Apple Officially Obsoletes First MacBook Pro With a Retina Display
As expected, Apple’s first MacBook Pro with a Retina display is now officially classed as “obsolete” worldwide, just over eight years after its release.
Apart from being the first MacBook Pro to boast a Retina display, the 2012 model had a much slimmer design than previous models. This was made possible by Apple removing the built-in Ethernet port and optical disc drive for CDs/DVDs. It still featured pairs of Thunderbolt and USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot, however.
In a support document, Apple notes that obsolete products are no longer eligible for hardware service, with “no exceptions.” This means that any mid-2012 Retina MacBook Pro 15-inch models still out there that require a battery or other repairs will no longer be accepted by Apple.
The only alternatives are to follow one of iFixit’s many do-it-yourself repair guides, or to make enquiries at an independent repair shop, although many do not use official Apple parts.
When the MacBook Pro with Retina display was revealed at WWDC 2012, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller called it “a breakthrough in display engineering” and claimed there had “never been a notebook this gorgeous.”
Apart from being the first MacBook Pro to boast a Retina display, the 2012 model had a much slimmer design than previous models. This was made possible by Apple removing the built-in Ethernet port and optical disc drive for CDs/DVDs. It still featured pairs of Thunderbolt and USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot, however.
