Apple has just introduced the new Mac computers (Air, Pro, and Mini) which are armed with the M1 Chip, Apple’s first chip designed specifically for the Mac. The results are obvious: More speed, more battery time, and more power. What about the price? Read on.

Apple’s in-house chip dedicated to Mac

Apple today announced the M1, which is “The most powerful chip it has ever created” and the first chip designed specifically for the Mac. M1 is optimized for Mac systems in which small size and power efficiency are critically important. As a system on a chip (SoC), M1 combines numerous powerful technologies into a single chip and features a unified memory architecture for dramatically improved performance and efficiency. M1 is the first personal computer chip built using 5-nanometer process technology and is packed with 16 billion transistors, the most Apple has ever put into a chip.

World’s fastest CPU core in low-power silicon

M1 is an all-in-one small apparatus that features the world’s fastest CPU core in low-power silicon, which means, “the world’s best CPU performance per watt”. as claimed by Apple. Also, the company states that M1 allows the world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer and breakthrough machine learning performance with the Apple Neural Engine. According to Apple, M1 delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning, all while enabling battery life up to 2x longer than previous-generation Macs. The main advantage is the size, which allows the privilege of implementation in small machines (Mac anyone?).

M1 is the first personal computer chip built using 5-nanometer process technology and is packed with 16 billion transistors, the most Apple has ever put into a chip.

Boosting CPU performances

Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies states: “When it comes to low-power silicon, M1 has the world’s fastest CPU core, the world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer, and the amazing machine learning performance of the Apple Neural Engine. With its unique combination of remarkable performance, powerful features, and incredible efficiency, M1 is by far the best chip we’ve ever created.” Explore the “CPU performance vs. power” slide below that compares the M1 chip to the latest PC laptop chip. 

The GPU is built-in

M1 includes Apple’s most advanced GPU. Apple says that it benefits from years of analysis of Mac applications, including everyday apps and challenging pro workloads. With industry-leading performance and incredible efficiency, the GPU in M1 is in a class by itself. Featuring up to eight powerful cores capable of running nearly 25,000 threads simultaneously, the GPU can handle extremely demanding tasks with ease, from smooth playback of multiple 4K video streams to rendering complex 3D scenes. Check out the “Power vs. performance” slide below, that demonstrates the GPU of the new M1 chip compared to the latest PC models.

The GPU can handle extremely demanding tasks with ease, from smooth playback of multiple 4K video streams to rendering complex 3D scenes.

Apple

A new generation of Macs

The M1 chip was implemented in the new Macs: Air, Pro, and even Mini. “The introduction of three new Macs featuring Apple’s breakthrough M1 chip represents a bold change that was years in the making, and marks a truly historic day for the Mac and for Apple,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “M1 is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever created, and combined with Big Sur, delivers mind-blowing performance, extraordinary battery life, and access to more software and apps than ever before”. 

M1 is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever created, and combined with Big Sur, delivers mind-blowing performance, extraordinary battery life, and access to more software and apps than ever before.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO

Reinvented 13-inch MacBook Pro

While there is a significant improvement in performances regarding all three Macs, allow us to focus on the Macbook Pro. Filmmakers and content creators are users that demand high CPU and GPU capabilities in order to handle heavy tasks like color grading, ultra high definition proxy-free editing, and fast media management in the field. The Macbook Pro is being the weapon of choice of filmmakers ever since. However, in the last two years, NVIDIA has presented its counter attack, which is the RTX Studios. Nevertheless, the new Macbook will definitely give a tough fight to PCs.

As stated by Apple: “With the M1 chip and Big Sur, the 13-inch MacBook Pro becomes even more powerful and even more pro. The 8-core CPU, when paired with the MacBook Pro’s active cooling system, is up to 2.8x faster than the previous generation, boosting the performances when compiling code, transcoding video, editing high-resolution photos, and more. The 8-core GPU is up to 5x faster, and with M1, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is up to 3x faster than the best-selling Windows laptop in its class. ML is up to 11x faster, and for on-device ML tasks that use the Neural Engine, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is now the world’s fastest compact pro notebook. With up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and up to a staggering 20 hours of video playback, MacBook Pro delivers up to twice the battery life of the previous generation and the longest battery life ever on a Mac. Also, When compared to the previous generation, the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro can render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x faster, and playback full-quality, 8K ProRes video in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a single frame”.

When compared to the previous generation, the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro can render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x faster, and playback full-quality, 8K ProRes video in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a single frame.

Apple

Have a glimpse at the slide below which summarizes the capabilities of the new Macbook Pro: 

Pricing and Availability

The new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with M1 are available to order today on apple.com and in the Apple Store app. They will begin arriving to customers and will be in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting next week. The new MacBook Air starts at $999 (US), and $899 (US) for education; the new 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 (US), and $1,199 (US) for education, and the new Mac mini starts at $699 (US), and $679 (US) for education.

Final thoughts

The main keywords of this announcement are Speed, power, and efficiency. Of course, there are many advantages when developing your own in-house processors, like better integration, more precise engineering, and a reduction in the cost of manufacturing. Those factors lead to the results of better computers that can do more heavy-duty stuff. That’s a piece of good news for content creators. Let’s wait and see what will happen when the beast (Mac Pro) will get into the M1 party.