User profile for user: lucasnj
lucasnj Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Is this "End of Life" for my Macbook Pro Mid-2012 A1278?


Recently I've been coming back to using my Macbook Pro for editing videos and coding, when (primarily for coding anyway.) I had an issue come up when I was updating the latest version of VS Code so what had happen is when I installed the latest software it decided not to operate I understand during the installation I had a pop-up that came up that said you must have MacOS 11 or greater to run on VS code which tells me that most of the software will not run anymore because of my Intel Core i5 will not be supported which I heard from other articles online after this point Apple will not continue supporting Intel processors will move over Apple Silicon Chip this time. =( This point I had this laptop for 3 years refurbished on to another website, I understand it is time to move on but I do have to say that I am little bit disappointed. The only I have not updated is iMovie on that laptop but for other 3rd party software I have not updated the software because I fear it will not work past ver 10.15.7. That said I can't purchase another Apple laptop which is said to see it go because I still use USB-A on to this current model. Unless the current Macbook out on the market what I like about this is you can swap out your battery and your SSD which makes it very, very modular and easy to update one of the updates i did get around is the RAM 2 years ago.


To get around this limitation I will end up using 3rd party browsers and open-source software, I use to record my podcast on GarageBand where I first started recording my podcast theme music. That said I can't not use GarageBand since you do have to use MacOS 11 or over, which I have to say bum me out a little bit,... no fear I do have Audacity to take its place.


That said, I don't think making over 1K Macbook Pro laptop purchases will justify with the state of the economy now. Since the laptop still works alright for me, I will be using my Macbook Pro much longer for podcasting, writing, and traveling abroad.


For anyone reading, Do you have an Intel Core processor still running today in 2025? I feel at this point, I wouldn't mind upgrading, the Apple M1 series is not in my budget, What model laptops are you currently running?


Much Thanks?

-lucasnj

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 26, 2025 9:08 PM

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
26,807 points

Posted on Apr 26, 2025 10:01 PM

There are some Intel-based Macs that can run macOS 15.* (Sequoia) – the latest major version of macOS.

macOS Sequoia is compatible with these computers - Apple Support


Your MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) is not one of them. For it, the end of the line is macOS 10.15.* (Catalina) – which is eight major versions ahead of Mac OS X 10.7.4 (Lion), the OS that originally shipped with that Mac model.


We are now something like four and a half years into the Apple Silicon era, with no Intel-based Macs left in Apple's new model lineup. I would expect that there will come a day when new versions of macOS will drop all support for Intel-based Macs … just as Mac OS X 10.6 dropped the ability to run on PowerPC-based Macs, and Mac OS X 10.7 dropped support for running Mac OS X / PowerPC applications using Rosetta 1.


But your Mac would not be able to run the latest versions of macOS even if Apple had stuck with Intel CPUs. Time marches on, and a computer released nearly 13 years ago is one that is ancient in computer terms.


As far as replacing that Intel-based Mac notebook with another Intel-based Mac notebook, note that many of the Mac notebooks that came out between 2015 and 2019 had the infamous "butterfly-key-switch" keyboard design. Should dirt get into the keyboard and cause keys to malfunction, repairs can be very expensive. There was once a service program for repairing those keyboards free of charge – but the deadline for getting the free repairs expired.

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
26,807 points

Apr 26, 2025 10:01 PM in response to lucasnj

There are some Intel-based Macs that can run macOS 15.* (Sequoia) – the latest major version of macOS.

macOS Sequoia is compatible with these computers - Apple Support


Your MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) is not one of them. For it, the end of the line is macOS 10.15.* (Catalina) – which is eight major versions ahead of Mac OS X 10.7.4 (Lion), the OS that originally shipped with that Mac model.


We are now something like four and a half years into the Apple Silicon era, with no Intel-based Macs left in Apple's new model lineup. I would expect that there will come a day when new versions of macOS will drop all support for Intel-based Macs … just as Mac OS X 10.6 dropped the ability to run on PowerPC-based Macs, and Mac OS X 10.7 dropped support for running Mac OS X / PowerPC applications using Rosetta 1.


But your Mac would not be able to run the latest versions of macOS even if Apple had stuck with Intel CPUs. Time marches on, and a computer released nearly 13 years ago is one that is ancient in computer terms.


As far as replacing that Intel-based Mac notebook with another Intel-based Mac notebook, note that many of the Mac notebooks that came out between 2015 and 2019 had the infamous "butterfly-key-switch" keyboard design. Should dirt get into the keyboard and cause keys to malfunction, repairs can be very expensive. There was once a service program for repairing those keyboards free of charge – but the deadline for getting the free repairs expired.

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User profile for user: lucasnj
lucasnj Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Apr 27, 2025 7:35 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Thanks so much for the reply back, At this stage of my laptop's life is considered EOL I do get it. Time marches on, I'll continue using an Intel-based laptop since it is still affordable. I do remember the butterfly key switch which was a known issue on the design, I'll make sure when I do purchase another Intel-based Macbook that's another thing to consider when purchasing a refurbished Macbook around 2015-2019. That is right repairs can be very expensive. That's one thing to consider when purchasing older laptop models

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
65,096 points

Apr 27, 2025 9:34 AM in response to lucasnj

lucasnj wrote:

Thanks so much for the reply back, At this stage of my laptop's life is considered EOL I do get it. Time marches on, I'll continue using an Intel-based laptop since it is still affordable. I do remember the butterfly key switch which was a known issue on the design, I'll make sure when I do purchase another Intel-based Macbook that's another thing to consider when purchasing a refurbished Macbook around 2015-2019. That is right repairs can be very expensive. That's one thing to consider when purchasing older laptop models

Personally I would avoid all of the Apple 2016-2020 Intel Macs with USB-C ports. They have a lot of other issues besides just the dreaded butterfly keyboards (2016-2019), plus they won't be supported for too much longer. If money is tight, then save up and get an actual M2+ Mac if you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

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Is this "End of Life" for my Macbook Pro Mid-2012 A1278?

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