Determining which OS was shipped with MBP... Apple's site has it wrong?

[iStorm]

I was trying to determine which OS the 15-inch, 2017 MBP (MacBookPro14,3) shipped with, so I went to look up the Tech Specs on Apple's site. They have High Sierra listed as the OS. This isn't completely accurate, since the earliest version would have been Sierra. (This MBP was released in June 2017, and High Sierra was released in September 2017.)

Is there any significance or meaning why Apple says High Sierra instead? Is it because that version was probably shipped on most of the MBPs until it was discontinued in July 2018? Or because it was the last shipping OS for that MBP?

Does this play a role in Internet Recovery? Would it install High Sierra instead of Sierra if I were to use the appropriate command to install the earliest possible version?

 

[CoastalOR]

EveryMac site shows that the 2017 15" MBP shipped with 10.12.5 (Sierra).

MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.8 15" Touch/Mid-2017 Specs (Mid-2017 15" (Touch Bar), MPTR2LL/A*, MacBookPro14,3, A1707, 3162): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.8 15" Touch/Mid-2017. Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

 

[Juicy Box]

Is there any significance or meaning why Apple says High Sierra instead?

Probably because Apple updated the page at some point for the most recent information at the time of the update. It was discontinued prior to Mojave, is

For example, look up the 2013 Mac Pro.

The 2013 Mac Pro launched with Maverick, but according to Apple support page, the 2013 Mac Pro ships with Mojave (launched in 2018). The 2013 Mac Pro continued to sell on the Apple Store after its technical discontinued date (April 2017 at Apple apology tour and the 2019 Mac Pro teaser), and it was pulled a few months before Catalina launched.

Does this play a role in Internet Recovery?

I don't know for sure, but I think it would still be the OS that came with your specific Mac.

For the Late 2013 Mac Pro example, I don't think models that shipped in 2013 originally with Maverick will recover with Mojave just because that is on the support page.