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Apple Silicon M1 chip in MacBook Air outperforms high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro

(www.macrumors.com)
1080 points antipaul | 14 comments | 12 Nov 20 00:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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mcintyre1994 ◴[12 Nov 20 07:21 UTC] No.25067338[source]▶
> The M1 chip, which belongs to a MacBook Air with 8GB RAM, features a single-core score of 1687 and a multi-core score of 7433. According to the benchmark, the M1 has a 3.2GHz base frequency.

> The Mac mini with M1 chip that was benchmarked earned a single-core score of 1682 and a multi-core score of 7067.

> Update: There's also a benchmark for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chip and 16GB RAM that has a single-core score of 1714 and a multi-core score of 6802. Like the MacBook Air , it has a 3.2GHz base frequency.

So single core we have: Air 1687, Mini 1682, Pro 1714

And multi core we have: Air 7433, Mini 7067, Pro 6802

I’m not sure what to make of these scores, but it seems wrong that the Mini and Pro significantly underperform the Air in multi core. I find it hard to imagine this benchmark is going to be representative of actual usage given the way the products are positioned, which makes it hard to know how seriously to take the comparisons to other products too.

> When compared to existing devices, the M1 chip in the MacBook Air outperforms all iOS devices. For comparison's sake, the iPhone 12 Pro earned a single-core score of 1584 and a multi-core score of 3898, while the highest ranked iOS device on Geekbench's charts, the A14 iPad Air, earned a single-core score of 1585 and a multi-core score of 4647.

This seems a bit odd too - the A14 iPad Air outperforms all iPad Pro devices?

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throwaway4good ◴[12 Nov 20 08:30 UTC] No.25067719[source]▶
The results seem a little weird but if remotely true then these machines are going to sell like cup cakes.

Why would anyone (who is not forced) buy an Intel PC laptop when these are available and priced as competitive as they are?

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Tepix ◴[12 Nov 20 09:09 UTC] No.25067945[source]▶
The Macbook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB isn't really priced competitively here in Germany. It's almost 1600€.
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1. blunte ◴[12 Nov 20 11:53 UTC] No.25068831[source]▶
It's not trying to compete with German PCs (which have some nice options, but yet are Windows PCs, not Macs).

I'm not an Apple fanboy, and I'm still very displeased with many of their decisions (touchbar being #1 on MBPs). But if you consider the packaging (small, light, sturdy, now-decent keyboard), and consider their performance, and then consider macOS, I think they are more than competitive.

Even if you match every spec, including size/weight and durability, it comes down to Windows vs macOS. Ironically, macOS is free while Windows is not, but macOS is worth more (to me and many others).

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2. fluffything ◴[12 Nov 20 13:09 UTC] No.25069426[source]▶
I have a MacBook Air 2012, and have been waiting to upgrade for... 2 years already. The laptop will probably end up being 10 years old by the time I upgrade...

- crappy webcam,

- no built-in SD card reader (a 1TB SD card is ~200$, and my music does not need to be stored on an expensive SSD)

- magsafe.. if this was the only downgrade, I'd upgrade, but TBH I love magsafe on my mac and I would miss it if I upgrade.

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3. eertami ◴[12 Nov 20 13:35 UTC] No.25069653[source]▶
>macOS is free

Oh wow, that's cool, I didn't know that. Do you have a link to where I can download the free edition of macOS? Google doesn't seem to be helping me.

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4. enragedcacti ◴[12 Nov 20 13:37 UTC] No.25069675[source]▶
> macOS is free while Windows is not

what laptop are you buying where you need to purchase a Windows license?

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5. blunte ◴[12 Nov 20 13:39 UTC] No.25069699[source]▶
Eliminating MagSafe for power ports was one of the Apple choices I hated. So many times something has happened and ripped my power cable off my 2014 MBP, and MagSafe saved the laptop from damage or a fall. And worse, Apple has now applied new and different meaning to the same name :(.
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6. blunte ◴[12 Nov 20 13:42 UTC] No.25069731[source]▶
Depends on your country, but here's a US example: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls...
7. mumblemumble ◴[12 Nov 20 13:43 UTC] No.25069735[source]▶
I got a new computer from work last year. I spent quite a while carefully studying my options, and what I saw came down to this:

If you're only looking for computers that are comparable according to the usual hardware specs (cpu, ram, etc.), a Mac costs 25-50% more than the cheapest comparable PC.

If you also throw ergonomic factors like weight and battery life into the comparison, there's no price difference.

(This was USA prices.)

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8. blunte ◴[12 Nov 20 13:45 UTC] No.25069753[source]▶
The manufacturer of your laptop has paid Microsoft for the OS and is passing that cost on to you in the total price (excluding MS hardware such as the Surface).

Or if you buy a bare system or build your own, you need to buy Windows yourself.

Apple gives their OS away, but in theory you can only run it on their hardware.

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9. eertami ◴[12 Nov 20 13:49 UTC] No.25069784{3}[source]▶
>Apple gives their OS away, but in theory you can only run it on their hardware.

If you don't understand why this isn't free then I have a bridge to sell you.

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10. sroussey ◴[12 Nov 20 14:54 UTC] No.25070485{3}[source]▶
Just buy a USB magsafe type cable for $20 and be done with it.
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11. dbspin ◴[12 Nov 20 16:28 UTC] No.25071518[source]▶
Macs are significantly cheaper in the US than in Europe.
12. moogleii ◴[12 Nov 20 16:56 UTC] No.25071762{4}[source]▶
If the bridge auto-upgrades itself for free for the next 8 years after the initial capital expenditures, I'm sure you'll easily find buyers.
13. enragedcacti ◴[12 Nov 20 18:46 UTC] No.25073254{3}[source]▶
When you buy a Mac you are subsidizing the development of that free OS. The the price of the OS is baked into the MSRP in both cases. Comparing the prices is apples-to-apples. Also, Microsoft has made it clear that Windows 10 will be around for a long time, so OS upgrades don't work the same way Windows once did.
14. fluffything ◴[13 Nov 20 09:31 UTC] No.25080635{4}[source]▶
can you recommend one? all the ones i've found have horrible reviews