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What is Apple Silicon? Why is it More Powerful than Intel Chips?

Published on May 17, 2025

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What is Apple Silicon?
Apple Silicon is the collective name for processors that Apple designs entirely in-house. It was first introduced in 2020 with the MacBook Air using the M1 chip, replacing Intel processors that Apple had used for over 15 years.
Apple Silicon uses ARM (RISC) architecture, which differs from Intel chips that use x86 (CISC). This marked the beginning of a major transformation in the Mac world.
🔥 Why is Apple Silicon More Powerful than Intel?
✅ 1. Integrated Hardware and Software Design
Apple doesn't just manufacture its own chips—it also designs macOS to work deeply with these processors. Unlike Intel, which must produce CPUs for multiple computer brands and operating systems, Apple can optimize everything to the fullest, including:
✅ 2. ARM Architecture: Low Power Consumption but High Performance
ARM is designed for energy efficiency, resulting in:
✅ 3. Unified Memory Architecture (UMA)
Apple uses unified memory (RAM, GPU, Neural Engine can share resources), which provides:
✅ 4. Built-in Graphics Processing (GPU) and AI
Apple Silicon integrates GPU and Neural Engine into the same chip:
✅ 5. Currently the World's Best Performance-per-Watt (at launch comparison)
For example:
Summary
✅ Perfect for people who want: High performance + Long usage time
✅ Ideal for: Graphics work, video editing, AI, programming
✅ Great for those who want: Thin, lightweight, quiet machines that are truly powerful