What's Apple Silicon?
A chip for every user
Comparison specifications
| Apple M3 | Apple M3 Pro | Apple M3 Max | Apple M2 | Apple M2 Pro | Apple M2 Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of CPU cores | 8 | 11 or 12 | 14 | 8 | 10 or 12 | 12 |
| Performance cores | 4 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Energy-efficient cores | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Number of GPU cores | 10 | 14 or 18 | 30 or 40 | 8 or 10 | 16 or 19 | 30 or 38 |
| Maximum RAM capacity | 24GB | 36GB | 128GB | 24GB | 32GB | 64GB |
| Maximum storage capacity | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 2TB |
| Number of external screens to be connected | Connect up to 1 screen | Connect up to 2 screens | Connect up to 4 screens | Connect up to 1 screen | Connect up to 2 screens | Connect up to 4 screens |
Own processor Apple
Apple has been making its own processors for years. Think of the A15 Bionic chip in your Apple iPhone, for example. At WWDC 2020, Apple announced that all future Apple MacBook, iMac, and Apple desktop models will also have a chip created by Apple itself. The transition to these so-called Apple Silicon chips has started.
All in one
The Apple Silicon chip is a System on a Chip (SoC). This means that one chip does all the calculations. In older (Intel) Mac products, the processor and the RAM are separate components that are both installed on the motherboard at a distance from each other. This means that the processor has to prepare the task first, after which it sends it to the RAM. When the RAM is done, the same route is taken again. Now that everything is on one chip, the data doesn't have to be transferred anymore. As a result, everything is a lot faster.
Fast, faster, fastest
If you have a lot of work to do, you want your MacBook to start files or render photos quickly. This wil save you a lot of time. The M1 chip was fast, but the CPU of the M2 chip is up to 18% faster. The new M3 Pro, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips add even more to this. The M3 Pro is up to 10% faster than the M2 Pro chip. This is useful if you often work with large video files, for example. Is even faster possible? Definitely. The M3 Max chip is the fastest Apple Silicon chip available in a MacBook. A MacBook with this chip is your best friend if you're a 3D editor or app developer, for example.
More energy-efficient
The Apple Silicon chips have multiple CPU cores. The high performance cores ensure you can work with demanding programs effortlessly and without slowing down. The high-efficiency cores allow you to easily multitask between these programs, so you can perform multiple tasks at the same time smoothly. The Apple Silicon chips switch between these cores in a smart way. As a result, you save a lot of energy and your MacBook will last longer. The CPUs of the M3 Pro and M3 Max have extra performance and efficiency cores, up to a total of 14 CPU cores. You don't use much energy while working on your MacBook thanks to this, even when you're using it a lot.
Seamless cooperation between software and hardware
The Apple Silicon chips are specially designed for macOS. As a user, you notice tasks go faster and smoother. The chips have a Neural Engine, just like an iPhone. This part supports smart technologies. You can compare these technologies to the human brain. Neural Engine tries to imitate the way our brain works. As a result, you can see even clearer or log in faster via Face ID. This is the facial recognition by Apple.
