Apple's M1 chip is the fastest chip that Apple has ever released in a Mac based on single-core CPU benchmark scores, and it beats out many high-end Intel Macs when it comes to multi-core performance. Developer Erik Engheim recently shared a deep dive into the M1 chip, exploring the reasons why Apple's new processor is so much faster than the Intel chips that it replaces.
First and foremost, the M1 isn't a simple CPU. As Apple has explained, it's a System-on-a-Chip, which is a series of chips that are all housed together in one silicon package. The M1 houses an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU (7-core in some MacBook Air models), unified memory, SSD controller, image signal processor, Secure Enclave, and tons more.
Intel and AMD also ship multiple microprocessors in a single package, but as Engheim describes, Apple has a leg up because rather than focusing on general purpose CPU cores like its competitors, Apple is focusing on specialized chips that handle specialized tasks.
In addition to the CPU (with high-performance and high-efficiency cores) and GPU, the M1 has a Neural Engine for machine learning tasks like voice recognition and camera processing, a built-in video decoder/encoder for power-efficient conversion of video files, the Secure Enclave to handle encryption, the Digital Signal Processor for handling mathematically intensive functions like decompressing music files, and the Image Processing Unit that speeds up tasks done by image processing apps.
Notably, there's also a new unified memory architecture that lets the CPU, GPU, and other cores exchange information between one another, and with unified memory, the CPU and GPU can access memory simultaneously rather than copying data between one area and another. Accessing the same pool of memory without the need for copying speeds up information exchange for faster overall performance.
All of these chips with specific purposes speed up specific tasks, leading to the improvements that people are seeing.
This is part of the reason why a lot of people working on images and video editing with the M1 Macs are seeing such speed improvements. A lot of the tasks they do, can run directly on specialized hardware. That is what allows a cheap M1 Mac Mini to encode a large video file, without breaking sweat while an expensive iMac has all its fans going full blast and still cannot keep up.
Specialized chips have been in use for years, but Apple is taking a "more radical shift towards this direction," as Engheim describes. Other Arm chip makers like AMD are taking a similar approach, but Intel and AMD rely on selling general purpose CPUs and for licensing reasons, PC manufacturers like Dell and HP are likely not able to design a full SoC in house like Apple is able to do.
Apple is able integrate hardware and software in a way that's just not possible for most other companies to replicate, which is always something that's given the iPhone and iPad an edge over other smartphones and tablets.
Sure Intel and AMD may simply begin to sell whole finished SoCs. But what are these to contain? PC makers may have different ideas of what they should contain. You potentially get a conflict between Intel, AMD, Microsoft and PC makers about what sort of specialized chips should be included because these will need software support.
Along with the benefits of an in-house designed System-on-a-Chip, Apple is also using Firestorm CPU cores in the M1 that are "genuinely fast" and able to execute more instructions in parallel through Out-of-Order execution, RISC architecture, and some specific optimizations Apple has implemented, which Engheim has an in-depth explanation of.
Engheim believes that Intel and AMD are in a tough spot because of the limitations of the CISC instruction set and their business models that don't make it easy to create end-to-end chip solutions for PC manufacturers.
Engheim's full article is well worth reading for those who are interested in how the M1 works and the technology that Apple has adopted to take a giant leap forward in computing performance.
There are a limited number of original Apple-1 computers left in the world, and every so often, one comes up for auction. Available starting December 10, a new Apple-1 auction will see RR Auction selling a functional Apple-1 computer with an original box that's been signed by Steve Wozniak.
Apple-1 machines were the first computers produced by Apple and sold by Steve Jobs out of his parents' garage back in 1976. Priced at $666.66, there were originally 175 Apple-1 computers manufactured, but less than half of those are still in existence.
The Apple-1 sold by RR Auction includes an Apple-1 computer that was restored to its original operational state by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen, who says the current condition is an 8 out of 10. It is one of the few models in existence to include an original box, which was signed by Wozniak on the lid in black felt tip marker in 2005.
On the left side, the board is marked: "Apple Computer 1, Palo Alto, Ca. Copyright 1976," with the NTI emblem below, denoting it as part of the second batch of boards, ordered in the second half of 1976. Unlike most Apple-1 boards, many of the integrated circuits have bright and clear labeling. It exhibits typical green coat wear for a later NTI Apple-1 and has all correct components in good working order. The Apple-1 memory and IO jumpers have been wired to support executing Apple Basic on an 8K memory system, and the prototyping area is pristine and unused. Accompanied by a program from the 2005 UCLA event at which Wozniak signed the box, an image of the present owner with Wozniak and the box at the event, and a printout of a 1994 email from Woz about the Apple-1.
Also included is an original Apple Cassette Interface (ACI), an Apple-1 Operation Manual, a vintage Apple-1 power supply, a vintage Datanetics keyboard, a vintage 1976 Sanyo monitor, and a vintage Panasonic cassette player.
Bidding on the Apple-1 will start at $50,000, with bids to be accepted starting on December 10. The auction will run through December 17. The Apple-1 could fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in the past, Apple-1 machines have sold for as much as $815,000.
