Apple first unveiled its plans to switch off Intel processors at WWDC in June, stating that the first Mac powered by Apple Silicon will be released before the end of the year. As it turns out, Apple has released three Macs powered by its new M1 chip: a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
Despite Apple’s strong 2020 range in almost every respect, the M1 Mac that we officially crowned as the 9to5Mac Product of the Year.
We debated whether we should just concentrate on the M1 MacBook Air or to include the M1 Mac mini and MacBook Pro in the “Product of the Year” category. Finally, because all three of these machines are so similar, we decided to focus on the whole family of M1 Macs. This is a monumental shift in the Mac state, and even bigger changes are yet to come in 2021.
Read on for a round table discussion with the 9to5Mac team about what we like most about the first M1 Macs.
Seth Weintraub, founder and publisher of 9to5Mac:
M1 MacBook Air
Of all the incredible Apple products released against the pandemic this year, the M1 Macs and specifically the M1 MacBook Air changed the game the most. Those who work from home now have themselves considerably faster in the outer casing size MacBook Air with envelope size. If that was not enough, the actual battery life went from less than a working day to several working days. Along with the compatibility, Apple has knocked it out of the park with almost all the exterior applications, but an almost transparent Rosetta 2 emulator that cleans up the apps still built for Intel.
For me personally, this means I no longer need a pro machine when I’m on the go (which I will one day utilize!). And specifically, when I go on ski trips, I no longer have to take an iMac with me to do serious work. I can only leave a large $ 200 exhibit in my office and in our ski apartment, and it feels just as funny. I think far fewer people will opt for desktops in the coming years if all this power is available in a portable … without fans!
Chance Miller, Editor-in-Chief of 9to5Mac:
M1 MacBook Air
Right off the bat, this is the most excited I’ve had over the Mac series in years. On top of that, I was not a Mac user during the transition from PowerPC to Intel, so the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon is especially interesting to me.
During the era of the butterfly keyboard, stationary performance enhancements and a rough transition to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, it was hard not to feel discouraged about the state of the Mac. Over the past twelve months, all that has changed, and I can now confidently say that I’m hopeful and excited about the future of the Mac.
I use the base model M1 MacBook Air, and it’s the best Mac I’ve used in years. It’s fast, reliable, has excellent battery life and is less than $ 1000. I upgraded to the M1 MacBook Air from a reinforced 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the only thing I miss is the larger screen.
As such, I fully expect to upgrade to the Apple Silicon-powered 16-inch MacBook Pro when it’s released in 2021. However, the M1 MacBook Air is now the best Mac for most people, and the first Mac I feel completely comfortable recommending to the average consumer in years.
Jeff Benjamin, 9 to 5 YouTube Lead:
M1 Mac mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
The M1 Macs are worthy of being crowned as the product of the year, not just because they have impressive power and are incredibly efficient. The features were a given for anyone who paid attention to Apple’s annual silicone advancement. What surprised me, though, was how well Apple managed to make the software work so seamlessly on the first day.
The experience has not been without a few brackets yet, but overall, the M1 Macs are an achievement in terms of software compatibility. Just outside the gate, all the so-called ‘pro’ Mac apps have been updated with native universal binaries, and even apps not designed for Apple silicone ran smoothly thanks to MacOS ‘impressive Rosetta 2 translation.
Of all the products released in 2020 – and it’s an impressive range if you go back and check out the entire timeline of the year – the M1 Macs stand alone. Think about it: Apple has released three new Macs with a brand new architecture in the midst of a pandemic. This is amazing to me.
Zac Hall, Space Explored Lead Editor and 9to5Mac Editor Emeritus:
M1 MacBook Air
I bought my first Mac in 2009 when I started college. It was a 2009 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it felt like the future. Three years later, I upgraded to the 13-inch MacBook Air with a solid state drive, and it feels like a new leap forward.
We have since seen hardware redesign, operating system evolutions, Retina displays and even a bizarre butterfly keyboard debacle. Nothing has been as dramatic and platform-changing as the debut of the M1 processor. Not only does the $ 999 MacBook Air outperform machines that cost three times as much, but it does so with exceptional battery life and a fanless design without compromising on cooling and performance.
The current design even gets a pass, as it only started in 2018, and the M1 chip is such a leap forward in the overall experience. My biggest wish for a second review in the future is built-in phones, like iPads. The MacBook Air is so portable and adaptable that built-in LTE or 5G would be a no-brainer upgrade for me.
Michael Potuck, 9to5Mac Editor:
M1 MacBook Pro
I picked up the basic 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro during launch with the plan to replace my 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro. I was a little hesitant to use 8 GB of RAM with the new machine as I had 16 GB with my 15-inch. However, I was very curious to see how well the base M1 MacBook Pro can perform.
