At today's big hardware event, Apple announced the first three Mac computers made with Apple's new ARM-based silicone processor, which it's calling the M1 chip. There's a new MacBook Air, a new Mac Mini and new 13-inch MacBook Pro. All three are available for preorder today and will ship next week. Here's what else you need to know.
Introducing Apple's M1 Chip
Earlier this summer, Apple announced that it would be releasing its first Mac computers with its own ARM-based silicone chipsets by the end of this year — and now they're officially here. There are a number of key advantages with its M1 processor that that Apple is promising, including efficiency gains and better battery life. And, it's supposedly able to make this new breed of Macs run way quieter. The new MacBook Air, for instance, doesn't even have a fan.
The real proof is in the pudding, though. If you're interesting in these new laptops, it's a good idea to wait for the reviews to hit before you pull the trigger.
The MacBook Air with M1
According to Apple, the new MacBook Air is significantly more power efficient than previous models, with a rated battery life of 15 hours of web browsing compared to the previous Air's 11 hours. It also has no internal fans, which should make it completely silent.
The MacBook Air starts at $999.
The Mac Mini with M1
The new Mac Mini looks very similar to the one that Apple has been selling for the last two years. It has two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, along with a headphone jack and an ethernet port. Apple claims that it's able to support two external monitors or Apple's fancy (and huge) Pro Display XDR. You can purchase it with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD or 8GB of memory with a 512GB SSD. The more hearty configuration costs an extra $200.
The Mac Mini starts at $699.
The MacBook Pro with M1
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro also has performance enhancements over the previous 13-inch Pro. Apple claims the new model boasts battery life to give you 17 hours of web browsing (versus the 10 hours of its predecessor) — Apple claims that it's the longest-lasting battery that its ever put in a laptop. The new Pro still has a built-in fan, so it won't be as quiet as the new Air.
The MacBook Pro starts at $1,299.
