There have been several YouTube videos recently recommending older Unibody MacBook Pros, or the Retina models (2012–2015), as viable options for 2024. These creators suggest these MacBooks are still usable and a good, cheap buy. While I find these videos fun to watch, I don't agree with the idea that buying old MacBook Pros, especially the Unibody or Retina models, is a smart move right now.
Unibody MacBook Pros are indeed very affordable, and Retina MacBook Pros from 2012–2015 can often be found at decent prices on the second-hand market. It's true that these MacBooks can handle basic tasks just fine — I even enjoy using mine on a daily basis. But recommending them as a good purchase for most people is a different matter altogether.
The biggest issue with these older machines is the battery. The newest Unibody MacBook Pro is now 13 years old, and the latest Retina MacBook Pro models are a decade old. It’s nearly impossible to find one with an acceptable battery life. And none of these YouTube creators seem to factor in the cost of replacing the battery, which can run anywhere from $100 to $200, depending on the model and service provider.
Another concern is that if you're buying one of these old Macs, especially a Unibody MacBook Pro, you'll likely need to upgrade the SSD and RAM. Sure, a 250GB SSD can cost between $20 and $40, and 16GB of RAM is available for under $30. But when you add up the cost of the laptop, a new battery, an SSD upgrade, and RAM, you're not getting a bargain anymore. In fact, the total cost could easily exceed that of an entry-level new laptop, especially when factoring in the time and hassle involved in upgrading.
Even if price isn't the main issue, the software experience isn’t ideal either. We all know about OCLP (OpenCore Legacy Patcher) to run newer macOS versions on these older machines, but recommending OCLP for the average person isn’t a great idea. It’s a workaround — a hack, really — and newer macOS versions simply aren't designed for these old devices. For someone just looking for a cheap, reliable laptop for daily use, this setup could lead to a lot of frustration.
In short, while these old MacBooks can be fun to tinker with, I wouldn’t recommend them as a practical choice for most buyers in 2024. The cost, battery life, and software limitations make them less of a deal than they might initially seem.