MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
Quad-core power and the first Thunderbolt port on a Mac.
Overview
This update delivered Intel quad-core processors across the 15-inch range, starting at 2.0 GHz, and added the high-speed Thunderbolt port, co-developed with Intel. Thunderbolt could carry data and video over one cable at 10 Gbps.
Other changes included a 720p FaceTime HD camera, AMD Radeon HD 6490M or 6750M graphics and a faster SATA interface. The design was unchanged from the unibody casing, with an SD card slot and an optical drive.
A mid-2012 refresh added Ivy Bridge chips and USB 3.0 before the Retina MacBook Pro replaced the whole design.
Why it mattered
Introduced Thunderbolt and quad-core processors to the MacBook Pro line.
At a glance
- Announced
- February 24, 2011
- Released
- February 24, 2011
- Discontinued
- June 11, 2012
- Launch price
- $1,799
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i7 quad-core, 2.0 GHz
- Display
- 15.4"
- Storage
- 500 GB, 750 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- First Mac with Thunderbolt
- Quad-core Core i7
- FaceTime HD camera
- AMD Radeon graphics
- SDXC slot
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 15.4-inch
- Type
- LED-backlit widescreen
- Resolution
- 1440 x 900
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i7 quad-core, 2.0 GHz
- CPU cores
- 4
Memory
- RAM
- 4 GB DDR3, expandable to 8 GB
- Storage options
- 500 GB or 750 GB hard drive
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 7 hours
Ports
- Ports
- Thunderbolt, 2 USB 2.0, FireWire 800, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11n
Camera
- Camera
- 720p FaceTime HD
Design
- Weight
- 2.54 kg (5.6 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.6.6
How it compares
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