I have a mid 2012 MacBook Pro. I went up to high Sierra (from el cap) in the summer and all good. I updated reluctantly for Adobe reasons (premiere pro and media encoder), but all my music apps are fine. I use Ableton live 9, bitwig 3, reason 10 and MainStage 3. Mar 30, 2019 Testing conducted by Apple in May 2012 using preproduction 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5–based 13-inch MacBook Air units and preproduction 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5–based 11-inch MacBook Air units. The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 50%.
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Assuming some Mac users are here... I need to use High Sierra or higher on my Mac. As i use this MBP mainly for djaying it still runs on El Capitan (10.11) because i am a bit afraid to change that winning team and maybe end up loosing stability.
OK, anyone around who uses such an old MacBook Pro with some hints on the best and reliable macOS for me?
Comments
What I can say is that each successive macOS update made my Mac Mini (not Macbook Pro) 2012 increasingly slower. Unfortunately, I need to always run the very latest macOS and Xcode for app development, so there's no way I can't update.
With the last few updates, especially 'Mojave', the Mac is essentially bricked -- it is so slow that it is completely unusable. Every single mouse click, popup menu etc. produces a beachball for several seconds, and launching applications, even simple ones like 'Settings', takes minutes. A reinstall didn't help a lot.
So, if the Macbook Pro has specs that are similar to my Mac Mini (Core i5 2.5GHz, 4 GB RAM, mechanical hard drive), then I cannot recommend updating at all.
- edited November 2019
I assume you have already checked to see if your computer can update to High Sierra. I have a unibody MacBook (not Pro) from 2012 and the hardware will only allow El Capitan to be installed. The App store still pops up a window asking me to upgrade to High Sierra but when I try it says the hardware won't allow. I have updated a MacBook Air to High Sierra (not Mojave yet) without issue but I don't use DJ software so I can't vouch for that.
I can't remember what I'm running on my mid 2012 MBP main drive, I'll check next time I boot in. I tend to run it from an external SSD now, and that's on High Sierra. It runs ok, though not as fast as it did with El Capitan.
- edited November 2019
To be honest, the only reason I upgrade my Mac is because I need to to run a certain application (usually something from Apple). I haven't seen a compelling feature in years.
I'd probably still be at 10.6.8 if I could, but I've been fine running what I need to run up to Sierra (10.12). And unlike running newer iOS versions on old hardware, I haven't seen a degradation in performance with newer OSs. To be clear here: I have a late-2013 MPB, so performance will be different.
What I would suggest is looking at the apps you need to run and see if there are issues with any of these newer OS versions.
Note that with High Sierra Apple changed the underlying filesystem, so some apps (notably Apple's older Pro Apps; Logic Pro 9, Final Cut Pro 7, etc.) don't work.
Mojave wasn't a major change from High Sierra so most things that work with 10.13 should work with 10.14, however, in some cases there won't be guarantees (e.g. Ableton says Live 9 is 'not fully compatible' with 10.14; it seems to work, but....)
Catalina is a big change in that 32 bit apps have been killed, so if you've got any legacy software you might want to hold off.
I upgraded my mid 2012 MBP to Mojave recently - I've not noticed any speed differences from High Sierra.
Just before that I replaced my ageing HD with a new SSD and the performance improved so dramatically I felt like I've got a brand new computer!
It's only on large Logic and Ableton live projects where I feel like I'd want a newer machine - for regular use it's awesome
I also just upgraded my late 2012 i7 MacMini to Catalina and it seems to be running just as snappily as Mojave.
- edited November 2019
I have a mid 2012 MacBook Pro. I went up to high Sierra (from el cap) in the summer and all good. I updated reluctantly for Adobe reasons (premiere pro and media encoder), but all my music apps are fine. I use Ableton live 9, bitwig 3, reason 10 and MainStage 3. Crucial for me and a couple of my controllers is that Novation automap is still hanging in there.
Can't say i've noticed any slow down. I'm refusing to think of it as an ‘old' laptop just yet...
- I've just resuscitated a PowerBook g4 to run Rebirth on OS9... now that IS an old laptop.
@Pummelfee if you have not yet put in a SSD that should be your first task. It will make a huge difference in performance and might offset the slow/ stability problems.
