10 things to know about your MacBook M1 or M2 before switching from Intel

I’ve been using a basic MacBook Air on the M1 for about two years now. Before that, I’ve owned a wide variety of Intel-based Apple laptops, from a 2015 MacBook Pro with all the usual ports, to a 2017 MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, and a 2019 MacBook Air.

During the transition to Apple Silicon, almost immediately after the start of sales, the MacBook Air on the M1 was very worried.

However, the old laptop was already “tired” enough by that time, so the replacement was urgently required and did not wait.

In the end, I was even more than satisfied. However, this did not stop me from collecting the whole list of things to look out for during the transition. Some of them are more important, others are of secondary importance.

1. Selected software is perceived better on Apple Silicon

Fragment of the actual assembly of my MacBook Air on M1 applications

After the launch of the Apple Silicon platform, all the offers that can be installed on a Mac are actually divided into 3 categories:

▪ Universal (Universal) – They are equally well suited for both Apple Silicon-based computers and “vintage” Intel-based machines.
▪ Adapted (Apple Silicon).
▪ Unadapted (Intel 64).

In the latter case, Apple Silicon-based computers run a special Rosetta 2 interpreter. It automatically redesigns applications to fit the needs of the new hardware.

When building an interpreter about 20–30% of productivity is collectedtherefore, this fact cannot be ignored.

In a word, it is desirable to use universal or adapted for Apple Silicon software. So potentially M1 or M2 chipsets will be opened to the maximum. But it is important to understand that almost all non-adapted will also work.

By the way, for Mac there is a special one that scans the installed application and the event, which category it belongs to.

▶︎ Checking iMobie M1 apps will help. I advise you to install it in order to sometimes check and find more suitable software.

On the official website of the developer, it is also possible to pre-check applications for compatibility.

2. Narrow specialized software may still not work

A special site that keeps statistics of applications that do not work on Apple Silicon

I am engaged in web development (JS, React.js) and write texts about technologies for various sites, including doing app reviews.

In almost two years of use, there was not a single program that was not launched on Apple Silicon in its native way or using Rosetta 2.

However, in different parts of the network, there are discussions every now and then about the fact that some application still does not work on M1 or M2.

walk total we are talking about some dedicated or highly specialized magazine. This also applies to machines for running apps for Android and other platforms.

▶︎ At isAppleSiliconReady, you can see the situation of the soft application you are interested in. see you.

3. Not all iOS apps work on Mac with M1 or M2

It would be great to install the YouTube app from the iPad on a Mac, but Google has forbidden it

One version of the Mac on Apple Silicon naively discovered the ability to install applications that were designed for the iPhone and iPad.

It seems like it would be cool to install taxi apps, hardware services, as well as banks, online cinemas and small useful utilities with timers and other junk that you sometimes need on your MacBook.

In fact, the situation is not so rosy.

▪ One sidethe benefit of all the listed software on the computer is minimal, because it is still better designed for mobile devices.
▪ On the other sidemanufacturers can restrict the installation of their mobile software on a computer, and many are eligible.

In the second case, the speech, for example, concerns YouTube. Google doesn’t want you to install the iPad app on your computer, so it won’t work.

The same applies to even hundreds of other programs. For example, I have not installed any mobile application on my MacBook Air on M1 at the moment.

▶︎ iMobie M1 App Checker will help you check if it can be installed on Apple Silicon. There is a separate section on the site for this.

4. Using Windows on a Mac will be far from easy.

Windows on recent Macs can be used through Parallels Desktop, but it’s nowhere near as convenient as Boot Camp

On an Intel-based Mac, you can easily install Windows through Boot Camp and use it without any significant restrictions.

In the case of Apple Silicon, this technique will not work. Boot Camp on the manufacturer’s proprietary processors initially simply refused to start, and in the latest versions of macOS it is introduced from the system.

There is a feeling that Apple initially wanted to use Boot Camp on Apple Silicon, but then completely spoiled relations with Microsoft and abandoned the described idea.

therefore best to get used to using macOS and imply the performance of their tasks under the software accessible to the senses.

Temporarily, Windows on the latest Macs still works through a virtualization system.

▶︎ Parallels Desktop can be used on Apple Silicon in a separate window. But with Boot Camp, this method was not even close.

