Apple claims its new M1 chip is both faster and more power efficient than the Intel Core i7 processor used in the previous generation MacBook Pro. It also claims double the battery life without adding any more weight. This sounds incredible and the new MacBook is certain to be a fantastic device. However, the previous generation still has some advantages. For example, the Intel-based system is a known and dependable, high-performance laptop, while it remains unknown exactly how the M1 MacBook Pro will perform in the real world.
The previous 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is only six months old, so it is still based on modern technology. Using a quad-core, tenth-generation, Intel i7 processor, it powers through heavy processing quickly. The retina resolution, True Tone screen is bright and sharp. Up to 32-gigabytes of memory and 4-terabytes of storage provide plenty of room for handling large images, videos and running professional quality apps. The 10-hour battery life allows nearly a full day of use before needing a charge. It’s a great laptop and the best-selling laptop in its class.
The newly announced MacBook Pro based on Apple’s M1 chip crushes the Intel MacBook Pro in both performance and efficiency. According to Apple, the processor is up to 2.8 times faster and integrated graphics are five times faster. This massive speed boost is delivered with a fraction of the power used. The battery life is claimed to be up to 20 hours, and a quote by a developer during the launch event video summed it up as “black magic.” It seems that Apple has hit a home run with its first time at bat. Of course, the truth is Apple has been designing fast and efficient processors for its iPhone and iPad line for a decade, but few realized how far the design had moved forward during that time. Much remains the same with the new MacBook Pro still employing a Touch Bar and active cooling – meaning fans. Screen brightness and resolution is also unchanged, although the new Apple laptop can run iPad apps, so there’s plenty new in that sense.
M1 & Intel MacBook Pro: Head To Head
![Apple M1 Vs. Intel: Best MacBook Pro To Buy In 2020?](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/B06BAD60-0266-4392-8B62-E455CBEFD6E5.jpeg)
With such a big performance leap, this may lead one to question the value of an Intel MacBook Pro. Rest assured these are still powerful laptops that can do serious work. Some advantages remain for the previous generation. Notably, memory and storage capacity for the M1 MacBook Pro top out at half that of the Intel version, with a maximum of 16-gigabytes and 2-terabytes. External storage smooths the issue partially, but whether the 16-gigabyte limit will be an issue is not yet known. Apple’s best iPad Pro only includes 6-gigabytes of RAM, so perhaps Apple feels its memory management is good enough that any more would be unnecessary. However, this is just one of the many unknowns with these new M1-powered computers.
Another potential concern is the lack of native versions of some apps. Apple announced that Adobe Lightroom is already converted, but Photoshop won’t make the transition until sometime next year. All Apple apps are ready and the launch event video featured various developers exclaiming how easy it was to recompile their apps for the M1. How this translates for individual needs remains to be seen and will vary from person to person. In the meantime, Apple said that some apps actually run faster on the M1 through its Rosetta emulator than they do on the Intel MacBook. That is amazing and should ease most concerns, but for professionals that depend on particular apps, it would make most sense to hang on to the Intel-powered MacBook until critical apps are available in native form on the M1 MacBook. The new 13.3-inch Apple Silicon MacBook is a breakthrough laptop and given enough time, it could prove to be the best on the market.