@steve99 said:
I have a mid 2012 MacBook Pro. I went up to high Sierra (from el cap) in the summer and all good. I updated reluctantly for Adobe reasons (premiere pro and media encoder), but all my music apps are fine. I use Ableton live 9, bitwig 3, reason 10 and MainStage 3. Crucial for me and a couple of my controllers is that Novation automap is still hanging in there.Can't say i've noticed any slow down. I'm refusing to think of it as an ‘old' laptop just yet...
- I've just resuscitated a PowerBook g4 to run Rebirth on OS9... now that IS an old laptop.
You wouldn't happen to know if Snow Leopard will run on a 2012? I have 2011 that just died. It was super stable under Snow Leopard. The 2011 MBPros (the quad i7) have a known logic board problem so I am hesitant to get another 2011. The 2013 MPBs can't run Snow Leopard. I can get a 2012 at a decent price but haven't been able to find out if the 2012 will run Snow Leopard.
I don't have an SSD in mine and I don't have any particular slowness or stability issues with High Sierra. That's not to say it wouldn't be an improvement.
If it ain't broke...
Trust me, it will feel like it had always been broke before the SSD. It is soooo worth it.
@Hmtx said:
Trust me, it will feel like it had always been broke before the SSD. It is soooo worth it.
+1. I've got an external SSD hooked up via USB, I've timed a few things and it running around 8-10 times faster than my internal HD.
- edited November 2019
If you have a big enough hard drive to lose ~60gb, you can partition the drive and install a new os on the partition, and keep your old system. Then you can keep a system that runs reliably with older programs and hardware- something especially interesting to musicians that don't want to buy all new stuff every couple years.
Eventually you'll have problems getting a web browser to work right, on an old os, but I usually use the newer os for internet stuff, and use the old os to remain productive with older programs. Planned obsolescence is a screw, hardware has outpaced many people's need for better systems, the only way to get them to buy new stuff is to get the old stuff to work worse and worse with each update.
@SevenSystems said:
What I can say is that each successive macOS update made my Mac Mini (not Macbook Pro) 2012 increasingly slower. Unfortunately, I need to always run the very latest macOS and Xcode for app development, so there's no way I can't update.With the last few updates, especially 'Mojave', the Mac is essentially bricked -- it is so slow that it is completely unusable. Every single mouse click, popup menu etc. produces a beachball for several seconds, and launching applications, even simple ones like 'Settings', takes minutes. A reinstall didn't help a lot.
So, if the Macbook Pro has specs that are similar to my Mac Mini (Core i5 2.5GHz, 4 GB RAM, mechanical hard drive), then I cannot recommend updating at all.
My Mac Mini 2012 is actually running really great I have one partition on Mojave and another on Catalina, plus a third I don't use on Mountain Lion. I got it earlier this year and putting the SSD in it was the best thing I've done to it. You need to do that one way or another. I upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 16GB, but probably didn't really need to.
2 things.
1. Flipping it over, twisting off the back, and putting in more RAM is needed immediately. It's almost as easy as resetting NVRAM. It takes up to 16GB but you can get 8GB pretty cheap there are only two slots so get them in a pair
2. You should get an SSD. 2012 Mac Minis are currently not listed as Vintage, so you might be able to get an Apple Store/Authorized Service Provider to upgrade to an SSD though the apple one looks like 256GB. I did an unauthorized modification easily it's just SATA and easy to put in yourself. You need a couple torx screwdrivers, something non conductive to take out a ribbon cable, and an anti static wristband. My Apple Hardware Test doesn't run after doing that.
2.5. Maybe you can just find a Thunderbolt SSD drive and install your MacOS on that, it should be fast enough.@Pummelfee said:
Assuming some Mac users are here... I need to use High Sierra or higher on my Mac. As i use this MBP mainly for djaying it still runs on El Capitan (10.11) because i am a bit afraid to change that winning team and maybe end up loosing stability.
OK, anyone around who uses such an old MacBook Pro with some hints on the best and reliable macOS for me?Just make sure to do a Time Machine backup so you can roll it back or even make two partitions. Also, El Capitan is no longer available for anyone who can update past it. So, unless you make your time machine backup, or have a bootable installer for it, you won't get it back.
Go to About this Mac and then System Report to get into System Information. Go down to Software and choose Applications. Check the 32 bit app category, none of these will work on 10.15 Catalina. If you are on Mojave already it's under Legacy Software as well below Applications.
