MacBook Pro Mid-2012 13"

The MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.9 13-Inch (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) is powered by a 22 nm "Ivy Bridge" 2.9 GHz Intel "Core i7" processor (3520M), which has two independent processor cores on a single chip and a 4 MB shared level 3 cache. It includes 8 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (PC3-12800) installed in two 4 GB modules, a 750 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL "SuperDrive," an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor that shares system memory, an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam, and a 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display with a native resolution of 1280x800.

Connectivity features consist of 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 utilizes a "Unibody" aluminum case design—milled from a single piece of aluminum—and comes with a backlit keyboard, a "no button" glass "inertial" multi-touch trackpad, and a non-removable battery design providing an Apple-estimated 7 hours of battery life.

Compared to the previous version, 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 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.9 GHz Core i7 processor was the most powerful iteration of the classic, non-Retina unibody design. It was celebrated for combining top-tier dual-core performance with the legendary upgradability of its chassis, allowing users to easily swap RAM and storage. The move to the Ivy Bridge architecture and the addition of USB 3.0 were welcome modernizations. While it lacked the high-resolution screen of its newer sibling, it was a beloved workhorse for those who valued performance, a full complement of ports, and the ability to service their own machine. For many, it represented the pinnacle of Apple's user-serviceable laptop era, a powerful and reliable machine with exceptional longevity.