Note: I did the SSD upgrade on my mid-2012 MacBook Pro, so this guide is probably most useful to those of you who are using the same model with me. However, I assume it would also apply to older MacBook models like 2011 and 2010 as long as your machine has a standard 2.5-inch SATA drive. Apple refreshed the entire MacBook Pro line on October 24, 2006, to include Intel Core 2 Duo processors which was the first MacBook Pro model to be 64 bit. Memory capacity was doubled for each model, to 1 GiB on the low-end 15-inch and 2 GiB for the high-end 15- and 17-inch models.
- Should I Upgrade My Mid 2012 Macbook Pro To Mojave
- Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Upgrade To Mojave
- Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Should I Upgrade To Mojave
Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch 'Core i5' 2.5 Mid-2012 Specs
Identifiers: Mid-2012 13' - MD101LL/A* - MacBookPro9,2 - A1278 - 2554*
All MacBook Pro 13-Inch Models | All 2012 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others
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The MacBook Pro 'Core i5' 2.5 13-Inch (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) features a 22 nm 'Ivy Bridge' 2.5 GHz Intel 'Core i5' processor (3210M), with two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 3 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (PC3-12800) installed in pairs (two 2 GB modules), a 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL 'SuperDrive', an 'integrated' Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares system memory, an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam, and an LED-backlit 13.3' widescreen TFT active-matrix 'glossy' display (1280x800 native resolution).
Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire '800' port, two USB 3.0 ports, a 'Thunderbolt' port, audio in/out, and an SDXC card slot.
This model uses a 'Unibody' aluminum case design -- milled from a single piece of aluminum -- and has a backlit keyboard, a 'no button' glass 'inertial' multi-touch trackpad, and a non-swappable battery design that provides an Apple estimated 7 hours of battery life.
Compared to its predecessor, this model essentially is identical externally with the exception of the aforementioned USB 3.0 ports. Internally, however, it has a faster processor, architecture, graphics, and RAM.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the 'Mid-2012' 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models?
- What are the differences between the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models and the 'Late 2011' MacBook Pro models that they replaced?
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- Tech Specs
- Ports
- Global Original Prices
- Popular Q&As
Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.
| Introduction Date: | June 11, 2012 | Discontinued Date: | October 27, 2016 |
| Details: | The 'Introduction Date' refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The 'Discontinued Date' refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. *As first noted by AppleInsider, Apple started removing this model from retail store displays on June 20, 2016. It was discontinued entirely on October 27, 2016. Also see: All Macs introduced in 2012. |
| Details: | Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort. |
| Details: | Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 4 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 4 benchmarks are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 5 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the Mac are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Processor Speed: | 2.5 GHz | Processor Type: | Core i5 (I5-3210M) |
| Details: | This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit Intel Mobile Core i5 'Ivy Bridge' (I5-3210M) processor which includes two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 3 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel). This system also supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' -- which 'automatically increases the speed of the active cores' to improve performance when needed (up to 3.1 GHz for this model) -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize four total 'cores' or 'threads' (two real and two virtual). Also see: How fast are the 'Mid-2012' 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models each replaced? |
| Details: | *Starting on October 22, 2013, Apple added a 2.9 GHz Core i7 'Ivy Bridge' (I7-3520M) processor option to this model (which previously was the standard MD102LL/A configuration). This custom processor includes two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 4 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel). It also supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' -- which 'automatically increases the speed of the active cores' to improve performance when needed (up to 3.6 GHz for this processor) -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize four 'virtual cores' or 'threads.' |
| Details: | Also see: Can you upgrade the processor in the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro models? |
| System Bus Speed: | 5 GT/s* | Cache Bus Speed: | 2.5 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: | *This system has a 'Direct Media Interface' (DMI) that 'connects between the processor and chipset' in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 3 MB of shared level 3 cache. |
| Details: | Supports 1600 MHz PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM SO-DIMMs (204-pin). Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the 'Mid-2012' 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models? How much RAM of what type do they support? |
| Details: | 4 GB of RAM is installed as two 2 GB modules, no slots free. *Apple officially supports a maximum of 8 GB of RAM, but third-parties have determined that this model actually is capable of using up to 16 GB of RAM with two 8 GB memory modules. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells memory and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | This model has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares memory with the system. Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro models? Is it upgradable? Which models have 'dedicated' and 'integrated' video memory? |
| Details: | *Apple and Intel do not report the minimum memory usage for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor. However, with 4 GB of RAM installed, the graphics processor uses 512 MB of RAM for video function. With 8 GB of RAM, 768 MB is reserved for video function and with 16 GB of RAM, 1 GB is reserved for video function. |
| Built-in Display: | 13.3' Widescreen | Native Resolution: | 1280x800 |