Earlier this year, a similar Apple-1 in working order with the same 8/10 condition sold for $458,711.
Today marks one month since the launch of Apple One, which allows customers to subscribe to multiple Apple services in a single bundle, and it appears there are some billing-related issues as the free trial period begins to elapse.
Apple One includes a 30-day free trial for any services that customers did not already subscribe to individually, and that trial period ends today for those who signed up for Apple One on its first day of availability. Following the end of the trial period, however, some customers are seeing their Apple One subscription listed as expired and/or have been billed individually for services like Apple TV+ and Apple Music that should be rolled into Apple One.
All in all, there are clearly some hiccups going on as Apple One converts from a trial to a standard subscription, so hopefully Apple is able to sort out the issues soon.
@AppleSupport Apple One billing/conversion from separate Music and TV+ subscriptions is completely FUBAR broken. Just got charged a newal for Music despite it saying it’s be included in Apple One today. pic.twitter.com/XPEcjzxxXz
— Bobby Trif (@trifster) November 30, 2020
Apple One allows customers to save money by bundling services together with one unified bill. At the low end, the Individual tier offers savings of $6 per month, while the Family plan offers a savings of over $8 per month, and the Premier plan offers a savings of over $25 per month, compared to standard monthly pricing.
Individual: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage for $14.95 per month
Family: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 200GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 per month, can be shared among up to six family members
Premier: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud storage for $29.95 per month, can be shared among up to six family members
Curently, the Premier tier is limited to the United States, Australia, Canada, and the UK, as these are the only countries where Apple News+ is available. Premier will also include access to Apple's new workout service Fitness+, which launches later this year.
Earlier today we shared the best deals you can find on Apple Products for Cyber Monday 2020, and now we're highlighting the best discounts from popular companies like Incase, Nomad, Tile, Woot, Sonos, Mophie, and many more. You can save on software as well today, thanks to our exclusive promo code at StackSocial, as well as a discount on Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
StackSocial is offering the Official Cyber Monday Mac Bundle for $42 with the code RUMORS40. This bundle includes Parallels Desktop Pro, Luminar 4, Gemini 2, PDFpenPro 12, Goose VPN, BusyCal 3, Movavi Screen Recorder 2021, uTalk, Edraw MindMaster, Dropzone 4 Pro, ForkLift 3, Art Text 4.
Outside of this bundle, StackSocial is holding a few sales today. You can get 20 percent off sitewide with the code CMSAVE20, 40 percent off apps and software with the code CMSAVE40, and 70 percent off online courses with the code CMSAVE70.
In other Mac software sales, you can get Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac for 20 percent off a new license or an upgrade. Parallels is running this sale for another two days, and if you're purchasing a new license you'll pay $63.99, down from $79.99.
Of course, there are also plenty of Apple-related accessory deals going on today. You can shop discounts for Brydge's iPad keyboards, Casetify iPhone cases, JBL Bluetooth speakers, Pad and Quill's leather cases, Tile's trackers, Mophie's wireless and portable chargers, and much more.
Cyber Monday Software and Accessory Sales
StackSocial - Get the Official Cyber Monday Mac Bundle for $42 with code RUMORS40
Apple is advancing its plans to significantly enhance the iPhone's optical zoom range using periscope lens technology, according to ETNews.
Citing industry sources familiar with the development of iPhone cameras, ETNews says Apple is currently seeking an appropriate "folded" periscope camera solution for the iPhone and has already initiated discussions with suppliers. Apple has filed patents related to periscope lens systems since 2014.
Apple has reportedly encountered issues developing its own periscope camera system due to much of the technology involved being guarded by other patents, leading the company to explore purchasing it directly from patent-holders instead. Specifically, "ball-type actuator" technology is purported to be essential to most periscope camera designs, but Samsung Electronics now owns this technology.
Many multi-camera and periscope camera patents were held by Israel-based company Corephotonics, including the ball-type actuator design, but it was acquired by Samsung in 2019. As a result, Samsung is said now to possess the key patents related to periscope cameras. Samsung's periscope camera technology has allowed it to implement it in devices such as the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
A Digitimes report seen by The Next Web has also corroborated this, stating that Apple is looking to improve the zoom capabilities of its next iPhones with a periscope camera system. The report speculates that Apple is looking to Samsung to provide a periscope lens system for future iPhones, rather than develop it in-house.
Industry insiders speaking to ETNews have cast doubt over the chances of a partnership between Apple and Samsung Electronics or Samsung Electro-Mechanics in this area. Some believe that Samsung will refuse to supply Apple with periscope cameras in order to maintain a competitive advantage with its range of Galaxy smartphones.
Alongside his correct prediction that the iPhone 12 Pro Max would have sensor-shift stabilization technology, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this year that at least one iPhone model will feature a periscope telephoto lens in 2022.
However, Kuo has not attributed this to Samsung, instead predicting that Semco and Sunny Optical will supply the components.
