So, the M1 chip was a massive improvement to Apple’s line-up of laptops. The use of Apple’s own in-house silicone meant that performance was pushed to new heights that seemed unachievable with Intel silicone. Well, Apple have improved the performance of the M1 chip with the M1 Pro chip and M1 Max chip which provide up to 70% faster CPU performance.
The M1 Pro chip features:
- Up to 10-core CPU
- Up to 16-core GPU
- Up to 32GB of unified memory
- Up to 200GB/s memory bandwidth
The M1 Max chip features
- 10-core CPU
- Up to 32-core GPU
- Up to 64GB of unified memory
- Up to 400GB/s memory bandwidth
There are two size models for the MacBook Pro, 14-inch and 16-inch. The computer’s hardware includes a Liquid Retina XDR display, better audio systems, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and a broad range of ports including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, SDXC card slot, and an improved headphone jack.
They’ve also created more screen space by implementing a notch and reducing the bezels to just a fraction of what they were. Some great news for enthusiasts is that Apple have finally implemented an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, so things should be looking smoother than ever.
The 14-inch model battery has 17 hours of video playback whilst the 16-inch models has 21 hours – the longest battery life ever for a MacBook.
The new aluminium enclosure provides a slight redesign that isn’t too crazy, and some might not even notice. However, this redesign has a purpose greater than aesthetics. It also optimizes internal space to provide an advanced thermal system that can move 50% more air than previous fanless models.
Apple also decided to finally get rid of the touch bar and have implemented TouchID into the keyboard.
Pre-orders for each model are available now and they are not cheap. The 14-inch model starts from $2,999 AUD and the 16-inch starts from $3,749 AUD.