@SevenSystems said:
What I can say is that each successive macOS update made my Mac Mini (not Macbook Pro) 2012 increasingly slower. Unfortunately, I need to always run the very latest macOS and Xcode for app development, so there's no way I can't update.With the last few updates, especially 'Mojave', the Mac is essentially bricked -- it is so slow that it is completely unusable. Every single mouse click, popup menu etc. produces a beachball for several seconds, and launching applications, even simple ones like 'Settings', takes minutes. A reinstall didn't help a lot.
So, if the Macbook Pro has specs that are similar to my Mac Mini (Core i5 2.5GHz, 4 GB RAM, mechanical hard drive), then I cannot recommend updating at all.
I'm running Catalina on my Late 2012 Mac Mini w/o any problems. It has 16GB of RAM (max amount for this model) and an SSD drive, which makes a big difference. Of course, it's not as fast as the latest mac models but fast enough for everyday use
Adding more memory is super easy. Swapping the drive is harder but still not very hard if you know how to do it or have a good manual.
I bought the following kit for adding one more internal drive (I kept the original HDD and just added an SSD drive): https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/ I highly recommend it. They also offer similar upgrade options for other modelsWith my MacBook Pro 13' (Mid 2012, i7 CPU, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD) I made the best experiences under High Sierra. I still regret my update to Mojave till today (because of regular Bluetooth problems, which Apple hasn't fixed yet).
- edited November 2019
@yug, yes, of course I considered those upgrades as well. But before I do that and void my warranty, and the whole Mac probably will be 'deprecated' next year anyway (I'm already getting warnings about it when starting Xcode etc.), I'll probably just try to somehow justify the expense of $700 for the cheapest current Mac Mini with my inner self
(it must also be said that my Windows 7 laptop from 2012, which has roughly the same hardware, still runs at light speed and an upgrade to Windows 10 would probably make it actually faster instead of slower, so maybe Apple needs to do some optimization there in general )
- edited November 2019
I would vote High Sierra for the on topic question. I believe it is still getting security patches and the newer features aren't killer unless you are deep into the Apple ecosystem with multiple devices.
@SevenSystems You should look into an OWC (or equivalent in your market) SSD upgrade. I still get good service out of a MacBook Pro 2011 with 512 ssd and 16gb memory upgrades that I did myself. That was an easier upgrade than yours, but if you are careful it is mid difficulty. Check the videos out and be careful with the connectors.
(No one should run a spinning disc Mac, imho.)
My development machine is now a 2015 13inch MacBook Pro. 2015 was a good year before the butterfly switch dark times if you are looking on the used market. Those prices should come down as the new 16inch and next years laptops roll out. 2015 MacBooks storage can even be upgraded to 2TB (but stick to 16gb models since that can't be changed) so a nice vintage. 🙂
Apple MacBook Air 'Core i7' 2.0 11' (Mid-2012) Specs
Identifiers: Mid-2012 - MD845LL/A - MacBookAir5,1 - A1465 - 2558
All MacBook Air Models | All 2012 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others
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The MacBook Air 'Core i7' 2.0 11-Inch (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) originally was offered as a 'configure-to-order' configuration of the MD224LL/A MacBook Air 'Core i5' 1.7 11-Inch (Mid-2012), but it later was sold as a standard configuration, as well. Other than processor (and the corresponding larger level 3 cache), these two models can be configured identically.
The Apple MacBook Air 'Core i7' 2.0 11' (Mid-2012/USB 3.0) features a 22-nm 'Ivy Bridge' 2.0 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (3667U) with two independent processor 'cores' on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB or 8 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which cannot be upgraded after purchase), 128 GB or 256 GB of flash storage, and an 'integrated' Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares system memory.
This all is packed in a razor thin (0.11-0.68 inch), 2.3 pound, aluminum case with an integrated 720p 'FaceTime HD' webcam, a backlit full-size keyboard and an 11.6' widescreen TFT LED backlit active-matrix 'glossy' display (1366x768 native resolution).
Connectivity includes 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, analog audio out, a 'Thunderbolt' port, and two USB 3.0 ports. It lacks internal Ethernet, although an external Thunderbolt adapter was offered as a US$29 option.
Compared to its predecessor, this model has a very similar external enclosure, although it includes the aforementioned USB 3.0 ports and a new thinner and wider 'MagSafe 2' power connector. Internally, however, it has a faster processor, architecture, graphics, RAM, and storage.
Also see:
- What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models?
- What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models and the 'Mid-2011' MacBook Air that they replaced?
