Sony in a low-key move has quietly updated the VAIO P with its first performance upgrade in the US since launch. The P698E moves from the original 1.33GHz processor to a 1.6GHz part and also doubles the capacity of the solid-state drive to 128GB. Both are currently available together in a single, red model that costs $1,500.

The US model remains the slowest in most areas, as Japan has a 2GHz version with a 256GB solid-state drive. It also has an all-black version instead of the two-tone scheme others can choose from. Notably, though, the new update isn't one of the two leaked models and hints that yet another, more substantial upgrade is in the pipeline for the near future. [via Engadget]