Apple M1 chip specs, release date, and how it compares to Intel

(Image credit: Apple)

It seems like we've only but met the M1 fleck, Apple's desktop- and laptop-course systems-on-bit, and however we're already learning well-nigh its successors -- as rumors point to an M1X chip coming very soon in Apple's next Macs.

But what'due south available today is what matters, and what's bachelor today is pretty impressive in its own right. Our MacBook Pro with M1 review, MacBook Air with M1 review and Mac mini with M1 review show that Apple tree'due south really flipped the script by using its own processors.

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Switching to these new chips allows for major changes up and down Apple tree's laptops and desktops — and no Mac volition be left backside (eventually). And, aye, these chips will be based on the same technology as the A-series iPhone and iPad processors with some of import modifications for Macs.

While information technology may seem like inside baseball for some, Apple tree Silicon has massive ramifications for Apple's computers. Yous tin can expect much faster performance, vastly improved graphics and longer bombardment life. Here'south everything you lot need to know about the Apple M1 chip and the laptops information technology powers.

Latest Apple M1 chip news (updated July 6th)

The Apple tree M1 fleck has won the honor for all-time laptop breakthrough in our Tom's Guide Awards 2021, thanks to the remarkable performance boosts information technology delivers in Apple products similar the MacBook Pro with M1 and the 24-inch iMac 2021.
New rumors suggest that the upcoming iPad Pro 2021'south A14X fleck is based on the Apple tree M1 chip.
An Apple M1X chip is expected to be used in the iMac 2021, which has been teased in the latest macOS beta release.

Apple M1 chip release date

The first Macs running on the Apple M1 chip dropped on November. 17, 2020. Announced on Nov. 10 at the "One more matter," result, the first three Macs running on Apple's ain chips are the Apple tree Silicon MacBook Air, Apple Silicon MacBook Pro and even the Apple Silicon Mac mini.

Every bit for the next Apple silicon? Well, nosotros expect a successor to the M1 flake, reportedly the M1X processor, every bit a Bloomberg written report revealed that Apple's next MacBook Pros and desktop Macs will meet many more cores in their M-level fries. Amidst those new laptops is the next version of the MacBook Pro (16-inch).

A written report suggested that a 12-core Apple tree silicon Mac is coming in March of this twelvemonth, but time is ticking on that event — as March is virtually over. That could exist the new high-cease xiii-inch MacBook Pro. Though we are still waiting new Apple tree silicon versions of the xvi-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro.

The new M1 (or M1-variant) based Macs may instead make it at a rumored Apple tree Apr event, where we expect the iPad Pro 2021 to arrive.

Apple M1 chip vs Intel performance

Apple tree's rather massive claims for how its M1-based Macs will outperform its Intel-based Macs are pretty bold — and 1 hopes they'll pay off and lead to similarly strong real-life examples.

Both M1 MacBooks are rated for substantial leaps over their predecessors. Specifically, Apple tree notes the M1 MacBook Air is 3.5x as fast every bit the most-recent Intel MacBook Air, and that the M1-based MacBook Pro is 2.8x every bit fast equally its predecessor. That'southward the kind of performance that could topple the Intel Core i9 version of the 16-inch MacBook Pro (which isn't one of the showtime round of Macs getting ported to M1 fries).

Apple also claims that its M1 Mac SSD storage speeds will up to twice equally fast equally those inside Intel-based MacBooks. The M1 MacBook Pro (3.3 GBps read) and M1 Mac mini (3.4GBps read and write) will also see faster speeds.

Newly leaked reports about the M1X bit bear witness that Apple'due south got 12-core Apple silicon that it's preparing for its adjacent Macs.

Apple M1 chip MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

The M1 chips in both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both have 8 CPU cores, split betwixt 4 loftier-operation cores and 4 loftier-efficiency cores. While the entry-level $999 M1 MacBook Air has a 7-core GPU, the $1,249 M1 MacBook Air gives a picayune more oomph, with an viii-core GPU.

The $1,299 M1 MacBook Pro has the aforementioned M1 as the $1,249 MacBook Air, just it should be faster because it's got a fan-based pattern (which will enable more than cooling), and the Air does not.

Both M1-based MacBook Pros accept dual Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, while the Pro is rated past Apple for having a brighter screen (400 nits vs 500 nits), and longer battery life, as we'll get to below.

Apple tree M1 Mac prices

While some were hoping Apple would lower its MacBook prices (hey, they make the chips, they don't have to buy them anymore, right?) that did non come up to be. The Apple M1-based MacBook Air starts at $999, just like the Intel version it replaces, as does the M1-based MacBook Pro (still $i,299). Both have the aforementioned storage and RAM as their predecessors.

We did get one cost driblet: the M1-based Mac mini now starts at $699, $100 less than the previous version.

Apple M1 MacBook battery life

The M1-based MacBooks blew their Intel versions out of the water on bombardment life. Apple rates the new Air as lasting upwards to 15 hours on spider web browsing (its predecessor lasted 9:31 on our web browsing-based battery test) — and the M1 Air posted a time of 14:41 on that same examination.

The company even notes video calls won't drain your battery equally much, noting that the M1 MacBook Air will "extend FaceTime and other video calls for up to twice as long on a single charge."

As for the MacBook Pro? Information technology lasts even longer. Its epic 16:32 time on our battery test comes close to Apple's claim of up to 17 hours of spider web browsing. Apple tree rates the M1 MacBook Pro as offering twice the battery life y'all go far the previous MacBook Pro.

Apple M1 fleck apps

1 of the biggest Apple M1 fleck features is the ability to run iOS and iPadOS apps, which is possible because the M1 chip is an ARM-based processor, just like the A-series chips in the iPhone and iPad. That ways that developers volition exist able to bring their iPhone and iPad apps over, with fiddling work. Non all developers volition have that opportunity, though.

Oh, and just considering we're leaving Intel processors in the past doesn't hateful the apps fabricated for those computers won't work. Apple tree's applying a combination of processes to make this all piece of work.

Commencement off, Apple's updated all of its own applications to support the M1 chip — every bit you'd expect. And so, tertiary-political party developers accept had instructions (since June) for how to create "universal binary" versions of their apps that back up both Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs.

And for all the apps that may get "left behind?" Well, Apple'due south washed this before, when it transitioned from PowerPC processors to Intel, then it's got Rosetta — the new version of the app translation technology information technology used for that beginning transition. Rosetta 2 will process apps as you install them, and support updating extensions too, so as much work is washed up front equally possible.

Apple M1 chip Macs outlook

Apple's conclusion to move to Apple Silicon isn't only motivated by an improved user experience, equally a greater control of its processor supply chain volition probable reduce Apple tree'southward own costs.

We but hope that this doesn't come at a cost to how the Mac works. Once we get to test these laptops for ourselves, and see how apps run on them, we'll have greater clarity on that.

Tim Cook rightly positioned Apple tree Silicon as ane of the biggest moves in the Mac's history — alongside switches to PowerPC and Intel processors, and the launch of OS X — and we're looking forward to see all the major ways this will change the Mac as we know information technology. Stay tuned for the results.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past 6-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild globe of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/apple-m1-chip-everything-you-need-to-know-about-apple-silicon-macs

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Apple M1 chip specs, release date, and how it compares to Intel