| Details: | 13.3' color widescreen LED-backlit TFT active-matrix 'glossy' display with a 1280 by 800 native resolution. Apple reports that this system also supports '1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched.' In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Pro. No fix, no fee! In Germany, site sponsor Conodi provides high quality Mac and PC repair services as well as remote home office setup and troubleshooting. In-person and mail order repair services include the display, motherboard, water damage and more for this MacBook Pro. In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, battery, keyboard, motherboard, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the display, motherboard, battery, water damage issues, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this MacBook Pro. |
| 2nd Display Support: | Dual/Mirroring | 2nd Max. Resolution: | 2560x1600 |
| Details: | The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600. Also see: Are there any adapters or 'hacks' that make it possible to connect a second external display to a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air model? |
| Standard Storage: | 500 GB HDD | Std. Storage Speed: | 5400 RPM |
| Details: | By custom configuration, this model can be equipped with a 750 GB Serial ATA hard drive for an additional US$100. It also can be configured with a 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB SSD for an additional US$200, US$500, or US$1000, respectively. Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive or SSD in the 'Mid-2012' 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro models? What type of storage do these models support? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Storage Dimensions: | 2.5' (9.5 mm) | Storage Interface: | Serial ATA (6 Gb/s) |
| Details: | This model supports a single SATA III (6 Gb/s) 2.5' hard drive or SSD that is up to 9.5 mm thick. |
| Standard Optical: | 8X DL 'SuperDrive' | Standard Disk: | None |
| Details: | Apple reports that this slot-loading 'SuperDrive' (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) has a maxium write speed of '8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW' and a maximum read speed of '8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, and DVD+RW; 24x CD'. Site sponsor Other World Computing offers a 'Data Doubler' mounting kit that may be of interest. It makes it simple to install a second hard drive or SSD in the optical drive bay of this MacBook Pro. |
| Standard Modem: | None | Standard Ethernet: | 10/100/1000Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: | 802.11a/b/g/n (450 Mbit*) | Standard Bluetooth: | 4.0 |
| Details: | AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. *This model unofficially supports 450 Mbit/sec 802.11n Wi-Fi using MIMO. Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
| Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), one Firewire '800' (up to 800 Mbps) port. |
Should I Upgrade My Mid 2012 Macbook Pro To Mojave
| Details: | This model has an SDXC card slot. No expansion bays are provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and accessories, including docks, adapters, cables, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Pro.. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external expansion options and accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Are SD Card slot storage expansion options available for the 'Unibody' MacBook Pro models? Which are compatible? Is this type of storage a good idea for these models? |
| Incl. Keyboard: | Full-size | Incl. Input: | Trackpad (Inertial) |
| Details: | Apple reports that the backlit integrated keyboard has '78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement).' The glass multi-touch trackpad supports 'inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities'. |
| Details: | This MacBook Pro uses a black and silver 'unibody' case design milled from a single piece of aluminum with a 'catchless' magnetic latch. |
| Apple Order No: | MD101LL/A* | Apple Subfamily: | Mid-2012 13' |
| Details: | *The Apple order number should be unique to this system. This model also was sold to the education market in five packs. This educational option was assigned order number MD509LL/A. |
| Apple Model No: | A1278 (EMC 2554*) | Model ID: | MacBookPro9,2 |
| Details: | *Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. In this case, please also note that the EMC number is not externally listed on the notebook so it cannot be used readily for identification. Also see: All Macs with the A1278 Model Number, the 2554* EMC Number, and the MacBookPro9,2 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
| Details: | Apple reports that this model has a '63.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' that provides 'up to 7 hours of wireless web' use. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: | X 10.7.3 (11D2515) | Maximum MacOS: | X 10.15.x* |
| Details: | *This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion.' OS X 10.9 'Mavericks', and OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan' with the exception of the 'Power Nap' feature. It is capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) as well, although it does not support the Auto Unlock feature. This model is capable of running macOS High Sierra (10.13), and it supports HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), but it does not support hardware accelerated HEVC. This model is compatible with the final version of macOS Mojave (10.14) and the final version of macOS Catalina (10.15), as well. It does not support macOS Big Sur (macOS 11) or later versions of the macOS. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features? Has anything been removed from previous versions of the macOS? |
| Minimum Windows: | 7 (32-Bit)* | Maximum Windows: | 10 (64-Bit)* |
| Details: | *Apple's Boot Camp 4 supports the 32-bit of Windows 7, Boot Camp 5 supports the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8, and Boot Camp 6 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Earlier versions of Windows are not supported. |
| MacOS 9 Support: | None | Windows Support: | Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: | Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs? Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: | 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 | Avg. Weight: | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) |
| Details: | In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (2.41 cm, 32.5 cm, 22.7 cm). |
| Original Price (US): | US$1199* | Est. Current Retail: | US$350-US$500 |
| Details: | *On July 29, 2014, Apple lowered the price to US$1099. Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated). Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.
