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Apple’s entire suite of applications is optimized, and Chrome already has a new version. It can handle multiple instances of the same app - several windows in Safari or Chrome with multiple tabs open - and you can leave Photoshop open in the background.Īpple’s macOS is also optimized for the M1 chip, as are several major apps. We were easily able to export 1080p HD and 4K videos at full resolution with no slowdowns. That’s $2,399 performance for $999.īut what about in everyday use? Well, it’s great for productivity and personal tasks like writing, emailing, messaging, browsing the web, streaming and even creative tasks. In our benchmarking, the M1 Air beats the previous Air and the Intel-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro, and ties the 16-inch MacBook Pro. That’s something we haven’t encountered on a Mac before. But this new model removes the fan and swaps out the Intel chip for the M1, the first Apple Silicon processor.Īpple’s M1 chip sets a new standard with blazing performance, and it’s so energy efficient that it stays cool enough that the new Air doesn’t need a cooling fan. It keeps the same exact build of the previous Air, including the Magic Keyboard that’s truly a treat to type on. Our top pick for a laptop isn’t that surprising: the entry-level, M1-powered MacBook Air ($999).
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