Why M1 might not be a crazy buy right now

[UBS28]

Every year, the iPhone processors gets refreshed which is Apple their premier product.

From this chip, a modified version ends up in the iPad Pro which has a slower release cycle than the original iPhone processors. (I guess Apple did not do it this year because it would canabilize on the M1 Macbook launch)

Since the M1 is basically an iPad Pro chip, it is very unlikely that these will be refreshed every year also similar to the iPad Pro. Especially since Mac will not have any external pressure to refresh it.

So I predict that these M1 models that have been released, will be like this for 2 years atleast.

The next “M1” or A16X or however you want to call it will be based on the A16 most likely.

 

[The Game 161]

Dunno aren’t MacBooks upgraded every year for most part? Hell we have had two upgraded this year

 

[pcmike]

What you're saying doesn't seem to hold water if according to everything I keep reading one of the biggest factors in Apple designing these chips in the first place was because Intel was not releasing new chips fast enough. So what you're throwing out there is that Apple is going to go out of their way to design new chips just to do the same thing Intel was doing to Apple? Nah, don't buy it.

 

[UBS28]

Dunno aren’t MacBooks upgraded every year for most part? Hell we have had two upgraded this year

Yes, because Apple in a way had to compete with PC’s. If AMD releases a new GPU and Apple is still selling a 3-year GPU in their $3000 MBP, it is not good business.

Now, the Mac will now follow the iPhone release cycle. And similar to the iPad Pro, it will skip 1 generation most likely. (So A14, A16, ....) Atleast that is what I am predicting.

 

[UBS28]

What you're saying doesn't seem to hold water if according to everything I keep reading one of the biggest factors in Apple designing these chips in the first place was because Intel was not releasing new chips fast enough. So what you're throwing out there is that Apple is going to go out of their way to design new chips just to do the same thing Intel was doing to Apple? Nah, don't buy it.

Apple was referring to Intel still being stuck on 14nm for almost 5 years now while Apple and AMD were on 7nm already.

 

[Mayo86]

Every year, the iPhone processors gets refreshed which is Apple their premier product.

From this chip, a modified version ends up in the iPad Pro which has a slower release cycle than the original iPhone processors. (I guess Apple did not do it this year because it would canabilize on the M1 Macbook launch)

Since the M1 is basically an iPad Pro chip, it is very unlikely that these will be refreshed every year also similar to the iPad Pro. Especially since Mac will not have any external pressure to refresh it.

So I predict that these M1 models that have been released, will be like this for 2 years atleast.

The next “M1” or A16X or however you want to call it will be based on the A16 most likely.

I’m sorry but that makes no sense on many points.

How is this an iPad Pro chip? According to your logic, why not buy one now if they won’t be upgraded for 2 years? So buy one right before they change chips or wait ~2 years before they upgrade?

Can you clarify?

 

[UBS28]

I’m sorry but that makes no sense on many points.

How is this an iPad Pro chip? According to your logic, why not buy one now if they won’t be upgraded for 2 years? So buy one right before they change chips or wait ~2 years before they upgrade?

Can you clarify?

The iPad Pro is a modified A12 chip with 4 efficiency core, 4 performance core and a 8 core GPU. Does that sound familiar? Basically the M1 is the A14X that will end up in the next iPad Pro also.

And yes, that is indeed what I am saying. It is better to buy these M1 13” Macbook Air now as I do not think they will be refreshed next year.

Next year, only new models will most likely be introduced such as the M1 Pro, M1 Pro Max or whatever name Apple has in mind for the chips in the 16” MBP, iMac and Mac Pro.

Atleast that is what I am predicting.

 

[raccoontail]

M1's performance is undeniably exciting - who doesn't want their apps to snap open, but I think we're one iteration before the killer machine. The Air might not be refreshed for a while but I'm holding out for the next MBP. I'm guessing the next MBP models will support 2+ external displays. By then many more apps will be native. I also hope Apple drops the touchbar for a touchscreen (it's ridiculous now that there is iOS app support), but I'm not holding my breath on that.

 

[cupcakes2000]

M1's performance is undeniably exciting - who doesn't want their apps to snap open, but I think we're one iteration before the killer machine. The Air might not be refreshed for a while but I'm holding out for the next MBP. I'm guessing the next MBP models will support 2+ external displays. By then many more apps will be native. I also hope Apple drops the touchbar for a touchscreen (it's ridiculous now that there is iOS app support), but I'm not holding my breath on that.