Periscope lenses provide a much higher optical zoom range in a smartphone-sized package. Optical zoom is determined by the distance between a lens and an image sensor, but there is a limit to how much optical zoom range can be increased with the current vertically-stacked camera module structure because it would eventually increase the device's thickness. A periscope lens system allows a longer stack of lenses to be placed horizontally, before reflecting light using a mirror to face in the correct direction, all without increasing the device's thickness.
The camera technology has already made its way into some smartphones. Huawei, for example, ships the P30 Pro with a 5x true optical zoom using a similar mechanism. The iPhone 12 Pro Max currently offers the best optical zoom on an iPhone, with the device being able to zoom in 2.5 times.
Today is Cyber Monday, a shopping event that sees many of the same deals from Black Friday bleed over into a new week, along with a few brand new offers on everything from Apple products to related accessories. In this post we'll highlight the best online discounts that you can find on Apple devices today.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirPods
Update: Best Buy is running a flash sale this afternoon, offering the AirPods with Charging Case for $99.99, down from $159.00. This beats Amazon's price, but Best Buy's sale is only running for two hours, so it won't last long.
We're seeing a few Black Friday deals return on AirPods today, as well as a few lower discounts on certain models of Apple's Bluetooth headphones. The lowest available price on the cheapest AirPods model (with wired Charging Case) is still $109.99 at Amazon, which is a solid discount on this model.
Amazon has also now discounted the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case to $139.98, down from $199.00, which is an all-time-low price. For the AirPods Pro, Walmart's price of $169.00 has now become available only if a store near you has stock since they're available for in-store purchase only. But B&H Photo's $199.99 sale price for online orders is a solid alternative.
The Powerbeats Pro sale from Black Friday has returned today, and you can get the wireless earphones for $159.95 at Amazon, down from $249.95 (as well as Best Buy and Target).
Apple Watch Series 6 deals aren't quite reaching Black Friday levels, but you can still save with a few solid offers at Amazon. The standout among the Cyber Monday deals is the 44mm GPS Series 6 model at $379.99 (after an automatic discount is applied at checkout), which is just about $20 off from the lowest-ever price. For Apple Watch SE, you'll find the best sales at Target.
Best Buy has introduced a new lowest-ever price on Apple's iPad mini 5 today, marking the 64GB Wi-Fi model down to $299.99 from $399.00. That $100 sale is available in all three colors of the iPad mini 5, and you can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $449.99, down from $549.00.
iPad Pro
The best iPad Pro discounts on Cyber Monday this year can be found at a few retailers, including Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy. Sales offer up to $100 off select models, with prices as low as $729.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro.
If you're shopping for accessories, it's also worth checking out Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is on sale for $120.00, down from $199.00. This is $1 off from the lowest price we've ever seen for this accessory.
Deals on the new 2020 iPad Air are a bit rarer this Cyber Monday, but you can find a few smaller discounts at B&H Photo today. For all models, stock is fluctuating due to demand, but you can still lock in these prices today before the sales expires.
The newest Macs come with Apple's M1 chip, and we're already tracking a few discounts across the latest Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Mac mini
256GB - $639 from B&H ("Coming Soon") or $669.99 from Amazon (up to $60 off)
512GB - $829 from B&H ("Coming Soon") or $895.00 from Amazon (up to $70 off)
256GB M1 MacBook Pro - $1,149.99 from Simply Mac, $1,199.00 from B&H ($50-$150 off)
512GB - $1,349.99 from Simply Mac, $1,399.00 from B&H ($50-$150 off)
Intel Macs
There are some discounts on older Intel Mac models which are worth checking out for those looking for an iMac, 16-inch MacBook Pro, or Intel version of the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. But, make sure you really need one. We don't generally recommend buying an Intel Mac right now.
Early 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro
1.4GHz 256GB/8GB MacBook Pro - $1,099.00 at B&H ($200 off)
1.4GHz 512GB/8GB MacBook Pro - $1,279.00 at B&H($220 off)
2.0GHz 1TB/16GB MacBook Pro - $1,769.00 at B&H ($230 off)
Late 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro
2.6GHz 512GB/16GB MacBook Pro - $2,099.00 at B&H ($250 off)
2.3GHz 1TB/16GB MacBook Pro - $2,399.00 at Amazon / B&H ($400 off)
2018 Mac mini
3.0GHz 512GB/8GB Mac mini - $1,049.00 at Tiger Direct($50 off)
3.6GHz 256GB/8GB Mac mini - $769.99 from Amazon ($30 off)
Apple is preparing to open a new retail store in Yeouido, South Korea. The store will be Apple's second retail location in the country.
Apple Yeouido will be located in the IFC Mall, which is in Seoul's financial district by the Han River. Apple has shared wallpapers and an animation on its website to announce the opening of Apple Yeouido.
Apple's first retail store in South Korea, Apple Garosugil, opened in 2018 in Seoul's Gangnam area. Apple Garosugil was the first Apple Store outside China to reopen earlier this year.