| Video (Monitor): | 1 (Thunderbolt) | Floppy (Ext.): | None |
| Details: | Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), one Firewire '800' (up to 800 Mbps) port. |
| Details: | No internal modem. Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Internal omnidirectional microphone. Has a single 'audio in/out' port. |
| Details: | Has a single 'audio in/out' port. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | 100V-240V AC, 60W 'MagSafe' power adapter. Also see: What is the 'Magsafe' power connector? How does it work? How was it designed to not cause data loss? |
Global original prices for the MacBook Pro 13-Inch 'Core i5' 2.5 Mid-2012 in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
Original Prices - North & South America
| Mexico: | MXN $20,999 | United States: | US$1199* |
Original Prices - Europe
| Denmark: | DKK 9,699 | Finland: | ¤1299 |
| Ireland: | ¤1299 | Italy: | ¤1279 |
| Norway: | NOK 9.990 | Portugal: | ¤1299 |
| Switzerland: | CHF 1'349 | United Kingdom: | £999 |
Original Prices - Asia
| India: | Rs 81,900 | Indonesia: | Rp 11,999,000 |
| Malaysia: | RM 3,699 | The Philippines: | PHP 57,990 |
| Thailand: | THB 39,900 | Vietnam: | VND 27,499,000 |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the MacBook Pro 13-Inch models follow.
Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Upgrade To Mojave
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Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch 'Core i7' 2.3 Retina 2012 Specs
Identifiers: Retina Mid-2012 - MC975LL/A - MacBookPro10,1 - A1398 - 2512
All MacBook Pro 15-Inch Models | All 2012 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others
Distribute This Page: Bookmark & Share | Download: PDF Manual
Heralded as the 'most advanced Mac ever built,' the officially dubbed 'MacBook Pro with Retina Display' models combine a beautiful high-resolution LED-backlit 15.4' widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi) 'retina' display with a thin, sleek case design that weighs a bit less than 4.5 pounds (2.02 kg). Curiously, these systems are not branded on the display bezel like earlier MacBook Pro models.
Somewhat controversially, the Retina Display models also are an essentially 'sealed' design with RAM that is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded after purchase, storage that is not intended to be upgraded after purchase, and a battery that cannot be replaced readily even by technical users or third-parties, either.
This particular model -- the MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.3 15-Inch (Mid-2012 Retina Display) features a 22 nm 'Ivy Bridge' 2.3 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (3615QM), with four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which cannot be upgraded after purchase), 256 GB of flash storage, dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and an 'integrated' Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares system memory, as well as an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam. It does not have an internal optical drive.
Connectivity includes 3-stream AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, two 'Thunderbolt' ports, an HDMI port, an audio in/out port, and an SDXC card slot. It does not have Gigabit Ethernet or Firewire '800,' although adapters are available at extra cost.
In addition, this model has a backlit keyboard, a 'no button' glass 'inertial' multi-touch trackpad, a 'MagSafe 2' power adapter, and an internal, sealed battery that provides an Apple estimated 7 hours of battery life.
Also see:
- What are all the differences between the Retina Display-equipped 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models?
- What are all the differences between the Retina Display 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models and the regular 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models?
Buy This Mac at site sponsor OWC. Click for current options.
Buy This Mac (Business) at site sponsor Evertek. Bulk orders worldwide!
Upgrade This Mac at site sponsor OWC. SSDs, external storage & more.
Sell This Mac at A+ BBB rated site sponsor Cash For Your Mac. Quick quote!
- Tech Specs
- Ports
- Global Original Prices
- Popular Q&As
Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.
