Apple in 2020 introduced the first Apple silicon Macs, marking the start of its transition away from Intel's chips. Apple's custom chips are Arm-based and are similar to the A-series chips used in iPhones and iPads, making them markedly different from the Intel chips that were used in earlier Macs. Apple started its Apple silicon transition in 2020, and finished it in 2023 with the launch of an Apple silicon Mac Pro. At this point, none of Apple's Macs use Intel chips, and Intel chip technology has been phased out.

applesilicon
This guide covers everything you need to know about Apple silicon chips.

Apple Silicon Mac Lineup

All of Apple's Macs use Apple silicon, and Apple is on its third generation M-series chips. The MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Studio, iMac, ‌Mac Pro‌, and iPad Pro all use variants of the M2 or M3 chips.

m2
M-series chips feature Apple's "System on a Chip" design for the Mac, and it integrates several different components including the CPU, GPU, unified memory architecture (RAM), Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, SSD controller, image signal processor, encode/decode engines, Thunderbolt controller with USB 4 support, and more, all of which power the different features in the Mac.

Apple's current chip lineup includes the M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max, all of which are built on a new 3-nanometer process and are upgrades to the ‌M2‌ chips. The ‌M2‌ Ultra has not yet been updated to the M3 Ultra, and some of Apple's Macs, like the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌, have not yet been updated with M3 chips and still use the ‌M2‌ variants.

  • M3 - 8-core CPU, 8-core or 10-core GPU
  • M3 Pro - 12-core CPU, up to an 18-core GPU
  • M3 Max - 16-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU
  • M3 Ultra - 24-core CPU, 60-core or 76-core GPU.

In the case of the ‌M2‌ Ultra, it is essentially two ‌M2‌ Max chips that are linked together, which is why it has the specifications of a doubled ‌M2‌ Max chip. Apple uses the M3 in its lower-priced Macs, including the ‌MacBook Air‌ and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro. The M3 Pro is for the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and higher-end ‌Mac mini‌ models, while the M3 Max is designed for upgraded MacBook Pro models. The ‌M2‌ Ultra is reserved for the ‌Mac Pro‌ and the ‌Mac Studio‌, and it is Apple's most powerful and most expensive chip option.

The future M3 Ultra chip may be designed as a standalone chip, rather than featuring two M3 Max dies, which would be a departure from prior Ultra chips.

All of the Apple silicon chips have unified memory that's shared between all chip components to eliminate swapping and improve performance, plus a 16-core Neural Engine and other add-ons like an image signal processor, Secure Enclave for secure booting and Touch ID, and more.

Why Apple Made the Switch

Apple adopted its own Apple silicon chips to make better Macs. Apple's chips bring a whole new level of performance with more powerful Macs that are also more energy-efficient. M-series Macs are much more powerful than Intel Macs ever were, and the battery life is much improved.

Apple Silicon Advantage

Apple has years of experience with power-efficient chip design thanks to its work on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, all of which use custom-designed chips developed by Apple engineers. Apple has made huge gains in processor performance over the years, and its chips are now more than powerful enough to be used in Macs.

apple custom silicon mac
Apple aimed to deliver the highest possible performance with the lowest power consumption, a goal that its expertise made it well-suited to achieve. Better performance and efficiency were Apple's main goals, but there are other reasons that the company decided to transition away from Intel, and that includes all of the custom technologies that are built into Apple silicon to further boost the Mac's capabilities and make it stand out from the competition.

Deep integration between software and hardware has always made iPhones stand out from other smartphones, and the same is true for the Mac. Apple's custom chips provide best-in-class security with the Secure Enclave and high-performance graphics capabilities for pro apps and games, but the true performance gains remain to be seen.

applesiliconbenefits
Apple silicon chips are built with Neural Engines and Machine Learning Accelerators to make Macs ideal platforms for machine learning. Other technologies include a high-quality camera processor, performance controller, Secure Enclave and ‌Touch ID‌, high-performance DRAM, unified memory, and cryptography acceleration.

Ditching Intel

Many of Apple's prior Macs used x86 chips from Intel, while its iPhones and some iPads used Arm-based chips. x86 chips and Arm chips like the M-series chips are built using different architectures, so the transition from x86 to Arm has took some effort.

armvsintel
Apple used Intel's chips in its Mac lineup starting in 2006 after transitioning away from PowerPC processors, which meant that Apple was subject to Intel's release timelines, chip delays, and security issues, which at times, negatively affected Apple's own device release plans.