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Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.
Introduction Date: | June 11, 2012 | Discontinued Date: | June 10, 2013 |
Details: | The 'Introduction Date' refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The 'Discontinued Date' refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. Also see: All Macs introduced in 2012. |
Details: | Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort. |
Details: | Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
Details: | These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
Details: | These Geekbench 4 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 4 benchmarks are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
Details: | These Geekbench 5 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the Mac are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for Macs with the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models. To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison. |
Processor Speed: | 2.0 GHz | Processor Type: | Core i7 (I7-3667U) |
Details: | This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit Intel Mobile Core i7 'Ivy Bridge' (I7-3667U) processor which includes two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 4 MB of level 3 cache, and has an integrated memory controller (dual channel). This system also supports 'Turbo Boost 2.0' -- which 'automatically increases the speed of the active cores' to improve performance when needed (up to 3.2 GHz for this model) -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize four total 'cores' or 'threads' (two real and two virtual). Also see: How much faster are the custom processor configured 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models than the stock models? Is the extra performance worth the extra cost? |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | N/A |
System Bus Speed: | 5 GT/s* | Cache Bus Speed: | 2.0 GHz (Built-in) |
Details: | *This system has a 'Direct Media Interface' (DMI) that 'connects between the processor and chipset' in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s. |
Details: | N/A |
L1 Cache: | 32k/32k x2 | L2/L3 Cache: | 256k x2, 4 MB (on chip) |
Details: | Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 4 MB of shared level 3 cache. |
Details: | Shipped standard with 4 GB or 8 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM onboard. |
Details: | *4 GB or 8 GB of RAM is onboard. It could be upgraded at the time of purchase to 8 GB as a US$100 option (and 8 GB of RAM is standard on the MD845LL/A configuration), but it cannot be upgraded later. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
Details: | *There are no RAM slots. 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM is onboard. It could be upgraded at the time of purchase to 8 GB as a US$100 option (and 8 GB of RAM is onboard the MD845LL/A configuration), but it cannot be upgraded later. |
Details: | This model has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares memory with the system. |
Details: | *Apple and Intel do not report the minimum memory usage for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor. However, with 4 GB of RAM standard, 384 MB of memory is reserved for graphics use. With the 8 GB RAM upgrade, 512 MB of memory is reserved for graphics. |
Built-in Display: | 11.6' Widescreen | Native Resolution: | 1366x768 |
Details: | 11.6' color widescreen TFT LED-backlit active-matrix 'glossy' display with a 1366 by 768 native resolution. Apple reports that it also supports '1344 by 756, 1280 by 720, 1024 by 576 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio; 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio'. In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Air. No fix, no fee! In Germany, site sponsor Conodi provides high quality Mac and PC repair services as well as remote home office setup and troubleshooting. In-person and mail order repair services include the display, motherboard, water damage and more for this MacBook Air. In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, battery, keyboard, motherboard, and more for this MacBook Air. In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the display, motherboard, battery, water damage issues, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this MacBook Air. |
2nd Display Support: | Dual/Mirroring* | 2nd Max. Resolution: | 2560x1600 (x2) |
Details: | *Although Apple makes no mention of it, third-parties have discovered that this model can simultaneously support two external displays up to 2560x1600 'daisy chained' via Thunderbolt. |
Standard Storage: | 128, 256 GB SSD | Std. Storage Speed: | 246/264 MB/s* |
Details: | This model also could be equipped with 256 GB or 512 GB of flash storage at the time of purchase (and the MD845LL/A configuration shipped with 256 GB standard). The 256 GB and 512 GB storage upgrades originally were an additional US$300 or US$800, respectively. Apple dropped the price to US$200 and US$500, respectively, on February 13, 2013. Apple does not intend for one to upgrade the storage after purchase, but it is quite possible. *Third-party tests using the Blackmagic benchmark report write speeds of 246 MB/s and read speeds of 264 MB/s for Samsung 128 GB SSDs in this notebook. Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the storage in the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models? Is it even possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
Storage Dimensions: | Proprietary | Storage Interface: | Proprietary* (6 Gb/s) |
Details: | *As first discovered by site sponsor OWC, the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models use a different proprietary connector than previous models. It provides 6 Gb/s of bandwidth (SATA III). |
