Apple has officially declared the mid-2012 version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro as obsolete globally. This implies that any MacBook Pro with an optical drive is no longer supported, as the mid-2012 model was the last MacBook Pro to include a built-in optical drive for CDs or DVDs.
According to Apple, a device is considered to be “technologically obsolete” if it has been over seven years since the company last sold it.However, MacBooks may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period of up to ten years, provided that the product was last distributed for sale within the last ten years and the necessary parts are still available.
This model of 13-inch MacBook Pro, released in June 2012, is the last MacBook with a built-in CD/DVD drive. It remained on shelves until October 2016 and was later discontinued, making way for the new 13-inch option in the Pro lineup. macOS Big Sur, released in 2020, ended support for this model.
Even though Apple ceased its sales, an external SuperDrive is still available that allows users to read and write CDs and DVDs. However, it has not been updated in a long time and still uses USB-A, which is no longer included in most modern Mac hardware. Therefore, even if you own Apple’s external CD/DVD drive, you may need an adapter to use it with your current Mac.
The removal of optical drives from the later models of MacBook Pro created controversy among users. However, it is evident that optical drives are becoming less relevant as many laptops, including Windows counterparts, no longer include them. The mid-2012 13-inch MacBook Pro, which was the last model with a built-in CD/DVD drive, marked the end of the era of physical media.
According to Apple, a device is considered to be “technologically obsolete” if it has been over seven years since the company last sold it.However, MacBooks may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period of up to ten years, provided that the product was last distributed for sale within the last ten years and the necessary parts are still available.
This model of 13-inch MacBook Pro, released in June 2012, is the last MacBook with a built-in CD/DVD drive. It remained on shelves until October 2016 and was later discontinued, making way for the new 13-inch option in the Pro lineup. macOS Big Sur, released in 2020, ended support for this model.
Even though Apple ceased its sales, an external SuperDrive is still available that allows users to read and write CDs and DVDs. However, it has not been updated in a long time and still uses USB-A, which is no longer included in most modern Mac hardware. Therefore, even if you own Apple’s external CD/DVD drive, you may need an adapter to use it with your current Mac.
The removal of optical drives from the later models of MacBook Pro created controversy among users. However, it is evident that optical drives are becoming less relevant as many laptops, including Windows counterparts, no longer include them. The mid-2012 13-inch MacBook Pro, which was the last model with a built-in CD/DVD drive, marked the end of the era of physical media.