What should I replace my MBP 2012 with?

[Azeroth1]

My venerable 2012 15 is coming to the end of its days. these days I mostly use it just for typing long emails but it’s a different world then when I got this originally. My main machine is an iMac Pro so this is secondary machine only for the couch.

im ok with used or refurb.

 

[Adarna]

2021 MBP 14" or 16" M1 Pro are possible upgrade paths.

14" is actually 14.2" vs a 15".

If you are willing to wait you could opt for the 2022 MBA M2 that is expected to be out before June.

With a nearly 1 decade difference any Apple silicon Mac will run rings around whatever you have.

 

[Azeroth1]

2021 MBP 14" or 16" M1 Pro are possible upgrade paths.

14" is actually 14.2" vs a 15".

If you are willing to wait you could opt for the 2022 MBA M2 that is expected to be out before June.

With a nearly 1 decade difference any Apple silicon Mac will run rings around whatever you have.

Thank you kindly. Are the keyboards on these models equally reliable? I know there were some issues in some of the generations between 2016+, but believe those have since been resolved. I'll probably opt for the smaller machine as the notebook is no longer my primary machine. Thanks.

 

[Adarna]

Thank you kindly. Are the keyboards on these models equally reliable? I know there were some issues in some of the generations between 2016+, but believe those have since been resolved. I'll probably opt for the smaller machine as the notebook is no longer my primary machine. Thanks.

Apple abandoned the defective keyboard tech since 2019 & later. That was 1 reason I got duped into buying the 2019 MBP 16" rather than wait for the 2021 MBP 16"

 

[sb in ak]

I upgraded from a late 2013 MBP 15" to a MBP 16" M1Pro MBP. I was pretty happy with the form factor etc. on the 2013 and the 16" feels like a pretty natural upgrade.

 

[jdvoracek]

My reply is based on using my wife's 2019 MacBook Air (Intel), my new 2021 MacBook M1Pro, and my old (late) 2013 MacBook Pro which I traded in. If you can, wait for the 2022 MacBook Air which almost certainly will return to a MagSafe charge connector over the USB-C one on the current Air's - not a deal breaker, but I'd wait if I could.

I had to replace the keyboard on my 2013 MBP, then the replaced keyboard started acting up. I had to replace the battery also. In spite of this, Apple still accepted it on trade in. Maybe they didn't notice? In any case, I was happy to see it gone.

The keyboards are great on her Air and my M1 Pro. For a small but pleasant computer for email, browsing and video conferencing, the Air is great. I would just wait for the M2 and the MagSafe charging if I could. GL!

 

[ctjack]

if it is just your coach machine, then i would pickup base M1 Air from microcenter or bestbuy open box for $700-$800 and wouldn't think twice. Or $1229 m1 Air 16/512 from apple refurbished.

 

[janvier25]

if it is just your coach machine, then i would pickup base M1 Air from microcenter or bestbuy open box for $700-$800 and wouldn't think twice. Or $1229 m1 Air 16/512 from apple refurbished.

I would love an Air to replace my 2012/2015 refurb MBP but 13" is just too small for me. I don't need a MBP for $3k. I normally have 40 tabs open in my browser and stream video in the corner, which I can't do in 13". Hoping to limp along until summer in case they come out with a 15". I'd even like to go bigger since I'm mostly bedbound with my computer on my lap.
Any suggestion for me? Do I have to find a 17" Windows machine?

 

[MBAir2010]

What should I replace my MBP 2012 with?​

another Macbook Pro 2012

 

[Diablo360]

Any of the newer M1 models should be good

 

[applesed]

I would love an Air to replace my 2012/2015 refurb MBP but 13" is just too small for me. I don't need a MBP for $3k. I normally have 40 tabs open in my browser and stream video in the corner, which I can't do in 13". Hoping to limp along until summer in case they come out with a 15". I'd even like to go bigger since I'm mostly bedbound with my computer on my lap.
Any suggestion for me? Do I have to find a 17" Windows machine?

The rumors for a 15 inch air is for next year. You could get a base 16 inch pro under 3k.

