APPLE M1 PROCESSOR – THE DEMOCRATISATION OF ‘GREEN’ AND POWERFUL TECH

There’s been much talk around the new Apple Silicon M1 processor which launched in 2020 and is tipped to revolutionise Mac products.

There’s no doubt that the M1 is a major change in Apple operating systems, but what exactly is the M1 and, ultimately, what does it mean for you, the user? We give you the low-down on this latest tech development and if and how it will improve your computer experience.

The basics

Until now, Apple Mac products came with Intel Processors, which have different computing components to control different processing tasks. For example, the CPU part handles tasks such as browsing the internet and closing apps, whilst the GPU will process graphics and output a signal to your monitor or laptop screen. The M1 is different – it does not have various computing components but instead a single system on a chip (SoC), which means it handles all computations, including graphics outputs.

The benefits

The key advantage of the M1 is power – Macs will be faster, plus the battery life will be greatly improved. Macs that have the new M1 will operate for a full day on the road without having to be charged. There is also an environmental benefit – Apple products with the M1 will be ‘greener’, because they are more power efficient.

The M1 is a real game changer when it comes to graphics and imagery – it will improve the speed and efficiency when operating many graphic design and photo editing programmes.

Is it worth it?

If you are looking to replace your existing Mac, then it’s worth doing as there are noticeable improvements with the M1 – just make sure you check the compatibility of key applications that you use. And if you do a lot of graphics or imagery work, the M1 will make a huge difference in terms of speed and power, so an upgrade of your existing Mac would be worth considering.

And don’t forget, you can trade in your existing product to help fund the cost of a new machine.