Published in · 4 min read · Jan 3, 2023
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If you’re a programmer looking to purchase a new computer, you may be considering a Mac with an M1 chip. Apple’s M1 chip has received rave reviews for its impressive performance and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice among developers. However, with four different models to choose from — the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra — it can be difficult to know which one is the best fit for your needs. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each model and provide some guidance to help you decide which M1-powered Mac is right for you.
There is a video on YouTube that answer very well this question, but it is not updated with the new M1 Ultra that is available on the new Mac Studio.
I will update this article when Apple launch its new Mac Pro.
Everyting in this article is based on my oppinion. You should do your own research.
M1 Macs are still not ready to run all kind of software. Before buying a M1 Mac make sure that all the software that you need for your development flow are available to be run on M1 Mac.
The M1 is the entry-level model in Apple’s M1 lineup. It features an 8-core CPU, a 7-core GPU, and 8GB of unified memory, making it a powerful machine for most programming tasks. It’s a great choice for developers who don’t require a lot of horsepower, such as those working on web applications, mobile apps, or small-scale software projects.
But don’t 8GB of unified memory could not be enough for dev environments where you need big IDE such as Intellij running at the same time as many emulators or virtual machines or containers.
There are M1 alternatives with 16GB but its price is almost what you need to acquire an Apple’s M2 model.
