Discussion Apple Silicon SoC thread

[Eug]

M1
5 nm
Unified memory architecture - LP-DDR4
16 billion transistors

8-core CPU

4 high-performance cores
192 KB instruction cache
128 KB data cache
Shared 12 MB L2 cache

4 high-efficiency cores
128 KB instruction cache
64 KB data cache
Shared 4 MB L2 cache
(Apple claims the 4 high-effiency cores alone perform like a dual-core Intel MacBook Air)

8-core iGPU (but there is a 7-core variant, likely with one inactive core)
128 execution units
Up to 24576 concurrent threads
2.6 Teraflops
82 Gigatexels/s
41 gigapixels/s

16-core neural engine
Secure Enclave
USB 4

Products:
$999 ($899 edu) 13" MacBook Air (fanless) - 18 hour video playback battery life
$699 Mac mini (with fan)
$1299 ($1199 edu) 13" MacBook Pro (with fan) - 20 hour video playback battery life

Memory options 8 GB and 16 GB. No 32 GB option (unless you go Intel).

It should be noted that the M1 chip in these three Macs is the same (aside from GPU core number). Basically, Apple is taking the same approach which these chips as they do the iPhones and iPads. Just one SKU (excluding the X variants), which is the same across all iDevices (aside from maybe slight clock speed differences occasionally).

EDIT:



M1 Pro 8-core CPU (6+2), 14-core GPU
M1 Pro 10-core CPU (8+2), 14-core GPU
M1 Pro 10-core CPU (8+2), 16-core GPU
M1 Max 10-core CPU (8+2), 24-core GPU
M1 Max 10-core CPU (8+2), 32-core GPU

M1 Pro and M1 Max discussion here:

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M1 Ultra discussion here:

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M2 discussion here:

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Second Generation 5 nm
Unified memory architecture - LPDDR5, up to 24 GB and 100 GB/s
20 billion transistors

8-core CPU

4 high-performance cores
192 KB instruction cache
128 KB data cache
Shared 16 MB L2 cache

4 high-efficiency cores
128 KB instruction cache
64 KB data cache
Shared 4 MB L2 cache

10-core iGPU (but there is an 8-core variant)
3.6 Teraflops

16-core neural engine
Secure Enclave
USB 4

Hardware acceleration for 8K h.264, h.264, ProRes

M3 Family discussion here:

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M4 Family discussion here:

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M5 Family discussion here:

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[poke01]

iPadOS and macOS 26.2 Double 5GHz Wi-Fi Bandwidth for Wi-Fi 6E Devices

With the release of iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has improved the Wi-Fi speeds for select Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E. Updated Wi-Fi connectivity specifications are listed in Apple's platform deployment guide.

www.macrumors.com

Nice to see

Edit: fake

 

[jdubs03]

iPadOS and macOS 26.2 Double 5GHz Wi-Fi Bandwidth for Wi-Fi 6E Devices

With the release of iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has improved the Wi-Fi speeds for select Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E. Updated Wi-Fi connectivity specifications are listed in Apple's platform deployment guide.

www.macrumors.com

Nice to see

Edit: fake

How so? There was no update on that article.
You confirm on yours?

 

[poke01]

How so? There was no update on that article.
You confirm on yours?

no, I cross referenced the same apple article from March. No change regarding the 160Mhz for 5GHz

 

[jdubs03]

no, I cross referenced the same apple article from March. No change regarding the 160Mhz for 5GHz

maybe they just updated it?

Wi-Fi and Ethernet specifications for Apple devices

Learn about Wi-Fi and Ethernet specifications for Apple devices.

support.apple.com

 

[poke01]

Apple Executives Are Now Reportedly Booking Extended Hotel Stays To Secure Long-Term Agreements For DRAM Supply For Up To Three Years From Samsung & SK hynix

To secure an adequate DRAM support for many years, Apple executives have reportedly booked longer durations in hotels to reach an agreement with Samsung and SK hynix

wccftech.com

Let’s see how 2026 and 27 goes

 

[DZero]

Interesting. Chip price of A20 Pro is rumoured to be USD 280.

