Apple launches first Macs powered by its own M1 chip with ‘longest ever battery life’

Apple has announced its first range of Macs powered by its own processor, the M1 chip, narrowing the gap between its computers and cash cow iPhone.

The new chip, which the company said was “by far” the most powerful it has ever made, will increase a device’s battery life up to twice as long as the previous iteration and ensure they are significantly faster.

A new £999 MacBook Air, £1,299 12-inch MacBook Pro and £699 Mac mini powered by the M1 will go on sale from next week, Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook confirmed during an online broadcast.

Broader Apple eco-system

The company is hoping that software developers will create families of apps that work across both computers and smartphones, knitting its software eco-system more closely together.

“The introduction of three new Macs featuring Apple’s breakthrough M1 chip represents a bold change that was years in the making, and marks a truly historic day for the Mac and for Apple,” Mr Cook said.

“M1 is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever created, and combined with [mac operating system software] Big Sur, delivers mind-blowing performance, extraordinary battery life and access to more software and apps than ever before.”

Apple outlined its plans to switch from processors made by Intel to its own self-made Silicon CPU (central processing units, also known as chips) during its annual developers’ conference in June.

Momentous decision for developers

The decision is a significant one for Apple’s line of laptops and desktop computers, as the company claims its own chips will allow its machines to run more quickly while consuming less power than is possible using chips made by Intel.

The reveal Apple’s third virtual product presentation in as many months: in the wake of last month’s keynote which revealed four iPhones and a HomePod mini smart speaker and September’s iPad Air and Apple Watch event.

The company announced record quarterly earnings for the Mac last month, reaching $9bn (£6.9bn), a rise of 30 per cent compared to the same three-month period the previous year.

A significant increase in people requiring new computing equipment for working from home during the coronavirus outbreak is likely to be a driving factor behind the record figures, with the MacBook Pro model accounting for the majority of sales.

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