MacBook Air and MacBook Pro M1 Chips Have Same 8-Core CPUs, No Upgrades Available

[adrianlondon]

Lots of talk about the camera. I have the 2020 Air, which I bought back in March. The resolution of the camera isn't a problem, it's the fact it's so dark. It needs lots of light to work well. So if the new Air's camera works better in low light (due to a more sensitive sensor) then it'll be good improvement regardless of it being 720p.

 

[roobarb!]

And they won't show Ghz but they ask the user whether they want a 7-core or 8-core GPU in their base model computer...what are you doing Apple? Even a developer like me has no idea of what to make of that. And no one has any way to compare performance between the two models...

That is very noticeable and likely the way they'll continue, as they generally don't talk about GHz on the iPhones either. That "7 or 8 core" GPU also makes me think they had yield issues and they're dumping some core-disabled silicon into the thermally constrained Air.

 

[deputy_doofy]

If you had to choose between:

MBA M1 with 7 core GPU and 16GB of RAM or
MBA M1 with 8 core GPU and 8GB of RAM

Which would you choose?

Don't know yet. Would like to see the impact (benchmarks) of 1 less GPU core. This is new territory, so we have to wait for these numbers to come out.

 

[Bea220]

Shipping times of MBA custom configs are already slipping.

I was going to go for the higher end GPU version with 16 GB and 1 TB since it was still shipping the same as standard configs. But due to a payment snafu*, that one slipped to Dec 3-10. Others slipped just a week so I ended going with the lower end GPU and 16GB/1TB (doubt I'll ever notice any different from the loss of one measly GPU core). But that one's still a week behind the standard configs. I was hoping to use this machine for something next week, but oh well!

*Trying to use Apple ID balance but it never offered to log me in, took me 10-15 minutes to resolve by using a different computer to order. By this time the damage was done.

What is the earliest available ship dates? I went with the Space Gray Pro 8GB w/512 SSD (I'm not a super high tech person and I'm sure the Air would have suited me fine) but I enjoy the higher end models as I aim to keep them for a long time (not saying Air wouldn't last).

I had bought the 2019 MBP 13" (*cringe* butterfly keyboard) earlier this year and luckily returned it after reading all of the reviews. I've been on my 2013 MBP for 7 years and hope to make this next one last a bit longer. I resisted the 2020 model with the Magic Keyboard since I've been holding out for the Silicon computers ever since they were announced.

I may return today's purchase as I'm still holding on hope for the 14 inch model but that could be years away.

We shall see...

 

[Digital Skunk]

The more I read the more I'm convinced this is a Rev A product.

Which means I'll be waiting until the second gen 16" MBP with .... M5? chip before I will feel confident in a purchase.

 

[jonnysods]

I don't really understand why the pro is more expensive and needs a fan. Higher frequency?

Maybe there is a little throttling in the MBA? Looking forward to seeing some benchmarks.

 

[legis_arvum]

So the only major pro feature is lager battery life? Hmm

 

[Return Zero]

If I had to I would go with the Air. I'm not sure why the PRO needs a fan and the Air doesn't? I have a mini and was looking at that. I don't like the fact the RAM is not upgradeable again except by Apple when you first buy. What is up with that?

Weird they state the Air's M1 is 9X faster while the Pro's M1 is 11X faster since they're comparing to the previous Air and Pro respectively. Shouldn't that be the other way around if it's the same chip in both? Otherwise that means the previous Air was faster than the previous Pro...

So many people who don't understand what fans do... I'm not judging, but there are plenty of answers to your questions in this thread.

Having the same chip doesn't really mean much when it comes to an actual speed comparison. The longer and faster you push the chip, the more heat it generates. The Pro doesn't need a fan any more than the Air does, but it will allow the Pro to push the M1 chip longer and faster under sustained/"pro" workflows. It probably allows both higher base and max frequencies than the Air (Apple doesn't advertise clock speeds like Intel does).

Most people don't realize that a lot of Intel's i3/i5/i7 lineups are all the same physical chip... They just cap certain features or drive them at different frequencies to segment their product lineup.

 

[anonymous888]

Is there any significant difference between the 7-core GPU Air and the 8?

My machine is mostly an internet station.

Pulled trigger on the $999 base model Air.

Same. But I would like better performance while watching 4K YouTube or using Plex Mac app. I have 2015 13 inch i5 pro, it starts lagging and heats up when I do the above things. Even opening 2-3 chrome tabs all with different video playing makes it lag.
Is 999 MBA enough for me?

 

[deeddawg]

This isn’t the case though, I can compare the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro and can’t distinguish the chips. Like I take the point that Apple isn’t going to compare these to Intel or AMD, but this is going to get confusing fast when the rest of the Macs transitions and they start allowing more build to order configurations.

Still not seeing how you can meaningfully compare the Air & Pro M1 based on a top clock speed specification given one is passively cooled and the other is actively cooled and you have zero information regarding throttled clock speeds.

The useful data will come with benchmarks. Not clock speed figures.

