Author: Geoffrey King
Apple’s M1 introduced many remarkable features. But the new M2 goes beyond to provide a better experience with a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. M2 also has higher memory bandwidth, plus a few additional features like ProRes acceleration.
Let’s take a deeper look to see how Apple’s M2 is better than the M1.
Major differences between Apple’s new M2 and the older M1 versions:
Faster Performance and more Power-Efficient
In terms of CPU/GPU performance and power efficiency, here’s what the new M2 offers:
- An 18 percent increase in multithreaded performance due to faster-performing cores, a larger cache, and slightly improved performance cores.
- M2’s next-generation GPU consists of 10 cores (M1 has 8cores), a larger cache, and higher memory bandwidth that provides a 25-35 percent boost in graphics performance compared to the M1. You can efficiently edit videos, play games, and do other high graphics-oriented activities.
- M2’s GPU also offers 2.3x faster performance, and nearly 2x higher CPU performance (using the same amount of power) compared with the integrated graphics of the latest 10-core PC laptop chips.
- M2 even matches the peak performance of other 10-core PC laptop chips at only a fifth of its power.
- Furthermore, M2 provides almost 90 percent of the peak performance of 12-core chips but uses only one-fourth of its power.
More Transistors, More Memory
M2’s SoC (System-on-a-Chip) design uses an enhanced second-generation 5-nanometer technology containing 20 billion transistors (25 percent higher than M1).
M2 also gives you 100GB/s of unified memory bandwidth (50 percent higher than M1). And M2 can be configured with up to 24GB of fast unified memory enabling it to handle more complex workloads.
Apple’s M2: Next Generation Custom Technologies
Here are a few other features included in Apple’s latest M2 technology:
- M2’s Neural Engine processes up to15.8 trillion operations a second (at least 40 percent higher than M1)
- Compared to Apple’s M1, the new M2’s media engine has a larger-bandwidth video decoder that supports 8K H.264 and includes HEVC video.
- M2 includes Apple’s latest Secure Enclave providing the best-in-class security.
- M2 comes with Apple’s ProRes video engine enabling multiple playback streams of 4k and 8k video.
- M2 also includes a new ISP (image signal processor) which provides a superior image noise reduction.
- Compared to the M1, the M2 power consumption is low with a battery life of up 20hrs on a single charge. With this, you may not need to worry about charging your laptop every 3 or 4 hours.
- The newly launched MacBook Pro with an M2 chip is priced at $1,299. You can buy the system at the official Apple store or other certified retail stores close to you. This is worth the price compared to the upgrade and what it offers.
Final thoughts
Apple’s new M2 is an upgrade over the M1. The M2 offers an 18 percent faster CPU, a 25-35 percent GPU, and a 40 percent faster Neural Engine. Also, M2 provides 50 percent more memory bandwidth than M1. Plus, M2 comes with up to 24GB of fast unified memory.