{"id":20021,"date":"2022-09-30T15:34:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T13:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=20021"},"modified":"2022-09-30T15:34:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T13:34:08","slug":"guide-apple-arm-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pros and Cons of Apple\u2019s ARM Architecture [M1, M2, and Beyond]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684478e902ad\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684478e902ad\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684478e902ad\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Apples_M1_M2_-_Biggest_Benefits\" title=\"Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Benefits\">Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Benefits<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Astonishingly_Powerful\" title=\"Astonishingly Powerful\">Astonishingly Powerful<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Mind-Blowing_Battery_Life\" title=\"Mind-Blowing Battery Life\">Mind-Blowing Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Capable_Even_When_Unplugged\" title=\"Capable Even When Unplugged\">Capable Even When Unplugged<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#An_Emulation_Layer_That_Works\" title=\"An Emulation Layer That Works\">An Emulation Layer That Works<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Developers_Love_It\" title=\"Developers Love It\">Developers Love It<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Apples_M1_M2_-_Biggest_Drawbacks\" title=\"Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Drawbacks\">Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Drawbacks<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Software_Compatibility\" title=\"Software Compatibility\">Software Compatibility<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#No_Upgrades_Whatsoever\" title=\"No Upgrades Whatsoever\">No Upgrades Whatsoever<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#External_Displays\" title=\"External Display(s)\">External Display(s)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Say_Goodbye_to_Gaming\" title=\"Say Goodbye to Gaming\">Say Goodbye to Gaming<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#No_Longer_Without_Equal\" title=\"No Longer Without Equal\">No Longer Without Equal<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Is_the_M2_an_Upgrade_Over_M1\" title=\"Is the M2 an Upgrade Over M1?\">Is the M2 an Upgrade Over M1?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Is_the_M1M2_Worth_It\" title=\"Is the M1\/M2 Worth It?\">Is the M1\/M2 Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Is_There_Any_Alternative_to_Apple_Silicon\" title=\"Is There Any Alternative to Apple Silicon?\">Is There Any Alternative to Apple Silicon?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/guide-apple-arm-architecture\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Apple\u2019s ARM-based chipsets are no longer a novelty.<\/p>\n<p>The M1 was released a whopping two years ago and, by this point, everyone\u2019s well aware of just how potent and game-changing it actually was.<\/p>\n<p>This particular SoC (to say nothing of the ones that followed) pushed Intel and AMD in ways no one ever expected and we, the end consumers, have benefited <em>greatly<\/em> as a result.<\/p>\n<p>Both companies had to step up big time so as not to be left in the proverbial dirt. Their recent processors (Alder Lake and Ryzen 6000, respectively) sort of tell the whole tale. They\u2019re more advanced and <em>way<\/em> more powerful than their predecessors.<\/p>\n<p>Intel took the performance route: higher TDPs and a hybrid new x86 architecture.<\/p>\n<p>AMD, on the other hand, focused more on efficiency and delivering best-in-class integrated graphics.<\/p>\n<p>Buyers are now faced with a plethora of choices, each of which has its own unique pros and cons.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apple\u2019s chipsets are still in a league of their own when it comes to performance-per-watt, but they <em>do<\/em>, in all fairness, come with a series of limitations and drawbacks that buyers <em>need<\/em> to be aware of.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20029\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture.jpeg\" alt=\"M1 SOC Architecture\" width=\"984\" height=\"984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture.jpeg 984w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-768x768.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20029 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20984%20984%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 SOC Architecture\" width=\"984\" height=\"984\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20984%20984%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 984w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture.jpeg 984w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture-768x768.jpeg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-Architecture.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>Showing off fancy graphs and benchmark results is great, but it doesn\u2019t paint the whole picture.<\/p>\n<p>Apple\u2019s SoCs might be the most <em>impressive<\/em> from a technological standpoint, but they also have unique limitations that Intel and AMD don\u2019t have to deal with.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For some, this is a minor hindrance and a negligible trade-off. For others, it is an absolute <em>dealbreaker<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The point of this article is to give you an in-depth rundown on the many pros and cons that Apple\u2019s own silicon brings to the table \u2014 quirks, and obstacles you\u2019ll have to deal with should you end up buying an ARM-based MacBook (or <em>any<\/em> new Mac computer, for that matter).<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s first start off with the good:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YX9ttJ0coe4\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YX9ttJ0coe4\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apples_M1_M2_-_Biggest_Benefits\"><\/span>Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Astonishingly_Powerful\"><\/span>Astonishingly Powerful<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Apple\u2019s M1 and M2 SoCs are, simply put, <em>spectacular<\/em>. It\u2019s the kind of technological breakthrough we\u2019ve all been waiting for.<\/p>\n<p>And sure, this novel technology <em>does<\/em> bring numerous little quirks and challenges, but they\u2019re trade-offs we\u2019re willing to accept and deal with any day of the week.