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So here we are, on the cusp of a war between Mac and Intel once again.
When Apple introduced the M1 in November last year, the Cupertino-based tech giant showed the world that it was one step closer to ending its reliance on Intel for processors.
But it was only a matter of time. Apple’s CFO Luca Maestri has criticized the computer chip maker for being a factor behind the company’s decline in Mac revenue, and it’s no secret that Intel has been struggling to keep up with advances. . While it continues to offer 10nm chips, those from AMD and Apple already have 7nm and 5nm respectively, which essentially makes them much more efficient.
Which brings us to today’s three new M1 MacBooks. If you, like many others, were wondering or even skeptical about its performance against older versions of the Intel Core i7, read on.
What’s so special about the M1 chip?
First of all, there is nothing aesthetically new that sets MacBooks apart from the previous model. The laptops are identical in dimensions and weight, and can only be differentiated by their model number below; M1 versions are indicated by A2338.
Its unibody construction feels as rugged and well-built as ever, and the Retina display somehow continues to deliver even more vibrant and lifelike colors, sharpness, and clarity. There are two USB-C ports available here, and the wireless connectivity has been updated to now support Wi-Fi 6, allowing not only faster speeds and better connectivity, but also less bandwidth congestion.
The M1 chip is the first in a family of chips designed by Apple specifically for the Mac, and is by far the most powerful chip Apple has ever made. This custom microprocessor is ARM-based rather than Intel-based.
It has also been designed to run Apple’s iOS and macOS software as efficiently as possible, which means that you can expect much better performance. How much faster and more efficient you ask? The eight-core CPU runs up to 3.5 times faster than the previous generation and with five times better graphics, the biggest leap ever made for the MacBook Air, so graphics-intensive games can run at significantly higher frame rates .
Previewing bulk images or importing large files is also faster than ever. Apple claims the M1 MacBook Air is faster than the chips of 98 percent of the PC notebooks sold last year.
Overloading a laptop with tasks like the ones above is often followed by the annoying hum of the fans. ARM processors are designed to do more work with less power, allowing for longer battery life and less heat. The new chip is so good at this that fans are no longer required on the Macbook Air, and it remains completely silent whether you’re working on a document, launching a graphics-rich game, or integrating 3D video effects in Final Cut. Pro.
Software compatibility
Another benefit of this internal switch is that you can now also use your favorite iOS apps on the MacBook, although this also depends on how many third-party developers are willing to provide Mac input controls on them.
Intel-based third-party applications will also work seamlessly with the M1 chip thanks to Apple’s Rosetta 2 translation layer. One thing to note, however, is that Boot Camp, which allows you to switch between macOS and Windows, will not be compatible with M1, although you can still access the Crossover application to support legacy programs that run Windows.
Apple’s new chip is blazingly fast, but it could be a while before creativity and productivity applications are optimized to take advantage of the new architecture. Adobe has already advanced on this and has released the first beta version of Photoshop. This means that you will not need to go through Rosetta 2, which includes performance. There are still user limitations until they get the formula completely correct, but this is generally a good start for creatives who want to experience the full capabilities of the MacBook M1.
Battery duration
The battery life has been increased to twice as much as before, which according to Apple means that you will get up to 20 hours per charge on the 13 ”MacBook Pro instead of 10 hours on the Intel version, even though it has been used the same lithium polymer battery.
On the MacBook Air, you’ll get up to 18 hours of use, which is a bit less due to Apple’s cooling solution, but still a huge improvement when it comes to mobility.
Final thoughts
The M1 chip will be available on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini, with prices starting at S $ 1,449, S $ 1,849, and S $ 979 respectively.
To say that the performance of the M1 chip is stellar would be an understatement. Overall, you will appreciate the improved quality of life and performance that the MacBook M1 offers. A handful of applications still suffer a slight performance hit when running through Rosetta 2, but in many cases it is not much more than if their Intel predecessors ran the same applications natively.
The MacBook Pro M1 is still the most powerful model of all, and it will be the best option for those who do heavy work like editing videos or photos, but the MacBook Air is still our favorite for being the most value for money. . Either way, we guarantee that you will be impressed.
Learn more or buy the new MacBooks on the Apple website.
(All images: Apple)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
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