Details: | *MacBook Air models do not have an internal optical drive. Site sponsor Adorama offers the external Apple USB SuperDrive for US$79. It writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL at 4X, DVD-R and DVD+R at 8X, DVD-RW at 6X, DVD+RW at 8X, reads DVD at 8X, writes CD-R at 24X, writes CD-RW at 16X, and reads CD at 24X. Site sponsor Other World Computing also has a variety of compact external optical drive options that may be of interest, including some with Blu-ray capability. Also see: What are the full capabilities of the external SuperDrive available for the MacBook Air? Can it be used with other Macs? |
Details: | *No MacBook Air models have an internal Ethernet port. However, for the 'Mid-2012' models, an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter was offered for US$29. Also see: What official and third-party adapters are available to connect the MacBook Air to wired Ethernet networks? |
Standard AirPort: | 802.11a/b/g/n | Standard Bluetooth: | 4.0 |
Details: | 802.11n (802.11a/b/g capable as well) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), no Firewire ports. Also see: What is the best USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 hub to use with the MacBook Air while traveling? |
Details: | No expansion slots or bays provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external accessories, including docks, adapters, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Air. |
Incl. Keyboard: | Full-size | Incl. Input: | Trackpad (Inertial) |
Details: | Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has '78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement) with ambient light sensor.' The multi-touch trackpad supports 'inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities.' Also see: What are the differences between the trackpads in different MacBook Air models? |
Details: | This MacBook Air uses a razor thin aluminum case design with a 'catchless' magnetic latch. |
Details: | This Apple order number should be unique to this model. |
Apple Model No: | A1465 (EMC 2558) | Model ID: | MacBookAir5,1 |
Details: | Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. Also see: All Macs with the A1465 Model Number, the 2558 EMC Number, and the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
Details: | Apple reports that this model has a 'built-in 35-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' and the company claims that it can provide up to 5 hours of 'wireless web' use. Apple additionally notes that it provides 'up to' 30 days of standby time. It is bundled with a 45W MagSafe 2 power adapter. Also see: What is the battery life of the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models in 'real-world' usage tests? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Air. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Air. |
Pre-Installed MacOS: | X 10.7.4 (11E2520) | Maximum MacOS: | X 10.15.x* |
Details: | *This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion,' OS X 10.9 'Mavericks,' and OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan.' It is capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) as well, although it does not support the Auto Unlock feature. This model is capable of running macOS High Sierra (10.13), and it supports HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), but it does not support hardware accelerated HEVC. This model is compatible with the final version of macOS Mojave (10.14) and the final version of macOS Catalina (10.15), as well. It does not support macOS Big Sur (macOS 11) or later versions of the macOS. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features? Has anything been removed from previous versions of the macOS? |
Minimum Windows: | 7 (32-Bit)* | Maximum Windows: | 10 (64-Bit)* |
Details: | *Apple's Boot Camp 4 supports the 32-bit version of Windows 7 on this model. Boot Camp 5 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Boot Camp 6 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Earlier versions of Windows are not supported. |
MacOS 9 Support: | None | Windows Support: | Boot/Virtualization |
Details: | Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs? Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
Dimensions: | .11-.68 x 11.8 x 7.56 | Avg. Weight: | 2.38 lbs (1.08 kg) |
Details: | In inches while closed - minimum height to maximum height by width by depth, (0.3 cm-1.7 cm, 29.95 cm, 19.2 cm). |
Original Price (US): | US$1249 | Est. Current Retail: | US$350-US$600 |
Details: | If equipped with the same 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage as the MD224LL/A configuration, but custom configured with a 2.0 GHz 'Core i7' processor for an additional US$150, the total was US$1249. Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.
Video (Monitor): | 1 (Thunderbolt) | Floppy (Ext.): | None |
Details: | Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. Also see: What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages? |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), no Firewire ports. Also see: What is the best USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 hub to use with the MacBook Air while traveling? |
Details: | No internal modem or Ethernet. External Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter offered for US$29. |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | Internal omnidirectional microphone. |
Details: | *Single analog audio output/headphone jack. Supports Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone. |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | 100V-240V AC, 45W 'MagSafe 2' power adapter. |
Global original prices for the MacBook Air 'Core i7' 2.0 11' (Mid-2012) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
Original Prices - North & South America
Mexico: | MXN $23,399 | United States: | US$1249 |
Original Prices - Europe
Mid 2009 Macbook Pro Sierra
Denmark: | DKK 10,099 | Finland: | €1349 |
Ireland: | €1349 | Italy: | €1349 |
Norway: | NOK 10.390 | Portugal: | €1349 |
Switzerland: | CHF 1'439 | United Kingdom: | £1059 |
Original Prices - Asia
India: | N/A | Indonesia: | N/A |
Malaysia: | RM 3,909 | The Philippines: | PHP 60,490 |
Thailand: | THB 41,820 | Vietnam: | N/A |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the MacBook Air models follow.
