Apple 'One More Thing' Event: All Announcements

Excited for the latest from Apple? Then you’re in luck, as there’s plenty more Apple news to share.

The company held its third event this month earlier today, fully explaining their plans to transition Macs to Apple-designed and manufactured chips – and unveiled the initial Mac models to feature this change: updated MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini!

Missed the live broadcast? No problem. We’ve compiled a concise summary of all the announcements made this morning – you’ll find it below, with links to more in-depth information on any subject that interests you.

Apple Silicon for Macs

For several years, Apple has been designing its own processors for devices like the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. The company is now extending this practice to its Mac computers, with the intention of delivering enhanced performance alongside improved energy efficiency.

Apple has designated its initial Mac chip as the “M1”. Key details regarding its specifications include:

• An 8-core CPU, comprised of 4 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores.
• A GPU with up to 8 cores.
• A transistor count of 16 billion.
• Integration of Apple’s Secure Enclave technology.
• Compatibility with Thunderbolt/USB 4.

iOS Apps on MacFollowing its initial announcement during the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple has confirmed that applications designed for iOS are now compatible with Mac computers. During the presentation, Apple demonstrated the functionality by running the iOS versions of the HBO Max and Among Us applications within the macOS environment.

New MacBook Air

Apple’s initial release of a Mac utilizing the M1 chip was the redesigned MacBook Air, notably featuring a fanless design.

According to Apple, the latest MacBook Air delivers performance up to 3.5 times greater than the prior generation. Furthermore, due to the elimination of cooling fans, the device operates completely silently. Users can anticipate up to 15 hours of battery life during web browsing, and up to 18 hours when playing video content. It includes a 13.3-inch display, storage options via SSD up to 2TB, Touch ID functionality, and Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, alongside WiFi 6 connectivity. Pricing begins at $999, with a reduced price of $899 available for educational purchasers.

New Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is receiving a significant update to incorporate the M1 chip, and simultaneously, the starting price is being reduced by $100, bringing it to $699. It will be capable of supporting solid-state drives with a capacity of up to 2TB and will accommodate up to 16GB of memory.

Regarding connectivity, the device features two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt and USB 4, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, HDMI 2.0, and gigabit ethernet.

New MacBook Pro

Now, let’s turn to the MacBook Pro. According to Apple, the integration of the M1 chip extends the MacBook Pro’s battery life to as much as 17 hours during web browsing, and up to 20 hours when playing video content. Similar to the Air model, this version features a 13.3-inch display and offers SSD storage options reaching 2TB, alongside support for up to 16GB of memory.

It also includes TouchID, WiFi 6 connectivity, and compatibility with Thunderbolt/USB4. Notably, it retains the TouchBar, which may not appeal to all users.

The starting price for the MacBook Pro is $1,299, with a reduced price of $1,199 available for those in education.

Big Sur is Almost Here

The latest significant macOS upgrade – version 11.0, known as Big Sur – was initially revealed in June during the WWDC event. Apple has now announced that it will be available for release this Thursday, November 12th.