Macbook Pro 14 base model gets luke warm on palm rests with light tasks

[BigMcGuire]

As a not small person (hence the big in my name), the ice cold M1 13' MBP made me instantly fall in love with the M1 chip. I had forgotten what cold metal felt like after years of i7 MBPs (having a work provided 15' i7 with GPU burn the crap out of my lap last year). It's nice to be able to browse with these things on your lap without overheating you (despite using a lap desk).

 

[flapflapflap]

I've noticed that my new M1 pro14 base model gets slightly warm on the palm rests when doing very light tasks like having Mail and messages running in the backgorund and one or two safari windows with 4-5 tabs in each and installing or updating say Firefox. This causes my palms to get slightly sweaty. My previous 13 M1 was icy cold no matter what I did on it. Spotlight indexing finished up several days ago, btw.

Have you guys experienced the same? Is it normal for the M1 pro 14 to run a bit warmer than the M1 13 even on simple tasks, but noticably when touching the palm rests?

Yes, I noticed this. It's why I went with the 16 M1 Pro. I also kept my 13 M1 because it is ultra portable and has insane battery life.

 

[Tagbert]

I see. Too bad. I wish it was as cool as the 13. Is there a tool that forces it to run on "low performance mode" while still keeping the ProMotion enabled?

There is “low power mode” as a setting in the Battery preference panel. I believe that it drops the CPU frequency to 50%. It is intended to extend battery life but it might help here. If it does you may want to look into setting up a ShortCut to toggle it on and off for convenience.

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

Yes, I noticed this. It's why I went with the 16 M1 Pro. I also kept my 13 M1 because it is ultra portable and has insane battery life.

I'm considering the same thing, but I read somewhere else that also the base M1 16 hovers around 40celsius on normal tasks like Safari and music, and that the metal is noticably warmer than the icy cold M1 13. What is your experience? Is it cooler than the 14 but still warmer than the 13? Or is it just as cool as the 13?

There is “low power mode” as a setting in the Battery preference panel. I believe that it drops the CPU frequency to 50%. It is intended to extend battery life but it might help here. If it does you may want to look into setting up a ShortCut to toggle it on and off for convenience.

I tried the low power mode, but it didn't really do much to the temperature, Stats (iStat menu alternative) reports it's still between 40-45 celsius when I'm doing everyday tasks, but it did disable 120hz on the screen, which was jarring to experience haha. Going from smooth 120 back down to 60 almost felt like the screen was "broken" Makes me wonder if there's still a bug in the OS causing it to get warm or not, like the memory leak bug back in october.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I'm considering the same thing, but I read somewhere else that also the base M1 16 hovers around 40celsius on normal tasks like Safari and music, and that the metal is noticably warmer than the icy cold M1 13. What is your experience? Is it cooler than the 14 but still warmer than the 13? Or is it just as cool as the 13?


I tried the low power mode, but it didn't really do much to the temperature, Stats (iStat menu alternative) reports it's still between 40-45 celsius when I'm doing everyday tasks, but it did disable 120hz on the screen, which was jarring to experience haha. Going from smooth 120 back down to 60 almost felt like the screen was "broken" Makes me wonder if there's still a bug in the OS causing it to get warm or not, like the memory leak bug back in october.

I have an M1 Max 16' - Sitting at 42C right now with fans off doing basic browsing/tasks and having about 5 other applications open. On average I'll see 40-52C with normal usage. Heavier stuff can get to 60C pretty quick.

Right now, however, at 42C, the case (wrist rests) is ice cold like a base M1 MBP 13'. 22.77C in the room right now (73F) so not too cold ambient temperature.

Once you go 120hz - just can't go back (iPhone, iPad, and now MBP). lol.

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

These are the temperatures on M1 Pro 14 base model, when browsing Safari with two windows open, 3-5 tabs, mail and Music open in the background. It takes about 15 minutes to reach these temps.

Cool temp (mac's been off for an hour) on the left, warm on the right, after 15 minutes of use. It seems like the hottest CPU has a jump from 39c to 47c from light browsing, mail and Music-listening. 8 degrees celsius increase is a lot I think, and explains the luke warm palm-rests. I guess it's is normal for these M1 Pro machines. Sucks that it's not as cool to the touch as the M1 13, but this is just how it is.

I'll check out the 16" at my local apple shop and see if that one feels cooler, but form various reports on reddit and macrumors, the verdict on the 16 M1 Pro seems to be mixed - some say it's cool, other say it's still luke warm. I'm confused. I'm starting to think maybe it was a mistake to get this mac.

_________________COOL___________________________________WARM_________________________

 

[flapflapflap]

I'm considering the same thing, but I read somewhere else that also the base M1 16 hovers around 40celsius on normal tasks like Safari and music, and that the metal is noticably warmer than the icy cold M1 13. What is your experience? Is it cooler than the 14 but still warmer than the 13? Or is it just as cool as the 13?


I tried the low power mode, but it didn't really do much to the temperature, Stats (iStat menu alternative) reports it's still between 40-45 celsius when I'm doing everyday tasks, but it did disable 120hz on the screen, which was jarring to experience haha. Going from smooth 120 back down to 60 almost felt like the screen was "broken" Makes me wonder if there's still a bug in the OS causing it to get warm or not, like the memory leak bug back in october.

I don’t remember the 16 being any warmer than the M1 13 for the same tasks but I can check later this weekend.

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

I don’t remember the 16 being any warmer than the M1 13 for the same tasks but I can check later this weekend.

Thanks, looking forward to the results.
Another question, does the 16 get warm at all? Because I remember the M1 13 NEVER got warm, no matter what. It was just crazy how it handled everything with no heat-production at all.

 

[exoticSpice]

Thanks, looking forward to the results.
Another question, does the 16 get warm at all? Because I remember the M1 13 NEVER got warm, no matter what. It was just crazy how it handled everything with no heat-production at all.

Well the M1 13" has less P-cores. 4 vs 8 P-cores and M1 has 2 more E-cores.

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

Well the M1 13" has less P-cores. 4 vs 8 P-cores and M1 has 2 more E-cores.

I wish they would have made the new M1 14 available with just the simple M1-processor from the 13". (no pro og max). Sometimes customers just wants the new bells and whistles without the performance (and heat and battery toll)

 

[exoticSpice]

I wish they would have made the new M1 14 with the option of just the base M1-processor (no pro og max). Sometimes customers just wants the new bells and whistles without the performance (and heat and battery toll)

There are rumours that Apple will make a 15" MacBook Air next year.

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

Yeah I know, I'm keeping that rumor in the back of my head. It sounds like it might be what Im looking for - big screen, thin portable design, runs cool and long battery life. I guess ProMotion might be too much to ask for, but we'll see.

Looking forward to @flapflapflap report. if it is cool under everyday tasks, I might consider biting the bullett on the 16".

 

[Diablo360]

My 16" M1 Max runs slightly warm, but nothing like my previous laptops, which sometimes got scorching hot on the bottom.