIS]

Will it support 2TB SSD on 1 TB sata each?

[@Drw4878]

@@JOSELOUIS yeah definitely

[@pianofitz]

In my case, my mid-2012 15" unibody is rocking 16G RAM, a 1T SSD... AND a Matshita UJ267AM Blu-Ray reader/burner! (I deal with music CDs and disc burning often, so I LIKE having an internal optical.) The original DVD drive was failing, and the replacement part was hard to get, but when researching options, I learned that the UJ267 Blu-ray is exactly the same physical size as the original DVD drive! It doesn't, however, have the right mounting lugs, so you have to swap the top cover of the old drive onto the new one. It's a bit of a hack, but it works. And I got the NEW Blu-ray internal drive for LESS than a refurb replacement DVD was going for. So this computer is, yes, better than new! But you forgot one thing: "Upgradability" is a synonym for "REPAIRABILITY." On this same laptop, I have also replaced the battery, the trackpad, the keyboard, AND the wi-fi antenna. I don't look at that as having thrown a lot of money into a pit, rather, if I was having an issue with just ONE component, I could buy a $30 part, turn a few screws, and be back in business with a like-new computer, rather than being forced to replace the entire machine. As much as I lust after a newer 8-core i9 machine with the fabulous display and the touchbar, I dread being unable to REPAIR it. When the battery inevitably starts to lose capacity, the entire computer might as well be failing.

[@Some-guy-on-the-internet]

Well said! This is exactly why I love working on and using older devices. They're so easy to do maintenance on and that gives you a sense of security because you know that if anything does go wrong, all you have to do is unscrew a panel and replace the part that isn't working. I never have to worry about my older devices becoming an expensive paperweight because a cheap repair will always ensure my money didn't go to waste. The lengths you have to go to and the money you have to spend to repair a modern phone or laptop is way too much by comparison. They're designed in such a way that if you're not careful enough, you could end up with more broken parts than you started with. Adhesive everywhere. Thin ribbon cables that are far too short. Nonstandard screws requiring specific and expensive screw bits to be purchased by the user. It's all so wasteful and helps no one. I really hate how much the industry has regressed despite how much progress it has made in other ways.

[@ratshark1]

Been using mine since 2012, still smooth for the most part. Had to repair a few bits over the years, but all DIY, can't say I'll be able to do the same for the new one that's coming... awesome machine, will keep it around as a backup.

[@Bigricky06]

Yes it is still the king. Just upgraded mine with 16gb ram and 2TB Samsung evo 860. I use mine for music production with logic pro x and a lot of iMovie projects.

[@amancalledhawk5575]

Thanks I'm bout get one because I want logic

[@ftcompilations1174]

How did you upgrade it with 16gb ram?

[@cjgreenlight]

@@ftcompilations1174 bought 8 ram twice.

[@ChrisLay2112]

I'm thinking of buying one from my buddy next week for just recording music and film

[@asew4897]

Thinking about doing this finally

[@adainherrera7632]

ive had mine since it came out. got me through nursing school. last oct I upgraded to Catalina computer took a nose dive. during this quarantine I decided to update the ssd to the Samsung 1tb. and WOW. this thing is a beast. 2minute start up now 16sec. KZbin fast. its a must do.

[@GallicGarlic]

Give us back CHOICE: - Ports: SD, USB 3, USB-C - Screens: Matte vs. Brilliant ...

[@agenericaccount3935]

Ordered mine with matte. Best decision ever. Ever ever. Still have it kicking around somewhere. Carried me through school and a million other hurdles.

[@curtismills]

My choice is to have a thin macbook rather than a (useless for me) SD card slot and USB 3

[@GallicGarlic]

Ask photographers and video makers if they like it without SD slot What an AUTISTIC decision by Apple! Stupidity at its finest

[@curtismills]

GallicGarlic photographers and video makers are a minority they don’t give a shit about minority

[@hallobre]

curtis mills photographers and video makers are the majority. Normal folk is the minority

[@kamicokrolock]

I JUST upgraded my 13'' tonight and the performance is amazing, far better than I expected. I haven't upgraded my OS past Sierra because of software I need that just isn't supported beyond High Sierra so I'm not concerned too much with OS upgradeability. Still, with the hardware upgrade it's almost like a brand new machine.