South Korea is an increasingly important territory for Apple, with the company looking to expand its market share in the country. Apple currently owns just 19 percent of the market in South Korea, according to The Korea Herald. Native company Samsung dominates the smartphone market in the country at 67 percent. The opening of Apple Yeouido is another indication that Apple is seeking to expand its presence in South Korea.
Spotify has started publicly testing an Instagram-style stories feature in its mobile app on iOS and Android, reports Engadget.
The video clips appear on some albums and playlists, such as Spotify's Christmas Hits playlist, which includes short messages from artists like Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, and Pentatonix, in which they relate their favorite festive songs.
The stories can be accessed via an icon in the upper left of a playlist. Tapping an icon brings up an interface similar to the one found on Instagram, allowing users to tap on the left or right of the screen to skip through short video clips.
First appearing on Snapchat, stories have become ubiquitous on social media platforms, with the format appearing on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and most recently, Twitter, in the form of "fleets." Spotify might therefore seem like an odd place for the feature to appear, however the streaming service has tested Stories-style content in the past, with similar Storylines from artists appearing last year.
Spotify stories aren't showing up for everyone and only appear on certain playlists and albums, indicating that their rollout is still limited to a subset of users and they may not even survive beyond the initial testing phase.
"At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience," a spokesperson told Engadget in response to a request for comment. "Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We have no further news to share on future plans at this time."
Apple has been slapped with a 10 million euro ($12 million) fine by Italy's antitrust watchdog for unfair commercial practices related to its iPhone marketing in the country.
One of the Apple ads cited in the Italian watchdog's proceedings (credit: setteBIT)
Specifically, Apple is being charged for misleading claims in promotional messages about how deep and how long iPhones can be submerged in water without being damaged.
In marketing materials related to iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple said its iPhones were water resistant at a depth of between one and four meters for up to 30 minutes, depending on the model.
However, according to the country's competition regulator, the messages did not clarify that the claims are only true under specific conditions, for example during controlled laboratory tests with the use of static and pure water, and not in the normal conditions of use by consumers.
The regulator also took issue with Apple's warranty terms, which do not cover damage caused by liquids. The authority considered it inappropriate to push an "aggressive" commercial practice highlighting water resistance as a feature, while at the same time refusing to provide post-sales warranty assistance if the iPhone models in question suffer water damage.
This isn't the first time Apple has fallen under the radar of Italy's antitrust watchdog and subsequently been punished. In 2018 Apple was fined 10 million euros (about $11.5 million USD) for "planned obsolescence" of its smartphones, following the regulator's investigation into reports of iPhone battery slowdowns.
Apple is widely reported to be embracing mini-LED display backlighting technology for some products next year, and a new report today by DigiTimes has named several of Apple's partners in the supply chain that are expected to benefit from the switch.
According to the report, Apple is set to launch its first mini-LED iPad Pro in the first quarter of 2021 and mass produce mini-LED MacBook Pro models in the second quarter, and a number of Taiwan manufacturers are building a "pre-emptive presence" in the Mini-LED segment in anticipation.
Apple's suppliers in Taiwan, including LED chip vendor Epistar, testing and sorting specialist FitTech, SMT service provider Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology, backlight board supplier Zhen Ding Technology, cooling solution provider Auras Technology and process equipment maker All Ring Technology, are all ready to gain growth momentum from upcoming shipments for Apple's miniLED-backlit devices, the sources said.
The sources continued that Foxconn Technology and Compal Electronics will share the assembly orders for miniLED iPad Pro devices, and MacBook Pro products adopting M1 chipsets will be mainly produced by Quanta Computer and partly by Foxconn.
The report goes on to note that among Apple's supply chain partners, TSMC will still benefit most from these devices, as the foundry has reportedly landed all the 5nm chip manufacturing orders for both Mini-LED iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models. Coupled with strong iPhone sales, 2021 is said to be looking good for TSMC, with first-quarter revenues likely to hit a new high, according to DigiTimes' sources.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, production will begin on mini-LED displays for the iPad Pro in the fourth quarter of 2020, with a launch expected in the first half of 2021. Apple is also believed to be working on new 16.1 and 14.1-inch MacBook Pro models with mini-LED displays, which are expected to be released during the first half of 2021.
Mini-LED displays offer impressive wide color gamut performance, high contrast and HDR, and local dimming, and Kuo says adoption of the tech will "significantly improve productivity and the entertainment experience."
All future MacBook Pro models are expected to use Apple Silicon chips now that the first Apple Silicon Macs with M1 chip are available.
Promotion for Apple Fitness+ is ramping up, with advertising initiatives and teases from instructors being spotted on social media, indicating that the new subscription service may be launching imminently.
MacRumors reader Chris Weaver spotted that Best Buy has started advertising six-month free trials of Apple Fitness+ with Apple Watch purchases. The advert suggests that retailers have started to actively promote Apple Fitness+, meaning that the service's launch is likely to follow soon.
