Monday was a big day for the Mac. At it’s “Unleashed” media event, Apple introduced the next processors in the “M” series - the M1 Pro and M1 Max.
Memory bandwidth for the M1 Pro is said by Apple to be nearly three-times faster than the M1. It has 32GB of unified memory, shared by the CPU and GPU. 33.7 billion transistors make up its circuitry - more than two-times as many as the M1. So far, I’ve only counted 1.2 million, though in my defense, my TV’s only 1080p.
M1 Pro sports a 10 core CPU - eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency. Apple says the M1 Pro hits speeds as much as 70% faster than those attained by the M1. M1 Pro also sports between a 14 and 16 core GPU - up to twice the performance of its M1 predecessor, according to the company.
Sounds good, right? Well, get ready for it to sound weak. Memory bandwidth for the M1 Max is up to two-times that of the M1 Pro and up to six-times that of the M1. The unit sports up to 64GB of unified memory, 57 billion transistors, the same 10 core CPU as the M1 Pro - but a 32 core GPU. That gives M1 Max up to four-times the GPU performance of the M1.
Performance Against the Competition
Of course, it’s not just about how it compares to last year’s Macs. How do the new processors stand up to chips that power the PC side? It might be better to ask, “how do chips that power the PC side stand up to the latest in Apple’s ‘M’ series?” To hear Apple tell it, they do not. According to the firm - at peak, M1 Pro and M1 Max deliver 1.7-times the CPU performance as an eight-core PC laptop in the same power envelope. Dial the new “M” series processors back to match the marks hit by the PC and it does so using 70% less power. That does, of course, mean any machine it powers runs cooler and the battery lasts longer. Just because it can go all out doesn’t mean it has to all the time.
GPU performance versus PC counterparts sounds just as impressive. At its peak, the M1 Pro is said by Apple to be seven-times faster than integrated PC laptop graphics. Versus PC laptops with discrete GPU, M1 Pro offers a bit more performance, while using 70% less power.
And again, here comes M1 Max to make that look quaint. According to the company, M1 Max offers comparable performance to the highest performing PC laptop in terms of graphics, while using 100 watts less power. But here’s the amazing bit: To get its best performance, that PC laptop has to be plugged in. Run it on battery and its performance drops off, while M1 Max stays right where it was - blowing away that battery-powered PC.
So what can we use it to power?
New MacBook Pros Make the Scene
Surprising no one (thanks spoilers), Apple introduced two new laptops on Monday - a 14-inch MacBook Pro and a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 Pro powers the 14-inch machine, while the the 16-inch device be driven by either M1 Pro or M1 Max.
The 14-inch machine is 15.5-mm thick or thin, weighing in at 3.5 pounds. The 16-inch Mac is 16.8-mm thick or thin, weighing in at 4.7 pounds.
The displays are bigger without being bigger. Apple’s shrunk the top and side boarders, yielding a 16.2-inch display on the 16 and a 14.2-inch display on the 14. Graphics performance was also addressed, but I sort of feel like we covered that.
They new MacBook Pros have a 1080p FaceTime camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system that supports Spatial Audio. I believe that that is true of both sizes. They no longer have a TouchBar, and they’re down one USB-C port. Lots of other ports made their way back, though. Addressing connectivity, Apple heralds the return of the HDMI port, the SD card slot, and MagSafe - not only does it bring its quick-releasing self back, but it brings the much missed (at least by me) charging indicator light. They’ve also got a Thunderbolt 4 port on one side and two USB-C ports on the other.
The performance most people care about most is probably the battery. The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers an insane 17-hours of video playback - seven extra hours versus the M1, according to the company. Meanwhile, the 16-inch machine offers a certifiably insane 21-hours of video playback.
The 14-inch machine starts at $1,999, though fully specked out, you can make it cost $5,899. In fairness though, $2,200 of that was the 8TB SSD. A 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by an M1 Pro starts at $2,499. That one you can kit up to $6,099. Interestingly, the 8TB SSD on that one costs $200 more than the SSD on the 14-inch machine. Not sure why. Finally, the 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by M1 Max starts at $3,499. You can max that one out at $6,099 - same price as the maxed out 16-inch machine. For some reason, the 8TB SSD is back down to $2,200 - which is even more confusing than jacking the price on the other 16-inch MacBook Pro.
You Want It When?
Orders started Monday for the new machines. They ship next week, though not if you weren’t at the front of the line. MacRumors ran a piece Monday afternoon saying that delivery dates for the machines had already slipped to November, with some already seeking delivery as late as December. Buying off the rack, i.e. without customization, gets gets you your machine sooner. Then again, you want what you want and need what you need. Of course, if you’re fine with the stock builds there’s still a chance of nabbing one next week. MacRumors points out that Apple should have those machines in-store next Tuesday 26 October.