Apple cited platform consolidation and performance advantages as reasons for ditching Intel chips. There were rumors about Apple designing its own Mac chips as far back as 2014, so the decision to stop using Intel chips was in the works for a long time.

Swapping to house-made chips allows Apple release updates on its own schedule and with more regular technology improvements, plus Apple is also able to differentiate its devices from competing products with tight integration between software and hardware, similar to its iOS platform and A-series chips.

Common iOS and Mac Architecture

With Apple designing its own chips for iOS devices and Macs, there is a common architecture across all Apple product lines, which makes it easier for developers to write and optimize software that runs on all Apple products.

In fact, apps designed for the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌ can run on Apple silicon natively, and compatible iOS apps can be downloaded from the Mac App Store on an M1 Mac.

Support for Intel Macs

Apple will continue to release software updates for Intel Macs for years after the transition to Apple silicon, so those who purchase Intel-based Macs can expect to receive macOS updates throughout the life of their machines.

Running Intel Apps on Apple silicon

Most developers have created native apps, but users can run Intel apps even if those apps haven't been updated. For Intel-based apps, Apple uses Rosetta 2, a translation process that runs in the background and is invisible to the user. Rosetta 2 translates existing Intel apps so they work on Macs equipped with Apple silicon quickly, seamlessly, and without issues.

No Boot Camp

Windows does not operate in Boot Camp mode on Macs that run Apple silicon as Microsoft only licenses Windows 10 on Arm to OEMs and has no current plans make an Arm-based version of Windows freely available.

Apple has also said that it does not plan to support Boot Camp on its future Macs. "We're not direct booting an alternate operating system," Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi said. "Purely virtualization is the route." If, however, Microsoft releases an Arm-based version of Windows that consumers can purchase, things might change.

Apple silicon Macs and Thunderbolt Support

Apple is transitioning away from Intel's chips in its Mac and is instead opting to use Apple silicon chips, but Apple is continuing to support Intel's Thunderbolt USB-C standard. Apple's Macs continue to support Thunderbolt 4.

Current Apple Silicon Macs

Every Mac in Apple's lineup uses Apple silicon chip technology. Most use the ‌M2‌ chip series, but the ‌Mac mini‌ hasn't been updated and still uses the ‌M1‌.

  • 13-inch MacBook Air - M3
  • 15-inch MacBook Air - M3
  • 13-inch MacBook Pro (entry-level) - M3
  • 14-inch MacBook Pro - M3 Pro and M3 Max
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro - M3 Pro and M3 Max
  • 24-inch iMac - M3
  • Mac mini - ‌M2‌ and ‌M2‌ Pro
  • Mac Studio - ‌M2‌ Max and ‌M2‌ Ultra
  • Mac Pro - ‌M2‌ Ultra

Future Arm-Based Macs

Apple is already working on future versions of the Apple silicon chip, and there have even been references found to the M5, which is several generations ahead of the current chip options.

The next Apple silicon chips, the M4, will be built on an updated 3-nanometer process, and are expected to be introduced starting in 2025.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Apple's work on Apple silicon Macs or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Related Articles

apple silicon 1 feature

M3 Max Chip Has Hidden Change That Could Affect Future 'M3 Ultra' Chip

Thursday March 28, 2024 7:09 am PDT by
Apple's M3 Ultra chip may be designed as its own, standalone chip, rather than be made up of two M3 Max dies, according to a plausible new theory. The theory comes from Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev, who outlined his thinking in a post on X earlier today. Citing a post from @techanalye1 which suggests the M3 Max chip no longer features the UltraFusion interconnect, Yuryev postulated that the...
m1 vs m2 air feature toned down

Apple Silicon Vulnerability Allows Hackers to Extract Encryption Keys

Friday March 22, 2024 5:19 am PDT by
An unpatchable vulnerability has been discovered in Apple's M-series chips that allows attackers to extract secret encryption keys from Macs under certain conditions, according to a newly published academic research paper (via ArsTechnica). Named "GoFetch," the type of cyber attack described involves Data Memory-Dependent Prefetchers (DMPs), which try to predict what data the computer will...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Chip Details of 16 Upcoming Apple Devices Revealed

