These are the macOS options you are lacking out on when utilizing an Intel Mac

February 10, 2023

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In June 2020, Apple introduced plans to not use Intel chips in its Mac computer systems and as a substitute use native silicon. A number of months later, the primary Apple silicon computer systems arrived. Since then, Intel-based gadgets have slowly left the Mac lineup. And, as of at the moment, the Mac Professional is the one Intel pc the corporate nonetheless sells, and that mannequin is predicted to get replaced within the coming months.

Whether or not you’re an current Intel Mac consumer contemplating upgrading or a finances shopper questioning whether or not that older MacBook Professional with Intel on sale is sweet sufficient to purchase, there’s a lot to contemplate. This begins with a have a look at which options are unique to Apple silicon gadgets and extends as to if the older machines have sufficient oomph inside to get your duties carried out.

Key macOS options solely on Apple silicon Macs

There aren’t all that many options which are solely obtainable on M-series Macs. Nonetheless, that record is predicted to develop over the approaching years as technical advances additional separate Intel Macs and ever-newer Apple silicon fashions.

Among the many unique options:

Higher Dictation

An Apple silicon Mac features a few dictation options that are not obtainable on older computer systems. When activated, dictation permits you to dictate textual content wherever you’ll be able to sort it. On newer gadgets, dictation requests are potential in a number of languages with out an web connection, plus the service can conveniently be turned off when no speech is detected for 30 seconds.

Are you on the lookout for extra? On the M-series, Macs can even dictate emojis. You heard accurately. If you do not know the title of emojis past “coronary heart,” “unhappy face,” and “poop,” you are in all probability out of luck.

Maps app on Apple silicon

(Picture credit score: Apple)

Extra to see in Apple Maps

There are two distinctive Maps options on Apple silicon Macs. The primary is an interactive globe function that permits you to zoom out to see the large image. As soon as absolutely zoomed out, you’ll be able to then see Earth floating in house. From there, you’ll be able to simply zoom in on any location you want to see. New Macs additionally present cities with extra particulars within the app, together with elevation, roads, bushes, buildings, landmarks, and extra in choose cities.

Reside Captions

At present in public beta on macOS Ventura, Reside Captions will be accessed wherever audio will be heard, reminiscent of in Podcasts and FaceTime. It is a terrific technique to see audio displayed in real-time in your pc display screen. At present, it is solely obtainable on Apple silicon machines; it is not obtainable in all languages, international locations, or areas.

Portrait mode in FaceTime

Throughout a FaceTime name on Apple silicon Macs, there’s an choice to allow Portrait mode, which routinely blurs your background. In doing so, the visible focus stays on you, however you’ll be able to change it off anytime.

After which there’s battery life and efficiency

Having an Apple silicon vs. Intel Mac additionally comes with two total advances that may’t be mistaken: higher battery life and elevated efficiency.

Apple was criticized for providing poor battery life on MacBooks, however with Apple silicon, that is not the case. The final 16-inch Intel MacBook Professional supplied 13 hours of cost, whereas the ultimate MacBook Air with an Intel chip additionally supplied 13 hours. The present fashions present 220-240 hours between costs.

Processor benchmarks additionally present vital enhancements between the present Apple silicon fashions and closing Intel variations.

The MacBook Air (2022) obtained CPU benchmark scores of 1872 and 8735 for single-core and multi-core, respectively, in accordance with Geekbench. The 16-inch MacBook Professional (2023) has a single-core rating of 1961 and 15061 for multi-core. The ultimate Intel mannequin featured a rating of 1078 and 6785 for single-core and multi-core.

Remaining ideas

You possibly can argue that the record of unique options to Apple silicon Macs isn’t lengthy and gained’t be a problem for many customers. As well as, vital battery life and efficiency upgrades exist between the ultimate Intel machines and present Apple silicon fashions. This may very well be sufficient for customers to improve and keep away from the low cost rack by shopping for a late-model Mac with Intel and shifting to an M2 Mac mini.

With rumors of an M3 collection of Macs already on the way in which for a 2023 launch, there’s no higher time to maneuver to Apple silicon. Take a look at the entire finest Macs in the marketplace, together with the all-new M2 Mac mini.

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