[@FrederickAgustin]

I bought a used one, just this year. Still runs great, editing videos, photoshop... I upgraded to 16GB and SSD, removed the DVD port to fit another HD. Works awesome!

[@damnitohwell9563]

2012 13" here. It is still the king, for sure! I can literally have the best Mac and Windows laptop, all in one. Greay videos m8!

[@mellowtrinidad]

I have one of these in my classroom. It's like having a ten-year-old Lexus - drives like new.

[@bmwloco]

Happy with my 13" Macbook Pro Mid-2012 non-retina. It does all I want, and is solid as a rock.

[@bmwloco]

@Shank Adams I can fix it myself, it's solid as a rock and upgrades in the future (storage, memory) are possible. It will be useful for decades to come. Right along with my original Macintosh sitting in the basement.

[@dusscode]

Dean Klein "decades"

[@12345starbucks]

Thats nice to hear. The 13" MBP 2012 was my first apple laptop. But, my hard drive kept crashing and I had to repair it twice in 1 year. In my opinion the 13" 2015 MBP is the best. 5 years and going strong.

[@MrYughurta]

@@12345starbucks give him an ssd

[@el-bov8034]

Mine will be going in for a service this week (Battery-replacement, thermal-paste replacement). But other than than, I've been having a near flawless experience, using it for music production. Bougght the 2.33 model second-hand in 2014I. I' ve upgraded the ram to 16g, whacked in a 2tb main SSD, and replaced the dvd drive with a 1tb SSD. Total workhorse.

[@biohazard1951]

I've got an upgraded one and I love it. It's a beast, never failed or needed any repair. I've got also a Macbook Air 2020 Intel i3, but when it comes w/ reliability, I'd prefer my Macbook Pro Mid 2012, no doubt.

[@allanwighton6236]

It is still my king. Macbook Pro 13" mid 2012 and it works wonderfully. Parralled with Windows 10 for light Steam gaming and car ECU diagnostics. Two 1TB SSDs; one is for off-loading drone footage (replaced the Super Drive, which is used occasionally but now enclosed externally. Also upgraded to 16GB of RAM. It takes no time for booting and navigating at all. Still love the quality build, which is aesthetically pleasing. The battery is still really good. The device started off with 4GB or RAM and a 500GB HDD. Thank you for your video.

[@leahevehumphries]

Watching on my 13 inch 2012 MacBook Pro upgraded to 16GB RAM & 500GB SSD 🥰 it's such a good laptop, fastest I've ever had, works perfectly on macOS and windows. I'm not upgrading this thing until it literally snaps in half. 😆

[@arsalankhuwaja9865]

;)

[@1995sanchezbaybee]

Where did you buy your upgrades?

[@atimaxavitna8565]

Mine has almost snapped in half (half of the screen hinge cracked and broke off and the screen is half separated from the keyboard part) and I'm STILL using it, and not giving it up until it literally STOPS WORKING! Even then, I will be looking for ANOTHER mid-2012 unibody MacBook Pro, hopefully upgrading from the i5 I currently have to an i7 in the mid-2012 unibody hard-drive & RAM upgradeable version!

[@abbyyoung9342]

Atima Xavitna I just pulled out my 2012 MacBook Pro. What would you suggest I do to get it running again? What soft ware could I upgrade to and how?

[@TheSteinbitt]

Neither is Apple;)

[@effext1]

I’m still using mine. I upgraded it to 16 Gb of ram and added two 512 Gb SSDs over the years. It sits closed on the shelf connected to a thunderbolt dock. My monitor and all my music production gear run through the dock and it works flawlessly. Since I don’t have the need for a powerful graphics card I’m sure I’ll still be using this one for awhile. That is unless Apple decides to make a computer that caters to the prosumer level that’s modular and user upgradable. I won’t hold my breath though.

[@bsenka]

My 2012 15" MBP pays my bills. Nothing Apple makes now is capable of replacing it as a truly 'pro' portable. I've been able to just keep upgrading it as I went along -- currently with a quad i7, 16GB RAM, 2TB 6G SSD, a higher watt-hour aftermarket battery, and quieter more efficient fans. Magsafe, dual video processors, so much connectivity without a dongle or dock, etc... I plug it in to my Thunderbolt Display, and it's gold. Also: I have not tried it, but there are several videos on KZbin of people who have successfully put two SSDs in this model and made RAID-0 work.