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve already covered Apple\u2019s awe-inspiring silicon <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/apple-m1-ultra-mac-studio\/\">in the past<\/a>, so do make sure to give <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-imac-vs-mac-mini-vs-mac-studio\/\">those articles<\/a> a read.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, if you\u2019re <em>really<\/em> interested in learning how these particular SoCs work and what is it exactly that makes them so special, check out the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/STzgIWf4BY0\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/STzgIWf4BY0\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>All of this leads us to our second point (which is of equal importance):<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mind-Blowing_Battery_Life\"><\/span>Mind-Blowing Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Apple\u2019s MacBooks have best-in-class, all-day battery life. That sounds like a bunch of marketing hogwash but it\u2019s <em>actually<\/em> true.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, M1 and M2-based laptops last so long on a single charge it almost defies logic and reason.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the result of their incredible efficiency. <strong>Apple\u2019s SoCs can deliver incredible performance at a fraction of the \u201ccost\u201d (i.e. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anandtech.com\/show\/16252\/mac-mini-apple-m1-tested\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>power draw<\/strong><\/a><strong>).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The M1 and M2 have no equal over in the x86 space when it comes to single- and multi-core performance <em>within their respective power envelopes<\/em>. Intel <em>can<\/em> compete on even footing, but to do so, its processors will draw <em>much<\/em> more power and, by proxy, generate more heat.<\/p>\n<p>The MacBook Air can last well over ten hours on a charge. The MacBook Pro? Even better at up to sixteen.<\/p>\n<p>Now, every media outlet tends to use a different method when it comes to measuring battery life so it\u2019s hard to give out any kind of sweeping, definitive number.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, how long <em>you\u2019ll<\/em> be able to work on <em>your<\/em> machine depends solely on how demanding a user you are; the point stands nonetheless: <strong>Apple\u2019s ARM-based MacBooks are absolute champions when it comes to endurance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20023\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20023\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20023\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other.png\" alt=\"MacBook Air battery performance compared to other laptops\" width=\"2048\" height=\"926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-1024x463.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-768x347.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-1536x695.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20023\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20023 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20926%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"MacBook Air battery performance compared to other laptops\" width=\"2048\" height=\"926\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20926%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-1024x463.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-768x347.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other-1536x695.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/macbook-air-battery-performance-compared-to-other.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20023\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot Courtesy: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/hardwarecanucks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hardware Canucks<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Capable_Even_When_Unplugged\"><\/span>Capable Even When Unplugged<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Windows laptops fall off a proverbial cliff whenever they\u2019re not plugged into a wall outlet and set to \u201cBest Performance\u201d mode. And, well, that shouldn\u2019t come as much of a surprise: that\u2019s when they can draw the most power and maintain the absolute highest possible clock speeds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apple\u2019s MacBooks are the exception to this (wholly rational) rule.<\/strong> Their performance doesn\u2019t drop off when they\u2019re running on battery power which means that you\u2019ll be able to harness their immense power and efficiency no matter where you are.<\/p>\n<p>Rendering videos, developing photographs in Lightroom, compiling code, going over complex architectural schematics \u2014 <strong>all of this and so much more can be done at <em>full<\/em> <em>speed<\/em> without ever coming close to an external source of power.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And it is precisely this freedom that is so game-changing. It\u2019s freeing, really.<\/p>\n<p>You can simply forget about your charger and head out into the world ready and willing to do your best work. And with such incredible battery life, you\u2019ll be able to \u201ctoil away\u201d for hours on end before getting that dreaded \u201cLow Battery\u201d notification.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That is no small benefit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OhESSZIXvCA\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OhESSZIXvCA\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Emulation_Layer_That_Works\"><\/span>An Emulation Layer That Works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Non-optimized software can still be used on devices sporting Apple\u2019s silicon and, more often than not, it runs and performs astonishingly well. <strong>It is a feat of ingenuity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20030\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20030\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20030\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads.jpg\" alt=\"M1 Macbook Pro Workloads\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20030\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20030 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 Macbook Pro Workloads\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Macbook-Pro-Workloads.