1. Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Specs
2. Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Screen Replacement
3. Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Battery Replacement
4. Macos Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Performance
5. Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2012
6. Does Macos Catalina Improve Performance
7. Can A 2014 Macbook Pro Run Catalina

I’m resurrecting a MacBook pro that had a failed HDD but no OS disc etc. Replaced drive and ran Internet Recovery, task bar showed that took about 4 mins (lan connection), but after, the Mac screen showed Apple logo for a few moments, the spinning dots for maybe 5 secs, then goes and sits on a blank/lit screen without any menu option. A Computing Powerhouse: 2015 Apple MacBook Pro Laptops. Apple released two MacBook Pro laptop computers in 2015. The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch model was introduced in early 2015, and the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch model was released in mid-2015. One of these 2015 laptops may be more fitting to your needs than the other. The MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.5 15-Inch (Dual Graphics/Force Touch - Mid-2015 Retina Display) features a 22 nm 'Haswell/Crystalwell' 2.5 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (4870HQ), with four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 16 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which cannot be upgraded later), 512. The MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.2 15-Inch (Integrated Graphics/Iris Only - Mid-2014 Retina Display) features a 22 nm 'Haswell/Crystalwell' 2.2 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (4770HQ), with four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 16 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which cannot be upgraded later.

Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch 'Core i7' 2.5 Mid-2015 (DG) Specs

Identifiers: Retina Mid-2015 15' - MJLT2LL/A - MacBookPro11,5 - A1398 - 2910

All MacBook Pro 15-Inch Models | All 2015 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

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The MacBook Pro 'Core i7' 2.5 15-Inch (Dual Graphics/Force Touch - Mid-2015 Retina Display) features a 22 nm 'Haswell/Crystalwell' 2.5 GHz Intel 'Core i7' processor (4870HQ), with four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 16 GB of onboard 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (which cannot be upgraded later), 512 GB of PCIe-based flash storage, and dual graphics processors -- an AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and an integrated Intel Iris 5200 Pro graphics processor with 128 MB of 'Crystalwell' embedded DRAM (and shared system memory). It also has an integrated 720p FaceTime HD webcam and a high-resolution LED-backlit 15.4' widescreen 2880x1800 (220 ppi) 'Retina' display in a case that weighs just less than 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg). It does not have an internal optical drive.
Connectivity includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, two USB 3.0 ports, two 'Thunderbolt 2' ports, an HDMI port, an audio in/out port, and an SDXC card slot.
In addition, this model has a backlit keyboard, a new advanced 'Force Touch' trackpad, a 'MagSafe 2' power adapter, and an internal, sealed battery that provides an Apple estimated 9 hours of battery life.
Compared to its predecessor, this model is similar, but it has a faster graphics processor, faster flash storage, a higher capacity battery, and a more advanced 'Force Touch' trackpad. It has some different identifiers, too.
Also see:

• What are all the differences between the 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models? What are the differences between these models and the 'Mid-2014' models replaced?
• What are all the differences between the 13-Inch 'Early 2015' and the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

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Upgrade This Mac at site sponsor OWC. SSDs, external storage & more.

Sell This Mac at A+ BBB rated site sponsor Cash For Your Mac. Quick quote!

• Tech Specs
• Ports
• Global Original Prices
• Popular Q&As

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:

May 19, 2015

Discontinued Date:

October 27, 2016

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 2015.

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 MacBookPro11,5 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 MacBookPro11,5 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 MacBookPro11,5 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 MacBookPro11,5 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 MacBookPro11,5 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:

2.5 GHz

Processor Type:

Core i7 (I7-4870HQ)

Details:

This model is powered by a 22 nm, 64-bit 'Fourth Generation' Intel Mobile Core i7 'Haswell/Crystalwell' (I7-4870HQ) processor which includes four independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip. Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache, shares 6 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 3.7 GHz for this model) -- and 'Hyper Threading' -- which allows the system to recognize eight total 'cores' or 'threads' (four real and four virtual). Also see: How fast are the 15-Inch 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models replaced?

Details:

*This model also could be custom configured with a 2.8 GHz Core i7 (I7-4980HQ) for an extra US$200. As requested by readers, EveryMac.com also has documented this custom configuration as its own model.

