Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Late 2011) review

The late 2011 MacBook Pro refresh is the laptop line's second update this year, but a far smaller revision than the one we got in February.

While the early 2011 MacBook Pro refresh of the 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch laptops brought us new Sandy Bridge second-generation Core i-series processors and a Thunderbolt port, the late 2011 update is more incremental, with only minor upgrades to the processing speed and bigger hard drives.

The entry-level 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro late 2011 retains its dual core Intel Core i5 processor, but has gone from a 2.3GHz to a 2.4GHz chip. The more expensive model, which we reviewed, moves from a 2.7GHz to a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor.

Hard drive capacities have been increased, with the entry-level model going from 320GB to 500GB, and the higher-end version from 500GB to 750GB. Hard drive speeds remain unchanged, at 5,400 rpm.

Aside from these two relatively minor changes, everything else about the late 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro remains the same. Its logic board is too small to support a discrete graphics chip, and a legal dispute prevents the integration of an Nvidia chipset into the new Core-i processors, so graphics are once again left to the Sandy Bridge chips' in-built Intel HD Graphics 3000.

The screen is still a glossy 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colours and a 1280 x 800 native resolution.

The internal, non-user-changeable battery still lasts for up to seven hours of wireless web browsing, and keeps running for around three times as long as a standard battery before wearing out. Connectivity options are still two USB 2.0 ports, a single FireWire 800 port and a new, high-speed Thunderbolt port.

One more thing that hasn't changed is the price. It's still £999 for the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, and £1,299 for the more expensive version.