Apple's A20 Chip Could Be Massively More Expensive

Apple's "A20" chip designed for next year's iPhone models could be considerably more expensive, the China Times reports. The A20 chip is likely to be the first widely available 2-nanometer chip, debuting in the iPhone 18 lineup next year and forming the foundation of subsequent M6-series chips...

www.macrumors.com

And seems that the jump is about 80%, that could be justified if A20 turns to be an Octa Core?I mean going 2+6.
Also that could be used for a Mac Book with A processor in a future.

 

[mvprod123]

Interesting. Chip price of A20 Pro is rumoured to be USD 280.

Apple's A20 Chip Could Be Massively More Expensive

Apple's "A20" chip designed for next year's iPhone models could be considerably more expensive, the China Times reports. The A20 chip is likely to be the first widely available 2-nanometer chip, debuting in the iPhone 18 lineup next year and forming the foundation of subsequent M6-series chips...

www.macrumors.com

And seems that the jump is about 80%, that could be justified if A20 turns to be an Octa Core?I mean going 2+6.
Also that could be used for a Mac Book with A processor in a future.

I'm not sure Apple will add another +2 E-core. But the costs are probably related to the new WMCM packaging type and the new six-channel memory bus.

 

[Doug S]

Interesting. Chip price of A20 Pro is rumoured to be USD 280.

Apple's A20 Chip Could Be Massively More Expensive

Apple's "A20" chip designed for next year's iPhone models could be considerably more expensive, the China Times reports. The A20 chip is likely to be the first widely available 2-nanometer chip, debuting in the iPhone 18 lineup next year and forming the foundation of subsequent M6-series chips...

www.macrumors.com

And seems that the jump is about 80%, that could be justified if A20 turns to be an Octa Core?I mean going 2+6.
Also that could be used for a Mac Book with A processor in a future.

That article is complete BS. They are saying that A20 costs Apple as much as Qualcomm's SoC costs third parties - after Qualcomm's mark up and patent licensing? Get real!

If N2 wafers are $30K and A20 is ~100 mm^2 then they get 600 die candidates per wafer at $50 each. After yield and packaging you have to be pretty insane to believe they'll cost Apple $280. They are about 300% above the true figure lol

 

[Geranium]

I wouldn't call it cheating. Reviewers who don't know any better share misleading comparisons. That's not Apple's fault.

It’s not cheating if Apple states in their documentation it’s readings should not be compared with different devices.

It’s fine to compare Mac to Mac but not much else.

It is kind of cheating, specially Apple is not calling/pointing out on bad power measurement methodology.

Also let not forget Apple really brags about how efficient their SoC is compared to Intel/AMD/Qualcomm. So there definitely something foul.

 

[Nothingness]

It is kind of cheating, specially Apple is not calling/pointing out on bad power measurement methodology.

Also let not forget Apple really brags about how efficient their SoC is compared to Intel/AMD/Qualcomm. So there definitely something foul.

Anyone believing CPU makers claims is bound to be disappointed and called naive.

The only thing I'm sure of is that switching from a Lenovo P1 to a 5 years old MBP M1 changed my work drastically: much faster and much longer battery life. It's obviously a combination of HW and SW, but there's almost no chance I will look back at any x86 laptop before years, no matter how much I regret Linux.

Regarding real power consumption, I think measuring that on a laptop is very difficult and error prone. For desktops, it's easier and I would only take into consideration measurements done at the wall, and would never trust software to provide me with power consumption be it on a mac or an x86 platform.

 

[The Hardcard]

Apple-TSMC: The Partnership That Built Modern Semiconductors

Huge amount of information and history before the paywall.

 

[GC2:CS]

Apple-TSMC: The Partnership That Built Modern Semiconductors

Huge amount of information and history before the paywall.

