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Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Q&A
Published December 12, 2020
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How fast is the "2020 M1" 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro compared to earlier MacBook Pro models? How fast is it compared to the MacBook Air?
In the press release for the initial "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "M1" 8-Core 3.2 13" (2020) -- Apple emphasizes the notebook's performance in detail.
Specifically, compared to the earlier "2020" 13" MacBook Pro that it replaced -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 1.4 13" 2020 2 TB 3 -- Apple boasts that the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro can:
- Build code in Xcode up to 2.8x faster.
- Render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x faster.
- Fluidly design intricate game scenes in Unity Editor up to 3.5x faster.
- Perform ML [Machine Learning] tasks in Create ML up to 11x faster.
- Separate out beats, instrumentals, and vocal tracks from a recording in real time in djay Pro AI, thanks to the amazing performance of the Neural Engine.
- Play back full-quality, 8K ProRes video in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a single frame.
With detailed performance claims, it is a safe bet that the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro provides a significant speed boost over its predecessors across the board.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Silicon MacBook Pro 2020 M1)
However, it is worth noting that this performance comparison is between the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro and the entry-level model it replaced rather than the higher performance Intel-based 13" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.0 13" 2020 4 TB 3 -- or the larger 16" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 16" 2019 and MacBook Pro "Core i9" 2.3 16" 2019 -- that Apple continued to sell alongside the new "2020 M1" model at the time it was introduced. It also does not compare the performance of the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro to its cheaper "2020 M1" MacBook Air contemporary.
Accordingly, it is particularly useful to know how the performance of the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro compares to similar models sold at the same time. It also is worthwhile to know how the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro performs compares to even earlier MacBook Pro models.
General Performance Overview
For a helpful overview of the performance difference between the "2020 M1" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro and other Mac notebooks, EveryMac.com's own Ultimate Mac Comparison makes it quick to compare side-by-side 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench benchmark averages with all other G3 and later Macs for thousands of possible performance comparisons.
This Q&A combines Geekbench 5 benchmarks with our own independent evaluation for a deeper dive into the performance of these notebooks.
2020 M1 13" MacBook Air vs. 2020 M1 13" MacBook Pro
As a quick review of a comparison between the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro and its "2020 M1" MacBook Air contemporaries -- the MacBook Air "M1" 8-Core 3.2/7-Core GPU 13" and MacBook Air "M1" 8-Core 3.2/8-Core GPU 13" -- makes readily apparent, these models practically have the same performance-related components.
These all use the same 3.2 GHz 8-core Apple M1 processor (SoC), have the same 16-core Neural Engine, and have the same onboard RAM and storage. The "2020 M1" MacBook Pro and higher-end MacBook Air both have the same 8-core GPU, as well. The only real difference that could affect overall performance is that the MacBook Pro is fan-cooled whereas the MacBook Air is passively cooled, which could provide the MacBook Pro a bit of an advantage because it likely can operate longer before throttling is necessary to control heat output.
The Geekbench 5 benchmark confirms that the "2020 M1" MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models basically are the same overall speed, with the MacBook Pro topping its MacBook Air counterpart by less than 1% in benchmark tests. The 8-core GPU in the MacBook Pro and higher-end MacBook Air is around 6%-13% faster than the 7-core GPU in the entry-level MacBook Air.
2019 16" & 2020 13" MacBook Pro vs. 2020 M1 13" MacBook Pro
Compared to the Intel-based 13" and 16" MacBook Pro models still sold as new when the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro was introduced, the "2020 M1" surpasses all of them:
| Intel MacBook Pro | M1 MacBook Pro | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i5" 2.0 13" 4 TB 3 | "M1" 3.2 13" | +49% | +72% |
| "Core i7" 2.3 13" 4 TB 3 | +38% | +62% | |
| "Core i7" 2.6 16" 2019 | +65% | +35% | |
| "Core i9" 2.3 16" 2019 | +57% | +10% | |
| "Core i9" 2.4 16" 2019 | +52% | +5% |
The much more expensive 16" MacBook Pro models remain relatively competitive with the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro in multicore tasks, but the fact that all of these once "higher-end" MacBook Pro models fall short of the now entry-level MacBook Pro is truly impressive. Apple's processor design team deserves great praise.
Earlier 13" MacBook Pro vs. 2020 M1 13" MacBook Pro
As you would expect given the above performance, the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro decimates the "2020" 13" MacBook Pro models it directly replaced and earlier 13" MacBook Pro models by even greater margins:
| 13" MacBook Pro | M1 MacBook Pro | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i5" 2.3 (2017) | "M1" 3.2 13" | +98% |
+261% |
| "Core i5" 2.3 (2018) | +90% |
+91% |
|
| "Core i5" 2.4 (2019) | +78% |
+87% |
|
| "Core i5" 1.4 (2020) | +86% |
+95% |
|
| "Core i7" 1.7 (2020) | +64% |
+87% |
These results clearly show the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro delivers far more substantial year-over-year performance gains than Intel has achieved in quite some time. It is easy to see why Apple switched to its own processors.
Performance Summary
Ultimately, the "2020 M1" 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro definitely provides a gigantic performance boost over the models it replaced and surpasses even far more expensive Intel-powered MacBook Pro models, as well.
However, because the "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Pro is differentiated from its "2020 M1" 13" MacBook Air contemporary by features rather than speed, and costs US$150 to US$200 more, those who care about performance more than features likely would be best served by the MacBook Air.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new MacBook Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Pro, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.
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