Apple's M1 processor.

 

Apple's CEO Tim Cook and his top executives unveiled the M1, the first computer chip designed in-house, the Mac got a new lease of life. For years, Apple has been accused of not doing enough to change the course of its Macs, but the Cupertino-based tech firm now has taken the first step in that direction by announcing the first homemade chip for its computers. The message is loud and clear: the Mac is freeing itself from the clutches of Intel, the chip giant that has been powering Apple’s laptops and desktops since 2006. They want their own line of processors and customize their mac Os for better productivity and performance.

As it is good to become independent and don't rely on other chipset manufacturers for the processor; changing the architecture from Intel's x86 to ARM. But how does Apple benefit from all this and what the ARM-based Mac means to end consumers?

Now, let us dive-in more to know about the M1 chip:

What is M1 chip?

The M1 is the name of the chipset that powers Apple’s new lineup of Mac computers: a new MacBook Air, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro, and a Mac Mini desktop computer. Previously, Apple Macs were powered by Intel processors, and Apple had to go by Intel rules. That dented Apple’s plans to refresh its Macs as frequently as it does for the iPhone and iPad. With the M1, Apple has not only designed its own computer processor for the Mac but it has full control of the whole process, from start to finish.

What is special about this M1 chipset?

The M1 is based on the ARM-based processor technology that’s different from Intel’s x86 architecture. In short, the chips powering the MacBook Air and iPhone 12 have the same processor technology now. That means the M1 and A14 Bionic have the same DNA. But the M1 is quite clearly designed for the Macs and not for mobile devices, though both chips have a 5nm design. The core benefit of using the M1 is that the new Macs will have a longer battery life, instant wake up from sleep mode, and the ability to run iOS apps. For instance, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro has a battery that can last up to 20 hours when watching videos and 17 hours when surfing the web.

Features :

1. Made with 5nm process with ARM architecture.

2. Has 16 core Neural Engine for AI tasks and computations.

3. Has over 16 billion transistors for better performance.

4. Better Battery life implementation.

5. Has 8 core CPU & 8 core GPU.

6. Better Image Signalling Processor.

Reason for ditching Intel's Processor :

The reason why Apple ditched Intel and designed custom processors for the Mac has something to do with how the world’s most valuable tech company operates. Apple wants full control of the product, instead of relying on Intel. This strategy has worked wonders for the company with the iPhone and iPad and the Tim Cook-led company is ready to have greater control over the Mac.

But don’t expect the Macs with Apple Silicon to cost less. For a change, though, the new Mac Mini does cost $100 lower than its predecessor but the prices for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro remain unchanged.

There are benefits of the M1 chip, but the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon could pose some challenges. Apps need to be rewritten for the new architecture since most Macs are powered by Intel’s x86 processors. Apple has said it's software emulator Rosetta 2 would help M1 to run apps built for Intel-based Macs. But since developers are involved, the transition from Intel to its new Arm-based silicon is certainly going to be challenging. If Apple handles this transition well it would benefit Microsoft. The Redmond, Washington-based company has been working for years to run its Windows software smoothly on ARM-based processors but has found it hard to convince developers. Apple’s move from Intel to its own silicon would bring a larger focus on Microsoft’s Surface Pro X, which is powered by a custom processor, jointly developed with Qualcomm. If sales of the Surface Pro X grow in the future, Microsoft’s OEMs like HP, Dell, and Lenovo will get serious about making products that truly rival the new Macs.