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

iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Update Now: iOS 26.2 Fixes 20+ Security Vulnerabilities

Friday December 12, 2025 11:11 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2, all of which introduce new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. Apple says that the updates address over 20 vulnerabilities, including two bugs that are known to have been actively exploited. There are a pair of WebKit vulnerabilities that could allow maliciously crafted web content to execute code or cause memory...

Top Rated Comments

burnout8488 Avatar
186 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
186 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
186 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
186 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
186 months ago
+$200 for a marginal speed boost never made sense to me.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cvaldes Avatar
186 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)