Apple MacBook M2 Chip vs. M1 Chip: Which One to Choose?

For years, Apple MacBooks have been known for their sleek design, powerful performance, and user-friendly operating system, macOS.

While previous generation MacBooks were very impressive, they pale in comparison to the ones powered by M-series chipsets. 
But what are M1 and M2 chips and how do they make a difference? Let’s look at all the innovations made by Apple in the last few years.

We cover:

1. Introduction to Apple's M Series Chips
2. Why Apple's M Series Chips Outperform Competitors
3. Comparing M1 vs M2: Key Differences and Benchmarks
4. Overview of M1-Based MacBook Air and Pro Models
5. Overview of M2-Based MacBook Air and Pro Models
6. Combined Table of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Models (2021, 2022, 2023)
7. Deciding Between M1 and M2 chips: Which is Right for You?
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs

Introduction to Apple's M-Series Chips

In the fall of 2020, in a significant development, Apple introduced the M-series chips. Before then, all MacBooks (over the 2010s) were powered by Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors. 

The new chips were nothing less than revolutionary. The M-series chips are designed from the ground up by Apple and made by TSMC. 
They deliver the best performance per watt, with a focus on efficiency. This allows Apple MacBooks to outperform almost any Intel-based laptop for resource-heavy workloads while consuming less power.

Why do Apple's M-Series Chips Outperform Competitors?

Simply put there are two reasons – ARM architecture and system-on-chip approach.
Without leaning into technical jargon, let's explain what it means.

ARM architecture 

Intel Core processors have a problem. While they are excellent workhorses, they are based on the aging x86 architecture. The first x86 processor was released in 1978. While it performs well, due to the aging design, it has some drawbacks. 
Have you seen how you can smoothly play Call of Duty on a smartphone without needing a cooling fan? 
If the same is done by a laptop based on an Intel processor and an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, you will soon feel the need to place it on a cooler pad. 
This is because of the ARM architecture used in the chipsets inside modern smartphones, which requires less power for the same computing tasks.
The ARM design is not new, with the prototype built in 1985. While ARM gained significant popularity in smartphones from 2008 onward, it had been used in various embedded systems and devices long before that. The main advancement in ARM technology came from the Qualcomm Snapdragon, a chipset found in almost every good smart device. 
Naturally, Apple wanted to shift the entire lineup of computing devices – laptops and desktops – to ARM architecture. 

System-on-chip or SoC design 

The M-series has another important similarity with smartphones. Till the 2020 lineup of MacBooks, all desktops and laptops had a motherboard-based configuration. 
There was the CPU, RAM, and storage, fitted on the main board, called a motherboard. In the extra slots, you could fit a sound card and a graphics card.
But smartphones brought in system-on-chip design. 
System-on-chip (SoC) design integrates all the critical components, including the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, memory, and various controllers (e.g., Thunderbolt, NVMe storage), into a single integrated circuit (IC), optimizing performance and efficiency. 
SoCs can include all of a system's high-level function elements, such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), memory, input/output ports, WiFi, and cellular modems. 
SoCs can simplify circuit board design, resulting in improved power and speed without compromising performance. 

Comparing M1 vs M2 chip: Key Differences and Benchmarks

The M1 chip marks Apple's first venture into designing its ARM-based System-on-Chip (SoC) for Mac computers. 
Introduced in November 2020, the M1 chip was a significant leap in performance and efficiency over the Intel processors. M1 powers the 2020 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Here are the key features of the M1 Chip.

Architecture:

• 5-nanometer process technology
• ARM-based architecture

CPU:

• 8-core CPU: Four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores.
• Unified memory architecture, which allows the CPU, GPU, and other components to access the same data without copying it between different areas.
   

GPU:

• 7 or 8-core GPU, depending on the model.
• Integrated graphics provide significant performance improvements over previous Intel-based MacBooks. 

Neural Engine:
16-core Neural Engine capable of 11 trillion operations per second, enhancing machine learning tasks.

Performance:

• Significantly faster than previous Intel-based models, which offers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance and up to 6x faster GPU performance.
• Excellent power efficiency, providing longer battery life.

Other Features:

• Unified memory of up to 16GB.
• Advanced image signal processor (ISP) for better video processing.
• Secure Enclave for enhanced security.
• Support for Thunderbolt/USB 4.

The M2 chip, Apple's second-generation custom silicon, powers the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. The M2 processor was launched in June 2022. 
The M2 introduces several enhancements over the M1, with up to 18% faster CPU performance and up to 35% faster GPU performance, depending on the specific workload. It also features an improved media engine for better video encoding and decoding. 

These enhancements include:

• CPU performance is up to 18% faster.
• GPU performance is up to 35% faster.
• Unified Memory which supports up to 24GB, compared to 16GB in M1.
• Memory Bandwidth increased to 100GB/s, up from 66GB/s.
• Neural Engine with enhanced performance and up to 40% faster operations.
• More transistors, increasing from 16 billion to 20 billion.

Both the M1 and M2 chips represent significant advancements in Apple's hardware. They emphasize performance, efficiency, and integration across the Apple ecosystem.

Here is a concise comparison table for the M1 and M2 chips:

Note that there were higher version releases to both the M1 and M2 chips. Both had an initial release followed by a Pro and Max version. 

Overview of M1-Based MacBook Air and Pro Models

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are two distinct laptop models offered by Apple. 
The MacBook Air is Apple's entry-level and most affordable laptop line. It was launched in 2008. The MacBook Air is targeted at mainstream consumers and hence is designed to be portable and affordable.
The MacBook Pro is Apple's high-end, performance-oriented laptop line. The line was launched in 2006 as Apple's professional-grade laptop and targets creative professionals and power users.
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models released with the Apple M1 chip are: 

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)

• Also released in November 2020 with the M1 chip.
• Has the same M1 chip as the M1 MacBook Air, with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.
• Supports up to two external displays, compared to one on the M1 MacBook Air.
• Includes an active cooling system with fans.

Overview of M2-Based MacBook Air and Pro Models

The launch of the M2 chip refreshed the Apple laptop lineup with new MacBook Air and Pro models.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

• Released in July 2022, the first MacBook Air model with the M2 chip.
• Has an 8-core CPU, 8 or 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. The specs seem the same as M1 but the throughput is higher. 
• The 2022 MacBook Air features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, offering higher brightness and a slightly larger screen size compared to previous MacBook Air models. 
• Up to 18 hours of battery life for video playback, though actual battery life will vary depending on usage patterns and settings. 
• Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Configurable to 10-core GPU, 16GB/24GB RAM, 512GB-2TB SSD.

• Also released in June 2022 with the M2 chip
• Same M2 chip as the M2 MacBook Air, with an 8-core CPU and 8 or 10-core GPU
• 13.3-inch Retina display, 2560x1600 resolution
• Up to 20 hours of battery life for video playback
• Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Configurable to 10-core GPU, 16GB/24GB RAM, 512GB-2TB SSD

Combined Table of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Models (2021, 2022, 2023)

Deciding Between M1 and M2 Chips: Which is Right for You?

Both the M1 and M2 chips offer impressive performance and power efficiency. The exact best choice for you depends on your specific needs. 

M1 is preferable if – 

You should consider M2 if – 

• You need extra power: If you're into video editing, gaming, or other demanding tasks, the M2's performance boost will be noticeable.
• You want the latest features: The M2 boasts improvements like a faster GPU, a more capable Neural Engine, and support for more memory.

While the M1 lineup of laptops may still be available in some markets, they are no longer being actively manufactured, so availability depends on existing stock.