MacBook Pro with Retina display (15-inch, Mid 2012)
The first Mac laptop with a Retina display, thinner and flash-only.
Overview
Unveiled at WWDC 2012, this was a clean-sheet redesign. The 15.4-inch display had four times as many pixels as the previous model, at 2880 by 1800, and its glass covered the entire front. The machine measured 0.71 inch thick and weighed just over 4.4 pounds.
A 2.3 GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics and 8 GB of memory were standard, with flash storage replacing the hard drive. Ports included two Thunderbolt, two USB 3.0 and HDMI plus an SDXC slot, and MagSafe 2 supplied power.
The lack of an optical drive and upgradeable memory divided opinion, but the design became the template for every MacBook Pro for the next four years.
Why it mattered
Brought Retina resolution and flash storage to the Mac laptop, setting the direction for every Pro model afterward.
At a glance
- Announced
- June 11, 2012
- Released
- June 11, 2012
- Discontinued
- October 22, 2013
- Launch price
- $2,199
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i7 quad-core, 2.3 GHz
- Display
- 15.4"
- Storage
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 768 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- 2880 x 1800 Retina display
- 0.71-inch thin body
- Quad-core Ivy Bridge
- Flash storage standard
- MagSafe 2 and HDMI
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 15.4-inch
- Type
- Retina IPS LED-backlit
- Resolution
- 2880 x 1800
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i7 quad-core, 2.3 GHz
- CPU cores
- 4
Memory
- RAM
- 8 GB or 16 GB
- Storage options
- 256 GB, 512 GB or 768 GB flash
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 7 hours
Ports
- Ports
- 2 Thunderbolt, 2 USB 3.0, HDMI, SDXC, headphone jack
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11n
Camera
- Camera
- 720p FaceTime HD
Design
- Weight
- 2.02 kg (4.46 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- OS X 10.7.4
How it compares
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