Apple‘s transition to in-house silicon chips marked a major shift for Mac computers. The M1 chip introduced in late 2020 brought impressive performance and efficiency. Now with the new M2 chip launched in 2022, Apple aims to take things further. But what exactly are the differences, and is it worth upgrading? This guide examines the M2 vs M1 chips across several key areas.
Overview of the M2 Chip
The M2 chip builds on the foundation of the M1, using an enhanced 5nm manufacturing process. While the M1 was no slouch, the M2 brings 18% faster CPU performance and 35% faster GPU performance according to Apple. The neural engine is 40% quicker and the media engine adds advanced video codec support.
Other M2 chip highlights include:
- Up to 24GB of super-fast unified memory
- Up to 10-core GPU
- 100GB/s of memory bandwidth
- Hardware-accelerated ProRes video engine
These specs translate into real-world speed and efficiency gains, though the exact improvements depend on the specific Mac model and workload.
CPU: Faster New Cores
The M2 chip features Apple‘s latest Avalanche and Blizzard CPU cores, promising a nice jump over the already zippy M1 chip. Both chips have four performance cores and four efficiency cores, leveraging 8 cores total.
Though the core counts match, M2‘s cores reach higher clock speeds. Benchmarks show around a 20% bump over M1 for CPU-intensive tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, code compilation, and more. This keeps the M2 highly competitive with the latest x86 chips from Intel and AMD.
GPU: Up to 10 Cores Now
While the M1 chip topped out at an 8-core GPU, the M2 pushes this to 10 full cores. The higher 10-core count combines with architectural improvements for sizable graphics performance gains.
According to Apple, the M2 GPU shows 25% faster performance at the same power level as M1. When allowed to consume maximum power, Apple says M2‘s GPU surges 35% ahead for graphics workloads.
Early Geekbench tests validate these claims, with the M2 GPU scoring over 30,000 compared to roughly 21,000 for M1. This keeps graphics competitive with higher-end discrete GPUs.
Unified Memory: 50% More Available
One innovative feature of Apple‘s chips is unified memory. This allows the CPU, GPU, and other components to access one shared, high-speed memory pool as needed. Unified memory improves efficiency and reduces latency.
The M1 chip already impressed with up to 16GB unified memory. M2 propels this forward to 24GB, allowing ample room for demanding creative workloads. The higher ceiling helps for multitasking and future-proofing too.
Media Engine: Now With ProRes Support
For creative pros, the M2 chip adds capabilities for handling pro video formats. While both chips support H.264 and HEVC, only the M2 chip brings full hardware acceleration for ProRes codecs up to 8K resolution.
This ProRes support won‘t matter for casual users. But for professionals editing high-res ProRes footage in apps like Final Cut Pro, the M2 media engine unlocks a much smoother workflow.
Real-World Performance Differences
Synthetic benchmarks provide helpful insight, but how do these chips compare for actual users? Overall both deliver excellent speed, but M2 does gain an edge.
Reviews find the M2 machines feeling a bit snappier for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and messaging. More demandining creative workloads showcase a wider performance gap given M2‘s improved media engine and up to 12 additional GPU cores.
The higher memory ceiling also helps M2 chip Macs multitask better with memory-hungry programs. In real-world use, the M2 machines feel well-equipped for demanding work now and several years down the road.
Should You Upgrade from M1 to M2?
For those already on M1 Macs, is it worth upgrading? There‘s no definitive answer, as it depends on your needs and budget. The M2 chip brings real performance improvements, but the M1 still outpaces most laptop chips.
If you use pro apps and want every ounce of GPU muscle, the upgrade makes more sense. Extra unified memory in M2 models also appeals for future-proofing. But for lighter duties, riding out a couple more years on an M1 Mac likely works fine.
New Mac shoppers should target the M2 models if possible. Prices are still reasonable with M2 Air starting under $1,200. M2 machines will feel fast and capable for a long device lifespan.
The Bottom Line
While the Apple M1 chip shook up the industry in late 2020, the new M2 silicon goes further. Thanks to efficiency gains from Apple‘s vertical integration and leading-edge manufacturing, both chips impress. But with an enhanced architecture and media engine, the M2 chip claims the title as Apple‘s best system-on-a-chip yet for Macs.
