The MacBook Pro “Core i5” 2.53 15-Inch  is powered by a 32 nm, dual-core 2.53 GHz Intel “Core i5” I5-540M (Arrandale) processor, with a dedicated 256k level 2 cache for each core and a 3 MB shared level 3 cache. This system also supports “Turbo Boost” — which “automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload” up to 3.06 GHz for this model — and “Hyper-Threading” — which allows the system to recognize four “virtual cores” or “threads.”

By default, it is configured with 4 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) installed in pairs (two 2 GB modules), a 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL “SuperDrive”, and dual graphics processors — an NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory and Intel HD Graphics with 256 MB of RAM shared with the system — that Mac OS X automatically switches between for better graphics performance and better battery life, respectively, depending on application use.

The configuration of this model has an LED-backlit 15.4″ widescreen TFT active-matrix “glossy” display (1440×900 native resolution).

Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire “800” port, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital/analog audio in/out, a “Mini DisplayPort” that supports an external display at 2560×1600 (it also passes an audio signal), and an SD card slot. It lacks an ExpressCard/34 slot.

This model uses a “Unibody” aluminum case design — milled from a single piece of aluminum — and has a backlit keyboard, a new “no button” glass “inertial” multi-touch trackpad, and a non-swappable battery design that provides up to 8-9 hours of battery life.

Compared to its predecessor, this model has a very similar external enclosure, but an enhanced trackpad, and the same connectivity, except for the enhanced audio passing Mini DisplayPort. Internally, however, it has a substantially different architecture with a faster “Core i5” processor and faster graphics as well, although it shares the same memory. Battery life is improved too.