[@HenryHearse]

Can you post a link to where you got your higher watt battery? I can’t seem to find any good replacement batteries that last longer than a few months.

[@bsenka]

@@HenryHearse I bought the 85w one from OWC (the original was 77w). Gives me a pretty consistent 6hrs per charge. Longevity I can't attest to, I've only had it a little less than a year, so far so good though.

[@evansboateng2563]

This the only Macbook I see DJ's use.

[@FaderFlosser]

Thats what I use!

[@kikimusicofficial8601]

I’m ganna try it

[@kingjahjah3425]

@@kikimusicofficial8601 I am trying to get it

[@Megadeth6633]

Doesn't matter because DJs don't do anything, they just act like they turn knobs when they don't.

[@arthurgabriel1719]

In Brazil same 😆😆

[@michaelklein6244]

I'm still using it and while I'd love to upgrade to an iMac, this thing is so reliable, so thumbs up

[@imagesinla8575]

This would be a huge upgrade for me, seeing as how I'm still using the same MacBook Pro I bought in late 2007, and still using it for video editing and photo editing.

[@Enthusiast429]

THIS IS AWESOME. omggeee

[@kayliciousrice8371]

What editing apps you using

[@imagesinla8575]

@@kayliciousrice8371 I'm using the iMovie software that came with the laptop.

[@kayliciousrice8371]

@Images In LA so it came wit your computer

[@imagesinla8575]

@@kayliciousrice8371 yes the editing software came with my computer. Why, what are you trying to do?

[@Peter-rq4xn]

Watching this on my 2012 MBP 15" Retina. It's a beast and as fast as the day I bought it, no exaggeration.

[@vishnuinferno2441]

Can we ply gta 5 in it dude?

[@Turborider]

Got a mid 2012 mbp with the core i5 running MacOS BigSur. I upgraded it to 16GB RAM, added a 256GB SSD and replaced the thermal compound. Runs perfectly fine and almost never goes above 85°C

[@AGoodVibe]

Bought my 13” mid-2012 MBP new in 2013. Chose it because of the upgradeable RAM/HD and the optical drive. Almost ten years later, I’m still using it every day. Maxed out the RAM and added an SSD. Performance in data heavy apps is poor, but it is still hanging on. What a workhorse.

[@SebisRandomTech]

“It’s a little bit thick, a little bit heavy” *ThinkPad W700ds laughs in the background*

[@SebisRandomTech]

@Joshua Knighten Typing this from one of mine now! With an IPS upgrade and a CPU swap they can cream any MacBook from the same era.

[@sneedsneed460]

I watched your video, tell your friend I have some fresh kidneys and whatever organs they need in exchange for that W700ds

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@sneedsneed460 XD Hahah! I will relay the message to him!

[@coccoborg]

LOL, T400 and T440p laughing on my desk

[@madhavagrawal8303]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWatg2CujryMnKs

[@macktheripper7454]

I really enjoy these “value” centric videos. Would love to see a “best value iPhone” or “iPad” video.

[@markviens1174]

Watching this on my Late 2011 with bypassed GPU, matte hi-res screen, and SSD. Rocks as a surfer.

[@sssloe]

Bought two of these for $100, both had GPU issues that I worked around with a gmux flash and haven't had issues since! Terrific value for money.

[@sssloe]

@James Phillippe Essentially, there is a chip (gmux chip) onboard that controls switching between dedicated GPU and integrated Intel GPU. Flashing the said chip with custom firmware permanently disables the dedicated AMD GPU. Requires a bit of microsoldering or pogo-pins but is essentially a JTAG flash. Pros: - GPU receives no power so less heat to dissipate for the cooling - permanent GPU solution that will keep the machine running for years Cons: - MiniDP port for video out to a monitor will never work again because it's integrated through the dedicated AMD GPU - brightness controls are broken post procedure and require a 3rd party software fix to get re-enabled again Google: "dosdude DeMux flash" and that's your reading material on the subject

[@sssloe]

@James Phillippe If your device is working properly than wait for it to die, statistically speaking it most likely will - there was a 85% failure rate. You don't have to touch it now if it's still working as it should.

