Apple revealed the newest models of the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini. These laptops are now powered by the new M1 chip from Apple.
According to Apple, the M1 chip is made specifically for Macs. They claim it’s the most powerful chip they’ve ever made. The chip can deliver up to 3.5x faster CPU, up to 6x faster GPU and up to 15x faster machine learning (ML) capabilities. Additionally, the new models of Macs double the battery life of their preceding models. “With amazing performance and remarkable new features, the new lineup of M1-powered Macs are an incredible value, and all are available to order today,” Apple says.
13.3-inch MacBook Air
The 13-inch MacBook Air is back and comes with an 8-core CPU that performs three and a half times faster. With up to an 8-core CPU, graphics on the MacBook Air are five times faster. That’s the largest leap we’ve seen Apple make with the MacBook Air. Also, the MacBook Air’s ML workloads are up to nine times faster. That means ML-based features like object detection will operate much faster than they did before.
In terms of storage, the M1 chips storage controller and flash technology allow the MacBook Air to preview images and import large files faster. As for its battery, the Air can last up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 18 hours of video playback. That’s the longest MacBook Air battery life Apple’s ever released.
The new MacBook air is priced at $999 and $899 for education.
13-inch MacBook Pro
For the most popular Apple notebook, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is even more powerful this time around. Fitted with an 8-core processor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is almost three times faster than the previous generation. Apple says the 13-inch MacBook Pro is even more capable of transcoding video and editing high-resolution photos. Also, its 8-core GPU is up to five times faster and the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s ML is eleven times faster now.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro offers up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and up to a staggering 20 hours of video playback.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro costs $1,299 and $1,199 for education.
Mac mini
Now sporting the M1, the Mac mini boosts its performance and includes new features. The M1 brings an 8-core CPU to the Mac mini, resulting in three times higher performance, allowing the computer to handle more demanding workloads. The Mac mini also has an 8-core GPU which delivers up to a 6 times increase in graphics performance. Additionally, the Mac mini’s ML workloads also are up to fifteen times faster.
The new Mac mini will cost you $699. That’s $100 less than the previous iteration.
