At the WWDC 2022 chess opening tonic , Apple formally unveiled the next generation of M2 SoC for the Mac and iPad weapons platform . Even though the M2 SoC deal the same manufacturing process ( 5 nm ) as the M1 CPU , there are several improvement across the board that deserves a different appointment scheme . Here ’s how M2 differs from the original M1 CPU and whether it ’s worth kick upstairs from your existing M1 MacBook Air or Pro .

Apple M1 vs. M2 SoC

Apple is touting estimable CPU and GPU performance without move the stellar bombardment life on M2 . The comparing below is based on CPU , GPU , memory capacity , transistors , manufacture physical process , and more .

Manufacturing Process

When comparing any two SoC side - by - side , you first need to tick off the mental process on which the company is fabricate the CPU . While the M1 CPU used TSMC ’s 5 nm manufacturing process , Apple is claiming to use the second - generation 5 nm process for M2 .

While M1 was derived from A14 iPhone SoC , M2 seems to be on the derivation of theA15 SoC – which by the manner is manufacture on the same TSMC 2ndgen 5 nm cognitive process . you could check the die size mention to read the dimensional differences between the M1 and M2 . Apple used the extra place to pack more transistors ( 20 billion compare to M1 ’s 16 billion ) ⏤ a goodish 25 % addition from its predecessor . All those add - ons translate to improvement in CPU and GPU public presentation . permit ’s talk about them .

CPU Performance

M2 uses an 8 - nucleus CPU computer architecture . It ’s alike to M1 with four high - operation cores and four high - efficiency cores . Even with the same computer architecture and manufacturing process , Apple is advertising an 18 % CPU performance improvement . So how come Apple managed to deliver double - digit multi - threaded carrying out gains over M1 ?

While Apple did n’t disclose CPU generation core for M2 , the latest CPU seems to be using Avalanche / Blizzard core for performance and efficiency cores . It delivers a pocket-sized public presentation climb compared to M1 ’s Firestorm / Icestorm cores jazz group .

The better performance also add up from more ( 16 megabyte ) L2 cache partake in among all burden relative to M1 ’s 12 MB .

M2 die size

GPU Performance

The M1 CPU was never known for its GPU might . With the M2 upgrade , Apple is finally handle GPU performance with over 35 % advance over M1 . M2 throng the next generation 10 - substance GPU over 8 - core GPU in M1 . This may have an encroachment on the overall battery life of M2 gadget . You wo n’t notice the GPU improvements in the light-headed work flow but M2 should fare better in weighty and unremitting GPU - intensive tasks .

Memory Capacity

While the M1 CPU only supported LPDDR4x memory , M2 is finally boarding the newer LPDDR5 computer memory standard . M1 Pro and M1 Max already use LPDDR5 and it ’s good to see Apple adding the same to their budget M - serial SoC.

The vanilla extract M1 CPU was maxed out at 16 GB RAM . M2 strain the financial support for up to 24 GB RAM . That ’s why we have the newer M2 MacBook Air and Pro with up to 24 GB RAM in the offering .

Transistors

As remark above , the M2 CPU comes with 20 billion transistors that are 4B more than M1 and 5B more than A15 SoC ( on which the M2 is establish ) .

External Display Support

Theexternal displaysupport for new M2 chip remains the same as the M1 . It supports only one external display with up to 6 chiliad resolution at a 60Hz refresh pace . For more multi external display support , you must advance to M1 Pro or M1 Max .

Availability and Device Support

The first line of devices boast an M2 CPU is MacBook Air and 13 - in MacBook Pro – useable from July 2022 . Down the business line , we have a bun in the oven Apple to let go new iPad Pro and iPad Air models and an all - young Mac mini with M2 at heart . M1 devices are n’t go away anytime shortly though . Apple is keeping the M1 MacBook and Mac miniskirt on the shelves for those on a tight budget .

M2 Is a Welcome Upgrade Over M1

Apple has addressed all M1 defect with M2 . While M2 is n’t a rotatory raise as the M1 ( over Intel SoCs ) , it build up on a strong origination lay by M1 .

If your M1 Mac is sweating while performing GPU intensive task , or running out of on - gadget memory ofttimes , you could advance to M2 gadget when they hit the shelves .

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M2 GPU performance compared to M1

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