Monday, October 18, 2021

You Shouldn’t Still Be Buying Intel-based Macs

There are only a few Apple computers left that come with Intel processors, and most people shouldn’t buy them. In November 2020, Apple began making a big change to its Mac lineup. Although Macs have used processors from Intel since 2006, new Macs from here on out will feature Apple-designed chips like the ones in iPhones and iPads. Apple says that using its own “Apple silicon” chips will improve performance and battery life for Macs and provide less tangible benefits relating to security and privacy.

As of October 2021, Apple has dropped Intel from new models of the

  • MacBook Air (13-inch)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 14-inch, 16-inch)
  • Mac Mini
  • iMac (24-inch)

That leaves the Mac Pro and 27-inch iMac as the last Intel-only models, while Mac Minis are available with either processor. Apple started the transition in the Fall of 2020, and they stated an expectation that the full lineup would be changed over by the end of 2022.

During this transition period, Apple will support both Intel Macs and Apple silicon Macs with new features and software updates, before eventually dropping Intel Mac support in favor of focusing on newer, faster models with its own chips. With fewer Intel options available, most people will have their mind made up for them on which versions to choose. And only in a few specific cases should anyone consider seeking out the remaining Intel models.

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from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/buying-a-mac/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

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