The new chip in the MacBook really is that fast
Apple promises an 18 percent increase in performance for the M2 compared to the previous M1 chip. How realistic is this statement? In the end, how fast is the new processor in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro really? The first benchmark data now reveal the secret.
Apple M2 in the benchmark: The nine MacBooks are that fast
Did Apple promise too much, or was the iPhone maker sincere? A first benchmark of the new MacBook Pro (13 inch) with M2 chip makes the rounds and provides clarity about the performance of the new chip (source: Geekbench). The new processor can also be found in the new MacBook Air 2022.
The updated MacBook Pro is currently mentioned as “Mac14.7” on Geekbench and achieves the following values:
- Single core: 1,919 points
- Multi-Core: 8928 points
Not only the slightly faster clock (3.49 GHz vs. 3.2 GHz) ensures better rates than the predecessor chip. Specifically, the M2 is about 12 percent faster in the single-core benchmark (M1: 1707 points) and about 20 percent faster in the multi-core benchmark (M1: 7419 points). Ergo: The 18 percent on average propagated by Apple seems realistic and is not exaggerated.
The M2 is not only at work in the new MacBook Air:
Significant lead in graphics performance
The advantage in graphics performance is even clearer – the M2 achieves a total of 30,627 points in the Metal benchmark, the M1 alone 21,001 (source: Geekbench). Ergo: The M2 is around a third faster than its predecessor. This is certainly, if not exclusively, due to the fact that the M2 has ten instead of just eight graphics cores. Attention: The cheapest MacBook Air 2022 has a less powerful M2 chip with only 8 graphics cores. As expected, its metal benchmark should be worse.
Bottom line: The M2 offers an acceptable jump in performance, but it’s not as drastic as the transition from Intel processors to the M1 at the time. So if you already own a MacBook with an Apple chip, upgrading to the M2 isn’t particularly worthwhile. Everyone else is welcome to access.
Apple explains the differences of the M2 in detail:
The MacBook Pro (13-inch) with M2 chip can be pre-ordered from Apple starting Friday, June 17 at 2 p.m. It will then be delivered a week later from June 24th. The MacBook Air 2022, on the other hand, should only be available for order in July, so a little patience is still required.