Moreover, Apple Fitness+ instructors have begun promoting their workout videos on Instagram. The posts, spotted by 9to5Mac, involve images of Apple Fitness+ instructors with captions saying they are in the process of recording workouts and that the service is launching "soon." The posts each use the hashtag #CloseYourRings and mention the @AppleFitnessPlus account.
Apple has said that Fitness+ will launch before the end of 2020, but no exact release date has been confirmed. With the end of the year approaching in less than five weeks, and in light of these promotional social media posts and adverts, the launch of Apple Fitness+ appears to be imminent. There have also been hints that the service will arrive alongside iOS 14.3 and watchOS 7.2.
Apple first announced Fitness+ alongside the Apple Watch Series 6. Priced at $9.99 per month and included in the highest tier Apple One bundle, Fitness+ is designed to help Apple Watch users keep fit through a series of guided workouts.
With Apple's holiday hardware lineup seemingly all set, attention this week turned to the shopping end of things with Apple and other retailers rolling out their Black Friday deals.
That wasn't the only news this week, however, as we've continued to learn more about Apple's new M1-based Macs and we've even heard some fresh rumors about redesigned Mac notebooks coming next year, so read on below for details on the biggest stories of the week!
Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Continue: AirPods, M1 Macs, Apple Watch Series 6, iPads, and More
There was a lot of focus this week on Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and there were a number of solid deals to be had on AirPods, Apple Watch, and more, including some modest discounts on Apple's latest M1-based Macs.
Many of the deals are continuing through the weekend and even into next week, so if you haven't yet taken advantage of the opportunity, check out our Black Friday roundup, our top picks post, and our other coverage.
Apple Offering Up to $150 Gift Card With Select Products on Black Friday Through Cyber Monday
As usual, Apple doesn't have the best deals for Black Friday, offering bonus Apple gift cards with the purchase of select products rather than straight cash discounts.
Apple's four-day shopping event runs through Monday, and while the gift card offer isn't valid on Apple's latest products, there are a few solid deals like a $100 gift card with the purchase of a full-size HomePod.
M1 Macs Hands-On Comparison: MacBook Air vs. 13-Inch MacBook Pro vs. Mac Mini
Given that they share Apple's M1 chip, all three Macs deliver breakthrough performance compared to their Intel-based equivalents, and benchmark results show they even outperform the highest-end 16-inch MacBook Pro.
In our tests, even the base model MacBook Air with 8GB delivered very fast performance, making it a suitable option for most customers. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro has an extra GPU core enabled, a brighter display, better speakers, and a fan, for those considering going up a level. And of course, the Mac mini is the ideal choice for desktop users.
Redesigned MacBooks With Apple Silicon Expected to Launch in Second Half of 2021
Kuo said that these MacBook models will feature a new design, and reliable leaked "L0vetodream" says that the redesign is not only for Apple Silicon models, suggesting we may also see new Intel-based models.
Kuo did not specify which MacBook models will be getting redesigns, but he previously claimed that redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon and an all-new design would launch in the late second quarter or third quarter of 2021. A redesigned 24-inch iMac and a smaller version of the Mac Pro have also been rumored.
Kuo also expects third-generation AirPods to launch in the late second quarter of 2021. He has previously claimed that the design of these AirPods will be "similar to AirPods Pro," but likely without active noise cancellation.
Video Demos Performance Differences Between 8GB and 16GB Apple M1 MacBook Pro
All of the M1 Mac models use essentially the same M1 chip, so the upgrade options are limited to SSD storage space and RAM. We haven't seen many comparisons that demonstrate the difference between a machine with 8GB RAM and the upgraded 16GB RAM option, but Max Tech recently shared a video highlighting the performance differences between an 8GB MacBook Pro and a 16GB MacBook Pro.
The video includes a series of benchmark tests, ranging from Geekbench and Cinebench to RAW exporting tests. Geekbench and Cinebench benchmarks didn't demonstrate a difference in performance between the 8GB and 16GB models, but other tests designed to maximize RAM usage did show some differences.
And if you're still on the fence about whether to get one of the new M1-based 13-inch MacBook Pro models or stick with a tried-and-true Intel-based model, make sure to check out our buyer's guide to help understand the differences.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple is offering up to a five-month free trial of Apple Music to new users of the streaming service, with the promotion appearing in the company's Shazam music identification app.
Apple usually offers up to a three-month free trial of Apple Music to users who haven't subscribed to the service before, so this latest promotion represents one of its best deals yet.
To access the promotion, download the Shazam app on your iPhone or iPad, then identify a song that's playing in your environment by tapping the big Shazam icon in the app. After recognizing the song, you should see the option to play the track in Apple Music.
Tap the option and you should see the five-month free trial offer of Apple Music appear. Some users have also had success activating the promotion by opening Shazam's options screen and tapping the Apple Music banner.
According to Shazam's App Store page, the offer runs through January 17, 2021, and is available in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries.
If after activating the deal you're not convinced, you can cancel your Apple Music subscription without losing your five months of access to the service.