Based on what would the article imply that A19 and M5 are 2nm based ?

 

[Doug S]

Based on what would the article imply that A19 and M5 are 2nm based ?

Where did the article simply that? I didn't see that claim made anywhere when I read it!

 

[jdubs03]

Where did the article simply that? I didn't see that claim made anywhere when I read it!

It was a typo in one of the tables.

 

[name99]

Where did the article simply that? I didn't see that claim made anywhere when I read it!

It has a few typos, one of which is indeed the point claimed.

 

[Doug S]

I did check out that table with interest but I guess I missed that part. I suppose my brain must have autocorrected I saw for the proper meaning of "future" which includes A20 but not A19/M5.

 

[regen1]

Introducing Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of creative apps

Apple Creator Studio is a collection of powerful creative apps for making music, video editing, creative imaging, and visual productivity.

www.apple.com

 

[name99]

Introducing Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of creative apps

Apple Creator Studio is a collection of powerful creative apps for making music, video editing, creative imaging, and visual productivity.

www.apple.com

View attachment 136628

So I assume this is essentially a move against Adobe.

For people who actually work in this space, is this competitive? In other words, are the prices, terms of services, and products such that any reasonable person would probably prefer the Apple bundle?
I know that Adobe is universally loathed (though I don't know quite why) so this has a fair chance?

From my limited knowledge, Apple is missing the equivalent of something like Illustrator; on the other hand Adobe is missing audio support and maybe that's a more important gap for a larger market?

 

[soresu]

So I assume this is essentially a move against Adobe.

Final Cut has existed for ages - there's a Premiere Pro competitor for a start.

Plus Adobe has other competiin companies on Mac anyway, always has.

 

[Eug]

So I assume this is essentially a move against Adobe.

For people who actually work in this space, is this competitive? In other words, are the prices, terms of services, and products such that any reasonable person would probably prefer the Apple bundle?
I know that Adobe is universally loathed (though I don't know quite why) so this has a fair chance?

From my limited knowledge, Apple is missing the equivalent of something like Illustrator; on the other hand Adobe is missing audio support and maybe that's a more important gap for a larger market?

Unfortunately, this is partially just Apple further monetizing their existing apps with a subscription model.

Final Cut and Logic have been around forever, but were one-time purchases. The one-time purchase option is still available on the Mac but people encouraged to pay for the Creator Studio subscription, and these apps are not available on the iPad outside the subscription.

Pixelmator Pro was purchased by Apple in 2024. At that time it was a one-time purchase. You can still purchase it on the Mac but on the iPad it's only available via the subscription.

Keynote, Pages, and Numbers have been free for a long time and will remain free, but some add-on content will now require a subscription.

 

[Doug S]

The market as a whole has decided subscriptions are the way to go for everything on phones/tablets, almost nothing is offered as a one time purchase anymore. So long as they keep the "buy it outright" an option on the Mac has anything really changed other than Apple bending to the market (instead of bending the market like they usually do) in their iPad pricing?

 

[Eug]

The market as a whole has decided subscriptions are the way to go for everything on phones/tablets, almost nothing is offered as a one time purchase anymore. So long as they keep the "buy it outright" an option on the Mac has anything really changed other than Apple bending to the market (instead of bending the market like they usually do) in their iPad pricing?

Some content add-ons (but not the main functionality) require a subscription even on the Mac.

That's just for now though. Who knows what will happen in a few years?

P.S. See my needs are light, I won't pay for Adobe's suite subscription, although in the past I did buy individual one-time paid licences. Last year I switched and bought a licence the Affinity Suite. I only really need Affinity Photo (which is basically like a Photoshop knock off) but it was on sale for cheap so I bought the whole suite.

However, Canva bought them and now the Affinity Suite requires a subscription. Ironically, they made it free, but it now requires a (free) subscription. All the new fancy AI generative features required a paid plan though.