The Apple M1 is a system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. for its Mac computers and iPads. Released in November 2020, it marked a significant shift from Intel processors to Apple's own silicon, offering improved performance and energy efficiency. The M1 integrates the CPU, GPU, and RAM into a single chip, enhancing speed and responsiveness. The M1 chip features an 8-core CPU, which includes four high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores. This architecture allows for better multitasking and longer battery life in devices like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Overall, the M1 has set a new standard for computing power in portable devices.