Black Friday is halfway done, but there are still a few deals to shop for on iPhones at carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile/Sprint.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AT&T
Starting with AT&T, you'll find up to $700 off any iPhone 12 when you add a line or upgrade an existing line. You'll need to purchase any iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max on a qualifying installment agreement and pay a $30 activation fee.
Then, add a new line or upgrade an existing line, activate postpaid unlimited wireless service, and trade in an eligible smartphone in good working condition. After all of this, you'll see up to $700 in bill credits applied over 30 months.
You can also get a 64GB iPhone XS for $1/month for 30 months when purchased on a qualifying installment agreement. This deal will come in the form of $870 in bill credits applied in equal amounts over 30 months.
In other deals, AT&T has a BOGO offer on Apple Watch. If you buy an Apple Watch Series 3 (up to $289.99), Series 4 (up to $699.99), Series 5 (up to $749.99), Series 6 (up to $799.99), or SE (up to $359.99), you can get an SE model at no extra cost.
Both devices need to be on a qualifying installment agreement, at least one new line must be added, and after you'll get up to $330 in bill credits towards the Apple Watch SE.
For iPads, AT&T has the 7th-generation (2019) 128GB iPad for half off when purchased on a qualifying installment agreement. You'll see the deal in the form of up to $265 in bill credits.
Verizon
Verizon is offering an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro at no extra cost when switching to the carrier. This offer comes in the form of up to $700 off the iPhone 12 when trading in a device, and it's available online only.
You can also get up to a $400 Verizon e-gift card when switching to Verizon Unlimited and add any smartphone with a retail value over $699.99. The device will also need to be activated on a new line of Verizon Unlimited.
To get the e-gift card, after checking out head to Verizon's rebate center and enter the code BLACKFRIDAY400 to get the card within 8 weeks. You can also get a $100 e-gift card (code: 100FORYOU) when you add a line on Verizon.
For PlayStation users, Verizon is offering up to a year of PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now at no cost. You'll need to buy a new smartphone on a Play More, Do More, or Get More Unlimited plan.
To get 12 months of PlayStation Plus or PlayStation Now, you'll need to add a new smartphone line, and to get 3 months you'll need to upgrade an existing line. Instructions on how to get the PlayStation subscriptions will be emailed after your smartphone is activated.
T-Mobile/Sprint
T-Mobile is offering switchers up to $830 off the iPhone 12 when activating a new line, purchasing the iPhone 12 on a monthly payment plan, and trading in a qualifying iPhone in good condition.
To get the $830 credit, you'll need to trade in one of the following iPhones: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus.
In terms of bundled offers, you can also get two iPhone 12 models and two Apple Watch SE devices for $120/month. You'll need to activate two new lines on the Essentials rate plan and add two new DIGITS lines.
Two devices will also have to be traded in, and you can get up to $829.99 back on each iPhone $29.99 back on an Apple Watch, and $329.99 back on the second Apple Watch. This will all come in the form of bill credits over 30 months.
Visible
Visible is offering up to $200 in credit to spend on its store when switching to Visible. The company offers a straightforward $40/month cellular plan and more deals.
Currently, when purchasing an iPhone 12 model you can get a pair of AirPods Pro. If you buy a phone or bring your number from a previous carrier and activate service on Visible, you'll receive an email with a code to redeem AirPods Pro.
Retailers
Best Buy - Save up to $900 on iPhone 12 with qualified activation and trade-in.
Target - Get up to $700 on select Apple devices when you trade-in to a new line or upgrade on an eligible Unlimited plan.
Walmart - Save up to $900 with qualified activation and trade-in.
To delve even deeper into Black Friday shopping, use the lists above to discover all of our Black Friday coverage in individual posts, spotlight posts, and in our full roundups. Lastly, be sure to keep an eye on the MacRumors homepage and Twitter feeds throughout the day (and of course for Cyber Monday) as more deals emerge.
Apple in November 2020 released the first Macs with an Arm-based M1 chip, debuting 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models. In early 2021, Apple added the M1 iMac and the M1 iPad Pro. The M1 chip received rave reviews for its incredible performance and efficiency, and it is the culmination of more than a decade of Apple's work on chips created for the iPhone and the iPad.
This guide walks through everything that you need to know about the M1 chip and how it's different from the Intel chips that came before it.
Apple's M1 Chip Explained
The M1 was the first Apple-designed System on a Chip (SoC) that's been developed for use in Macs. It marked Apple's first step toward transitioning away from the Intel chips that the Cupertino company used in Macs since 2006.
As a "System on a Chip," the M1 integrates several different components, including the CPU, GPU, unified memory architecture (RAM), Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, SSD controller, image signal processor, encode/decode engines, Thunderbolt controller with USB 4 support, and more, all of which power the different features in the Mac.
Before Apple silicon, Macs used multiple chips for CPU, I/O, and security, but Apple's effort to integrate these chips is the reason why the M1 is so much faster and more efficient than prior Intel chips. The unified memory architecture that Apple has included is also a major factor because all of the technologies in the M1 are able to access the same data without having to swap between multiple pools of memory.