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High Sierra Macbook Air Mid 2012 Specs
Details: | *4 GB or 8 GB of RAM is onboard. It could be upgraded at the time of purchase to 8 GB as a US$100 option (and 8 GB of RAM is standard on the MD845LL/A configuration), but it cannot be upgraded later. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs. |
Details: | *There are no RAM slots. 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM is onboard. It could be upgraded at the time of purchase to 8 GB as a US$100 option (and 8 GB of RAM is onboard the MD845LL/A configuration), but it cannot be upgraded later. |
Details: | This model has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor that shares memory with the system. |
Details: | *Apple and Intel do not report the minimum memory usage for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics processor. However, with 4 GB of RAM standard, 384 MB of memory is reserved for graphics use. With the 8 GB RAM upgrade, 512 MB of memory is reserved for graphics. |
Built-in Display: | 11.6' Widescreen | Native Resolution: | 1366x768 |
Details: | 11.6' color widescreen TFT LED-backlit active-matrix 'glossy' display with a 1366 by 768 native resolution. Apple reports that it also supports '1344 by 756, 1280 by 720, 1024 by 576 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio; 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio'. In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Air. No fix, no fee! In Germany, site sponsor Conodi provides high quality Mac and PC repair services as well as remote home office setup and troubleshooting. In-person and mail order repair services include the display, motherboard, water damage and more for this MacBook Air. In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, battery, keyboard, motherboard, and more for this MacBook Air. In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the display, motherboard, battery, water damage issues, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this MacBook Air. |
2nd Display Support: | Dual/Mirroring* | 2nd Max. Resolution: | 2560x1600 (x2) |
Details: | *Although Apple makes no mention of it, third-parties have discovered that this model can simultaneously support two external displays up to 2560x1600 'daisy chained' via Thunderbolt. |
Standard Storage: | 128, 256 GB SSD | Std. Storage Speed: | 246/264 MB/s* |
Details: | This model also could be equipped with 256 GB or 512 GB of flash storage at the time of purchase (and the MD845LL/A configuration shipped with 256 GB standard). The 256 GB and 512 GB storage upgrades originally were an additional US$300 or US$800, respectively. Apple dropped the price to US$200 and US$500, respectively, on February 13, 2013. Apple does not intend for one to upgrade the storage after purchase, but it is quite possible. *Third-party tests using the Blackmagic benchmark report write speeds of 246 MB/s and read speeds of 264 MB/s for Samsung 128 GB SSDs in this notebook. Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the storage in the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models? Is it even possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Air. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs. |
Storage Dimensions: | Proprietary | Storage Interface: | Proprietary* (6 Gb/s) |
Details: | *As first discovered by site sponsor OWC, the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models use a different proprietary connector than previous models. It provides 6 Gb/s of bandwidth (SATA III). |
Details: | *MacBook Air models do not have an internal optical drive. Site sponsor Adorama offers the external Apple USB SuperDrive for US$79. It writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL at 4X, DVD-R and DVD+R at 8X, DVD-RW at 6X, DVD+RW at 8X, reads DVD at 8X, writes CD-R at 24X, writes CD-RW at 16X, and reads CD at 24X. Site sponsor Other World Computing also has a variety of compact external optical drive options that may be of interest, including some with Blu-ray capability. Also see: What are the full capabilities of the external SuperDrive available for the MacBook Air? Can it be used with other Macs? |
Details: | *No MacBook Air models have an internal Ethernet port. However, for the 'Mid-2012' models, an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter was offered for US$29. Also see: What official and third-party adapters are available to connect the MacBook Air to wired Ethernet networks? |
Standard AirPort: | 802.11a/b/g/n | Standard Bluetooth: | 4.0 |
Details: | 802.11n (802.11a/b/g capable as well) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), no Firewire ports. Also see: What is the best USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 hub to use with the MacBook Air while traveling? |
Details: | No expansion slots or bays provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external accessories, including docks, adapters, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Air. |
Incl. Keyboard: | Full-size | Incl. Input: | Trackpad (Inertial) |
