Apple bids Farewell to Intel
Apple made headlines in June 2020 at their Worldwide Developer Conference with the announcement that Apple computers would no longer be using Intel chips and would begin producing computers with their own silicon chips by the end of the year. CEO Tim Cook promised increased performance with less power consumption from the new processors. True to their promise, today Apple announced their first lineup of MacBooks with Apple Silicon and the M1 chip.
MacBook Air with M1 Chips
The MacBook Air is the world’s best-selling 13-inch notebook and has been a staple in the Mac lineup since the day Steve Jobs pulled it out of the mania envelope. With the new M1 chip, the Air has 3.5 times faster CPU and up to 5 times faster graphics performance. Apple is so confident in the improved power consumption that the MacBook Air has no fan, making it completely silent. The improved battery life is estimated to last for 15 hours of wireless web browsing and 18 hours of video playback. Additionally, the Air’s 13-inch display now has P3 wide color and a much-needed improvement to the webcam. The new MacBook Air starts at $999. It is available for orders today and will be available in stores next week.
Mac Mini with M1 Chips
The Mac Mini has long been a favorite for developers and creators alike. The small desktop computer is a compact and powerful tool and is now 3 times faster with up to 6 times faster graphics. With the M1 chip, the Mac Mini is even cheaper than the previous generation, starting at just $699. It is available for orders today and will be available in stores next week.
13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Chips
The M1 chip in the 13-inch MacBook Pro offers 2.8 times faster CPU performance and 5 times faster graphics performance. Unlike the MacBook Air, the new MacBook Pro has an active cooling system to achieve the power and speed that professionals expect out of their computers. The improved power consumption provides the longest battery life ever in a Mac computer with 17 hours of wireless web browsing and 20 hours of video playback. It includes upgraded studio quality microphones and an improved webcam for even clearer video and sound. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 and is available for order today and in stores next week.
MacOS Big Sur and Future Mac Upgrades
The introduction of the M1 chip coincides with the rollout of the latest operating system, MacOS Big Sur. Big Sur was designed specifically for these new Macs and will help usher in the next generation of Mac computers. Apple expects the full transition away from Intel to take a couple years, with likely updates to the iMac, iMac Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro coming in 2021.
