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Apple M1

Apple M1

The Apple M1 is a System on a Chip (SoC) from Apple that is found in the late 2020 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13, and Mac Mini. It offers 8 cores divided in four performance cores and four power-efficiency cores. The big cores offer 192 KB instruction cache, 128 KB data cache, and 12 MB shared L2 cache. According to Apple the performance of these cores should be better than anything on the market (in late 2020). The four efficiency cores are a lot smaller and offer only 128 KB instruction cache, 64 KB data cache, and 4 MB shared cache. The efficiency cores (E cluster) clock with 600 - 2064 MHz, the performance cores (P cluster) with 600 - 3204 MHz.

The M1 is available in two TDP variants, a passive cooled 10 Watt variant for the MacBook Air and an active cooled faster variant for the MacBook Pro 13 and Mac Mini. Those should offer a better-sustained performance according to Apple.

The integrated graphics card in the M1 offers 8 cores (7 cores in the entry MacBook Air) and a peak performance of 2.6 teraflops. Apple claims that it is faster than any other iGPU at the time of announcement.

Furthermore, the SoC integrates a fast 16 core neural engine with a peak performance of 11 TOPS (for AI hardware acceleration), a secure enclave (e.g., for encryption), a unified memory architecture, Thunderbolt / USB 4 controller, an ISP, and media de- and encoders.

The Apple M1 includes 16 billion transistors (up from the 10 billion of the A12Z Bionic and therefore double the amount of a Tiger Lake-U chip like the i7-1185G7) and is manufactured in 5nm at TSMC.

SeriesApple Apple M-Series

Series: Apple M-Series

Apple M1 Max compare2.06 - 3.22 GHz10 / 10 cores48 MB L3
Apple M1 Pro compare2.06 - 3.22 GHz10 / 10 cores24 MB L3
Apple M1 Pro 8-Core compare2.06 - 3.22 GHz8 / 8 cores16 MB L3
Apple M1 « 2.06 - 3.22 GHz8 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Clock Rate2064 - 3220 MHz
Level 1 Cache2 MB
Level 2 Cache16 MB
Level 3 Cache8 MB
Number of Cores / Threads8 / 8
Transistor Count16000 Million
Manufacturing Technology5 nm
FeaturesARMv8 Instruction Set
GPUApple M1 8-Core GPU
64 Bit64 Bit support
ArchitectureARM
Announcement Date11/10/2020

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 1020     avg: 1063     median: 1072 (7%)     max: 1087 Points
0551101652202753303854404955506056607157708258809359901045Tooltip
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 MEM
min: 110874     avg: 111266     median: 111266 (90%)     max: 111658 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 GPU
min: 533978     avg: 539206     median: 539206 (99%)     max: 544434 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 CPU
min: 267169     avg: 271808     median: 271808 (98%)     max: 276446 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 Total Score
min: 1017190     avg: 1027580     median: 1027580 (99%)     max: 1037960 Points
Power Consumption - Geekbench 5.5 Power Consumption 150cd *
min: 8.23     avg: 8.7     median: 8.5 (4%)     max: 9.49 Watt
012345678910111213141516Tooltip
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption - external Monitor *
3 Watt (2%)
00.20.40.50.70.91.11.21.41.61.822.12.32.52.72.833.23.4Tooltip
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption 150cd 1min *
min: 2.29     avg: 2.9     median: 3.1 (3%)     max: 3.22 Watt
00.20.40.60.811.11.31.51.71.92.12.32.52.72.93.13.33.43.6Tooltip
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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Reviews for the Apple M1 processor

Apple iPad Air 5 2022 Review: Many Yays, Few Nays

Apple iPad Air 5 2022 Review: Many Yays, Few Nays

Apple surprised everybody by putting their fast M1 chip, that we already know from their MacBook Air and iPad Pro, into the brand-new iPad Air. Find out in our ...
Apple M1 | Apple M1 8-Core GPU | 10.90" | 461 g
Apple iMac 24 M1 2021 in review: Does Apple's M1 SoC also convince in the desktop?

Apple iMac 24 M1 2021 in review: Does Apple's M1 SoC also convince in the desktop?

Apple now also uses its own M1 processor for the iMac. The new model with a 23.5-inch 4.5K Retina display replaces the previous 21.5-inch model and is available...
Apple M1 | Apple M1 8-Core GPU | 23.50" | 4.4 kg
Apple Mac Mini Late 2020 Entry (M1, 8GB)

Apple Mac Mini Late 2020 in review: The most affordable M1 is also convincing

Users who already prefer their own peripherals will find a relatively inexpensive and also powerful mini PC with an M1 processor in the Apple Mac Mini. We took ...
Apple M1 | Apple M1 8-Core GPU | | 1.2 kg
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 tablet review - A Mini LED trump card?

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 tablet review - A Mini LED trump card?