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20030\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-pro-14-and-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Apple has done such a stellar job that most folks can\u2019t even tell whether the programs they use have been optimized or not \u2014 it\u2019s <em>that<\/em> good.<\/p>\n<p>And, needless to say, the team over at Apple did a much better job than Microsoft, a company whose ARM-related fumbles made headlines many a time in the past \u2014 <strong><em>for all the wrong reasons.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That, in short, is one of the biggest reasons why it took Apple just a year or so to fully transition over to its own silicon: <strong>the whole machinery was put into motion only when there was a solid enough foundation for said transition to commence. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Apple took its sweet time <em>precisely<\/em> because it knew just how gargantuan of an undertaking it would be; the results speak for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Funnily enough, you can even install the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pVfQ9e1PhAY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ARM version<\/a> of Windows 11 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parallels.com\/eu\/pd\/general\/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwvZCZBhCiARIsAPXbajsUcFlelXttgIf6eP10AsAeQMM9I06tW8sv2yLixwSAzq7Wfq8jYlcaAlvZEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">through Parallels<\/a> and get better performance than you would on a Surface Pro X (or any other ARM-based Windows machine, for that matter).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Developers_Love_It\"><\/span>Developers Love It<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Everyone knew that Apple\u2019s M1 was a \u201cslice of the future\u201d the very moment it was announced. And so, naturally, the fact that so many developers rushed to port their software didn\u2019t come as much of a surprise.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, at the time of this writing, a staggering amount of software has been fully optimized for Apple silicon.<\/p>\n<p>There are still a few glaring omissions, granted, but the situation is much, <em>much<\/em> better than anyone could have anticipated.<strong> If in doubt, check the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/isapplesiliconready.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>following database<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apples_M1_M2_-_Biggest_Drawbacks\"><\/span>Apple\u2019s M1 &amp; M2 \u2014 Biggest Drawbacks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nothing\u2019s ever <em>truly<\/em> perfect, and the same goes for Apple\u2019s own silicon.<\/p>\n<p>This novel ARM-based architecture ticks many different boxes, but it nonetheless has a few tremendous weaknesses and flaws you really <em>have<\/em> to be cognizant of before pulling out your wallet and making any kind of investment.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Software_Compatibility\"><\/span>Software Compatibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to software compatibility.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, the whole situation\u2019s a lot better than expected but it\u2019s <em>far<\/em> from perfect. <strong>And you only realize it once you start up a program that <em>hasn\u2019t<\/em> been optimized.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some of them boot up and work perfectly fine. Others, however, take five or even ten seconds to load.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Complete, utter agony.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Your whole experience really hinges around the software you use most.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s all optimized then you\u2019ll have a blast. If not, you might be in for a letdown.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not a perfect situation by any stretch but it\u2019s still better than expected and is quite literally improving with each passing day.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, this is definitely something worth keeping in mind.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jEbdbuzZCXE\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jEbdbuzZCXE\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_Upgrades_Whatsoever\"><\/span>No Upgrades Whatsoever<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Having a bit of forethought when purchasing an ARM-based device from Apple is of the utmost importance as you won\u2019t be able to upgrade even a <em>single<\/em> component should you so desire.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20032\" style=\"width: 1767px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20032\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20032\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard.jpg\" alt=\"M1 SOC installed on motherboard\" width=\"1767\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard.jpg 1767w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-1024x490.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-768x367.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-1536x735.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1767px) 100vw, 1767px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20032\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20032 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201767%20845%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 SOC installed on motherboard\" width=\"1767\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201767%20845%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1767w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1767px) 100vw, 1767px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard.jpg 1767w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-1024x490.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-768x367.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard-1536x735.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-SOC-installed-on-motherboard.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20032\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5AwdkGKmZ0I\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>You absolutely need to keep this in mind. <\/strong>There is simply no way to increase the amount of RAM or storage, no way to connect an external GPU, to swap out the Wi-Fi card \u2014 <strong>it\u2019s a closed-off system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>And so if you happen to reach any kind of a bottleneck further down the line, you\u2019ll basically have to sell your device and buy a new one \u2014 a better, more spec\u2019d out model.