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Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2012-06 MD103LL/A

Specifications

Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2012-06 MD103LL/A
Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2012-06 MD103LL/A (MacBook Pro 15 inch Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-3720QM 4 x 2.6 - 3.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Display
15.60 inch 16:10, 1440 x 900 pixel, glossy: yes
Weight
2.5 kg ( = 88.19 oz / 5.51 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
1800 Euro

 

Pricecompare

Average Score: 84% - good
Average of 5 scores (from 6 reviews)

Reviews for the Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2012-06 MD103LL/A

90% Apple MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) review
Source: Pocket Lint English Archive.org version
Overall there's still a lot of love to be had for the MacBook Pro. Externally it might not be quite so fresh, but it's still a classic. Paired with the improved connections and all that internal power it's still up there with the best laptops on the market today. After a week of use it feels just as effortless now as it did when it first loaded with incredible speed - and it's things like that which make all the difference in day-to-day schedules.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/10/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
80% Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Mid 2012)
Source: PC Mag English Archive.org version
The Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Mid 2012) is still one of the best laptops around, with solid performance and a superb user experience, but after five-years with no change, the overall design is getting old.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
The 2012 MacBook Pro Review
Source: AnandTech English Archive.org version
The 2012 MacBook Pro is a pretty intriguing product. It’s the latest and last in a line of standard-setting notebooks that helped shape the direction of the notebook industry over the last 5 years. This design has been around for a while, accompanied by the same general specsheet formula: the latest Intel processors, a performance-class GPU, a high quality display panel, and a $1799 starting price.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/18/2012
80% Apple 2012 MacBook Pro 15 Laptop PC
Source: Comp Reviews English Archive.org version
Apple's 2012 refresh of the aging MacBook Pro 15 design is pretty much underwhelming when compared to the new Retina Display version. Sure, this model is $400 cheaper and offers more storage space and an optical drive but it is heavier, thicker, slower and frankly dull compared to the new display. It is still a competent laptop for those looking at a performance laptop with high quality but it would have been nice to see a price drop or a few more changes beyond a new CPU, graphics and USB 3.0 ports.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/28/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
80% Apple MacBook Pro review (15-inch, Summer 2012)
Source: CNet English Archive.org version
Not very long ago, to be the 15-inch MacBook was to be the life of the laptop party. Big and powerful, yet still slim and attractive, the college kids wanted MacBook Airs, while the designers and artists wanted the 15-inch MacBook Pro (or, in a few cases, the bigger 17-inch version). Another year of incremental improvements for the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro help it maintain its lead as a useful, powerful, attractive midsize laptop, but the competition is closer than ever to catching up.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/22/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%

Foreign Reviews

90% 2880X1800 해상도가 선사하는 신세계 - 맥북 프로 레티나 (윈도우 성능편)
Source: Notegear KO→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/13/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%

Comment

Model:

The Macbook Pro 15, which was introduced in January 2006 as a replacement for 6th PowerBook G4 series, marks Apple’s transition into Intel processors. At the time of introduction, the Macbook Pro took a lot of feature from the PowerBook G4, except the Intel Core processors. In Q4 2008, Apple redesigned the Macbook Pro 15 with a "unibody" case, a case made from a single block of aluminum. Thanks to the "unibody" structure, it is one of the slimmest and lightest 15-inch laptops until the introduction of the Macbook Pro with retina display. Moreover, the unrivaled stability and workmanship of the "unibody" also stands above all other competitors. Together with the "unibody" case, Apple also redesigned the keyboard and glass trackpad, which is still one of the best of its kind.

However, one of the main disadvantages of the Macbook Pro 15 is its low resolution and glossy display. While competitors equipped there 15-inch laptops with full HD displays a long time ago, the Macbook Pro 15 still has its measly 1440x900 resolution from 5 years ago. Also, the latest hardware inside a slim case makes the Pro 15 very hot under heavy load. User who opt for the Macbook Pro should also take note of its restricted connectivity, namely lack of HDMI and only a limited number of USB ports and no Blu-ray optical disc.

Since it’s not a gaming notebook, the performance of the Mabook Pro cannot be compared to gaming notebooks like the Alienware series, but for multimedia and video editing, the macbook Pro will get the job done. Moreover, there is still no comparable Windows laptop on the market with a combination of high quality case, excellent input devices and a contrast rich display.