[@madhavagrawal8303]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWatg2CujryMnKs

[@WekaDigitalMediaNZ]

10 years later still rocking my 15" MBP pumping out vids and I have only recently added 16 ram and put in a 1gb SSD and I can't believe the difference! I should have done it years ago lol. An absolute workhorse .. unlike my 2009 27" iMac

[@ian8-670]

Watching on a 2010 MBP which until recently has ran like a champ for the last 10 years. I swear just in the last few months video playback has been lagging like crazy and overall performance has dropped. Not sure what is up but nice knowing I can always go crazy and spoil myself with a 2012 model!

[@broncobackwood7873]

I've owned my 15" mid 2012 unibody new since 2013 and it flawlessly does everything I need. I added 16 gb of Ram and a 2 TB Samsung 860 SSD.

[@_IMNNO]

In early 2015 I purchased a 2011 MBP 13 dual core, put a 512gb SSD, and 16gb of ram. Lasted me throughout 4 years of school with moderate workloads. Stopped using it late 2018 but it is one of the best purchases I have made. Still works well for light tasks, and use it for occasional server management.

[@jose2292]

I have had this mid 2012 MacBook Pro since new (probably spring of 2013). I initially upgraded the RAM to 8 gb... then later discovered I had some laying around that would take it up to 16. I have changed drives a couple times... first to a 1TB spinning drive, and later to a 1TB SSD. I use it everyday and twice on Sunday, so to speak. Battery still holds a decent charge... I may replace it soon. Currently running Mojave, only because I have an old version of MS office I want to keep using. This thing is a champ. Other than the 12 inch Aluminum Powerbook I had prior to the intel switch, I am not sure I have ever had such strong feelings about the quality and durability of a computer. Earlier this spring, in a meeting with a bunch of people relegated to using Windows machines, a director of a department looked over and asked how I had this machine (because I sort of run my own technology acquisition). I tried to downplay that it was really quite old... but the truth is, I wouldn't have traded for any other machine in the room.

[@happylifegrace4674]

how does this model compare to 2015 macbook pro retina? Am I amble to upgrade and fix the 2015 as easy as with the 2012 models?

[@rommelbuena998]

@@happylifegrace4674 Absolutely not. Mid 2012 is the last version before Retina display came about which no longer allows you to easily upgrade.

[@EShelby2127]

LOVED my G4 12-inch Aluminum Powerbook!

[@vapa117]

I still have my good old 2012. Minus a couple of dents I made, that baby got me through college and is still helping me out in my professional career. The SSD and RAM upgrades were a big help!

[@StarBorn881]

Hello I'm posting this on my MBP 2012, I've resurrected it from the dead. I did not open my computer for years and it's collected dust around the fans which caused an overheating issue overtime to short the circuit. Since then I've sent my logic board for repair, dusted the whole thing thoroughly, upgraded the ram from 8gb to 16gb and upgraded to a samsung evo 500gb SSD. This thing works like a dream and I love it! I'll certainly take this over those "fancy" new macbooks which have no upgrade-ability what so ever.

[@donovan22]

I have this macbook. Bought it in 2012, still use it every single day with the original battery. Love it!

[@sabelonmc4508]

same here... but looking for a new battery. Mine has 779 cicles and still last like 2 hours of a light safari session

[@TrustedKicks]

@@sabelonmc4508 I didn't even know what these cycles were until i saw mine was at 1,677 haha. Just ordered a new battery!

[@CristianPlaza]

You can put two SSD and make a FusionDrive and boot from it!

[@HismumYT]

"The graphics will fail and you will die" that one got me

[@linkwaker10]

@@tomrobinson2914 jfc the amount of things that can go wrong with this is levels of terribad, for any person that sees this PLEASE take your macbook to a specialty electronics/laptop repair shop/person so they can REFLOW the joints affecting the gpu with a heatgun/more solder and not bake your board.

[@BreyonnaMorgan18]

There was a software that I found that fixed that problem.

[@HismumYT]

@@tomrobinson2914 so many many things could go wrong with putting electronics in an oven

[@G1NEchannel]

@@tomrobinson2914 i actually done this TWICE with a 2009 MacBook Pro and it saved my life…….TWICE!

