With the announcement of an Apple Event taking place on 10th November, and lengthy shipping delays on numerous Mac models, it looked like the first Silicon device was about to make an appearance.
Our prediction was right – and Apple didn’t just reveal one ARM-based Mac. Instead, the entire event revolved around these new chips. So here, we round up everything the ‘One More Thing’ November 2020 Apple Event unveiled.
M1 chip
The first Silicon processor is called the ‘M1’ chip. It brings together not just the processor, but the I/O security and memory into a single system on a chip (SoC) – supplying the ultimate simplicity, efficiency and performance to users.
Packed with an eight-core CPU, four of these are high-efficiency cores and the other four are high-performance. It’s believed the M1 chip will provide the greatest CPU performance per watt by Apple. Not to mention, it has the fastest integrated graphics in a PC, delivering up to twice the speed – making it perfect for creative agencies.
Designed explicitly for the Mac, it will work spectacularly with the macOS Big Sur. This new operating system was announced at the WWDC in June, and will be released on 12th November. The new chip is said to have the best battery life known to a Mac – and the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini are set to be the first devices with it.
MacBook Air
Fans of the MacBook Air have had a treat this year – first with the new 13-inch MacBook Air released in March, and now this one which contains the M1 processor. In comparison to its predecessor, it has quicker speeds for its CPU operation and graphics performance.
The new MacBook Air also outdoes the previous model, with 15 hours of wireless web use or 18 hours of video playback – compared to 11 hours and 12 hours respectively. It also boasts Wi-Fi 6, as well as faster SSDs and a fanless design that’s well and truly silent. It’s 3x faster than those Windows laptops in its league, and 98% quicker than laptops in general.
The new Air provides customers with a couple of M1 options with the entry level having one less GPU core.
Mac mini
There’s not just one new Mac mini coming with Apple Silicon – but two. Both provide an eight-core CPU combined with eight-core GPU, along with Apple’s 15-core Neural Engine. They also come with 8GB RAM, though this can be upgraded to 16GB.
The new Mac mini is significantly faster than the previous generation – delivering up to 3x the processing performance. It also has an advanced thermal design, and can support up to two displays in addition to Wi-Fi 6.
MacBook Pro
Like the 13-inch MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is also being updated to include the Silicon chip. The M1 chip, when teamed up with the MacBook Pro’s active cooling system, means this device is up to 2.8x swifter than the previous generation. It has 8-core graphics and can edit 8K videos – making its graphic performance one of the best.
With its 16-core Neural Engine, Machine Learning is up to 11x faster. This means the new 13-inch MacBook Pro can proudly boast it’s the world’s fastest compact pro notebook. It also has the longest battery life ever to exist on a Mac – with up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and 20 hours of video playback. Additionally, it has a built-in touch bar and a large track pad.
Intel versions
Whilst Apple have completely upgraded the MacBook Air to include the M1 chip, you can still lease a Mac mini or MacBook Pro 13” with an Intel Chip. For example, you can still get the 13” MacBook Pro model 2Ghz version with 16GB RAM and its four Thunderbolt ports.
It’s important to know that if you need to run Windows – whether it be via Boot Camp or Parallels – you’ll need an Intel Mac. Unfortunately, M1 will not support Boot Camp and you’ll have to wait until 2021 to run Windows via Parallels.
Also, if you’re worried about the compatibility of your apps with Apple M1, then Intel models will provide peace of mind. Although in fairness, Rosetta 2 means that apps will work fine in M1. Apple claim that some apps actually performed better in Rosetta than natively. So, this may not be such a big concern.
Which device should you choose?
Assuming that you don’t need to run Windows, the new Apple Silicon Mac you go for depends on what you need. If you find yourself carrying out a lot of office admin and using Office 365, then the MacBook Air is arguably the best device for you. Apple also proudly announced it could handle photo and video editing. The lack of a fan may be great for making silent Zoom calls, but we don’t recommend using it if you need to do a lot of editing on a daily basis.
If you’re more of a Pro user go for the 13” MacBook Pro. Whilst it has the same chip as the MacBook Air, the fan will allow the chip to handle more intensive work as it’ll remain cooler. You also get the Touch Bar, amazing speakers and an incredible battery life.
It’s worth noting that memory isn’t replaceable on the Mac mini anymore and it doesn’t provide you with the choice to upgrade to a 10Gb Ethernet port – meaning you would need an adaptor. Plus, the new portable Macs only have two Thunderbolt ports.
With changes like these and remote work becoming the norm, it’s important to do your research to figure out which is the best Mac for you. We can help you come to a decision though, comparing devices that best fit your needs and budget. What’s more, by using us you can spread your payments out over time with a leasing service.
On top of this, with Lease Loop, you don’t just get a transaction. We’ll support you as your business goes from strength to strength. There’s nothing we love more than seeing ambitious businesses achieve their goals through the power of the Mac.
Find out how we can support you by speaking to the friendly team here at Lease Loop today. Let’s talk.