Details:

Also see: Can you upgrade the processor in the Retina Display MacBook Pro models?

System Bus Speed:

5 GT/s (DMI2)*

Cache Bus Speed:

2.5 GHz (Built-in)

Details:

*This system has a 'Direct Media Interface' -- specifically DMI2 -- that 'connects between the processor and chipset' in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s.

Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Specs

Details:

N/A

Details:

*Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 6 MB of shared level 3 cache.

Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Screen Replacement

Details:

Shipped standard with 16 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM onboard.

Details:

16 GB of RAM is onboard and cannot be upgraded to a higher capacity at the initial time of system purchase or later. Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Details:

There are no RAM slots. 16 GB of RAM is onboard. It cannot be upgraded after purchase at all.

Details:

*This model has dual graphics processors -- an AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 SDRAM and an Intel Iris Pro 5200 with 128 MB of 'Crystalwell' embedded DRAM (and shared system memory). The system automatically switches between graphics systems based on use (when applications use OpenGL, Core Graphics or other graphically demanding technologies, the system will use the dedicated AMD graphics, otherwise it will use the integrated Intel graphics to conserve battery life). Also see: Is there a 'hack' to switch between graphics processors on the Retina Display MacBook Pro models manually?

Details:

*The AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics processor has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. The 'integrated' Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics processor shares 1 GB of memory with the system for graphics function, but also has 128 MB of 'Crystalwell' embedded DRAM on the CPU package to provide more memory bandwidth than earlier integrated graphics solutions.

Built-in Display:

15.4' Widescreen

Native Resolution:

2880x1800

Details:

This model has a 15.4' color widescreen LED-backlit display with IPS technology with a 2880 by 1800 native resolution at 220 ppi (178-degree viewing angle). It also supports scaled resolutions of 1920 by 1200, 1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, and 1024 by 640. Also see: How can you 'force' or 'hack' the Retina Display MacBook Pro models to run at the native resolution or otherwise fit more on screen than by default? In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this MacBook Pro. 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 Pro. 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 Pro. 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 Pro.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

5120x2160*

Details:

*This model can support a single external display up to 5120x2160 at 60 Hz via Thunderbolt 2. Via HDMI video output, it can support 1080p up to 60 Hz, 3840x2160 at 30 Hz, and 4096x2160 at 24 Hz. Also see: How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required?

Details:

At the time of purchase, this model also could be configured with 1 TB of flash storage for an additional US$500. Apple does not intend for one to upgrade the storage after purchase, but it is quite possible. Also see: How do you upgrade or replace the storage in the 15-Inch Retina Display 'Mid-2015' MacBook Pro? Is it the same storage and process as other Retina Display MacBook Pro models? Is it possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this MacBook Pro. Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.

Storage Dimensions:

Proprietary

Storage Interface:

Proprietary* (PCIe 3.0 x4)

Details:

*As first documented by site sponsor OWC, this model shipped with a proprietary PCIe-based SSD.

Details:

*This MacBook Pro does 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 this MacBook Pro? Can it be used with other Macs?

Details:

*This model does not have an internal Ethernet port. However, an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter is available for US$29.

Details:

802.11ac Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n compatible) and Bluetooth 4.0 standard. Also see: What is 802.11ac? How is it different from 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n?

Details:

Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps). It does not have a Firewire port although an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter is available.

Details:

This model has an SDXC card slot. No expansion bays are provided. In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and accessories, including docks, adapters, cables, input devices, cases, and more for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external expansion options and accessories like docks, stands, chargers, cases, security products, and more for this MacBook Pro. Also see: Which SD Card storage solution is best for the Retina Display MacBook Pro? Which models are compatible? Is this type of storage safe?

Incl. Keyboard:

Full-size

Incl. Input:

Trackpad (Force Touch)

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 'Force Touch' trackpad offers 'precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.'

Case Type:

Notebook

Form Factor:

MacBook Pro (Retina)

Details:

This MacBook Pro uses a thin black and silver 'unibody' case design milled from a single piece of aluminum with a 'catchless' magnetic latch.

Apple Order No:

MJLT2LL/A

Apple Subfamily:

Retina Mid-2015 15'

Details:

The Apple order number should be unique to this system.