[@TheBeautifulTempest]

really? I have mine sitting in a cupboard somewhere because the graphics card fried itself. I tried the software work around but eventually it failed to and now doest display anything

[@darlingtonokuanyono6603]

I'm still rocking mine since 2012!

[@GumilangAryoSahadewo]

I'm still using my mid 2012 Macbook Pro 13'. I cannot believe it survived all these years of coding, running simulations, and video editing. The best thing about this mac is our ability to upgrade components. I maxed out the RAM and switched to SSD in 2015, and has been a beast. Did have an issue with speaker, but it's easily replaceable. Replaced the battery once, too.

[@baa-austria]

2012 13" - It's King, Emperor, beloved - as you wish ;-)

[@JonSnowsGhost]

Because of this channel and a few others I bought my 2012 unibody core i7 last year for $300. I put in a new battery, ssd & 16gb of ram at a total price of $540. I use it for college and tele communicating for work and i feel like its over kill. In a few years i’ll buy the newest best macbook pro. Until then, this one is still king imo

[@arsynic4202]

This sealed the deal for me

[@DjyKah]

still have my mid-2012 13" MBP and it still runs like day 1 so far

[@meloD30]

Same. Until the new 16" there was simply no justifiable upgrade path. Now I just wanna see how long it can go for, I may be buried with this machine.

[@AuntieTrichome]

Mine ran fast until I had to install Office to work from home with this Covid crisis.

[@MrIDGAF]

Petra van Hoften That can’t be right, unless you have a low spec configuration when you bought your laptop. What are you specs and the OS you’re using?

[@meloD30]

@@MrIDGAF who are you asking?

[@AuntieTrichome]

Mr. IDGAF Core i7, 2.4 GHz (I think), 8Gb ram. Running Catalina which runs fine on the old mid 2012. But when I start using Word, excel or outlook it takes ages for the programs to open and I get a lot of rainbow spinning things (whatever those are called). The HD is still has plenty of space. I thought of doubling the ram.

[@Cyriljayant]

This is one of my computers that is dusting out. This was my main computer once. Now It need a screen glass replacements. Hard disc replacement and no power. I am planing to bring this to life again and thank you for your video.

[@MrSonnyJG]

At 9:56 did you play video backwards? You actually closed it with one finger, but then when played backwards it looks like you opened it with one finger in top? Cool move! I replayed that part 3 times to see what was going on there. Why did you do that? For fun?

[@juanpineda9234]

Had a mid 2012, it started freezing, couldn’t fix it, so I bought a second one w/ 16gb Ram and put in a 1tb ssd. As soon as I did, I figured out what was wrong w/ the first one so now I have 2. I love’em both!

[@HK02316]

Can I ask you what was wrong and how did you fix it? My mid 2012's display turns off during booting but keyboard backlight turns on later.

[@mathewchen6471]

Hi Juan, please post how did you fix the freezing issue. Thanks.

[@Qpalzm-p2p]

sungkoo huh he fix it with upgrading to a faster 1tb ssd. That is what he did.

[@danielbass09]

My 2011 died this year. And I died a little inside. Damn graphics.

[@jonny777bike]

You get upgrade the motherboard to a 2012. Ifixit.com. Use that site to see what is wrong with it. If it doesn’t charge the maga connected is cheap. If you need a new hard drive cable those aren’t too expensive. I replaced my logic board on my MacBook Pro. I got used one, air sprayed it to get the dust off and and now my MacBook Pro 2012 works.

[@encinobalboa]

Easy fix. Use a 1500 watt heat gun to re-flow the GPU. 3-4 minutes at 2-3 inches above the chip does the job. Fixed many 2011 and 2012 MPB doing this.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

2012 Retina was the king until 16" came out. Huge improvement.

[@on_wheels_80]

Best I've ever had.

[@madhavagrawal8303]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWatg2CujryMnKs

[@20so]

but you can't fix it or take it apart!! :( that's a huge downside for me. my mbp2012 wouldn't be the amazing machine it is today if i hadn't been able to upgrade it. it just lasts so much longer when the company lets you do this kinda stuff. not just better for your wallet but also for the environment.

[@allourep]

My 2012 MacBook is fantastic. Even after 8 years, it’s running like the day I got it. The best part, im able to keep repairing it myself.

