Apple Silicon is Apple’s own Mac chip family, starting with M1 and continuing through newer M-series generations. Intel Macs are older models built before or during Apple’s transition away from Intel processors.
This guide applies to Macs made around and after Apple’s 2020 transition, and to anyone buying a new or used Mac.
Does This Affect You?
The chip type affects battery life, performance, heat, app compatibility, Windows options, and how long the Mac is likely to keep receiving macOS updates.
Check Which Chip Your Mac Has
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
- Choose About This Mac.
- If the line says Chip followed by Apple M1, M2, M3, M4, or a Pro/Max/Ultra variant, it is Apple Silicon.
- If the line says Processor followed by Intel Core i5, i7, i9, or Xeon, it is an Intel Mac.
What Changes Day to Day
- Performance and battery life: Apple Silicon usually runs cooler, quieter, and longer on battery while offering strong performance.
- App compatibility: Most current apps are native or work through Rosetta 2, but some old Intel-only apps may not run forever.
- iPhone and iPad apps: Many Apple Silicon Macs can run supported iPhone and iPad apps from the App Store.
- Heat and fans: Some Apple Silicon MacBook Air models are fanless and silent.
- macOS longevity: Apple is gradually reducing Intel Mac support, and some features are already Apple Silicon-only.
- No chip upgrade: You cannot convert an Intel Mac to Apple Silicon or upgrade the chip later.
Buying and Compatibility Notes
Used Macs
Favor Apple Silicon when buying used unless price is the overriding concern. It will generally age better for updates and modern apps.
Windows on Mac
Intel Macs can run Windows natively through Boot Camp. Apple Silicon Macs use virtualization such as Parallels with Windows for ARM instead.
Mixed Mac Households
Apple Silicon and Intel Macs work together fine with iCloud, AirDrop, networks, and shared files. The difference is inside each machine.
Sources
- Apple: Apple Silicon
- Apple Support: Get system information about your Mac
- Apple Newsroom: Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon