M1 MacBook Pro Replaces Low-End Model, Higher-End Intel Options Still Available

[johnalan]

it will outperformed any 10th gen i5 7W 10W 15W even some 45W

Nobody will be pissed, they will be glad Apple still offers the Intel models because they likely have a workflow that includes functionality only available on Intel currently.

so you both think the M1 models will have better performance than the higher end intel 13inch pro models?

 

[falkon-engine]

So the question is how do the new “low end” Macs compare to the core i5 machines?? The low end Macs have better battery life, and WiFi 6, but less thunderbolt ports. How does a “pro” machine only have two thunderbolt ports?

Will wait until benchmarks are released.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Do you think they will put the GPU on the chip, or have something to the side of it?

Pretty interesting that the RAM is on the chip too. Should help with speeds. Very, very curious to see the 16”, I was sad when they stopped at the 13”

Same here, and those questions remind me of the Thunderbolt/MacPro conundrum.

Back before the trashcan Mac Pro we were all in a hissy fit about how Apple would handle GPUs. Hell, even after it only a few of us MR nerds brought up the solution of custom GPU boards.

I hope Apple doesn't place their tech above established GPU cards and industry leading workstation class chips. I'd love to see a 16" MBP with some serious BITE in the graphics arena.

If not, then I hope they don't cripple the eGPU options.

 

[SuperCachetes]

I wouldn't call it "brilliant." It was the only logical roadmap in this case.

For Pro users, it doesn't matter how fast the machine is if the app doesn't work. Right now, the only guaranteed working apps for M1 are those in the Mac App Store.

I'm assuming you mean "pro users" and not "Pro users." The heaviest lifting my MacBook Pro does is manage a giant Music library.

But yes, you are touching on the other part - this is the "beta period" the doubters have been grousing about. By the time real pro users need an even more serious machine, hopefully the wrinkles I might not have even noticed will be ironed out.

 

[pray2crom]

anyone noticed that M1 macs have 2 fewer thunderbolt ports than intel macs? why?

 

[guzhogi]

Can someone explain to me the difference between the new M1 MBA & MBP? Both seem very similar. I get the MBP has Touch Bar, and the specs say a better speaker & microphone system. Anything else?

 

[mdnz]

The integrated RAM is also likely far more efficient and efficiently utilized, allowing you to do more with less.

It depends on how the program you're running is programmed. A program using 2GB RAM now won't magically use less on the M1. Once the RAM is full it's full, no matter what platform you're running.

 

[nowhereman456]

Looks like support for up to 2 external 4K monitors is gone.

Hoping that is just a typo in the tech specs

Intel specs say:

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

• One external 6K display with 6016-by-3384 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors, or
• One external 5K display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors, or
• Up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors

While M1 just have

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

• One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz

 

[Serban55]

so you both think the M1 models will have better performance than the higher end intel 13inch pro models?

thats for sure, the mac mini dev kit with A12Z was almost on par with those 13" higher under Rosetta2 !

 

[julesme]

Little concerned about this -- my work, a K-12 school district, has an order of 100 of those base model 8th gen pros that we haven't seen show up in our Apple Device Enrollment Program. (The 10th gen models were too far out of our price range, the new Airs hit 100* in no time at all.)

As much as I'd love to not be deploying 8th gen Intel hardware for a five year computer refresh cycle, I'm not thrilled about the potential of that order not going through and us getting 100 ARM Macs with zero experience in real-world enterprise usage.

You are in a tough spot here. I think you cancel the order and wait for reviews to come out in a week or two, and assuming real-world tests (as reviewed) look good, you replace your order with the new Air, which is a lot faster than what you were planning to order.

 

[pearvsapple]

LMAO so they admit their processors ain't there yet

 

[solarflab]

The problem here is your speculation about what 16GB of RAM means in this context means nothing. What if you found out next week after some GeekBench and AutoCAD/Photoshop/FinalCut testing that the 16GB of RAM in M1 is as effective as 64GB of RAM in an Intel Mac? Still not good enough in 5 years? RAM has been soldered for years now, so not being user-replaceable is not a new problem, and if this RAM is able to accomplish everything a higher-spec'd Intel system can, then I see no issue.

I don't know how capable the new RAM is, of course, but neither do you, so my point is just that making comparison judgements using the current paradigm is pointless.

Thats not how RAM works. You either have 64gb or you dont. No "efficency" in the world will make a bucket larger than it is.

 

[Serban55]

While M1 just have

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

• One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz

Of course it will still have support for 2 4k at 60hz since it has the bandwith for 6k at 60hz

 

[JamieLannister]

You’d think the M1 prices would be dramatically less since we no longer have to pay the exorbitant Intel cpu core prices 🙄

You're crazy - apple is not a charity. They make profits and must do so yearly more than the year before it. They will dry your wallet up without a thought about caring. This is how a successful profitable business is run and apple is not evil for doing this either! Kudos to them for being so smart!