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s\u2026 limiting, to say the least.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Take the base M1 MacBook Air for instance. It\u2019s incredibly cheap for what it is, but once you add in more RAM and, perhaps, double its storage, it all of a sudden becomes this obscenely expensive purchase (although one that is still worth the asking price).<\/p>\n<p><strong>You should, therefore, have a complete and total understanding of your personal workflow and whether or not any of these ARM-based devices can deliver the kind of performance you\u2019re after <\/strong>\u2014 lest you end up with a computer that is insufficiently powerful.<\/p>\n<p>You should think a bit about the future, too. How will your work evolve, will your needs be any different (i.e. more demanding) in a few years\u2019 time? Are you okay with keeping most of your files on external SSDs?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Give it ample thought before heading to the nearest Apple store.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"External_Displays\"><\/span>External Display(s)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The base M1 and M2 SoCs only have support for a single external display. <\/strong>That, in today's day and age, is blasphemous.<\/p>\n<p>The only way to circumvent this would be to purchase a separate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2020\/11\/24\/m1-macs-able-to-run-six-external-displays\/\" target=\"_blank\">third-party adapter<\/a> \u2014 a solution that is neither elegant <em>nor<\/em> cheap.<\/p>\n<p>The M1 Pro and M1 Max support two and four external displays respectively. That's not all that impressive given just how much money you'll have to spend to acquire a laptop with one of these chipsets.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20033\" style=\"width: 1312px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20033\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-20033 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support.jpg\" alt=\"M1 Max Macbook Pro Display support\" width=\"1312\" height=\"738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support.jpg 1312w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-420x236.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1312px) 100vw, 1312px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20033\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-20033 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201312%20738%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 Max Macbook Pro Display support\" width=\"1312\" height=\"738\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201312%20738%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1312w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1312px) 100vw, 1312px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support.jpg 1312w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-825x464.jpg 825w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-594x335.jpg 594w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support-420x236.jpg 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-Max-Macbook-Pro-Display-support.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20033\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2021\/10\/introducing-m1-pro-and-m1-max-the-most-powerful-chips-apple-has-ever-built\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>This, in short, is one of Apple\u2019s many upselling tactics.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Say_Goodbye_to_Gaming\"><\/span>Say Goodbye to Gaming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Gaming was never macOS\u2019 forte. That\u2019s a well-known fact at this point. And while you technically <em>can<\/em> game on an ARM-based Mac, that doesn\u2019t mean you <em>should<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just not that enjoyable of an experience. Games that natively support Apple silicon are few and far between. They <em>do<\/em> exist, mind you, but only a handful of them can be labeled as AAA releases.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re into indies \u2014 or, better yet, don\u2019t mind rolling up your sleeves and installing Parallels and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.applegamingwiki.com\/wiki\/CrossOver\" target=\"_blank\">Crossover<\/a> \u2014 then your overall experience might be a little bit better.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be that as it may, buying an ARM-based MacBook\/Mac Mini\/Studio for gaming purposes simply isn\u2019t a good idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To make things even worse, you can no longer connect an eGPU and game to your heart\u2019s content despite the fact that all ARM-based MacBooks have Thunderbolt support. This might change in the future but you shouldn\u2019t hold your breath for it to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, you can\u2019t even dual boot into Windows through Boot Camp as that feature has been scrapped altogether.<\/p>\n<p>Running Windows through Parallels, while certainly feasible (and a lot more seamless than expected), comes with its own limitations and is nowhere near as elegant of a solution.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pnaXNZgzqsw\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pnaXNZgzqsw\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_Longer_Without_Equal\"><\/span>No Longer Without Equal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This one point cannot be stressed enough. Intel and AMD have stepped up <em>big<\/em> <em>time<\/em> ever since Apple released the M1.<\/p>\n<p>Mobile Alder Lake CPUs are incredibly powerful and have some of the best single-core performance on the market.<\/p>\n<p>AMD\u2019s Ryzen 6000 series, on the other hand, is a bit different: it combines ARM-like efficiency (and, thus, comparable battery life) with potent multi-core performance and an iGPU so capable you\u2019ll find it hard to believe your eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Apple\u2019s chipsets are still the better, more well-rounded package, but they\u2019re no longer as awe-inspiring as was the case just a year or two ago.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And, better yet, with the release of the Ryzen 7000 series and Raptor Lake being right around the corner, that aforementioned gap will narrow even further.