[@phyokyawmyo89]

I just upgraded my Macbook pro 2012 from 500 GB, 4 GB RAM to 1 TB, 16 GM RAM! I am commenting this video using my upgraded laptop! Love the upgrade! Great video! :)

[@MD-vk3bj]

I had a late 2011 15” with dual 120gb SSDs in raid 0. They just need to be APFS I think

[@CBlocks]

7:41 how you tell the waiter to stop pouring ur drink at a restaurant

[@akagroovie]

im dead

[@ifranrodriguez]

BlocksMC 😂

[@williamhelena7592]

LMFAO we need to get this comment on top!!!!

[@riz3463]

😂😂😂😂

[@lashaundawatson6977]

lmfaooo

[@ChrisBrideauMedia]

I still use FireWire for my audio interfaces. These machines are still audio production powerhouses.

[@ThatTonybo]

Just bought one of these today in 2021. 2.3GHz i7, put in 16GB ram. 500GB ssd and 1TB hdd. It's usable but the age is really showing with the modern web and so forth. Display looks fine in my own opinion, not the best but it's still reasonable.

[@brendanmullan9794]

I’ve now watched two of your videos and in neither of them have you mentioned battery life. That’s a huge deal bro. You need to talk about how these old batteries are holding up.

[@wutangcatclan]

An hour or 3 / 4 Why the big deal its a 10 year old device

[@ryanhogue1806]

yo dude i have the mid 2012 15 and replaced the screen to the antiglare after watching your videos, totally worth it

[@luisfernando55]

How much did it cost you ?

[@ryanhogue1806]

@@luisfernando55 it was like $60 on ebay. serious game changer, I was about to get a 2015 15 because i was fed up with the shit screen quality but this is a serious revamp

[@daniellukacs743]

i'm still using a 2012 13" and I love it! I maxed, the ram, added an SSD and 1TB harddrive. I have an eGPU for it, RX570. I edit photos and videos on it. With the egpu it can handle 4k footage on premier pro and final cut to.

[@Hellofaraby]

nice try, i think this laptop can't handle eGPU

[@daniellukacs743]

@@Hellofaraby u are wellcome kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJvEc4asns58jrs

[@eyomarc3467]

シDraco Dark of course it can! Thunderbolt 2 can handle ~20GBit ... It just cant use the full potential of the eGPU as on newer TB3 laptops. @Dániel Lukács does it use x2 or x4 PCIe Lanes from the CPU?

[@daniellukacs743]

@@eyomarc3467 sorry man i don`t knkw. I'm new mac user. Where can i see it?

[@matuslivora7469]

@@eyomarc3467 Actually it can use almost the same potential if you do not route video signal back to the laptop ... do some research (egpu.io)

[@Kaal5218]

150.000 Subs!! I knew you can do it!!!! Congrats!!

[@kilmer009]

The biggest issue with the Unibody 13" models are the drive cable failures. It makes it look like the hard drive is failing when it's actually the easily worn 'flat' cable that has 3 90 degree bends in it. The cable rubs against the metal case and creates micro fractures which you cannot see but do affect the HDD/SSD. Easiest fix is to replace the cable and apply electrical tape to prevent the cable from moving/rubbing on the case. There's a few videos on this out there if you have this issue. Upgraded to 1TB SSD + 16GB RAM and it still works great. The graphics card is a bit crap in the 13" but alas, still good for everyday browsing/work/videos etc.

[@AhmedAli-nq1ov]

I've had this issue twice. If I replaced the optical drive with an ssd and booted from there, would it resolve the problem?

[@dansolo360]

mid-2012 here and it still kicking ~ I put in an SSD HD and upgraded the ram and there is no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

[@overt1me657]

i'm using a late 2013 15" retina mbp, just bought it and i love it so far

[@pcmasterrace5990]

Me Watching this on a 2012 13" unibody wondering if I should keep it or sell it: Hmm... Interesting

[@heyst2802]

Yea good question is 13“ Mid 2012 same like 15” 2012 that i can Add some RAM .I’m interested in something for travel and 15” I already have from Lenovo is to big to take in bag and go for some trip.

