Hosted by site sponsor WebMate.







Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A

Revision Published April 10, 2009

All Mac Q&As >> Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A | Also See: All MacBook Pro Specs

To be notified of new Q&As, sign up for EveryMac.com's bimonthly email list.




What are the differences between the 15-Inch "Late 2008/Unibody" MacBook Pro models?

Please note that all MacBook Pro models mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and quite useful for anyone considering one of these notebooks on the used market.

The 15-Inch "Late 2008/Unibody" MacBook Pro systems -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (Unibody) and MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) -- are quite similar to one another, but are quite a bit different than the earlier MacBook Pro models that they replaced.

On March 3, 2009, Apple quietly replaced the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) with the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 15" (Unibody), which is officially identical apart from a faster 2.66 GHz processor (however it also unofficially supports an additional 2 GB of memory, 8 GB up from 6 GB).


Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

External Differences

All "Unibody" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo (Late 2008/Aluminum) models have an all new Aluminum iMac-esq black and silver case design milled from a single block of aluminum providing greater strength and a superior finish than previous systems.

All models also include backlit keyboards, a new "no button" glass "multi-touch" trackpad with support for new "four finger" gestures and programmable "zones", and have LED-backlit 15.4" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" displays. For the first time, the 15-Inch "Pro" models do not offer "matte" or "anti-glare" displays, even as an option, much to the disappointment of some users (the 17-Inch model does have an "anti-glare" option for an additional US$50).

Connectivity Differences

Connectivity of each includes an ExpressCard/34 slot, AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire "800" port, optical digital/analog audio in/out, and a new "Mini DisplayPort" that supports an external display at 2560x1600.

Internal Differences

Internally, the models are quite similar as well, with the same logic board design and 45 nm "Penryn" Intel "Core 2 Duo" processors of different speeds with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, support for 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500), support for Serial ATA hard drives, an 8X DL "SuperDrive", and dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.

Comparison Chart

The modest differences between the "Late 2008/Unibody" models -- configuration, capabilities, and price -- are summarized in this handy chart:

MacBook Pro "Unibody" 2.4 2.53†
Intel Processor: P8600 T9400*†
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz 2.53 GHz*†
Level 2 Cache: 3 MB 6 MB
Hard Drive Size: 250 GB 320 GB
Standard RAM: 2 GB 4 GB
Dedicated GDDR3 VRAM: 256 MB 512 MB
Optical Capabilities: 8X DL "SuperDrive" 8X DL "SuperDrive"
Apple Part No: MB470LL/A MB471LL/A†
Price: US$1999 US$2499*†

*This model also was available via custom-configuration with a 2.8 GHz "T9600" processor for an extra US$300.

† On March 3, 2009, Apple quietly replaced the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) with the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 15" (Unibody), which is officially identical apart from a faster 2.66 GHz processor (T9550) and a new order number of MC026LL/A, however it also unofficially supports an additional 2 GB of memory (8 GB up from 6 GB). It additionally could be upgraded to a 2.93 GHz processor (T9800) for an additional US$300.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new MacBook Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing and JemJem sell used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Pro, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Pro models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used MacBook Pro models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Pro model to any other G3 or later Mac.



Permalink | Report an Error/Typo | Sign Up for Site Update Notices




<< Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A (Main) | Also See: All MacBook Pro Specs




Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.