M1 vs M2 Processor: What are the Differences?

Introduction

Apple has been making significant strides in replacing processors from third-party suppliers with their own chips. In 2020, the company released the M1 chip, which was praised for its efficient performance, excellent battery life, and its ability to power slim and quiet desktop computers.

Later on, Apple introduced the M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra versions in late 2021, and this year, the company has continued to launch its M2 lineup, featuring in products such as Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, and Mac Mini.

Which to Choose?

As of now, Apple has two generations of processors in the market, and the M1 series is still available in many Apple products.

So, which chip should you go for, and is it that simple?

We will break down the differences between the M1 and M2 processors below:

Basic M1 vs M2 Differences

Starting with the most basic chips, the M1 and M2, there are few differences overall, with both chips having the same amount of CPU cores.

The M2, however, has two additional Graphics cores, which leads to faster graphics performance while playing games or editing videos.

M1 vs M2 Performance

In real-world performance, the M2 is about 15%-20% faster, which is similar to the jump in performance between an iPhone 13 Pro and an iPhone 14 Pro.

Upgrading yearly for phones or computers does not make sense, so it’s important to consider long-term value.

While the discussion thus far has focused on the entry-level M1 and M2 series, the general performance increase across the board for one chip and its direct successor, such as the M1 Pro to the M2 Pro, is about 15%.

In-Depth Comparison

If you want an in-depth comparison of the M2 Macbook Air, and the features it offers compared to the M1 Macbook Air, you can check out CNET’s M1 vs M2 Macbook Air comparison.

The LMG Mac Address Channel also has a similar breakdown regarding the M2 Pro vs. the M1 Pro Macbook Pro 14’s.

Apple MacBook Air M2 vs M1: Which One You Need Of all the Macs, get this one

Expert Opinion

If you watch both of these videos, you can see how Apple has elevated the playing field with the M1 and how the M2 builds off that.

However, the bulk of these videos go back and forth, with the conclusion resting on the video host’s opinion.

In terms of performance, you cannot go wrong with either generation of chips, which is a testament to how similar they are.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a fantastic computer and want to stay ahead of the curve, the M2 series of Mac computers is where you should look.

However, if you want 90% of the performance for hundreds of dollars less, you should stick with the M1 series.

The generational leaps of 3x, 5x, or even 10x that Apple had advertised are now over, and we are back to incremental jumps.

Upgrades are now sensible only every 3-4 years. Just like last year’s iPhone 13, last generation’s M1 series Mac computers still pack a punch and are very potent tech solutions that offer great value at discounted prices.