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Windows users are no longer <em>on the outside looking in<\/em>. They, too, have a series of options (by which we mean CPUs) that can deliver a very similar experience.<\/p>\n<p>Now it\u2019s more about focusing on one\u2019s workflow and finding the right <em>tool<\/em> for the job.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20031\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20031\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20031\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1.jpg\" alt=\"Intel Alder lake vs Ryzen vs M1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-1024x531.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-768x398.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (max-width: 960px) 60vw, 707px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20031\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20031 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20622%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel Alder lake vs Ryzen vs M1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"622\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20622%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (max-width: 960px) 60vw, 707px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-1024x531.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1-768x398.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/Intel-Alder-lake-vs-Ryzen-vs-M1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20031\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xda-developers.com\/intel-12th-gen-vs-apple-m1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XDA<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>We have more options than ever before, which is doubtless the result of a competitive free market.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It seems that all it took for Intel and AMD to step up was the appearance of a brand new \u201cthreat.\u201d It\u2019s a shame it didn\u2019t happen sooner, but better late than never.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ed0dWP01FkI\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ed0dWP01FkI\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few potential questions you might have regarding this particular topic:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_M2_an_Upgrade_Over_M1\"><\/span>Is the M2 an Upgrade Over M1?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not really.<\/p>\n<p>It <em>is<\/em> a more powerful chipset and it <em>does<\/em> have a few additional bells and whistles, but the performance delta between it and its predecessor isn\u2019t nearly as large as Apple wants you to believe.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20034\" style=\"width: 1632px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20034\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20034\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison.jpg\" alt=\"M1 vs M2 Size Comparison\" width=\"1632\" height=\"867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison.jpg 1632w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-1024x544.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-768x408.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-1536x816.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1632px) 100vw, 1632px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20034\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20034 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201632%20867%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"M1 vs M2 Size Comparison\" width=\"1632\" height=\"867\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201632%20867%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1632px) 100vw, 1632px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison.jpg 1632w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-1024x544.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-768x408.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison-1536x816.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/09\/M1-vs-M2-Size-Comparison.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-20034\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q5D55G7Ejs8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>For a deeper dive, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-vs-m2-macbook\/\">following article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_M1M2_Worth_It\"><\/span>Is the M1\/M2 Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It absolutely is!<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re talking about a revolutionary SoC, one that took the world by storm and basically put ARM-based chipsets on the market.<\/p>\n<p>Apple did what Microsoft tried so many times in the past (and failed miserably), and it did so with staggering ease.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re after a thin-and-light ultrabook that can pack one heck of a punch (without it coming at the expense of battery life), buying an M1\/M2 MacBook should definitely be a top priority!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_There_Any_Alternative_to_Apple_Silicon\"><\/span>Is There Any Alternative to Apple Silicon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There actually is!<\/p>\n<p>Intel and AMD have stepped up big time \u2014 their mobile Alder Lake and Ryzen 6000 series CPUs are truly amazing (although for entirely different reasons).<\/p>\n<p>Not as well-rounded as Apple\u2019s offerings, granted, but they don\u2019t come with nearly as many limitations, so it might be a worthwhile trade-off depending on your use case and overall needs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Have you jumped aboard the Apple silicon hype train or did its many limitations push you away? Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple\u2019s ARM-based chipsets are no longer a novelty. The M1 was released a whopping two years ago and, by this point, everyone\u2019s well aware of just how potent and game-changing it actually was. This particular SoC (to say nothing of the ones that followed) pushed Intel and AMD in ways no one ever expected and...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":20022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[290],"tags":[286,147],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20021"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20025,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20021\/revisions\/20025"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}