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 -- a NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 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 standard configuration of this model has an LED-backlit 17.0" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1920x1200 native resolution), but it also is available via custom configuration with an "antiglare" display for an additional US.
Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire "800" port, three USB 2.0 ports, optical digital/analog audio in/out, a "Mini DisplayPort" that supports an external display at 2560x1600 (it also passes an audio signal), and an ExpressCard/34 slot. It lacks an SD card 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.