Apple packs everything technically possible into its large 5th generation iPad Pro: A state-of-the-art Mini LED display, an Apple M1 SoC, which has already made...
Apple M1 | Apple M1 8-Core GPU | 12.90" | 682 g
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) tablet review - The Apple tablet sparks the M1-Turbo

Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) tablet review - The Apple tablet sparks the M1-Turbo

Unlike its bigger brother, the iPad Pro 11 (2021) does without a MiniLED display and continues to rely on IPS. Above all, the new M1 chipset enables an enormous...
Apple M1 | Apple M1 8-Core GPU | 11.00" | 468 g

Apple MacBook Air Late 2020 (M1, 8 Core GPU, 8 GB RAM): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
  Review » Apple MacBook Air 2020 Review: Should you get the more powerful version of the M1 processor?

Apple MacBook Pro 13 Late 2020 M1 Entry (8 / 256 GB): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.4 kg
  Review » Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020 Laptop Review: The entry-level Pro also gets the M1 performance boost

Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry: Apple M1 7-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
  Review » Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry Review: Apple M1 CPU humbles Intel and AMD

Apple iPad Air 5 2022: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 10.90", 0.5 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad Air 5 2022

Apple iPad Pro 11 2021: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 11.00", 0.5 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad Pro 11 2021

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.7 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021

Apple MacBook Air Late 2020 (M1, 8 Core GPU, 8 GB RAM): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
  External Review » Apple MacBook Air Late 2020 (M1, 8 Core GPU, 8 GB RAM)

Apple MacBook Pro 13 Late 2020 M1 Entry (8 / 256 GB): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.4 kg
  External Review » Apple MacBook Pro 13 Late 2020 M1 Entry (8 / 256 GB)

Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry: Apple M1 7-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
  External Review » Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.7 kg
   » iPad Pro 12.9-inch tablet with Apple M1 and cellular connectivity discounted by 38%

Apple iPad Pro 11 2021: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 11.00", 0.5 kg
   » iPad Pro 11 with Apple M1 and 2TB of storage gets enormous 50% discount in limited-time tablet sale

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.7 kg
   » Apple M1 iPad Pro 12.9 variants now on sale with steep discounts up to US$800 for limited time

Apple Mac Mini Late 2020 Entry (M1, 8GB): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 1.2 kg
   » Apple Mac Mini: The affordable entry into the M1 world

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 A2378: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.7 kg
   » Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021): A behemoth that is almost the perfect tablet

Apple iPad Pro 11 2021: Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 11.00", 0.5 kg
   » Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021): Closer to a laptop than ever before

Apple MacBook Pro 13 Late 2020 M1 Entry (8 / 256 GB): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.4 kg
   » The new Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 is very good, but where are the Pro features compared to the MacBook Air?

Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry: Apple M1 7-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
   » Be careful when you buy a MacBook Air: Avoid the Intel SKUs of the 2020 Air

Apple MacBook Pro 13 Late 2020 M1 Entry (8 / 256 GB): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.4 kg
   » Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 with more than 20 hours battery runtime, but no performance advantage over the MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Entry: Apple M1 7-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
   » Apple MacBook Air M1 with 50 % longer battery runtime, but the weak power adapter limits the charging performance

Apple MacBook Air Late 2020 (M1, 8 Core GPU, 8 GB RAM): Apple M1 8-Core GPU, 13.30", 1.3 kg
   » Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1 Benchmarks: Should you get 7 or 8 GPU cores?

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Other CPUs of the series Apple M-Series

» Apple M1 Max
   10x 2.06 GHz - 3.22 GHz
» Apple M1 Pro
   10x 2.06 GHz - 3.22 GHz
» Apple M1 Pro 8-Core
   8x 2.06 GHz - 3.22 GHz
» Apple M1
   8x 2.06 GHz - 3.22 GHz

Surrounding CPUs

+ AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS
   6x 3 GHz - 4 GHz
+ Intel Xeon E-2176M
   6x 2.7 GHz - 4.4 GHz
+ Intel Core i7-11390H
   4x 3.4 GHz - 5 GHz
+ Intel Core i7-11375H
   4x 3.3 GHz - 5 GHz
+ AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U
   8x 1.7 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Apple M1
   8x 2.06 GHz - 3.22 GHz
- Intel Core i7-1195G7
   4x 2.9 GHz - 5 GHz
- Intel Core i7-11370H
   4x 3.3 GHz - 4.8 GHz
- Intel Core i5-1250P
   12x 1.2 GHz - 4.4 GHz
- Intel Core i5-1240P
   12x 1.2 GHz - 4.4 GHz
- Intel Core i5-1345U
   10x 1.2 GHz - 4.7 GHz
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Notebook Processors > Apple M1 Processor - Benchmarks and Specs
Klaus Hinum (Update: 2020-11-10)