MacBook Pro Mid-2012 15"

The MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.3 15-Inch (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) is powered by a 22 nm "Ivy Bridge" 2.3 GHz Intel "Core i7" processor (3615QM), featuring four independent cores on a single chip and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. It comes with 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (PC3-12800) in pairs, a 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL "SuperDrive," and dual graphics processors: a NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 sharing system memory. It also includes an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam.

The standard configuration has an LED-backlit 15.4-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1440x900), but a "high-res" glossy or antiglare 1680x1050 display was available for an additional US$100.

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, separate audio in/out ports, and an SDXC card slot. This model uses a "Unibody" aluminum case, milled from a single piece of aluminum, and features a backlit keyboard, a "no button" glass "inertial" multi-touch trackpad, and a non-swappable battery with an estimated 7-hour life. Compared to its predecessor, this model is externally almost identical except for the addition of USB 3.0 ports. Internally, however, it boasts a faster processor, architecture, graphics, and RAM.

The Mid-2012 15-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro was the final iteration of the classic, beloved unibody design. It was praised for its powerful quad-core Ivy Bridge processor and capable NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics, which provided a significant performance uplift. The addition of USB 3.0 ports brought its connectivity up to modern standards. Its key selling point, especially in later years, was its unparalleled upgradability—users could easily replace the RAM, hard drive, and even the optical drive. This made it a favorite for those who valued longevity and customization. While it lacked the flashy Retina display of its newer sibling, it was celebrated as a reliable, powerful, and user-serviceable workhorse, representing the end of an era for Apple laptops.