Apple Model No:

A1398 (EMC 2910)

Model ID:

MacBookPro11,5

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. Also see: All Macs with the A1398 Model Number, the 2910 EMC Number, and the MacBookPro11,5 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 '99.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery' that provides 'up to 9 hours' of wireless web use or iTunes movie playback. It cannot be upgraded by an end-user. Also see: How do you replace the battery in the 15-Inch Retina Display MacBook Pro? Is it possible? In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells quality batteries for this MacBook Pro. In the UK, site sponsor Flexx is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro. In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit is a local distributor of OWC batteries for this MacBook Pro.

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X 10.10.3 (14D2134)

Maximum MacOS:

Current*

Details:

*This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.10 'Yosemite' as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan.' It is fully supported by the last version of macOS Sierra (10.12) and macOS High Sierra (10.13), also. Running macOS High Sierra (10.13), 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), the final version of macOS Catalina (10.15), and the current version of macOS Big Sur (macOS 11), as well. Also see: Which Macs are compatible with macOS Big Sur (macOS 11)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features?

Minimum Windows:

8 (64-Bit)*

Maximum Windows:

10 (64-Bit)*

Details:

*The pre-installed version of Apple's Boot Camp BCA supports the 64-bit version of 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:

0.71 x 14.13 x 9.73

Avg. Weight:

4.49 lbs (2.04 kg)

Details:

In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (1.8 cm, 35.89 cm, 24.71 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$2499

Est. Current Retail:

US$1000-US$1250

Details:

Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated). 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):

2 (Thunderbolt 2), 1 (HDMI)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

This model has two Thunderbolt 2 ports as well as an HDMI port. Also see: How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required?

Details:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Details:

Two USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 Gbps). It does not have a Firewire port although an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter is available.

Details:

No internal modem or Ethernet, although an Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter is available. 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 are standard.

Details:

N/A

Details:

Dual internal microphones on the left hand side of the notebook. Has a single headphone jack that also supports audio line out (digital/analog) and the Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone.

Details:

Has a single headphone jack that also supports audio line out (digital/analog).

Details:

N/A

Details:

100V-240V AC, 85W 'MagSafe 2' power adapter.

Global original prices for the MacBook Pro 15-Inch 'Core i7' 2.5 Mid-2015 (DG) 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 $47,999

United States:

US$2499

Original Prices - Europe

Denmark:

DKK 21,499

Finland:

¤2849

Ireland:

¤2849

Italy:

¤2849

Norway:

NOK 23.990

Portugal:

¤2849

Switzerland:

CHF 2'699

United Kingdom:

£1999

Original Prices - Asia

India:

Rs 199,900

Indonesia:

Rp 35,999,000

Malaysia:

RM 9,299

The Philippines:

PHP 124,990

Thailand:

THB 84,900

Vietnam:

VND 57,999,000

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 Pro 15-Inch models follow.

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Which Mac operating system is the best is a topic of numerous debates among Apple fans.

Since the mission of this blog is to refute myths and legends around Macs, it’s time for me to provide my 2 cents about the issue on hand. While everything below is just my opinion, as a long-time Mac user and veteran software engineer, I hope my opinion worth something.

The best Mac OS version is the one that your Mac is eligible to upgrade to. In 2021 it is macOS Big Sur. However, for users that need to run 32-bit apps on Mac, the best macOS is Mojave. Also, older Macs would benefit if upgraded at least to macOS Sierra for which Apple still releases security patches.

How to Tell Which macOS You Are Running

To find out which macOS is currently running on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the menubar
2. In the dropdown click on the first item: About This Mac
3. The first line in the Overview tab is the name of the current OS.

What Version of OS Can My Mac Run?

Not all Macs can be upgraded to the latest OS version. For instance, old Macs powered by PowerPC CPUs cannot run OS intended for Intel-based computers. Also, some versions have hardware limitations.

For instance, Mojave cannot be installed on MacBook Pro earlier than Mid 2012 model.

Check below to know exactly what version of OS your Mac can run.

Which OS is Best for my Mac

Anytime someone asks me which OS is best for them I always suggested going with the latest. Things have changed recently, however.

Should I Upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur?

While personally I like macOS Big Sur and have it installed on my MacBook Pro, it comes with serious breaking changes.