Series:

The Retina display is a display which has high enough pixel density that the human retina can’t distinguish individual pixels and was first introduced as a cutting edge technology together with the iPhone 4. Thanks to the retina display, the iPhone 4 was called "Best device in its class" by The Wall Street Journal, and "Best smartphone on the market" by Engadget. The MacBook Pro with Retina display introduced at the WWDC in San Francisco in June 2012 is a separate product line, independent of the original MacBook Pro and should continue the success of the iPhone.

Apart from just the retina display, this new laptop also features a new design similar to that of the MacBook Air, but without Super Drive as well as Ethernet and FireWire 800 ports. Unlike the original MacBook Pro series with standard hard drive, it includes a Solid State Drive. In short, every technological advantage of Apple are concentrated on this new MacBook Pro with Retina display, from the amazing display found in the iPhone, iPad to robust system performance of the MacBook Pro as well as the portability, design and flash storage - this laptop has it all.

In particular the retina display is the sharpest computer display and outclasses every other laptop or computer display by far at the time of its introduction. It is that important that Apple even decided to  call this laptop "MacBook Pro with retina display". In fact, the display alone outweighs the biggest disadvantage of the new MacBook Pro, the price – it's Apple we are talking about. If you can afford the steep entry price, this is the most amazing laptop money can buy.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M: A mid-range GPU and the fastest GeForce GT as part of the 600M series

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  


3720QM: An Ivy Bridge-based quad-core processor clocked at 2.6 GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.6 GHz. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 4000 GPU running at 650-1250 MHz on a dual channel DDR3 memory controller.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


15.60":

15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.

The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


Apple: Apple is a US company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company is known for its innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and manufactures computers and consumer electronics as well as operating systems and application software. Apple is also a leading provider of software and services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud.

Apple has earned a reputation as a company that focuses on design and ease of use. As for their notebooks, they are mostly in the high-priced segment, have their own operating system, but also run Windows on the newer Macbooks.

Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world and has a loyal following of customers and fans. The company also has a strong presence in the entertainment industry, with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+. In 2023, Apple had an approximate 8% market share of global PC sales, ranking it 4th after Lenovo, HP, and Dell.


84%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Asus UX51VZ-XB71
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3632QM
Asus UX51VZ-DB114H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3632QM
Asus UX51VZ-DB115H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3632QM
Samsung 550P5C-S05PL
GeForce GT 650M, Core i5 3210M
Asus N56VZ-S4165H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i5 3210M
Asus N56VZ-4338D
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3630QM
Asus UX51Vz-DH71
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3612QM
HP Envy dv6-7214nr
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3630QM
Asus UX51VZ-CN036H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3612QM
Asus Zenbook U500VZ-CN032H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3612QM
Asus UX51VZ
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3612QM
HP Pavilion dv6-7014nr
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Asus N56VZ-DS71
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Asus N56VZ-S4023V
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Medion Akoya P6816-MD99040
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 2670QM
MSI GE60-0NC-006US
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Asus N56VZ-S4016V
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2012-06
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3615QM
Asus N56VZ-S4044V
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
MSI GE60-i547W7H
GeForce GT 650M, Core i5 3210M
HP Pavilion dv6-7034tx
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 2670QM
Samsung 550P5C-S02DE
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM
Schenker XMG A502
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM

Devices with the same GPU

Dell Inspiron 17R SE 7720-4544
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM, 17.30", 3.3 kg
Samsung Series 7 Chronos 700Z7C
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3610QM, 17.30", 3 kg
Lenovo IdeaPad Y480-2093B3U
GeForce GT 650M, Core i5 3210M, 14.00", 2.3 kg
Gigabyte U2442F
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3517U, 14.00", 1.7 kg
Lenovo IdeaPad Y400-59360114
GeForce GT 650M, Core i7 3630QM, 14.00", 2.5 kg
HP Pavilion dv4t-5100
GeForce GT 650M, Core i5 3210M, 14.00", 2.2 kg
Current Prices
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Library > Apple > Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch 2012-06 MD103LL/A
Stefan Hinum, 2012-06-27 (Update: 2012-07-18)