| Introduction Date: | June 11, 2012 | Discontinued Date: | February 13, 2013 |
| Details: | The 'Introduction Date' refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The 'Discontinued Date' refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. Also see: All Macs introduced in 2012. |
| Details: | Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort. |
| Details: | Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 4 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 4 benchmarks are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Details: | These Geekbench 5 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the Mac are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
| Processor Speed: | 2.3 GHz | Processor Type: | Core i7 (I7-3615QM) |
| Details: | This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit Intel Mobile Core i7 'Ivy Bridge' (I7-3615QM) processor which includes four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 6 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel). This system also supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' -- which 'automatically increases the speed of the active cores' to improve performance when needed (up to 3.3 GHz for this model) -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize eight total 'cores' or 'threads' (four real and four virtual). Also see: How fast are the 'Mid-2012' Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the 'regular' Mid-2012 MacBook Pro and the models replaced? |
| Turbo Boost: | 3.3 GHz | Custom Speeds: | 2.7 GHz (Core i7) |
| Details: | Starting on August 2, 2012, Apple added the ability to custom configure this model with a 2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-3820QM) for an extra US$350. This custom processor has an 8 MB level 3 cache and supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' up to 3.7 GHz as well as 'Hyper Threading' with eight virtual cores or 'threads.' As requested by readers, EveryMac.com also has documented this custom configuration as its own model. Also see: How much faster is the Retina Display-equipped 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro custom configured with a faster processor than the stock models? Is the extra performance worth the extra cost? |
| Details: | Also see: Can you upgrade the processor in the Retina Display-equipped MacBook Pro models? |
| System Bus Speed: | 5 GT/s* | Cache Bus Speed: | 2.3 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: | *This system has a 'Direct Media Interface' (DMI) that 'connects between the processor and chipset' in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | *Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 6 MB of shared level 3 cache. |
| Details: | Ships standard with 8 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM onboard. |
| Details: | *8 GB of RAM is onboard. It originally could be upgraded at the time of purchase to 16 GB as a US$200 option, but it cannot be upgraded subsequently. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Details: | *There are no RAM slots. 8 GB of RAM is onboard. It could be upgraded to 16 GB at the time of purchase as a US$200 option, but it cannot be upgraded subsequently. |
| Details: | *This system has dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 SDRAM and Intel HD Graphics 4000 with memory shared with the system. The system automatically switches between graphics systems based on use (when applications use OpenGL, Core Graphics or other graphically demanding technologies, the system will use the dedicated graphics card, otherwise it will use Intel HD Graphics to conserve battery life). Also see: Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display-equipped MacBook Pro models manually? |
| Details: | The NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics processor has 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. The 'integrated' Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor shares memory with the system. Also see: How fast is the graphics performance of the 'Mid-2012' 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro models compared to the models replaced? |
| Built-in Display: | 15.4' Widescreen | Native Resolution: | 2880x1800 |
| Details: | This model has a 15.4' color widescreen LED-backlit display with IPS technology with a 2880 by 1800 native resolution at 220 ppi (178-degree viewing angle). It also supports scaled resolutions of 1920 by 1200, 1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, and 1024 by 640. Also see: How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default? In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Pro. No fix, no fee! In Germany, site sponsor Conodi provides high quality Mac and PC repair services as well as remote home office setup and troubleshooting. In-person and mail order repair services include the display, motherboard, water damage and more for this MacBook Pro. In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, battery, keyboard, motherboard, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the display, motherboard, battery, water damage issues, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this MacBook Pro. |
| 2nd Display Support: | Dual/Mirroring* | 2nd Max. Resolution: | 2560x1600 (x2*) |
| Details: | *This model supports a simultaneous maximum resolution up to 2560x1600 on two external displays via Thunderbolt. Alternately, it can support a single display up to 2560x1600 via Thunderbolt and a single display up to 1920x1200 via HDMI. Although it can theoretically power all three external displays, as confirmed by a helpful reader, it runs too hot with three displays connected. Also see: How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required? |
| Standard Storage: | 256 GB SSD | Std. Storage Speed: | 390/440 MB/s* |
| Details: | This model has 256 GB of flash storage rather than a hard drive. As originally introduced on June 11, 2012, Apple did not even offer a larger capacity storage option via custom configuration. However, starting on August 2, 2012, Apple added the option of 512 GB or 768 GB of storage for an additional US$500 or US$1000, respectively. *Third-party tests using the Blackmagic benchmark report write speeds of 390 MB/s and read speeds of 440 MB/s. Apple does not intend for one to upgrade the SSD after purchase, however it is quite possible. Also see: How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the Retina Display-equipped 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
| Storage Dimensions: | Proprietary | Storage Interface: | Proprietary* (6 Gb/s) |