 

[jessejesse]

A monkey/typewriter combo - you just have to know the right people.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

I also have a 2012 macbook pro and moved on to a 2015 15” retina macbook pro and absolutely love it! It’s great having the extra scredn real estate over the 13” and is just a really great laptop. Get whatever you want but honestly I can’t believe how great the old 2015 is and it runs Monterrey so there you go…

 

[jav6454]

My venerable 2012 15 is coming to the end of its days. these days I mostly use it just for typing long emails but it’s a different world then when I got this originally. My main machine is an iMac Pro so this is secondary machine only for the couch.

im ok with used or refurb.

I came from the 1st Gen Aluminum MacBooks from 2008. I got an M1 13" MBP. I got it just a few months ago. Solid machine, and would recommend. I ended getting the 1TB and 16GB RAM model with full M1. For my needs, it fits the bill, and coming from a 2008 model, it is a great leap.

 

[janvier25]

The rumors for a 15 inch air is for next year. You could get a base 16 inch pro under 3k.

Do you have any source for the rumour? Last summer I heard it was for this year. My 2012 computer won't last another year, could go any minute.
A base 16" MBP is $3500 in Canada including tax but without AppleCare. Every one of my Macs since 1988 cost $1200; $3500 is a huge jump. Thing is, I need 16" but don't need a MBP anymore.

 

[janvier25]

Any of the newer M1 models should be good

Yes, but that doesn't solve the size vs price problem.

 

[applesed]

if you don't need a mac, need a 16 inch screen, but not the power of the mbp, look at things like lg gram. or pay the piper.

 

[ctjack]

or pay the piper.

I am eagerly waiting next update of MBP16/14 line next year or so, because bestbuy immediately dropped the older stock for half price and open-box with 3x discount. Getting $3000 MBP 16(max version) for $1500-$2000 might be a good idea by then. The usual base would be even cheaper closer to $1000-$1200.

 

[janvier25]

if you don't need a mac, need a 16 inch screen, but not the power of the mbp, look at things like lg gram. or pay the piper.

Yeah, that's what I've considered. It will be sad to go to Windows after a lifetime on Macs. (Too bad the Gram has a number pad, and I've read the sound isn't great.)

 

[Tagbert]

Yeah, that's what I've considered. It will be sad to go to Windows after a lifetime on Macs. (Too bad the Gram has a number pad, and I've read the sound isn't great.)

There are some rumors that Apple might bring out a 15” Air, though that is not certain and may not be this year. I think it would find a lot of buyers, though

 

[jav6454]

There are some rumors that Apple might bring out a 15” Air, though that is not certain and may not be this year. I think it would find a lot of buyers, though

It wouldn't be an Air tho... theoretically, the allure of the Air was the fact that when Steve introduced it, it could fit easily within an office mail envelop; at 15" it wouldn't. However, that doesn't mean it won't happen. I just like to think that anything bigger wouldn't fulfill the ultra-portable Air factor.

 

[Tagbert]

It wouldn't be an Air tho... theoretically, the allure of the Air was the fact that when Steve introduced it, it could fit easily within an office mail envelop; at 15" it wouldn't. However, that doesn't mean it won't happen. I just like to think that anything bigger wouldn't fulfill the ultra-portable Air factor.

“Air” is like “Pro”. It has a flexible definition in Apple’s marketing terms. In Apple’s laptop lineup the Air is the inexpensive product line and the Pro is the more expensive product line. If they do a 15” Air it will be thinner and lighter than the 16” MBP. Of course it is not clear that Apple will continue to use the Air name or which laptops will get that name as they do a major redesign and rejiggering of the lower end products. With the Air and the 13” MBP bumping elbows and a large price gap between the Air and the 14” MBP, there is room to do some rationalization in those products.

 

[jav6454]

“Air” is like “Pro”. It has a flexible definition in Apple’s marketing terms. In Apple’s laptop lineup the Air is the inexpensive product line and the Pro is the more expensive product line. If they do a 15” Air it will be thinner and lighter than the 16” MBP. Of course it is not clear that Apple will continue to use the Air name or which laptops will get that name as they do a major redesign and rejiggering of the lower end products. With the Air and the 13” MBP bumping elbows and a large price gap between the Air and the 14” MBP, there is room to do some rationalization in those products.

Any "Pro", "Air" branding is flexible. However for me, anything bigger than 13" would likely (given Apple's current history) not be an Air product designation on the laptop space.

Remember, like I said, the Air form factor has been always alluded to portability. Just like when we had a 11" Air and not a bigger one. Also remember, size increase also implies weight increase which runs against the "Air" motto.