 

[shplock]

So are the Intel Macs still considered to be faster, more powerful? If not, why are the M1's being positioned as lower end?

Because that is just what Apple released at the moment. It is called a transition for a reason and will take 2 years for a reason.

 

[aoverflow]

That M1 can outperformed any, ANY windows OEM 12" 13" 14" !
It is a lower end APPLE SILICON MAC because Apple will not place M1 into a 16" Macbook pro or imacs because , M1 alone cannot sustain more than 2 ports of usb4/thunderbolt

I highly doubt the M1 can outperform AMD 4900HS inside Zephyrus G14, which is a 14’’ windows laptop.
I mean, I don’t even doubt, I bet it cannot

Well, at least it ain’t Intel as well, probably that’s the key

UPD. Well I’m probably wrong. Let’s wait for some benchmarks

 

[Digital Skunk]

Finally, Apple nailed it: Efficient Performance + Battery! Best combination so far!

I agree, but I think they've already been nailing this combo for a while now. I think the Mac laptops are just superb compared to their PC counterparts.

The problem here is your speculation about what 16GB of RAM means in this context means nothing. What if you found out next week after some GeekBench and AutoCAD/Photoshop/FinalCut testing that the 16GB of RAM in M1 is as effective as 64GB of RAM in an Intel Mac? Still not good enough in 5 years? RAM has been soldered for years now, so not being user-replaceable is not a new problem, and if this RAM is able to accomplish everything a higher-spec'd Intel system can, then I see no issue.

I don't know how capable the new RAM is, of course, but neither do you, so my point is just that making comparison judgements using the current paradigm is pointless.

All of this is nice, but moot. 20 years of tech history has shown us that down the road, having better specs will make your machine last longer.

There really is no reason to argue this in 2020 seeing that only a decade ago two people were arguing the merits of having more or less than 8GBs of RAM. A decade before that it was 4GBs of RAM, etc.

p.s. My argument isn't with it being soldered on. It's with it being capped at 16GBs.
p.p.s My argument isn't with the RAM being capable, it's with it being capable and having twice as much to extend the life of a machine.

so you both think the M1 models will have better performance than the higher end intel 13inch pro models?

So the question is how do the new “low end” Macs compare to the core i5 machines?? The low end Macs have better battery life, and WiFi 6, but less thunderbolt ports. How does a “pro” machine only have two thunderbolt ports?

Will wait until benchmarks are released.

Compared to an i5 ..... I personally think ANYTHING Apple makes is faster than an i5 😆

 

[Menel]

So are the Intel Macs still considered to be faster, more powerful? If not, why are the M1's being positioned as lower end?

For people with special legacy tasks, they gotta pay up to get the old stuff that Apple doesn't want to support anymore.

 

[jz0309]

Smart move by Apple to go for the lower end performance first... they must have engineering samples of at least the mid range by now but are still working out the bugs... this will be very exciting going forward

 

[cmaier]

anyone noticed that M1 macs have 2 fewer thunderbolt ports than intel macs? why?

Because the SoC doesn’t have enough external bandwidth.

I’m sure there will be an M1X (or whatever) for the higher end 13” MBP and the 16” MBPs next year that will add at least an extra address bit to allow accessing more RAM, and to allow 4 usb4 ports.

 

[JamieLannister]

Thats not how RAM works. You either have 64gb or you dont. No "efficency" in the world will make a bucket larger than it is.

Back then with IBM's OS/2 warp, they would advertise that it would only need 4MB memory to run entire OS. IT did run well too. But don't let marketing hype fake you over (responding to original OP)

 

[Nordica]

Can I get an opinion on a loaded '16 vs a loaded new '13 for music production? thanks!

 

[shplock]

very disappointed there is no 32gb option. even more excuse for me to nag the air now.

You do not need 32gb ram in the M1 MacBooks. I will explain for those who insist on moaning no matter what. It is a different architecture to Intel and therefore is MORE efficient with memory.
A good clue is the fact that Apple refer to the ram as unified memory architecture.
So you can do more with less memory with the M1 than with Intel as we all know that Intel systems are notorious memory bandwidth hogs.
More memory will come with time as well, when the higher end systems are released as these are just over end systems.

 

[yurc]

It looks like a glorified iPad Pro with a keyboard, a trackpad and two USB-C ports...minus the touchscreen.

Minus the LIDAR and their triple camera setup too.

 

[colfourbin]

I am disappointed. My 2018 15" MBP has a swollen battery and needs to be replaced. I was going to pick up one of these until the AS 16" MBPs are released and give whatever I buy now to my wife. I do use Lightroom, Photoshop and FCP and I am concerned I will see issues until a more powerful machine comes out. On top of that I am moving from the US to Europe in 2 months where the cost will be higher to replace my current laptop should it bomb out before a suitable replacement is available.