Apple released Sandy Bridge-equipped MacBook Pros in February this year, and in a typical year, that would be it for the MacBook Pro until 2012. With Intel's next-generation 22nm Ivy Bridge processors not due until the second quarter of next year, however, Apple may offer another spec-bump for its full-size notebooks before the end of 2011.
According to sources speaking to AppleInsider, Apple is planning to release the tweaked MacBook Pros in the last quarter of 2011, even as early as the end of September. MacRumors' buyer's guide shows that it has been just over 200 days since the last MacBook Pro refresh, with an average of 215 days between updates, so the end of September isn't necessarily off base, either. The last two update cycles did exceed 300 days, but we feel it makes little sense to delay a slight spec bump that long.
The updated models will reportedly be identical to those released in March with the exception of updated dual-core and quad-core Intel processors released last week. That includes a 2.8GHz dual-core Core i7 processor suitable for the 13" MacBook Pro, and a 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 for the 15" and 17" MacBook Pros.
While Ivy Bridge was originally expected in late 2011, the jump to a 22nm process node has been pushed back to sometime around March or April of next year. The slight spec-bump should keep the MacBook Pros competitive with other comparable PC hardware until Ivy Bridge ships.
