Apple may be adding refreshed 15-inch MacBook Pro models very soon, bringing heftier specs with virtually no extra cost, according to newly-leaked information.
The company will reportedly expand that lineup with new models as soon as Tuesday, July 29, giving interested buyers more options to choose from.
The new info comes in the form of a leaked image (via BBS Feng) that is allegedly coming from Apple's Chongging, China store. The image in question (see above) shows a chart detailing MacBook Pro configuration.
Intel has just unveiled its new Core i7 chips last week, and this new leak indicates that Apple's MacBook Pro models will be among the first to boast the new chips. The new Apple devices will run the new Intel Core i7, with configurations starting at 2.2GHz and clocking all the up to 2.8GHz. All of these options will apparently come with a hefty 16GB of RAM, i.e. double the amount found in the current generation.
The model will a 2.2GHz Core i7 will replace the older one clocked at 2.0GHz, while the 2.5GHz configuration will replace the older 2.3GHz one, but it will come in two versions. One will pack Intel Iris Pro graphics, and the other will sport an NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics processing unit. The highest-end model, meanwhile, runs at 2.8GHz and comes with a version that boasts both Intel Iris Pro and NVIDIA graphics.
The leaked chart further reveals pricing details for these refreshed configurations. The 2.2GHz model starts at 14,288 yuan ($2,300), the 2.5GHz one goes up to 18,668 yuan ($3,000), while the 2.8GHz version costs 23,668 yuan ($3,800).
As MacRumors points out, the first two configurations (2.2GHz and 2.5GHz) have the same prices as the current 15-inch MacBook Pro in China, which indicates that Apple may keep its current pricing scheme. MacRumors claims that Apple could unveil the new models as soon as Tuesday, July 29.
This chart only lists the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros should receive upgrades soon as well, especially considering that Intel has also launched new Core i5 Haswell chips alongside the upgraded i7 ones.
Currently it remains unconfirmed whether Apple will release these purported new MacBook Pro models so soon, but if such marketing materials are leaking already it is possible. We'll keep you up to date as soon as more details surface, but take everything with a grain of salt in the meantime.