[@eufona3768]

@@heyst2802 it is the sane

[@Smart-wh4oe]

I’m buying one next week hehehheee

[@pcmasterrace5990]

I decided to keep it btw, it was a good choice. It works great as a family/general use pc and that battery is still goin strong.

[@Detec_]

@@pcmasterrace5990 and switching batteries is luckily very easy

[@talldarkstrangerpr]

It’s still the GOAT. Got one running 16GB, 4TB SSD, and running Monterey via OCLP.

[@odarrien]

I love my 2012 15" Macbook Pro. SSD drive, 12 Gb RAM. She does well. However, over the last year, I started having problems with charging. Eventually, 6 weeks ago, stopped charging altogether. The magsafe charger end would keep the green light and get super hot - now it shows signs of burnt pins. I replaced the charger, no luck. Yesterday, I replaced the charging port on the Macbook, but no luck. I don't know what might be wrong. I'm really NOT ready to replace the machine, especially with newer Macbook Pros not being really upgradeable/serviceable by myself.

[@NerdboyKarim]

i have the late 2012 macbook pro still works amazing only upgraded due to uni and not wanting to risk it dropping dead.

[@moncholm8170]

i use macbook pro 2012, i7, 16 gb ram, 1Tb ssd, 3 tb hdd, eGPU 1080ti, Tv 50" and 20" samsung monitor.

[@RealOneRadio]

Can you give me more info on the epgu you're running? I have the exact Mac and wanted to get more info on that. Thanks!

[@lucygilbertson3746]

I have just seen a 15 inch 2012 macbook for 900 with i7 quad core 3.6ghz, geforce 650m graphics card, 2tb SSD & 16gb or ram. I was thinking of getting this as I need something powerful/fast with a lot of storage for music pro, video editing, and graphic design. Is this a bad buy due to the price & age etc?

[@banksjim]

Thanks. I used your video to convince my wife that she really didn't need a new laptop.

[@idk9911]

This is a pretty good Macbook, it is actually amazing when you're upgrading it. Being the last univody Macbook Pro makes it a good choice because it has a lot of ports and the date makes it more advanced than the other unibodies. It also has an easy to use trackpad, because the size and the stability gives it an easy way to use gestures. The retina Macbook Pro is fine, but it has quite less ports and the display isn't such a big difference (It is when you're recording with a camera). I have one running Os X Catalina with upgraded 1TB of storage, 16GB of ram and i5, and it's very adaptable for my needs.

[@jhatsworld]

its ram sucks tho, 3 beeps is stuck in my head now

[@pantherkillpaw]

bought mine fully specked.... 8 yrs later still going strong no issues.

[@christopherk6353]

I got my 13" Unibody at the end of its lifecycle in 2016. Did a ram and SSD upgrade out of the box. Feel's really robust and seems built to last. Still get to use all the built-in Ports. My earlier machine was a 15" Unibody with similar specs which lasted a good 5 years.

[@DDElectrical]

Love my Mid 2012 13 inch! I have the 2.9ghz i7 model, with 16gb ram and a 2TB Evo 860 SSD. Catalina unfortunately has definitely slowed it down.. nervously awaiting to see if it will run 10.16.

[@kidbrave_7673]

I'm thinking of buying that same laptop and thinking the same approach as you mentioned, so I want to ask how does your computer work well with bigger file sized things as well as having multiple things open were it isn't super slow?

[@Mechadondada]

Got a 2009 Pro that’s still chugging along.

[@davidrhoden]

Me too, Bimini Bob. I’m a web developer and I really need a faster modem but I bought a great machine in. 2009 and it has really held up. I did put in a 500 GB SSD and upgraded to high Sierra against Apple’s advice.

[@daphdays7984]

My mom gave me her old 2012 MacBook Pro, it is currently getting me through university. It’s an old beast.

[@brysimm404]

Great video Luke! My 15" Mid 2012 is still going STRONG - watching on it right now [bought in 2016 for $700]. "Long live The King!"

[@barbziannajd849]

Thanks Luke! I just bought MBP 2012. Already upgraded.

[@DKowalsky21]

Luke, what would you consider a “good” price for an already upgraded version here - Mid 2012 15”, core i7, the 1680x1050 screen, 16 GB RAM, two 256 GB SSDs, clean Catalina install?

[@arnon85]

How much did you buy it for?