| Details: | *As first discovered by site sponsor OWC, the 'Mid-2012' Retina Display-equipped line uses a different connector than previous models. It provides 6 Gb/s of bandwidth (SATA III). |
| Details: | *This MacBook Pro does not have an internal optical drive. Site sponsor Adorama offers the external Apple USB SuperDrive for US$79. It writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL at 4X, DVD-R and DVD+R at 8X, DVD-RW at 6X, DVD+RW at 8X, reads DVD at 8X, writes CD-R at 24X, writes CD-RW at 16X, and reads CD at 24X. Site sponsor Other World Computing also has a variety of compact external optical drive options that may be of interest, including some with Blu-ray capability. Also see: What are the full capabilities of the external SuperDrive available for this MacBook Pro? Can it be used with other Macs? |
| Details: | *This model does not have an internal Ethernet port. However, an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter was offered for US$29. |
| Standard AirPort: | 802.11a/b/g/n (3-Stream) | Standard Bluetooth: | 4.0 |
| Details: | AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
| Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps). It does not have a Firewire port although an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter is available. |
| Details: | This model has an SDXC card slot. No expansion bays are provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and accessories, including docks, adapters, cables, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external expansion options and accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Which SD Card storage solution is best for the Retina Display MacBook Pro? Which models are compatible? Is this type of storage safe? |
| Incl. Keyboard: | Full-size | Incl. Input: | Trackpad (Inertial) |
| Details: | Apple reports that the backlit integrated keyboard has '78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement).' The glass multi-touch trackpad supports 'inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities'. |
| Case Type: | Notebook | Form Factor: | MacBook Pro (Retina) |
| Details: | This MacBook Pro uses a thin black and silver 'unibody' case design milled from a single piece of aluminum with a 'catchless' magnetic latch. |
| Apple Order No: | MC975LL/A | Apple Subfamily: | Retina Mid-2012 |
| Details: | The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: | A1398 (EMC 2512) | Model ID: | MacBookPro10,1 |
| Details: | Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. Also see: All Macs with the A1398 Model Number, the 2512 EMC Number, and the MacBookPro10,1 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
| Details: | Apple reports that this model has a '95-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' that provides 'up to 7 hours of wireless web' use. It cannot be upgraded by an end-user. Also see: How do you replace the battery in the Retina Display-equipped 'Mid-2012' MacBook Pro? Is it even possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. |
Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Should I Upgrade To Mojave
| Pre-Installed MacOS: | X 10.7.4 (11E2068) | Maximum MacOS: | X 10.15.x* |
| Details: | *This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion.' OS X 10.9 'Mavericks', and OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan.' It is capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) as well, although it does not support the Auto Unlock feature. This model is capable of running macOS High Sierra (10.13), and it supports HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), but it does not support hardware accelerated HEVC. This model is compatible with the final version of macOS Mojave (10.14) and the final version of macOS Catalina (10.15), as well. It does not support macOS Big Sur (macOS 11) or later versions of the macOS. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features? Has anything been removed from previous versions of the macOS? |
| Minimum Windows: | 7 (32-Bit)* | Maximum Windows: | 10 (64-Bit)* |
| Details: | *Apple's Boot Camp 4 supports the 32-bit of Windows 7, Boot Camp 5 supports the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8, and Boot Camp 6 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Earlier versions of Windows are not supported. |
| MacOS 9 Support: | None | Windows Support: | Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: | Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs? Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: | 0.71 x 14.13 x 9.73 | Avg. Weight: | 4.46 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| Details: | In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (1.8 cm, 35.89 cm, 24.71 cm). |
| Original Price (US): | US$2199 | Est. Current Retail: | US$500-US$700 |
| Details: | Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated). Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.
| Video (Monitor): | 2 (Thunderbolt), 1 (HDMI) | Floppy (Ext.): | None |
| Details: | Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. Also see: How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required? |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps). It does not have a Firewire port although an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter is available. |
| Details: | No internal modem or Ethernet, although an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter is available. AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Bluetooth 4.0 are standard. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | Dual internal microphones. Has a single 'headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack)' port. Supports Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone. |
| Details: | Has a single 'audio in/out' port. |
| Details: | N/A |
| Details: | 100V-240V AC, 85W 'MagSafe 2' power adapter. |
Global original prices for the MacBook Pro 15-Inch 'Core i7' 2.3 Retina 2012 in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
Original Prices - North & South America
| Mexico: | MXN $37,999 | United States: | US$2199 |
Original Prices - Europe
| Denmark: | DKK 17,599 | Finland: | ¤2349 |
| Ireland: | ¤2349 | Italy: | ¤2299 |
| Norway: | NOK 17.990 | Portugal: | ¤2349 |
| Switzerland: | CHF 2'449 | United Kingdom: | £1799 |
Original Prices - Asia
| India: | Rs 152,900 | Indonesia: | Rp 21,999,000 |
| Malaysia: | RM 6,799 | The Philippines: | PHP 107,990 |
| Thailand: | THB 72,900 | Vietnam: | VND 50,499,000 |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the MacBook Pro 15-Inch models follow.
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