Details: | Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has '78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement) with ambient light sensor.' The multi-touch trackpad supports 'inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities.' Also see: What are the differences between the trackpads in different MacBook Air models? |
Details: | This MacBook Air uses a razor thin aluminum case design with a 'catchless' magnetic latch. |
Details: | This Apple order number should be unique to this model. |
Apple Model No: | A1465 (EMC 2558) | Model ID: | MacBookAir5,1 |
Details: | Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. Also see: All Macs with the A1465 Model Number, the 2558 EMC Number, and the MacBookAir5,1 Model Identifier. For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section. |
Details: | Apple reports that this model has a 'built-in 35-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' and the company claims that it can provide up to 5 hours of 'wireless web' use. Apple additionally notes that it provides 'up to' 30 days of standby time. It is bundled with a 45W MagSafe 2 power adapter. Also see: What is the battery life of the 'Mid-2012' MacBook Air models in 'real-world' usage tests? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Air. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Air. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Air. |
Pre-Installed MacOS: | X 10.7.4 (11E2520) | Maximum MacOS: | X 10.15.x* |
Details: | *This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion,' OS X 10.9 'Mavericks,' and OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan.' It is capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) as well, although it does not support the Auto Unlock feature. This model is capable of running macOS High Sierra (10.13), and it supports HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), but it does not support hardware accelerated HEVC. This model is compatible with the final version of macOS Mojave (10.14) and the final version of macOS Catalina (10.15), as well. It does not support macOS Big Sur (macOS 11) or later versions of the macOS. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features? Has anything been removed from previous versions of the macOS? |
Minimum Windows: | 7 (32-Bit)* | Maximum Windows: | 10 (64-Bit)* |
Details: | *Apple's Boot Camp 4 supports the 32-bit version of Windows 7 on this model. Boot Camp 5 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Boot Camp 6 supports the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Earlier versions of Windows are not supported. |
MacOS 9 Support: | None | Windows Support: | Boot/Virtualization |
Details: | Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs? Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications. For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
Dimensions: | .11-.68 x 11.8 x 7.56 | Avg. Weight: | 2.38 lbs (1.08 kg) |
Details: | In inches while closed - minimum height to maximum height by width by depth, (0.3 cm-1.7 cm, 29.95 cm, 19.2 cm). |
Original Price (US): | US$1249 | Est. Current Retail: | US$350-US$600 |
Details: | If equipped with the same 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage as the MD224LL/A configuration, but custom configured with a 2.0 GHz 'Core i7' processor for an additional US$150, the total was US$1249. Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.
Video (Monitor): | 1 (Thunderbolt) | Floppy (Ext.): | None |
Details: | Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions. Also see: What is 'Thunderbolt'? Is it an industry standard? What advantages does it offer? Are there any disadvantages? |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps), no Firewire ports. Also see: What is the best USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 hub to use with the MacBook Air while traveling? |
Details: | No internal modem or Ethernet. External Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter offered for US$29. |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | Internal omnidirectional microphone. |
Details: | *Single analog audio output/headphone jack. Supports Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone. |
Details: | N/A |
Details: | 100V-240V AC, 45W 'MagSafe 2' power adapter. |
Global original prices for the MacBook Air 'Core i7' 2.0 11' (Mid-2012) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
Original Prices - North & South America
Mexico: | MXN $23,399 | United States: | US$1249 |
Original Prices - Europe
Mid 2009 Macbook Pro Sierra
Denmark: | DKK 10,099 | Finland: | €1349 |
Ireland: | €1349 | Italy: | €1349 |
Norway: | NOK 10.390 | Portugal: | €1349 |
Switzerland: | CHF 1'439 | United Kingdom: | £1059 |
Original Prices - Asia
India: | N/A | Indonesia: | N/A |
Malaysia: | RM 3,909 | The Philippines: | PHP 60,490 |
Thailand: | THB 41,820 | Vietnam: | N/A |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the MacBook Air models follow.
Permalink | E-mail a Friend | Bookmark & Share | Report an Error/Typo
Suggest an Addition | Sign Up for Bimonthly Site Update Notices
<< MacBook Air (Home) | Also see: MacBook Air FAQ
High Sierra Macbook Air Mid 2012 Specs
Macbook Air Mid 2012 Specs
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