Apple May Processor Bump MacBook Pros in 2011

overview hero20110811
AppleInsider claims that Apple may be bumping the processors of the MacBook Pros before the end of this year, but will make no other changes to the notebooks.

According to people with proven insight into Apple's future product plans, the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh will deliver marginal speed bumps to the notebooks' Core i-Series of Sandy Bridge processors but will otherwise introduce no material changes over the existing models.

Intel recently introduced 16 new Sandy Bridge processors, some of which could be used in the current generation MacBook Pros.

Last year, Apple quietly added a high end 2.8GHz Core i7 option to the MacBook Pros in late October. So, the move is not without precedent, though last year it was offered only as a built-to-order option and not an across the board upgrade.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

burnout8488 Avatar
188 months ago
Oh for gods sake Apple just hurry up and redesign it! it looks outdated now and plus the current models are crap :apple:

They really are quite terrible now, aren't they.




:rolleyes:
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wikus Avatar
188 months ago
Well, that kinda blows for the early 2011 MBP crowd... And yes, that includes me...

Its september now. I can't see how people can really complain so much or be annoyed. I also dont see this kind of crybaby behaviour on the PC side, and if Mac users were to be using custom built computers, they'd be depressed all year round; new technology emerges ALL the time.

I just got a 2011 MacBook Pro... this doesnt bother me much. It won't be a huge improvement anyway.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nikhsub1 Avatar
188 months ago
So many illogical minds in this thread. It isn't Apple that is driving the latest and greatest, it is Intel. Imagine that the new CPU's out and Apple decides not to use them, so it doesn't upset people that bought a Laptop this year. How stupid would that be? Computer components are upgraded on a lightning fast pace, usually multiple times in a year, don't expect any laptop to be top dog for more than a few month. Seems to me most of you just need to grow up and learn that always needing the latest and greatest is a disease.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
amac4me Avatar
188 months ago
If Apple releases "Late 2011" MacBook Pro models that bump the processor specs, I would imagine that the machines would also bump the following to place them in line with the recently released MacBook Air and Mac mini:


* Bluetooth 4.0
* OS X Lion recovery partition
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ECUpirate44 Avatar
188 months ago
+$200 for a marginal speed boost never made sense to me.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cvaldes Avatar
188 months ago
So many illogical minds in this thread. It isn't Apple that is driving the latest and greatest, it is Intel. Imagine that the new CPU's out and Apple decides not to use them, so it doesn't upset people that bought a Laptop this year. How stupid would that be? Computer components are upgraded on a lightning fast pace, usually multiple times in a year, don't expect any laptop to be top dog for more than a few month. Seems to me most of you just need to grow up and learn that always needing the latest and greatest is a disease.
Really?!?

How dare you exhibit logic and a willingness to accept the realities of modern electronics design and manufacturing.

Why can't you live in a dreamworld where the laws of physics have been suspended like the majority of MR forum participants?

You should be ashamed to attract undue attention by showing a sensible knowledge of the forum topic at hand.

What kind of kid did your parents raise?!?

We are sending the authorities to your house. Please be prepared to surrender your fanboi membership card.

:D
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)