The first issue is compatibility.

Big Sur is a transition OS which is designed to help Apple to move from Intel processors to their own chips on ARM.

After I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro mid 2020 (pre-Silicon), most of my apps, including Microsoft Office, were working as expected.

However, my VMWare Fusion 11 does not start anymore, so I have to purchase a new license if I want to keep using it (or roll back to Catalina). Luckily, I took a full backup before the upgrade.

The second breaking issue is the lack of 32-bit app support.

macOS Catalina and Big Sur can only run 64-bit apps.

If you wondering whether you should upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur, first verify that you don’t have any 32-bit apps. But first, take a back up, so you can go back in case something breaks after the upgrade.

For instance, I had to remove uTorrent after upgrade. And I didn’t know that uTorrent is 32-bit!

How to Know If App is 32-bit or 64-bit

To find out whether the app on your Mac is 32-bit or 64-bit follow these steps:

1. Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the Mac screen
2. Click on About This Mac option
3. Click on System Report button in Overview tab (first one)
4. Scroll down to Software -> Applications
5. Find the app and check Kind

Which macOS Should I Use

If you have an older Mac which is not eligible to upgrade with some latest software or hardware, I’d suggest upgrading at least to Sierra (or better High Sierra) for the following reasons:

• Sierra is still supported by Apple, and it gets security updates
• APFS file system is available
• It supports Siri
• Significant security improvements

The most important point when choosing the best OS is the ability to get security updates. While Apple generally does not announce the OS end of life dates, it is possible to know when they stop releasing security updates from this page.

For instance, according to the page, the last security update for OS X Yosemite was released on September 12, 2017. The last update for OS X El Capitan was in July 2018, and Carnegie Mellon University confirmed that El Capitan’s end of life date was August 2018.

Snow Leopard Myth

I know that some users on forums believe that the best OS version for Macs was Snow Leopard. But that is a myth. And I know how such myths get created.

Once I worked in the company, which was selling a 20-year old product. And customers were still using and didn’t want to switch to new versions, because the old one was rock solid.

I then talked to the engineer who worked on the project, and he revealed that the product was a total disaster when it was first deployed. Engineers had to work on-site for almost a year in order to fix all bugs.

After five or so years of polishing the product, it becomes virtually bug-free, and nobody now remembers how bad it was when it was first rolled out. A similar thing happened Snow Leopard, and it was recognized as best mac os version after some time.

How to Update to the Latest Version

There are two ways to update to the latest OS version on Mac:

• From the Software Update section in System Preferences
• Use a download link

Using Software Update

This is by far the best option, but it only available if you have Yosemite, or later OS installed already. If you enabled automatic updates, then Mac will inform you that the next macOS is available.

Just open System Preferences, go to Software Update and click on the Upgrade Now button.

This method is also best if wondering how to check if you have the latest version of OS installed on your Mac. Only the version compatible with your hardware will appear here.

For instance, my the latest version for Mac Mini 2012 is Mojave, I can’t install anything newer than that.

Using download links

For older systems or in case you need to downgrade, you have to download a standalone installer in DMG format. DMG stands for disk image, similar to ISO, just different formats.

After downloading the installer, just double click on it and follow instructions. Again, do not forget to take a backup before the upgrade.

Mac OS Comparisons: Requirements, Features, Compatibility, Download Links

Following is a high-level description of all Mac operating systems as early as Mountain Lion.

You can refer to those descriptions when deciding which operating system is best for your iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or MacBook.

With each OS description, I included a list of Macs supported. However, you can use Mac OS compatibility checker for more detailed information.

macOS 11 Big Sur

macOS v11 (codename Big Sur) is the latest version of the operating system for Apple computers.

Release date: October 13, 2020

Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement 4GB. Big Sur is the first OS to support new Macs using ARM technology (in the future).

Features

• The biggest design refresh since macOS X.
• Support for new ARM processors.
• Safar improved performance and power consumption.
• Time Machine supports backup to APFS volumes.
• One-click translation for 7 languages.
• Redesigned maps

Software Compatibility Issues

Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Big Sur.

How to install

There are two ways to install Big Sur: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.