[@TalmoTheSell]

My mom has the 13" version and it's pretty slow, so I'm adding an SSD and I hope it works out

[@PedroNogueiranunes]

It will be a World of difference

[@AdriaOliSal]

I had a 2010 macbook and I upgraded it with a 500gb Samsung SSD and it flew. Really, it felt like a new machine! (Sadly I got robbed two years ago so I don't have it anymore). BTW, the thing is that SATA ssds are quite cheap bc they are not that fast (compared to modern pcie SSD), so it's a really good deal to upgrade these machines.

[@azamatsharshenalyuulu3079]

You should upgrade the memory as well, if you do SSD upgrade.

[@Noah-Lach]

The 1680x1050 display was also available in glossy! I had one on my 2010 and it looked pretty damn good.

[@Mind-your-own-beeswax]

Just bought one of these as a parts machine. It was too good to strip for parts so fixing it up. Only thing wrong with it I can see is it can’t read any internal drives. Apparently the hard drive cable is prone to fail so I’ve ordered a new one and an SSD. Fingers crossed it works.

[@TheAnadromist]

I'm living overseas. I have two. I have upgraded one to 2 terabytes and 16ram. The country I'm in doesn't have official Mac dealers. But there are official re-sellers here. A new Macbook would cost me $1,000 easily. So I'm sticking with this and parts replacements for a while longer. I do a lot of video editing, so I needed the extra terabyte boost. But basically it's still working. And if one gets funky I can take it out of the loop and replace parts. Thanks for the review.

[@brandonnel6905]

11:50 - "Don't buy a 2011. The graphics will fail and you'll die." 😂

[@danielalvarez7704]

Brandon Nel that happened to mine lmao..

[@heyimdrod]

Same here. That quote hit different 😔 haha

[@GabrielGiannini]

@@danielalvarez7704 I could take advantage of Apple recall program, they replace the logic board for free

[@Windows7Pro2009]

Gabriel Giannini however, even the replaced ones are also prone to failure.

[@laetussanta]

@@GabrielGiannini yes, but not now, can you confirm it? Thank you

[@OnlyKelp]

Short answer: yes Long answer: non’t

[@madhavagrawal8303]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWatg2CujryMnKs

[@johnnyluna3081]

Bro stop self promos it’s annoying grow naturally like everyone else

[@tokisuno]

just bought one and i am already loving how it feels LOL

[@BeinBryan]

How does it do with video editing ?

[@tokisuno]

@@BeinBryan i just do light editing so it's fine.

[@jakeairbender8941]

I have a mid 2012 MacBook Pro, and I refurbished It at the apple store when it started having a few issues. Then I installed 8Gs of ram, and a 2TB SSD myself. Runs great! Very hot sometimes, heavy and loud fans, but still alive and well. I also got a new 16” MacBook pro on the way now. I’m super excited as I haven’t had a new computer in 8 years aside from a 2016 MacBook Pro I’ve been using for work. It’s not really mine though so it doesn’t count. Made me realize what I was missing out on though. Hard to use the 2012 for long after using a newer one for awhile.

[@SirDavidAsher]

I own this laptop. It was a very short debate at the time for Retina or, as how I saw it, an actual laptop still geared towards artists. I'd rather have the ports for in the field, and just hook it up to a 4k monitor back in my home office. This laptop served me well for years!

[@mikelaurevlogs2281]

mine still works perfectly, ive had it for almost 7 years now.

[@vishnuinferno2441]

Do we can play gta 5 in it dude?

[@walieddevries]

Great video. I've been contemplating an upgrade and this Literally answers all my questions.

[@JackMordhJr]

Dang it... I have a 2011... I just updated it to Catalina though and it works great for a 9 year old laptop! 🙂 It was a major pain to go from Yosemite to Catalina though. I had to dump a ton of patches just to get it to High Sierra then to Catalina but it works! 😁 I'm sure by adding a 1TB SSD and maxing our the RAM helped a couple years ago too. 👍🏼🙂

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

All this language is so foreign to me what MacBook do you think someone should get that may have the best deal

[@siddharthst2712]

still using this with macOS Catalina , my specs are Intel core i7 2.9 Ghz , 16gb RAM and 700gb SSD , not upgrading for another few years , despite no macOS big sur for this model