5. Built-in ports will definitely be missed and about a hub

It probably won’t work without a multiport hub in everyday life

If you are still using a pre-2015 MacBook, Surprised by the meager development of a variety of connection ports sudden manifestations on recent specimens.

USB-A is out, HDMI and memory cards are only on the latest MacBook Pros, MagSafe is back only on the roads of the latest models.

The USB-C set does not change. A couple of years ago, everyone hoped that manufacturers would finally switch to it, but a miracle did not happen.

Like it or not, you have to buy a multiport hub.

6. The backlight control key on the MacBook is gone

They have been abandoned on all recent MacBook models, replacing them with less important drives.

Instead of control buttons on the display, the start of dictation and the transition to sleep mode appeared. Absolutely useless, as for me, features that are not needed at all in quick access.

But the backlight adjustment in the evening and at night is not enough buttons. There is constantly pulling the “Control Point”.

7. Apple is definitely ditching the Touch Bar

Touch Bar remained on only one current laptop

If you like the Touch Bar, then you have a choice – a 13-inch MacBook Pro on M2 in the only classic form factor.

All other computer companies have abandoned the touch strip, which has replaced a row of function keys. Just be aware.

8. Some SSDs do not work with MacBooks based on Apple Silicon

It is best to choose not “homemade”, but ready-made external drives

Before switching to Apple Silicon, used the Official Samsung 860 Evo-Series 500GB M.2 SATA III V-NAND 3bit MLC (MZ-N6E500BW) and Transcend SSD SATA M.2 2280 USB 3.1 Gen1 Metal Silver (TS -CM80S).

Incredibly fast solution for its time, on which I installed both a test version of macOS and Windows separately. And they worked great. From the MacBook to the Intel, the discovery was very pleasing.

Surprising but specified external drive not working from MacBook Air to M1 is stable. The laptop kept losing connection with it during use. I had to sell it.

On the net, I have seen more than once that not all external SSDs work correctly with Apple Silicon messages. This moment is needed a couple of times before buying.

9. The battery on any MacBook needs to be changed just as often.

You can check the battery status on M1 or M2 through the “Battery” section in “System Startups”

Battery health on my MacBook Air on M1 is 84%. At the same time, the number of recharge cycles is barely approaching 275.

▪ One sideIt is very strange that Apple shows battery degradation up to 80% in 1000 cycles.
▪ On the other sideit is obvious that the battery becomes unusable from time to time, as well as connecting the laptop to the network.

Therefore, it is important to understand that even the incredible autonomy of Apple Silicon laptops does not make their batteries last forever.

By and large, they still have to be changed at least once every 3 years.

10. Take base Macs only as a last resort.

Starter Mac models on Apple Silicon for basic use only

When buying a brand new MacBook on Apple Silicon, it is suggested to take the base model, because the performance margin is already full.

However, this can only be done on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

In other cases, Apple offers 8 GB of RAM, which is extremely insufficient for the slightest load, as well as 256 GB in the form of one case of slow single-channel modulation.

We recommend choosing at least 16 GB of RAM and at least 512 GB of disk space. For the full potential of Apple Silicon, it will not be possible to reveal.

Notes on a brief transition from Mac to Intel to M1 or M2:

❶ It is best to use universal or adapted applications for Apple Silicon. They will be 20-30% faster than non-adapted ones.

❷ There are apps that don’t work on Apple Silicon. This, for example, applies to Android emulators.

❸ Do not expect anything significant from the expected results of iOS applications on a Mac running Apple Silicon.

❹ You will not be able to use Windows through Boot Camp. The application was generally cut out of the latest versions of macOS.

❺ The variety of ports on computers running Apple Silicon will not please. Most likely, you need to get a hub.

❻ Keys for controlling the backlight have been replaced with quick access to rather useless actions. Adjust the brightness of the appearance only through the “Control Center”.

❼ Touch Bar remained only on the 13-inch MacBook Pro on the M2. Apparently, all expected Apple Silicon laptops will not have it.

❽ Some external drives do not work with MacBook on Apple Silicon. This is especially true for SSDs in pockets.

❾ Despite the incredible autonomy of Apple Silicon laptops, the battery in them will still die in about 3 years.

❿ It’s not worth taking basic models even on Apple Silicon. Choose computers with at least 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of disk space.

In general, there are moments that need to be accepted. Call them received, of course, impossible. However, some specific shades may change. Particular attention should be paid to the performance of the software that is needed in the work.