 

[spytech]

The presentation was great and I believe this new chip will surely be amazing. However I am having a tough time understanding why all these computers share the same chip and how they're going to justify the almost 700€ price difference between base model Mac mini and MacBook Pro. These will technically have the same performance. That is a truly expensive price to pay for mobility for a machine that, in my view, will probably perform similarly. I'm really looking forward for real world tests.

As far as I can see the Air was the one benefiting from a greater bump in power with this new chip, but another thing I find odd is how they're going to justify selling an Air when you can just get a Pro for 50€ extra when choosing an 8 core GPU/CPU chip. Makes no sense to me. I also wonder how the 7 core chip version matches to the 8 core one and how it will make a difference in real life (or not)

These chips have to perform differently, and not just because "Pro has cooling so won't throttle".

A good advantage of all this is that speccing the Pro to my liking and to the most similar I can to my current system results in a difference of something around 500€ when new, which makes my jaw drop lol.

 

[Elijen]

M1 is going to change how computers are sold. No more cramming in ram when you can make the ram you have work more efficiently.

Not how RAM works though. It will be faster, but more RAM is still needed for some workloads

 

[ascender]

for me its pretty obvious i'm getting the air, no touch bar please.

For me its pretty obvious I’m getting the Pro, none of those old-fashioned function keys please.

(I really miss it having been using an Air for the last few months)

 

[gluckett]

16GB of memory seems like a joke for a "Pro" machine.

 

[deeddawg]

So the only major pro feature is lager battery life? Hmm

You may wish to reread the specs...

brighter display
active vs passive cooling
touchbar

To what degree those have an appreciable affect on ones usage is a personal thing, but there's a bunch different other than battery life.

 

[bpeeps]

M1 is going to change how computers are sold. No more cramming in ram when you can make the ram you have work more efficiently.

This is a very interesting take and I like it.

 

[LawJolla]

They have memory options now - I was just saying they aren't user configurable after purchase and I don't think they will be ever again due to the SoC fully contained design

I think you're right for the foreseeable future, but they'll need [user configurable] GPU and memory options for the Mac Pro.

 

[creediddy]

GEEKBENCH WHERE ARE YOU?!

Apple M1 - Benchmark, Test and Specs

Apple M1 - Benchmark, Geekbench 5, Cinebench R20, Cinebench R23, Cinebench R15 and FP32 iGPU (GFLOPS) benchmark results

www.cpu-monkey.com

Not confirmed yet, but its looking like 1600 single-core / 7200+ multiscore

 

[MacLawyer]

View attachment 1658396
THIS IS A JOKE!!
pure, undenaible JOKE 🤣🤣LOL 😂

only two ports on pro?? So we just buy more eco-friendly adapters?? or is it just another "lower-end" Pro with touch bar so boomers can show off in starbucks..??

Hey don’t piss off us boomers. Remember, the older you get the less life in prison is a deterrent. 😂😂😂

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think you're right for the foreseeable future, but they'll need [user configurable] GPU and memory options for the Mac Pro.

Not sure I agree

I think Apple might force this way on all tiers of performance honestly

"user configurable" is already there (at purchase), which is actually mostly fine for most all professional setups.

 

[kobberrød]

View attachment 1658396
THIS IS A JOKE!!
pure, undenaible JOKE 🤣🤣LOL 😂

only two ports on pro?? So we just buy more eco-friendly adapters?? or is it just another "lower-end" Pro with touch bar so boomers can show off in starbucks..??

I think it's exactly that. There were some comments reminiscencing the PowerPC to Intel transition and merging PowerBook 12 and iBook lines to a new Macbook, but I guess that didn't happen this time. Which is interesting, will we see it in the next update or we will have those forced 2 tiers of MBP for ever :/

 

[Bea220]

Just so I'm clear... THE PRO MODELS ONLY HAVE 2 PORTS no matter what the memory, correct?

What a weird move.

 

[huffy15]

The ram isn't what it used to be. They can probably outperform a 32gb laptop with only 8gb

 

[creediddy]

This is a great start for the Apple Silicon, however, the M1 chip is not groundbreaking. We will see dramatic improvements as it gets closer to the top x86 chips, such as Threadripper 3990X. This will take Apple at least 2 years to approach these benchmarks.

On a positive note, they are on par and much better in terms of TDP over the top of the line Ryzen. AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS. 4900HS is around 1093 SC / 7074 Multi. So kudos to Apple challenging the mobile market of AMD and Intel for supremacy in die size and TDP.

 

[cmChimera]

Still not seeing how you can meaningfully compare the Air & Pro M1 based on a top clock speed specification given one is passively cooled and the other is actively cooled and you have zero information regarding throttled clock speeds.

I fell like Intel could distinguish their chips even when those differences still existed. Intel did these by labels. I5, I7, M3, etc. I'm fine with Apple not using clock speeds, but for a general buyer these chips look exactly the same and most of us think there are going to be differences in their performance. I just think that's ultimately confusing.