What is wrong with the Touch Bar? It’s pretty cool f you ask me. You can have F keys when you need them or a pretty useful on keyboard display for when you dont. I wish they would make an external one.

Edit* just reread what you wrote. I have to say I wouldn’t be to interested in a touch screen mac. I use jump desktop to control my Mac mini from my ipad, and I can use it via touch like that, but it has literally no benefit over a mouse.

 

[leman]

I would expect the next 14" as well as entry-level iMacs to be based on a larger A14 variant (call it M1X or whatever), and the 16" and the 27" iMac will follow with an A15-based design in autumn 2021 featuring SVE2.

 

[KPOM]

Dunno aren’t MacBooks upgraded every year for most part? Hell we have had two upgraded this year

Not always. The MacBook Air was upgraded twice this year, but the base 13” Pro was previously updated in July 2019 and July 2017.

 

[thenewperson]

I would expect the next 14" as well as entry-level iMacs to be based on a larger A14 variant (call it M1X or whatever), and the 16" and the 27" iMac will follow with an A15-based design in autumn 2021 featuring SVE2.

You don't think the 16" will come along with the 14"?

 

[Mr.Blacky]

The iPad Pro is a modified A12 chip with 4 efficiency core, 4 performance core and a 8 core GPU. Does that sound familiar? Basically the M1 is the A14X that will end up in the next iPad Pro also.

And yes, that is indeed what I am saying. It is better to buy these M1 13” Macbook Air now as I do not think they will be refreshed next year.

Next year, only new models will most likely be introduced such as the M1 Pro, M1 Pro Max or whatever name Apple has in mind for the chips in the 16” MBP, iMac and Mac Pro.

Atleast that is what I am predicting.

Out of curiosity: When, you would say, will the M-whatever chip not be a modified iPad Pro chip? What does Apple need to change/add to make it a true desktop/notebook chip?

 

[leman]

You don't think the 16" will come along with the 14"?

If they come together, it will most likely mean the same chip and comparable performance. I hope that the 16" will end up being at least a bit more powerful. But who knows, really. Apple can decide either way. Maybe they will have multiple 16" models with different performance levels.

The big question for me is SVE/SVE2 support. It would be very disappointing if the "real" pro-level Apple Silicon does not include it, as SVE2 could bring significant improvements for many applications.

 

[raccoontail]

What is wrong with the Touch Bar? It’s pretty cool f you ask me. You can have F keys when you need them or a pretty useful on keyboard display for when you dont. I wish they would make an external one.

I can touch-type commands on function keys without taking my eyes off the screen. I'm not so accurate with the touchbar, especially when buttons move after software updates. Such a small % of users have touchbars that most software developers understandably don't put much effort into making them useful. When you consider the combined users of smartphones, tablets, and touchscreen laptops comprise a majority of users these days, interfaces are going to continue to become more and more friendly to using touchscreen inputs. Apple is behind on this - a laptop touchscreen should at least be an option for those that want it.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Such a small % of users have touchbars that most software developers understandably don't put much effort into making them useful.

I think MacBook Pro’s make up a quite big percentage of mac sales.

especially when buttons move after software updates

The F keys have never moved on a software update for me.

All in all though, each to their own. I dont agree about the touch screen, I dont think macOS or the programmes made for it benefit from it.

 

[raccoontail]

I think MacBook Pro’s make up a quite big percentage of mac sales.

All in all though, each to their own. I dont agree about the touch screen, I dont think macOS or the programmes made for it benefit from it.

Macs have about 7.7% market share, I would guess no more than 1% of all users are touchbar macbook pro users who aren't plugged into an external keyboard. I respect that many users have no use for a touchscreen, but as the M1 can run iOS apps that are designed around having a touchscreen, it's an option many apple laptop are going to want.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Macs have about 7.7% market share, I would guess no more than 1% of all users are touchbar macbook pro users who aren't plugged into an external keyboard. I respect that many users have no use for a touchscreen, but as the M1 can run iOS apps that are designed around having a touchscreen, it's an option many apple laptop are going to want.

Overall Mac market share is irrelevant when we’re specifically talking about Mac apps.

I could ‘guess’ the opposite to you, and that still wouldn’t make it correct. Guessing is rarely accurate.

Anyway, according to this article, MacBook Pro’s are outselling other mac products.

Apple Says Record 2020 Mac Sales Attributed Primarily to MacBook Pro

Apple on Thursday reported its earnings for the fourth quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, including Mac revenue of $9 billion, a new quarterly...

www.macrumors.com