Built into the M1 chip, the unified memory architecture lets the CPU, GPU, and other processor components don't need to copy data between one another, and are able to access the same data pool. This brings notable speed and efficiency improvements to the M1. This memory architecture means that the RAM is not user upgradeable, which isn't too much of a surprise because few Macs have user accessible RAM. M1 Macs max out at 16GB RAM, but even the base 8GB is enough for everyday tasks.
There are 16 billion transistors on the M1, which is the most Apple has ever put into a chip for the fastest CPU core available in low-power silicon and unparalleled CPU performance per watt. Apple's chip design has allowed it to create Macs that are faster and more power-efficient than was possible with Intel-designed chips, and further enhancements are available through the new tighter integration of an Apple-designed chip paired with Apple-designed software.
What's Different About the M1
Unlike Intel chips built on the x86 architecture, the Apple Silicon M1 uses an Arm-based architecture much like the A-series chips that Apple has been designing for iPhones and iPads for years now.
The M1 chip is the most powerful chip that Apple has created to date, and it is similar to the A14 chip in the latest iPhone and iPad Air models, built on a 5-nanometer process by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). TSMC builds all of Apple's chips and has done so for many years.
Macs With M1 Chip
Apple has released the 2020 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with M1 chips, replacing the low-end machines in those lineups.
Apple has also introduced M1 versions of the iMac and the iPad Pro.
CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine
CPU
The M1 chip includes an 8-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. The high-performance cores are designed to offer the best performance for power-intensive single-threaded tasks.
The four high-performance cores can work together to offer impressive multithreaded performance that has allowed the M1 Macs to outshine even the highest-end 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
For tasks that are less intensive and don't require the same power, such as web browsing, there are four high-efficiency cores that use a tenth of the power to preserve battery life.
Apple says these cores offer performance similar to the prior-generation dual-core MacBook Air, but at much lower power. These cores can work alone when significant power isn't needed, but for demanding tasks, all eight cores can be engaged at one time.
Benchmarks of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini have confirmed the M1 chip's impressive performance. There are some thermal differences between the models, but all have the highest single-core performance out of any Mac and multi-core performance on par with Apple's desktops.
The highest-performing Mac of the bunch, the Mac mini, earned a single-core Geekbench 5 score of 1702 and a multi-core score of 7380, with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro coming in just behind.
GPU
The Apple Silicon chip has an 8-core GPU, but there's also a version used in the entry-level MacBook Air models that has one of the cores disabled for a 7-core GPU.
GPUs in the Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and higher-end M1 MacBook Air models are all 8-core GPUs capable of running close to 25,000 threads simultaneously and with 2.6 teraflops of throughput. According to Apple, the M1 has the fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer.
Graphics performance tests have suggested the M1 chip offers performance that exceeds the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and Radeon RX 560. It also earned an OpenCL score of 19305, similar to the Radeon RX 560X and Radeon Pro WX 4100.
Neural Engine
The M1 chip has a built-in Neural Engine, a component that Apple first started adding to its A-series chips a few years ago. The Neural Engine is designed to accelerate machine learning tasks across the Mac for things like video analysis, voice recognition, image processing, and more.
The 16-core Neural Engine is capable of 11 trillion operations per second for up to 15x faster machine learning performance compared to the previous generation of models that have moved to the M1.
Apple M1 Speed
The M1 chip brings up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning capabilities compared to the Intel chips used in prior-generation machines.
Compared to the latest PC laptop chips, the M1 offers 2x faster CPU performance and does so using just 25 percent of the power.
Battery Life
Even with the incredible speed improvements that the M1 chip brings, it is also more battery-efficient than any other Mac chip Apple has released to date.
Battery life in an M1 Mac lasts up to 2x longer than in prior-generation Macs. The Mac with the longest battery life is the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which lasts for up to 20 hours. That's double the battery life of the prior-generation model.
M1 Security Features
Intel Macs had a built-in T2 chip that handled security and other features on the Macs, but with the M1 chips, that functionality is built right in and a secondary chip isn't required.
The M1 has a built-in Secure Enclave that manages Touch ID and a storage controller with AES encryption hardware for SSD performance that's faster and more secure.
Running Apps on M1 Macs
Because the M1 chip is using different architecture, Apple has built tools to allow developers to create Universal app binaries that run flawlessly on both Apple Silicon and Intel chips, plus it has developed the Rosetta 2 translation layer that allows x86 apps to run on the M1 chip.
Rosetta 2 is a reimagining of Rosetta, the feature that allowed PowerPC apps to run on Intel-based Macs back in 2006 when Apple swapped to Intel from PowerPC.
With Rosetta 2, apps designed for Intel machines will continue to run on M1 Macs with some limited performance compromises. For the most part, apps run similarly on both Intel and M1 Macs due to the performance improvements introduced in the M1.
Everything should function as normal when transitioning to M1 Macs, and over the course of a few years, most popular Mac apps will likely be built to run on the M1 Macs natively. Right now, there is one major compromise when choosing an M1 Mac, and that's Windows support.