Friday March 1, 2024 4:40 am PST by
The chip details of 16 new Apple devices have been discovered, according to technical information posted on X earlier today by a private account with a proven track record of sharing accurate information about Apple's plans. Eight unreleased Apple devices with the A14 Bionic, A17 Pro, and M2 chips were among the list of chip identifiers (CPIDs). There are two upcoming A14 Bionic and A17 Pro...
a14 bionic chip video

Apple Silicon Security Flaw Discovered in iPhone 12 and M2 MacBook Air

Wednesday January 17, 2024 6:39 am PST by
A security vulnerability that could allow attackers to access sensitive data has been discovered in some Apple silicon GPUs. A recent investigation by cybersecurity firm Trail of Bits discovered the security flaw, named "LeftoverLocals," which allows attackers with local access to a device to retrieve data processed in the GPU's local memory. The issue is particularly concerning because of...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Next-Gen Apple Chip Technology on Track to Reach Production in 2025

Monday January 15, 2024 6:26 am PST by
Next-generation 2nm chip technology destined for future Apple devices is on schedule to begin production next year, DigiTimes reports. TSMC chip fabrication facilities will begin installing equipment designed for 2nm chip production in April at the earliest. Apple was the first company to utilize TSMC's initial 3nm technology with the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max,...
M3 Mac Pro and Studio Feature

Apple Working on Next-Gen Mac Studio and Mac Pro

Sunday January 7, 2024 11:18 am PST by
Apple is working on a new Mac Studio that is likely to launch in the second half of 2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes. Gurman mentioned the details in this weekend's edition of the "Power On" newsletter. He explained that the new Mac Studio is likely to be offered with the as-yet-unannounced fourth variant of the M3 chip. This will, like previous generations, double the components of...
M3 Mac Pro and Studio Feature

M3 Ultra Mac Studio Rumored to Launch in Mid-2024, But No Sign of New Mac Pro

Friday January 5, 2024 3:09 am PST by
A new Mac Studio model with the M3 Ultra chip—which could be more powerful than expected—will launch in mid-2024, according to a new report. The report comes from Taiwanese research firm TrendForce citing ICsmart. The current Mac Studio, which contains M2 Max and M2 Ultra chip options, was introduced at WWDC in June 2023. With TrendForce forecasting another mid-year update for the Mac...
apple silicon 1 feature

Apple Chipmaker Discusses Highly Advanced 1.4nm Chips for First Time

Thursday December 14, 2023 5:19 am PST by
TSMC has officially mentioned its work on 1.4nm fabrication technology that is likely destined to underpin future Apple silicon chips. In a slide (via SemiAnalysis's Dylan Patel) from its Future of Logic panel, TSMC disclosed the official name of its 1.4nm node for the first time, "A14." The company's 1.4nm technology is expected to follow its "N2" 2nm chips. N2 is scheduled for mass...
apple silicon 1 feature

TSMC Demos Next-Gen Chip Technology to Apple Ahead of 2025 Debut

Tuesday December 12, 2023 6:31 am PST by
TSMC has already demonstrated prototype 2nm chips to Apple ahead of their expected introduction in 2025, the Financial Times reports. Apple is said to be closely aligned with TSMC in the race to develop and implement 2nm chip technology, which will surpass their current 3nm chips and associated nodes in terms of transistor density, performance, and efficiency. 2nm chips are expected to be...
maxresdefault

New Video Provides Rare Look Inside an Apple Silicon Lab

Friday December 1, 2023 10:17 am PST by
CNBC today shared an in-depth report and video about Apple's chipmaking efforts. While much of the information may be familiar to Apple enthusiasts, the video provides a rare look inside one of Apple's chip testing labs in California, and it includes commentary from Apple's chipmaking head Johny Srouji and hardware engineering chief John Ternus. The report recaps Apple's in-house chipmaking...
apple silicon 1 feature

Some Apple Silicon Chips Will Soon Be Produced and Packaged in U.S.

