The new Apple M1 chip’s battery life and performance break records. On November 10th, Apple announced new Macbooks and a groundbreaking new chip called the M1. The new chip is replacing what Apple had previously used, which was called an Intel chip. 

This new chip signals a new transformation for the Macbook. Over the years, Apple’s laptops have been becoming more similar to the iPhone and iPad. I predict that within the next year or two, Apple will add a touch screen to their Macbooks, to keep up with competitors. I believe the reason why Apple has not done this yet is that adding a touchscreen to an operating system that was never meant for a touch screen is awkward to use. 

The M1 chip combines graphics, memory, and multiple processors. This gives it better performance and battery life. It is manufactured using a 5nm process which makes it possible to have 15 billion individual transistors. Transistors are a binary switch and most modern computers have millions or billions of them. 

The new Macbook Air is the least expensive in the lineup at $999 ($899 for students) and is available only with an M1 chip. This new computer is 3.5 times faster than last year’s Macbook Air. The Macbook Air has a 50% longer battery life, which is the icing on the cake. 

While the speed increase caused by the new chip can improve the user’s gaming experience, a drawback is that the new Macs cannot run games made for Windows only. However, popular apps used by students like Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Discord are all available.

The 2020 Macbook Pro with an M1 chip has a longer battery life by 10 hours compared to the 2020 Macbook with four ports and an Intel chip. The old Intel processor has only 4-core, while the M1 allows the Macbook Pro to have 8-core. Both computers are the same size, with a 13.3-inch Retina display. The Macbook Pro with an M1 chip also is less expensive, starting at $1299 while the Macbook Pro without the M1 chip starts at $1799. The disadvantage of the Macbook Pro with an M1 chip is that it has less storage and memory than the Macbook Pro with an Intel chip.

The new Mac mini also comes with an M1 chip and is $400 cheaper than the Mac mini from 2018. The 2020 Mac mini has 8-core, which dwarfs the 2018 Mac mini’s 6-core. The 2018 Mac mini uses an Intel i7 processor. Both computers have the same amount of storage with 2TB. A disadvantage of the Mac mini with an M1 chip is that it has less memory than the 2018 model. 

The M1 chip is revolutionary, and will set a new standard for other laptops in the future. This year’s Macbooks give us a glimpse into what Apple will be doing in the next few years. I personally would go for the Macbook Air 2020, because it has the new chip and is the most affordable while being a nice size and not too heavy.