Apple M1X: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next processor
Editor’s Note: Apple has revealed the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips for the MacBook Pro, so looks like it won’t be naming its processor M1X after all. Click the links to check out the specs for the new chips, or scroll down to find out the pre event rumours about the M1X.
The Apple M1X chip is rumoured to become the second chip in the Apple Silicon range, offering a faster performance than the original M1 processor.
Reports suggest the Apple M1X chip will be housed inside the upcoming MacBook Pro 2021, which is rumoured to be announced later today.
It looks like the M1X won’t technically be the successor to the M1 – that will reportedly be the Apple M2 – but a more powerful variation intended for Pro models instead.
A name hasn’t been confirmed for upcoming chip, but Twitter account LeaksApplePro has suggested it could be called the Apple M1X. Mark Gurman has also revealed in his Power On newsletter that names such as “Apple M1 Pro” and “Apple M1 Max ” have previously appeared in Apple’s logs, but it’s unknown whether they’ll be used as the official marketing names.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Apple M1X chip, and keep this page bookmarked for further developments during today’s launch.
What is the Apple M1X?
While the name is up in the air, it’s widely accepted that Apple will soon reveal an Apple Silicon processor that’s even more powerful than the impressive M1 found inside the MacBook Air and iMac 2021.
In fact, if rumours are accurate, Apple could leapfrog the likes of AMD and Intel in offering the absolute best CPU performance for a laptop in the same category as the MacBook Pro.
It’s also expected to feature the most powerful integrated graphics performance ever seen in a laptop CPU, potentially making it a standout option for intensive graphics workloads.
Release date
The Apple M1X chip is expected to debut inside the MacBook Pro 2021, which looks set to be announced today during Apple’s digital event.
The new laptop is expected to hit stores in the coming weeks, so you won’t have to wait long if you’re keen to grab yourself a Mac with the M1X processor.
Price
The Apple M1X chip will only be available in high-end Apple Macs. So far, the M1X is expected to feature in both the MacBook Pro 2021 and the Mac Mini 2021, although new iMacs are possible too.
The cheapest Apple M1X laptop is expected to be the rumoured 14-inch MacBook Pro, but it’s anybody’s guess in regards to how much it will cost. The cheapest 16-inch MacBook Pro currently costs £2399, so we expect it to cost less than that.
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Specs and benchmarks
The Apple M1X is expected to be considerably more powerful than the existing M1 chip, but how will the specs compare?
Bloomberg reports the M1X will have a total of 10 cores, made up of 8 high-performance cores and 2 energy-efficient cores. This suggests Apple is prioritising performance over battery life compared to the M1, which sees 4 high-performance cores and 4 energy-efficient cores.
| Apple M1 | Untitled Apple Chip | |
| High-performance cores | 4 | 8 |
| Energy-efficient cores | 4 | 2 |
| Graphics Cores | 7 / 8 | 16 / 32 |
The M1X looks to have serious firepower when it comes to graphics power, with 16 and 32 graphics core variants rumoured. The M1 has a maximum of 8 GPU cores, yet still flaunts an impressive graphics performance with the MacBook Air.
YouTube channel Dave2D has estimated the graphics power of the 32 graphics core variation to be around the same level of the Nvidia RTX 3070, which is currently Nvidia’s second most powerful laptop GPU. This would be incredibly impressive if accurate, as the M1X will be a SoC (system on chip) rather than a discrete GPU like Nvidia’s GeForce range.
However, there have been other reports that contradict Bloomberg’s claims. For example, the supposed leaked benchmark data from CPU Monkey (via Macworld UK) indicate that the M1X could feature a total of 12 CPU cores rather than 10.
Furthermore, CPU Monkey suggests that the M1X saw a CPU performance score from Cinebench R23 (multi core) that isn’t far off the desktop Intel Core i7-11700K chip, which is unheard of for a laptop CPU.
| Apple M1X (rumoured) | Intel Core i7-11700K desktop | |
| Cinebench R23 (Single-Core) | 1562 | 1569 |
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) | 14,975 | 15,011 |
| Geekbench 5 (Single-core) | 1811 | 1794 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | 15,120 | 10,765 |
The supposed leaked benchmark results also show the Apple M1X to have the most powerful integrated graphics recorded, doubling the performance result of the Apple M1.
While we can’t be sure whether these specs or benchmark results are accurate right now, it does seem like the M1X will become one of the most powerful mobile processors when it launches, while also featuring the graphical grunt to compete with high-end discrete mobile GPUs from AMD and Nvidia.
For more news and rumours about the Apple M1X chip, make sure to keep this page bookmarked and keep an eye on Trusted Reviews.
The Trusted Take
The M1X looks to be an outstanding chip if the specs are accurate. It would not only give it a class leading CPU performance in the laptop space, but also an integrated graphics performance that can compete with high-end discrete GPUs from AMD and Nvidia.
The MacBook Pro is already a top-notch laptop, but it will become an even more tempting proposition with the power of Apple Silicon under the hood. My only major concern is how expensive this chip is to manufacturer, as it has the possibility of driving up the price of Apple’s laptops. But then again, the MacBook Air retained an affordable price with the M1 chip, so I’m still optimistic that it will represent great value for money.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