Thursday November 30, 2023 5:30 am PST by
As part of its efforts to expand its U.S. manufacturing, Apple today announced that Amkor will package some Apple silicon chips at its new facility being built in Peoria, Arizona. The chips will be produced at a nearby TSMC factory, and then Amkor will handle packaging, a final step that protects the chip from physical damage. Amkor will invest approximately $2 billion in the facility, which ...
arm logo blue bg

Report: Apple Pays Less Than 30 Cents in Royalties to Arm Per Chip

Wednesday November 29, 2023 5:49 am PST by
Apple pays British chip architect Arm less than 30 cents per chip in royalties, The Information reports. Apple licenses the underlying technology used in the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod from Arm. Despite being one of its biggest and most important customers, Apple represents less than five percent of Arm's annual revenue, with the company paying the least of any of...
Apple M3 chip series

M2 vs. M3 Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M3?

Saturday November 25, 2023 10:00 am PST by
Apple's latest series of custom silicon chips designed for the Mac come just over a year after the introduction of the M2 chip in 2022, so how much better really is M3? With the introduction of the M3 series, encompassing the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, Apple once again set new benchmarks in performance, efficiency, and capabilities for the Mac. The transition from M2 to M3 is marked by...
Mac Chip Comparison Buyers Guide Feature

Apple Silicon Buyer's Guide: Which Chip Should You Choose?

Tuesday November 7, 2023 7:50 am PST by
Choosing a new Mac often involves consideration of the many Apple silicon chips now on offer, so our comprehensive guide covers their generations, variations, and performance benchmarks to help you decide which is best for you. After iterating for over a decade in the iPhone and iPad, Apple in 2020 brought its custom silicon chip technology to the Mac, enabling major performance and power...
A17 Feature Dark

iPhone 16 to Feature First A-Series Chip Designed Specifically for Standard Models

Monday September 25, 2023 6:14 am PDT by
The A17 chip designed for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be made using a fundamentally different manufacturing process to the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro to cut costs, according to a rumor that has now been clarified by a reliable source. A Weibo user who claims to be an integrated circuit expert with 25 years of experience working on Intel's Pentium processors was first to float the ...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Apple Silicon's Next Big Upgrade Could Arrive in 2026

Tuesday September 19, 2023 4:49 am PDT by
Apple could upgrade to considerably more advanced 2-nanometer chip fabrication technology as soon as 2026, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a recent ims-8b3b9daea440">post on Medium, Kuo explained that Apple will likely begin to use TSMC's 2-nanometer chip fabrication technology to produce iPhone chips as early as 2026. The iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip is the industry's first...
Mac Gaming

Developers Working With Apple to Bring iPhone 15 Pro's Console Games to the iPad and Mac

Saturday September 16, 2023 3:31 am PDT by
Developers are working with Apple to bring the iPhone 15 Pro's console games to the iPad and Mac, Apple executives told IGN. In a new interview, Jeremy Sandmel, Apple's Senior Director of GPU Software, and Tim Millet, Apple's VP of Platform Architecture, discussed the iPhone 15 Pro's more advanced gaming capabilities. During the announcement of the iPhone 15 Pro models, Apple highlighted how ...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

'A19' and 'M5' Chips Discovered on Apple Backend Server

Monday August 21, 2023 6:03 am PDT by
References to what are believed to be the "A19" and "M5" Apple silicon chips have been discovered in official Apple code. The references, found by Twitter user "@_orangera1n," indicate the existence of a large number of unreleased Apple chips. Following the trends of Apple's chip identifiers, the latest discoveries are believed to correspond to the "A19," "M5 Pro," "M5 Max," and "M5 Ultra"...
A17 Feature Dark

Apple Reportedly Planning to Switch Technology Behind A17 Bionic Chip to Cut Costs Next Year

Friday June 23, 2023 7:27 am PDT by
The A17 Bionic chip initially used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max later this year will fundamentally differ from a version of the same chip set to be manufactured in 2024, a new rumor claims. The A17 Bionic is expected to be Apple's first chip manufactured with a 3nm fabrication process, resulting in major performance and efficiency improvements over the 5nm technique used for...
m2 ultra image

Apple Unveils M2 Ultra Chip as Most Powerful Apple Silicon Chip Yet

Monday June 5, 2023 10:13 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled the M2 Ultra chip alongside the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro, the most powerful Apple silicon chip to date. The M2 Ultra is based on the M2 Max chip that debuted in the refreshed 14- and 16-inch MacBook Air earlier this year. It is built using two M2 Max chips connected via "UltraFusion," Apple's custom-built packaging technology. The M2 Ultra chip has a 24-core CPU...