Homesparta (Page 26)

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Comparison of Apple A18 Pro and M1 MacBook Processors

the latest MacBook Neo – driven by the Apple A18 Pro chip released in September 2024 that first appeared in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. This is the inaugural instance of an A-series chip, typically reserved for iPhones and the basic iPad, being used in a MacBook. While this represents a remarkable technological feat, it might lead some consumers to hesitate. They could question if the $599 MacBook Neo can deliver satisfactory laptop performance, or if they should opt for a pre-owned version of the former M1 MacBook Air model introduced in 2020. Nevertheless, the 3nm Apple A18 Pro stands as an excellent substitute for the 5nm Apple M1, as benchmarking results indicate. Although the performance outcomes are quite comparable, certain elements, like the number of supported external displays and available memory configurations, may prove crucial for numerous purchasers.

The M1 MacBook Air received positive acclaim at its debut, shining in both efficiency and battery longevity. Subsequently, Apple expanded the M1 chip to the iPad, starting with the M1 iPad Pro (11-inch and 12.9-inch editions) and the fifth-generation iPad Air. The M1 chip accommodated 8GB and 16GB of RAM and various storage options, spanning from 256GB to 2TB.

In comparison, the A18 Pro does not boast as extensive a background, given that Apple has only released two devices with the mobile processor prior to the MacBook Neo. The 2025 iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max both incorporate 8GB of RAM, with storage configurations commencing at 128GB for the Pro and 256GB for the Pro Max, reaching up to 1TB for each variant. The MacBook Neo comes solely in an 8GB memory option and offers two storage choices: 256GB and 512GB.

Apple A18 Pro vs. M1: The benchmarks

The performance of the Apple A18 Pro is already established. In Geekbench 6 evaluations, the chip achieved scores of 3,445 (single-core) and 8,626 (multi-core). The initial benchmark results for the MacBook Neo have displayed comparable numbers. The laptop hit 3,461 in single-core assessments and 8,668 in multi-core evaluations. Metal performance was akin between these two product types: 32,575 (iPhone 16 Pro) and 31,286 (MacBook Neo). The variation here relates to the GPU. The MacBook Neo includes a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro models feature a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU.

The M1 MacBook Air registers 2,347 in single-core and 8,342 in multi-core assessments within the same Geekbench 6 benchmarks. Metal performance reaches 33,152 in tests. The A18 Pro surpasses the 2020 laptop in single-core evaluations and is modestly faster in multi-core tests. The MacBook Neo is expected to provide superior performance compared to the M1 MacBook Air. The single-core performance of the A18 Pro is only slightly trailing the M4 chip that powered last year’s MacBook Air and Pro versions. The M4 chip achieves 3,763 in single-core and 14,694 in multi-core benchmarks.

The Apple A18 Pro possesses several additional advantages over the M1. The chip boasts a more rapid Neural Engine (the NPU), which is essential for AI processing. This results in 38 TOPS of performance for the A18 Pro chip compared to 11 TOPS for the M1 chip. The M1 does offer a marginally larger memory bandwidth when compared to the A18 Pro (68GB/s vs.

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This is not a digital fly

Last week, a few posts about a so-called virtual “embodied fly” tore through X, boosted by AI hype accounts and excited commenters who didn’t seem to understand what it was they were excited about. The videos came from San Francisco-based Eon Systems, which says it’s working toward “digital human intelligence” and claims it wants to […]

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Possible Incorporation of Liquid Glass Slider in iOS 27: An Examination of Its Feasibility

Apple’s Human Interface Design Progression: Liquid Glass and iOS 27

In December, Apple appointed Steve Lemay as the new Vice President of Human Interface Design, following Alan Dye’s exit to join Meta. This change ignited conversation regarding the future of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, a hallmark of its user interface.

Recent information from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter suggests that Apple is not intending to forsake the Liquid Glass design. Rather, the company is considering the introduction of a system-wide slider that would enable users to modify the intensity of the Liquid Glass effect. This capability was first envisioned during the development of iOS 26 but encountered engineering hurdles that stalled its widespread implementation.

The slider was partially delivered on the lock screen clock, yet extending it to app folders, the home screen, and navigation bars proved challenging. Nevertheless, with iOS 27 approaching, Apple seems hopeful about surmounting these obstacles and making the slider a universal feature.

If accomplished, this could drastically transform the user experience in relation to Liquid Glass, fostering increased customization and possibly addressing user feedback. Gurman highlights Lemay’s strong support for Liquid Glass, indicating a continuity in its evolution.

Even with the potential for a system-wide slider, some experts, including contributors from 9to5Mac, are skeptical about its deployment. They contend that while enhancements to the interface are required, a slider could complicate the user experience and result in inconsistent UI components.

As Apple continues to refine its design strategy, the dialogue surrounding Liquid Glass and user customization remains lively, with iOS 27 set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Apple’s interface design.

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Apple Unveils AirPods Max 2 Equipped with H2 Chip and Improved Noise Cancellation

Apple has revealed the official successor to the AirPods Max today. Years after the initial model was launched, AirPods Max 2 have arrived.

### AirPods Max 2 Available for Order on March 25, Shipping in Early April

Today the highly anticipated AirPods Max 2 have been introduced.

The standout new feature is the H2 chip that has been a part of AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 for some time.

H2 enhances an improved Active Noise Cancellation experience for users. According to Apple:

> “With the remarkable performance of H2, AirPods Max are updated with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience,” mentioned Eric Treski, Apple’s director of Audio Product Marketing. “The audio quality is exceptionally clear, rich, and acoustically detailed — and when paired with features like Personalized Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 provide a deeply immersive experience.”

In addition to ANC enhancements, Apple states that Transparency mode has improved on AirPods Max 2: “With a new digital signal processing algorithm optimized for H2 and the microphone array on AirPods Max, Transparency sounds even more natural.”

H2 represents a significant advancement over the H1 found in the earlier AirPods Max. This is due to not just enhancing ANC but also enabling a range of new capabilities that AirPods Max with the H1 chip did not support.

The new features for AirPods Max 2 users comprise:
– Live Translation
– Adaptive Audio
– Conversation Awareness
– Voice Isolation
– Studio-quality audio recording
– Loud Sound Reduction
– Siri Interactions via head gestures
– Camera Remote

If you are an AirPods Pro user, these capabilities are nothing exceptional—but it’s exciting to finally have them on AirPods Max.

For those interested in the wired experience with AirPods Max 2, Apple indicates that it has been enhanced compared to the previous version, with support for 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio.

> For the highest-quality sound across music, movies, and games, the new AirPods Max support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected via the included USB-C cable. Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio allow music creators to make full use of AirPods Max throughout their entire professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation software. With the USB-C cable, AirPods Max are the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.

AirPods Max 2 will be priced at $549 and will be available for order starting Wednesday, March 25, with shipping in early April.

The new version retains the same color options available with the previous USB-C model of AirPods Max: midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.

Are you considering upgrading to AirPods Max 2? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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