Over the past two months, I want to say it’s circling around my 15-inch MacBook Pro. I do not have really intensive daily workflows, but I usually use 7 or 8 programs at the same time with lots of open Safari tabs and light photo editing.
The best way I can describe how an Apple Silicon Mac feels is that I get the MacBook (or any notebook / desktop) closest to moving as fast as I think. Apps open almost instantly, it’s just as responsive and smooth.
And even Intel applications work impressively well with Rosetta 2 translation making Apple Silicon a compromise scenario. I am very impressed with the first generation M1 Macs and am very excited to see how the whole Mac family is making the transition.
Bradley Chambers, 9to5Mac Contributor and Administrator:
M1 MacBook Air
I’ve been a Mac user since 2005 when I bought the PowerBook G4. It was the only PowerPC computer I owned since the Intel transition took place a few years later. In my lifetime, I can count on just a handful of technological transitions that felt like real breakthroughs: Wi-Fi, solid-state drives, and Apple Silicon.
In just a few weeks with the M1 laptop I can say that I never knew that the battery life on a laptop could achieve these results while I was so powerful. For the people who wanted Apple to release an ultra-portable Netbook, they finally did. Apple Silicon is just as important to Apple’s future as any consumer product they’ve released in their history.
Parker Ortolani, 9to5Mac Contributor:
M1 MacBook Air
No other Apple product has outperformed the MacBook Air this year. I’ve been an Air fan since Steve first pulled out of a manila envelope more than a decade ago. But the 2020 M1 MacBook Air is the first version that does not compromise on performance. It’s the thinnest Mac you can buy, and yet it’s one of the most powerful. I switched to the new M1 MacBook Air from a 16 ”MacBook Pro for 2019. It looked like it would be a drastic shift, but I was used to the form factor as I used a 2018 MacBook Air earlier .
They may look the same, but they feel worlds apart in daily use. I feel like I have not made any compromises to switch to the smaller, lighter and cheaper machine. It flares up quickly and rarely ever hiccups. I can push it to its limits and not be afraid to turn the dreaded rainbow beach ball endlessly. This is the first Mac that manages to answer the question Steve once considered when launching the 2010 MacBook Air: “What will happen if a Mac and an iPad connect?”
Stephen Hall, Growth Marketing
Yesterday I returned my new MacBook Air with Apple’s M1 chip. It may not sound like a thunderous approval in an article declaring it Apple’s best product of 2020, but it really is. In fact, I was so surprised by its performance that I’m eager to pick up what the next version of this silicone is on Apple’s higher Pro laptops as well – hardware that will presumably provide other features I need (mostly more USB-C ports, if I am honest).
I looked at how the entry-level computer with its meager 8GB of RAM is under load around launch time, and the results were astounding to say the least. And after more than a month of using the computer, I stand by most of what I said in that article. Even with just 8GB of RAM, I just can’t express enough how enjoyable it is to juggle different tasks on this $ 999 machine, and performing the tasks feels just as fast in normal use as Apple’s top offering.
For now, I’m so impressed that I’d rather wait a year or two to get the same Apple Silicon benefits in a machine (M2X?) That better matches my needs. Oh, and I’m also looking forward to the rumors of external design modernization that will also come to the next generation of laptops. If this is not for you, make sure you make the MacBook Air with Apple Silicon from 2020 into a multi-year laptop commitment. This is truly an incredible value.
Trevor Daugherty, 9to5Toys Editor-in-Chief:
M1 MacBook Pro and Mac mini
Overall, I find myself slow with the survey regarding first generation technology. As for the new MacBooks, I felt I needed to stay even longer, given how much I love my 16-inch MacBook Pro. But the hype eventually weakened me and I could not resist. I now have a 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini, both with the new M1 silicone. It’s so good. Although my daily use may be more limited than some, every app I use regularly has worked without issues. First party software was flawless and the speed of programs like Pixelmator was a joy. I can not remember when last I was really excited about a new technology.
Blair Altland, 9to5Toys Editor:
M1 Mac mini
The M1 Mac series is easily one of the most exciting machines Apple has introduced in years, and the latest Mac mini has already proven it to me. It’s as funny, powerful and efficient as all the hype makes it possible, which makes its application as a home media server all the more noticeable in my use case. Instead of running it daily, I handled Plex along with a series of other tasks with impressive results. So if there was ever a Mac mini that was meant to be used as a home server, the M1 model definitely is and surpasses my initial exceptions.
What do you think?
Now that we’ve expressed our opinion on the ‘Product of the Year’, we want to know what you think. What was your favorite new Apple release this year? Let us know in the comments!
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