Apple M1 SoC can be a real threat to x86; M1 in 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Mini beats Core i9 in MacBook Pro 16 but performs similarly with or without active cooling

[Redaktion]

Apple's new M1 SoC combines different components such as an 8-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, a 16-core NPU, and memory and storage controllers onto a single chip fabbed on the 5 nm process. Leaked Geekbench scores of the M1 SoC in the newly announced 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Mini indicate that Apple's tall claims about the M1 may be true to a large extent.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-M1-SoC-can-be-a-real-threat-to-x86-M1-in-13-inch-MacBook-Pro-and-Mac-Mini-beats-Core-i9-in-MacBook-Pro-16-but-performs-similarly-with-or-without-active-cooling.503506.0.html

[Matyas Farkas]

I would be careful with cross platform comparisons...  But that's my take on it.

Initially Epyc 7501  (32 core) was slower than the A12X.

[Mustafa Aysu]

If this is the real deal. The future may be really tough for Intel, AMD, Microsoft, and other OEMs.

Intel losing its trust in processor technology. AMD or Qualcomm or Intel should work together with Microsoft for similar products as Apple. It is very difficult to make an alternative of what Apple is do in this time. Because there is no multiple OS to could merge of Microsoft or Google. One doesn't have a mobile operating system, the other doesn't have a desktop operating system.

At least they can produce low powered and high cpu/gpu performance chips to reach long battery life with desktop OS devices.

Otherwise there won't be many reasons to users for not entering to Apple's ecosystem.

[rADOST]

Microsoft have been on the Arm train longer. Do not underestimate them.

[Ergo Blast]

As others have pointed out, be wary of cross-platform comparisons. But even if you get a good apples to apples test going, its no threat unless software adoption follows.
Plus don't forget this is Apple we're talking about. Even if they do have the fastest mobile processors, its still going to be locked behind Apple design philosophies, ecosystem and price.

[_MT_]

As others have pointed out, be wary of cross-platform comparisons. But even if you get a good apples to apples test going, its no threat unless software adoption follows.

Firestorm cores do appear to be very, very capable. Fully capable of competing with current x86 cores when it comes to both integer and floating point operations. Lower frequency, but incredibly wide. Apple has been doing some wonderful things with their designs. Consider that they managed to triple performance in five years. Triple! The rest of the ARM competition is well behind. And Apple is not going to share. The impact for now is going to be limited. However, unless Intel can kick into a high gear, Qualcomm might come knocking within a few years. Especially if someone like Microsoft will commission designs in this vein.

For Apple, software isn't that big of a problem. They've got a pretty god grip on their ecosystem and there are fewer obscure software packages. It's going to be a bigger struggle on Windows. It really shouldn't be that big a deal for lighter, more casual users. Once they can emulate 64-bit applications.