2018 MacBook Pro runs hot /sucks battery - how much better is M1?

[bscheffel]

I currently have a 2018 13" MacBook Pro i7 with 16GB RAM - it's a great machine but tends to run hot (on my lap) with moderate productivity load (MS Outlook, MS Teams, MS office) or with Logic Pro. It is especially bad when running Parallels VM and the battery can get sucked down quite quickly.
If I upgrade to 2021 MacBook Pro (either 14" or 16") and get an M1 Pro / 16GB machine - how much cooler can I expect it to run with the workload above (moderate productivity load, Parallels (Windows ARM VM), and Logic Pro? Any how much better battery life? Trying to figure out if this will give me incremental to good improvement or a "game changing" experience.

 

[Fuchal]

My 14" generally runs 34°C with Office, Teams, Outlook open all day. If I really push it, it will sometimes hit mid to high 40s. In comparison, my 16" Intel was consistently in the 60s or hotter with the same workload.

 

[jav6454]

How cooler is relative to how hot your Mac is right now. But overall, you'll see a high change in temps.

As per Windows emulation, be careful as the only version of Windows you can run is ARM Windows which not all programs are working due to MS not doing a good job on their "Rosetta for Windows".

 

[bscheffel]

How cooler is relative to how hot your Mac is right now. But overall, you'll see a high change in temps.

As per Windows emulation, be careful as the only version of Windows you can run is ARM Windows which not all programs are working due to MS not doing a good job on their "Rosetta for Windows".

I really only need MS Outlook 365 to run in the Windows 11 ARM VM (long story)

 

[jav6454]

I really only need MS Outlook 365 to run in the Windows 11 ARM VM (long story)

It should run without a problem.

 

[Ray2]

It will run cooler. What wouldn’t surprise me is if the battery time is a whole lot better. I have an 8-core/16gb Air. My GF a 2018 i7/8gb Air. Once the displays are run at equal levels, the battery life isn’t much different. It’s certainly nowhere near whatever Apple represents. Perhaps with the display at default brightness. Which needs to be cranked up quite a bit before it’s usable in an indoor, good daylight scenario. But no heat and no noise is quite nice.

 

[jav6454]

It will run cooler. What wouldn’t surprise me is if the battery time is a whole lot better. I have an 8-core/16gb Air. My GF a 2018 i7/8gb Air. Once the displays are run at equal levels, the battery life isn’t much different. It’s certainly nowhere near whatever Apple represents. Perhaps with the display at default brightness. Which needs to be cranked up quite a bit before it’s usable in an indoor, good daylight scenario. But no heat and no noise is quite nice.

That's odd... I do get much better battery life on an M1 even at 75% brightness.

 

[Ray2]

That's odd... I do get much better battery life on an M1 even at 75% brightness.

Might depend on use. I mostly use an iPP. The Air comes out for photo editing and graphics presentations. When pushed, battery life falls surprisingly quickly. I've seen 50% drops in an hour of use. Which means the power adapter and cable clutter I'd hoped to get rid couldn’t happen. It runs smooth as silk, powers through anything I need done and is cool and quiet. But, so far, battery life seems comparable to my GF's Intel Air as well as what I can recall of my older Intel Airs. I blame the display brightness which needs to be cranked up to realistically use it. I hate going over 50% but, like you, I’m around 75%.

 

[jav6454]

Might depend on use. I mostly use an iPP. The Air comes out for photo editing and graphics presentations. When pushed, battery life falls surprisingly quickly. I've seen 50% drops in an hour of use. Which means the power adapter and cable clutter I'd hoped to get rid couldn’t happen. It runs smooth as silk, powers through anything I need done and is cool and quiet. But, so far, battery life seems comparable to my GF's Intel Air as well as what I can recall of my older Intel Airs. I blame the display brightness which needs to be cranked up to realistically use it. I hate going over 50% but, like you, I’m around 75%.

That's true, usage determines battery life.