There is no Boot Camp for M1 Macs and M1 Macs are not officially able to run Windows, although some users are figuring out ways to make it work. Official support could come in the future, but it largely depends on Microsoft licensing its Arm-based version of Windows to consumers, and so far, that hasn't happened.
M1 Macs can run iPhone and iPad apps as well as Mac apps, so long as app developers make them available on the Mac. There used to be a way to sideload any iOS app on an M1 Mac, but that functionality was removed in January 2021.
M1 Mac How Tos
Since the M1 Macs are using a new type of chip designed by Apple, there are some tips and tricks for doing things like transferring files, entering recovery mode, and finding apps optimized for the new machines. We have several M1-specific how tos that are worth checking out.
Apple followed the M1 chip with the M1 Pro and M1 Max, introduced in October 2021 in the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro machines, and the M2 in June of 2022. The M1 Pro and M1 Max are faster variants of the M1, with both chips equipped with a 10-core CPU that has two high-efficiency cores and eight high-power cores.
The M1 Pro has a 16-core GPU, while the M1 Max has a 32-core GPU, though there are 14 and 24-core variants available for lower-end MacBook Pro models, along with an 8-core M1 Pro chip for the most affordable 14-inch machine. In 2022, Apple also introduced the M1 Ultra, which is twice as fast as the M1 Max in terms of CPU and GPU performance.
M2
Apple in June 2022 introduced the M2 chip in the updated MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M2 features the same 8-core CPU as the M1, but it offers more GPU cores, with nine and 10-core GPU options, up from the 7 and 8-core options in the original M1 chip.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the M1 chip, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Choetech to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 9-in-1 USB-C Adapter that works with Apple's Mac models, including the new M1 Macs.
Design wise, the USB-C Adapter is slim and compact, plugging into a USB-C port on a modern Mac model or an iPad Pro. It's small enough to be tucked in a bag or backpack for easy portability.
Priced at $24, the USB-C Adapter features a 4K HDMI port, three USB-A ports, an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, a 60Hz VGA port, an SD card slot, and a micro SD card slot, adding more utility to Macs and PCs that have a limited number of built-in ports.
There's also a USB-C 100W power delivery port that can be used for charging Apple's Macs, and it will charge even Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro models at full speed. The USB-C port is limited to charging and won't transfer data, which is something to be aware of.
With the USB-A ports, you can connect keyboards, mice, and hard drives, with transfer speeds of up to 5Gb/s supported, while the SD card slots provide access to photos taken with cameras, drones, and other accessories.
HDMI and VGA ports allow for connecting TVs and displays for mirroring or extending your Mac's screen or streaming video to a TV or projector. The HDMI port supports 4K at 30Hz resolution, while the VGA port supports up to 1080p at 60Hz.
According to Choetech, the display is compatible with all of Apple's USB-C MacBook Pro, MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Air models dating back to 2017. It is also compatible with any PC laptop that has USB-C ports, along with some Android smartphones.
We have 15 of the 9-in-1 USB-C Adapters to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (November 27) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 4. The winners will be chosen randomly on December 4 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Solid deals on TVs are always expected on Black Friday, and today is no different. Below we've rounded up a few TV deals from Best Buy and B&H Photo, specifically for TV sets that support HomeKit and AirPlay 2.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
We've focused on the best deals from Best Buy and B&H Photo, but you can also find some TV deals at Target and Walmart. It's also worth noting that some of the TVs below may support Apple's TV app as well, although not every model does.
To delve even deeper into Black Friday shopping, use the lists above to discover all of our Black Friday coverage in individual posts, spotlight posts, and in our full roundups. Lastly, be sure to keep an eye on the MacRumors homepage and Twitter feeds throughout the day (and of course for Cyber Monday) as more deals emerge.
British developer Supergonk's new racing game "Warp Drive" made its debut on Apple Arcade today across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
"Warp Drive" aims to differentiate itself by allowing players to teleport around the track to find shortcuts and hidden routes, all while jumping over huge canyons, driving upside down, and overtaking opponents in unexpected ways.
From the App Store description:
WARP DRIVE is a fast-paced, arcade style racing game with a brand new way to drive: instantly TELEPORT around the track to find shortcuts and hidden routes! Take control of your QUAD ROTOR RACER, equip a Warp Module, and enter a series of high-speed tournaments to test your skills and creative driving abilities. Drive on the ceiling, jump huge canyons and race up waterfalls in an epic inverted racing battle!
Compete in a series of dynamically generated tournaments, with random options providing a different experience every time you play! UPGRADE your car between races, gradually adding more capabilities to DRIFT, BOOST, or WARP your way to victory. Follow the advice of your outspoken manager, Lenny, or just ignore whatever he says... what do aliens know about racing, anyway?!
Apple Arcade provides access to over 100 games across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac, all without ads or in-app purchases. The subscription-based service costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, or can be bundled as part of Apple One.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
