Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple M1 Hands-On Comparison: MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro vs. Mac Mini
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you’re concerned about acoustics, you’re going to love the M1 Macs. No fans and inaudible fans are the reports so far. When it comes to sound, though, I want to hear it for myself. Or not 🙂
PS hands on pieces like this are typically light on technical info like benchmarking data.
I've been poking along on my base model 2015 MBA, waiting for the 14" redesigned MBP. Given that they're now pushed back until mid-year (or later?) 2021, I might have to grab an M1 Mini (I already own the peripherals) to tide me over. It's hard to say "No" to that performance level for $899 (I'd get the 16GB RAM upgrade).
I had compressor running on the air for 8 hours. (bw compressor is still intel…). After a few hours I ran geekbench. Numbers were almost as high as when run alone with a cold computer. Throttling isn't a big deal.
I’ve made it a policy not to watch YouTube reviews where the YouTuber has a stupid expression on their face on the title image.
I don’t watch many videos.
I don’t watch many videos.
Apple product are always good and updating their technology over a period of time.
Hmm, show your working... This RAM issue looks really interesting - a lot of people seem to be latched on to comparison with Intel but it sounds like 8GB of RAM performs startlingly well - just look at the previous post on the MacRumours feed.
On a mini, 8gb to 16Gb RAM upgrade is more than a 25% cost increase. From what I've seen, only the most complex of video encoding tasks are really impacted by RAM so is this a useful upgrade or just a waste of a couple of hundred bucks?
Last edited:
I decided to jump in with both feet replacing my computer with an iPad Pro in May, for the most part I was able to get by but did miss having a desktop OS. Just being able to have multiple things open and running at once, being able to switch between them easier and not have the app refresh. Being able to manage files and folders much easier.
Then there's the open nature of a desktop OS, being able to run more things not limited by the App Store, programs which have more feature compared to mobile counterparts or not even having a mobile version at all.
Thanks for the information - Haven't slept for a few nights wondering if you would upgrade.
Really feel Apple nailed the transition WAY better than what I expected. Just wondering if laptop or Mini setup is the way to go next - the combination of an iPad Pro and Mini might be great - both look amazing.
That resolution switching is fantastic! I'm constantly switching external screens/conference rooms/home set up/tv and that instantaneous feedback looks to be a major advantage of the tightly integrated graphics at work here.
Yeah, bezels back then were a wee bit more enormous. My brother and I played Monkey Island on our father's PowerBook 180c (from 1992), and there's even a random picture I found online of somebody running it on theirs.
Years later, when I had a PowerBook Titanium, I looked at the promotional pamphlet for it, which unfolded such that the half-scale image of its screen was still larger than the actual screen on the 180c gathering dust in my parents' closet.
These arm Macs were developed solely to cut down on customization options which in turn makes them easier and less expensive for APPLE to produce while still maximizing profits. that's What Tim Cook is known for. until he leaves as CEO that's all these new Macs will ever be. $200 for 8GB ram upgrade??? When $50 is the going RATE.
They MAY BE FAST MACS
But We are buying into MASS PRODUCED Honda Civics. instead of the unique High END BMW That the Mac once was.
People will still choose X86 High End multicore chips and Windows for Any kind of PRO WORK on the computer.
7500 Geek bench score for multithread is LOW LOW compared to Mac Pro's in the past that have hit 20,000...
It's an iPad now face it. with a slightly souped up CHIP called an M1.
They MAY BE FAST MACS
But We are buying into MASS PRODUCED Honda Civics. instead of the unique High END BMW That the Mac once was.
People will still choose X86 High End multicore chips and Windows for Any kind of PRO WORK on the computer.
7500 Geek bench score for multithread is LOW LOW compared to Mac Pro's in the past that have hit 20,000...
It's an iPad now face it. with a slightly souped up CHIP called an M1.
I think many people haven’t yet fully wrapped their head around the fact that these computers represent an absolute revolution. This will be seen as a major turning point in the history of personal computing, at least within the scope of our lifetimes.
These machines, with remarkably little power consumption and heat generation, at a base consumer price point, can achieve some things that make $5,000 power-hungry heavily fanned computers struggle, and perform just or almost as well in other respects. That is INSANE.
Apple has again turned an industry on its head. How will the world at large change when this kind of power is in everyone’s hands?
These machines, with remarkably little power consumption and heat generation, at a base consumer price point, can achieve some things that make $5,000 power-hungry heavily fanned computers struggle, and perform just or almost as well in other respects. That is INSANE.
Apple has again turned an industry on its head. How will the world at large change when this kind of power is in everyone’s hands?
On paper the Air and the Pro have the same specs, except the Pro goes a bit brighter.
But are the panels both exactly the same, is there any difference in quality, or is it just the brightness that is different.
I would like to think going for the Pro you actually get a bit more for your money.
But are the panels both exactly the same, is there any difference in quality, or is it just the brightness that is different.
I would like to think going for the Pro you actually get a bit more for your money.
everything points to M1 chips being a pretty significant leap to their intel counterparts. If you can upgrade for cheaper after resale, I say go for it.
Agreed. Best case is that both Intel and AMD start dumping tons of money into catching up to Apple on ARM, and that Microsoft goes all-in on Windows 10 for ARM (because it's not great right now). At that point, computing could go places we can't imagine. This definitely feels like the next big step.
Traded my mid-2017 13” MacBook Pro 8gb/256gb in for a M1 MacBook Pro 8gb/512gb while visiting Hawait last week. Was not planning to do this (maybe subconsciously 😁) but I was in Hawaii where taxes are 50% less then my home state, the M1 was in stock at the Apple Store, and who knows where we will be with Covid in a few weeks.
Made appointment for trade-in and pickup the next day. Store entrance was roped off and they were doing temperature checks, and only allowing one customer per table and salesperson. There wasn’t a line but there was a steady number of customers. I was in and out within twenty minutes.
I never cared for the 2017 MacBook keyboard and the 256gb ssd was limiting at times. M1 keyboard is much better, more travel and “feeling”, amazing Apple got that so wrong in 2017. Double the storage is comforting have, and 8gb ram was enough with the Intel MacBook and will be for the M1, given my usage. And yes the M1 is noticeably faster.
Nice that my hard shell fits and my Anker dongle with video, enternet, USB, and SD card reader works as well. Could’ve gotten more selling old MacBook on my own, but Apple and the Apple Card made it easy just trade it in, no worries about payment, shipping, and getting screwed by buyers. And the Apple Card 3% cash back coverEd all but 1.5% of the sales tax.
Made appointment for trade-in and pickup the next day. Store entrance was roped off and they were doing temperature checks, and only allowing one customer per table and salesperson. There wasn’t a line but there was a steady number of customers. I was in and out within twenty minutes.
I never cared for the 2017 MacBook keyboard and the 256gb ssd was limiting at times. M1 keyboard is much better, more travel and “feeling”, amazing Apple got that so wrong in 2017. Double the storage is comforting have, and 8gb ram was enough with the Intel MacBook and will be for the M1, given my usage. And yes the M1 is noticeably faster.
Nice that my hard shell fits and my Anker dongle with video, enternet, USB, and SD card reader works as well. Could’ve gotten more selling old MacBook on my own, but Apple and the Apple Card made it easy just trade it in, no worries about payment, shipping, and getting screwed by buyers. And the Apple Card 3% cash back coverEd all but 1.5% of the sales tax.
I’m building production code on an M1 MacBook Air every day and there is no throttling. It barely gets warm.