Mac Mania

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

Our verdict

Revive it.

Apple’s updates ended on macOS Big Sur 11. The community’s didn’t.

I
Give it a new OS
OpenCore Legacy Patcher runs macOS Tahoe 26 on this machine — a modern browser and current patches, unofficially. OpenCore Legacy Patcher ↗
II
Give it a job
A dedicated writing machine, or the family movie server.
III
Or let it go
Apple parts availability is winding down (vintage status). Trade-in value is modest — selling privately usually beats the quote.
VintageTops out at macOS Big Sur 11 — or macOS Tahoe 26 with OpenCore.
Worth, roughly$100–150
Where to sell it
ItsWorthMoreinstant quoteBackMarketbuybackSwappasell it yourselfeBaywidest audience
The record
Introduced
2015
Model identifier
MacBookPro11,4, MacBookPro11,5
Chip
Intel Core i7 Haswell (Iris) / Intel Core i7 Haswell (Dual GPU)
Architecture
Intel
Latest official release
macOS Big Sur 11
With OpenCore Patcher
macOS Tahoe 26 · official patcher site
Security updates
Ended — macOS Big Sur received its final security update in 2023 (last release 11.7.10 (2023-09-11)).
Apple hardware status
Vintage — parts winding down
Data confidence
high, sources disagree (see footnotes)
Common questions

What is the newest macOS for the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)?

The MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) officially tops out at macOS Big Sur 11. The community’s OpenCore Legacy Patcher can take it to macOS Tahoe 26, unofficially.

Is the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) still getting security updates?

No. Ended — macOS Big Sur received its final security update in 2023 (last release 11.7.10 (2023-09-11)).

Can the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) run a newer macOS than Big Sur 11?

Officially, no. Unofficially, yes: OpenCore Legacy Patcher runs macOS Tahoe 26 on this machine — a modern browser and current patches. It’s unsupported territory, so back up first.

Is the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) vintage or obsolete?

Apple classifies it as vintage: parts and service are winding down but may still be available.

What is a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) worth?

Roughly $100–150 in working condition, depending on spec and battery health. Selling privately usually beats a trade-in quote at this age.

The fine print
a
task1_mac_models.csv (Apple support pages) says macOS Big Sur 11 · mac_models_main.csv (gemini export) says macOS Monterey 12. We use: macOS Big Sur 11.
b
task1_mac_models.csv (Apple support pages) says macOS Big Sur 11 · mac_models_main.csv (gemini export) says macOS Monterey 12. We use: macOS Big Sur 11.
Same shelf
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)