List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Big Sur

• MacBook (2015 and later)
• MacBook Air (2013 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2013 and later)
• Mac mini (2014 and later)
• iMac models (2014 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• Mac Pro (2013 and later)

macOS 10.15 Catalina

Release date: October 7, 2019

Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement increased from 2GB to 4GB.

Features

• Introduced Sidecar, which allows for Macs to use an iPad as an external display.
• iTunes was replaced by separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV.
• Find My Mac and Find My Friends have merged into one app.

Software Compatibility Issues

macOS Catalina is the first Mac operating system that does not support 32-bit applications. Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Catalina.

How to install

There are two ways to install Catalina: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.

List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Catalina

• MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac models (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac Pro (All models)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013)

macOS 10.14 Mojave

Release date: September 24, 2018

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 18.5GB free space on disk

Features

• The main feature of Mojave is “Dark Mode”
• FaceTime adds group feature which allows chatting with up to 32 people
• News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home apps were ported from iOS to Mac.

How to install

If your Mac is eligible to update to Mojave, then the easiest way to install it is by enabling automatic updates. Downloading a standalone Mojave installer could be a little tricky.

List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Mojave

• MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac Pro (All models)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 and 2010-2012 models with upgraded GPU)

macOS 10.13 High Sierra

Release date: September 25, 2017

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 14.3GB free space on disk

Features

Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Battery Replacement

• APFS (Apple File System) becomes the default file system in High Sierra. It’s a significant upgrade from the older HFS+ in terms of speed, size, and security
• iCloud support of Messages which allows sync messages of the account across multiple devices
• Mail app uses 35% less storage space due to optimizations

List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra

• MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

Macos Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2014 Performance

How to install

Here is a High Sierra download link.

macOS 10.12 Sierra

This is the first macOS version. Previous OS versions for Macs were called OS X (X stands for 10).

Release date: September 20, 2016

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk

Features

• Siri was introduced to Macs
• Optimized storage with iCloud sync
• Auto-lock feature allows unlocking MacBook with paired Apple Watch
• APFS preview available
• Disk Utility can manage RAID sets again
• Significant security improvements

How to install

Here is a Sierra download link.

List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Sierra

• MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

OS X 10.11 El Capitan

Last OS X version.

Release date: September 30, 2015

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk

Features

• System Integrity Protection – a security feature that protects even when the root user executes the process
• Performance improvements: open PDF files four times faster, Mail is twice faster, launching apps 40% faster
• Notes app similar to the app in iOS

Macs compatible with OS X El Capitan

same as OS Mountain Lion.

How to install

Here is El Capitan download link.

OS X 10.10 Yosemite

Release date: October 16, 2014

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk

Macs compatible with OS X Yosemite

Same as OS Mountain Lion.

Features

• Major user design overhaul
• Introduction of Handoff and Continuity features
• Photos app replaced iPhoto and Aperture

How to install

Here is Yosemite download link.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks

First free Mac OS. Previous OS versions vary from $19.99 to $129.

Mac Os Catalina Macbook Pro Mid 2012

Release date: October 22, 2013

Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk

Features

• Compressed Memory feature automatically compresses inactive apps when approaching maximum memory capacity
• Timer coalescing is a feature that reduces CPU usage by up to 72 percent
• App Nap puts apps that are not currently visible to sleep

Macs compatible with OS X Mavericks

Same as OS Mountain Lion.

How to install

OS X Mavericks installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install Mavericks.

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Must be purchased. Fixed many bugs introduced in OS X Lion.

Release date: July 25, 2012

System Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk

Features

• New apps: Notification Center, Notes, Messages, Game Center
• AirPlay mirroring allowed to mirror Mac screen to Apple TV
• Application updates automatically install from the App Store

List of Apple computers compatible with OS X Mountain Lion

• iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
• Xserve (Early 2009)

Does Macos Catalina Improve Performance

How to install

Mountain Lion installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install OS X Mountain Lion.

List of older Mac OS Versions

Can A 2014 Macbook Pro Run Catalina

Following Mac OS versions are still running on older Macs, but Apple does not support them anymore, and there is no point to upgrade (or downgrade) to them:

• OS X 10.7 Lion
• OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
• Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
• Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
• Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
• Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
• Mac OS X 10.1 Puma
• Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah