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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

Apple · MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

Released June 2012

The final non-Retina 15-inch MacBook Pro, with quad-core Intel processors, NVIDIA graphics, an optical drive and replaceable memory and storage.

Model history · 18 models, 2001–2012
  1. 2001PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)Compare
  2. 2001PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)Compare
  3. 2002PowerBook G4 (DVI)Compare
  4. 2002PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz)Compare
  5. 2003PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)Compare
  6. 2004PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.5/1.33GHz)Compare
  7. 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)Compare
  8. 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)Compare
  9. 2006MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)Compare
  10. 2006MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)Compare
  11. 2007MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2007)Compare
  12. 2008MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)Compare
  13. 2008MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)Compare
  14. 2009MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)Compare
  15. 2010MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)Compare
  16. 2011MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)Compare
  17. 2011MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)Compare
  18. 2012MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
Size
15.4″
Display
TN LCD
Processor
Intel Core i7
Memory
4 GB – 8 GB
Weight
2.56 kg
Battery
7 h

What reviewers say

Reviewers valued the sturdy case, replaceable memory and storage, optical drive and broad connections. The updated processors, graphics and USB 3 improved performance while the design stayed familiar. They found it heavy beside the Air and Retina Pro, and criticised the slow standard hard drive and lower-resolution screen. Macworld found normal use quiet but sustained encoding made the case warm.

From macworld.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Screen size
15.4″
Resolution
1440 × 900 or 1680 × 1050
Panel
TN LCD
Touchscreen
No
Display type
15.4-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, millions of colours; TN technology identified in Macworld's comparison test of its Mid-2012 non-Retina unit. Refresh rate and brightness unpublished by Apple.
Screen finish
Standard glossy screen; configurable to a 1680 × 1050 higher-resolution glossy or antiglare screen

Performance

Processor
Intel Core i7-3615QM, Intel Core i7-3720QM or Intel Core i7-3820QM
CPU cores
4
CPU threads
8
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5) or NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)
Memory
4 GB or 8 GB
Storage
128 GB to 1 TB
CPU
Quad-core Intel Core i7-3615QM at 2.3 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz and 6 MB L3 cache, or Core i7-3720QM at 2.6 GHz with up to 3.6 GHz and 6 MB cache; the higher base is configurable to Core i7-3820QM at 2.7 GHz with up to 3.7 GHz and 8 MB cache. Exact identities documented by EveryMac.
GPU
Intel HD Graphics 4000 plus NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with automatic graphics switching; 512 MB GDDR5 on the 2.3 GHz base or 1 GB GDDR5 on the 2.6 GHz base and its 2.7 GHz upgrade
Memory type
1600 MHz DDR3 memory; 4 GB on the 2.3 GHz base, configurable to 8 GB as two 4 GB modules; 8 GB on the 2.6 GHz base. Configurations retain the maker-supported 8 GB ceiling, excluding larger aftermarket upgrades.
Storage type
2.3 GHz base has a 500 GB 5400 rpm hard drive; 2.6 GHz base has 750 GB at 5400 rpm. Either offers 750 GB at 7200 rpm, 1 TB at 5400 rpm or 128/256/512 GB SSD; the lower base also offers 750 GB at 5400 rpm. Configurations list the distinct capacities; the two 750 GB rotational-speed options remain explicit here. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive.

Battery and size

Battery life (maker's claim)
Up to 7 hours
Battery capacity
77.5 Wh
Weight
2.56 kg
Thickness
24.1 mm
Width × depth
364 × 249 mm
Battery life detail
Built-in 77.5 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 7 hours wireless web under Apple's test conditions. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger
85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
Materials
Aluminium unibody enclosure
Colours
Silver

Connections

Ports
2 × USB-A, Thunderbolt, MagSafe, Ethernet, headphone jack, SD card slot
Wi-Fi
802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth
4.0
Webcam
720p FaceTime HD
Operating system
macOS
Port detail
Two USB 3 ports up to 5 Gb/s, Thunderbolt up to 10 Gb/s with native Mini DisplayPort output, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, SDXC, MagSafe and separate digital/analogue audio line input and output; Apple iPhone headset remote and microphone supported. Kensington lock slot and built-in SuperDrive; no HDMI port.
External displays
Built-in screen plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, with millions of colours; DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI or HDMI audio/video through separate Mini DisplayPort adapters
Keyboard
Full-size backlit keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, four arrow keys and ambient light sensor
Trackpad
Glass Multi-Touch trackpad with inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag
Speakers
Stereo speakers with subwoofer
Microphones
Omnidirectional microphone
In the box
MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord and documentation; OS X Lion and iLife, with a free Mountain Lion upgrade offered to eligible launch buyers

Configurations

ProcessorMemoryStorageGraphicsScreen
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB500 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB500 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM4 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB500 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB500 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3615QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (512 MB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3720QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB750 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB1 TBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB128 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB256 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1440 × 900
Intel Core i7-3820QM8 GB512 GBNVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1 GB GDDR5)1680 × 1050

Pros and cons

Pros

  • User-accessible memory and storage
  • Optical drive, Gigabit Ethernet and FireWire 800
  • Optional higher-resolution antiglare display

Cons

  • Weighs 2.56 kg before accessories
  • Base storage is a 5400 rpm hard drive
  • One Thunderbolt port

Closest rivals

Model
SizeDisplayProcessorMemoryWeightBatteryReleased
AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
15.4″–Intel Core 22 GB – 4 GB––Feb 2008
AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)
15.4″–Intel Core 21 GB – 3 GB–5 hOct 2006
AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
15.4″–Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006), Core Duo 2 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) or Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006)512 MB – 2 GB2.54 kg4.5 hFeb 2006

Previous model: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011).

Sources

  1. support.apple.com/en-gb/112568
  2. apple.com/uk/newsroom/2012/06/11Apple-Updates-MacBook-Air-and-Current-Generatio…
  3. everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup
  4. everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/macbook-pro-unibody-faq/macbook-pro-mid-…
  5. macworld.com/article/666846/macbook-pro-retina-review-15in-2-6ghz-2012.html
  6. intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/64889/intel-core-i73820qm-processor-8m…

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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