Apple May Unleash Late-2011 MacBook Pro Refresh

Apple may be releasing one more refresh on its MacBook Pro laptops before the end of this year and in time for the holidays. This late-2011 MacBook Pro update is believed to deliver only minor speed boosts with stepped-up Intel Core processors. The exterior and other hardware is expected to remain the same.

According to AppleInsider, a source familiar with Apple's future product plans says that the update can be expected as soon as the end of this month. It's believed to launch sometime following Apple's Back-to-School promotion, which will wrap up on September 20. This news comes just a week after it was leaked that Intel will be releasing some mid-cycle Sandy Bridge processor updates.

This may be a minor update, but if you're in the market to pick up a MacBook Pro, it's good to know that you might wait just a few more weeks to take advantage of the slight spec boost. But then again, in a few short months you'll be craving for the new MacBook Pros boasting Intel's next-gen Ivy Bridge chips set to launch sometime in 2012.