MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Teardown

Teardown

Teardown

Teardowns provide a look inside a device and should not be used as disassembly instructions.

IAmA on Reddit with Kyle Wiens, iFixit's CEO, talking about the MacBook Pro with Retina Display!

This is it: The Chosen One of MacBook Pros. While other MBPs were gifted only the standard annual updates, this particular model was bestowed with a Retina display, a thinner profile, two Thunderbolt ports, a full sized HDMI port, and less annoying cooling fans. Apple claims that this is the "best computer Apple has ever made."

Apple may have already spilled the beans when it comes to what the inside of this MacBook Pro looks like, but we aren't convinced. Join us today as we set out to see what is so significant about this special MacBook Pro.

Can't get enough teardown? Does an insatiable hunger for gadget guts burn in your belly? Want to be more l33t than your geek counterparts and know about the teardowns as soon as they're live? Follow iFixit on Twitter for the latest updates.

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Teardown  ¶ 

  • Everyone Mac enthusiasts don't have to wait months anymore to see what's inside the new MacBook Pro.

  • What is it that's got everyone in the tech world buzzing?

    • 15.4" LED-backlit Retina display with IPS with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 at 220 ppi

    • Intel Ivy Bridge Core-i7 processor with Turbo Boost and Intel HD Graphics 4000

    • 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L RAM

    • NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of GDDR5 VRAM

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • A quick inspection of the side of the MacBook Pro with Retina display reveals loads of upgrades:

    • MagSafe 2

    • Two (!) Thunderbolt ports

    • The first of two USB 3.0 ports

    • A standard 3.5 mm headphone jack (boo)

  • The right side of the MacBook houses an SD card reader, the second USB 3.0 port, and a full-size HDMI output.

  • Both sides feature air induction vents for the new cooling system—but more on that later.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • The new display assembly design left no room for the usual "MacBook Pro" logo on the slim bezel.

  • There's plenty of room for the logo on the bottom of the computer, though. If no one believes that your computer is a real MacBook Pro, just pick it up and flip it over.

  • All these upgrades earned this Pro a new model number: A1398.

    • Go ahead and let that sink in for a minute; Apple finally introduced a new MacBook Pro model number! (It's the little things that make us happy.)

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • What does an Apple logo or Finder icon made up of 220 pixels per inch look like up close?

    • A bunch of colored, square-ish dots, that's what.

  • All joking aside, the resolution of this display really is incredible. There's no doubt that the cost to manufacture the Retina display is a big reason for the new MacBook Pro's $2200 (starting) price tag.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • We love a challenge, which is good news, because unlike previous generations of MacBook Pros, the MacBook Pro with Retina display is guarded by Apple's proprietary pentalobe screws.

  • We work with bated breath as our pentalobe screwdriver sloughs off a stack of proprietary screws.

  • Finally, we are in!

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • The new battery packs quite a punch: 95 Wh at 10.95 V compared to last year's puny 77.5 Wh.

  • Two things haven't changed, though: the 7-hour battery life and the pestering reminder that Apple doesn't think you're qualified to service your own battery.

    • Spoiler alert: they might be right.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • It's always a good idea to disconnect the battery when gutting your gadgets.

  • While Apple seems to have an extensive warning label, it fails to mention potential shocks by failing to disconnect the battery during gadget surgery. Is it possible Apple wasn't expecting us?

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