Apple M2 (8-core GPU) vs Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

Comparative analysis of Apple M2 (8-core GPU) and Apple M1 (8-core GPU) processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Compatibility. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple M2 (8-core GPU)

Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple M2 (8-core GPU)

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 8 month(s) later
Around 9% higher clock speed: 3.504 GHz vs 3.204 GHz
Around 50% higher maximum memory size: 24 GB vs 16 GB
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3903 vs 3686
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 15582 vs 14153

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	15 Jul 2022 vs 10 Nov 2020
Maximum frequency	3.504 GHz vs 3.204 GHz
Maximum memory size	24 GB vs 16 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3903 vs 3686
PassMark - CPU mark	15582 vs 14153

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple M2 (8-core GPU)
CPU 2: Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3903

3686

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

15582

14153

Name	Apple M2 (8-core GPU)	Apple M1 (8-core GPU)
PassMark - Single thread mark	3903	3686
PassMark - CPU mark	15582	14153

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple M2 (8-core GPU)	Apple M1 (8-core GPU)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Avalanche/Blizzard	Firestorm/Icestorm
Launch date	15 Jul 2022	10 Nov 2020
OS Support	macOS Monterey 12.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, iPadOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.4.1	macOS Big Sur 11.0, macOS Ventura 13.3, iPadOS 14.5, iPadOS 16.4.1
Place in performance rating	285	369
Processor Number	APL1109	APL1102
Vertical segment		Laptop
Performance
Base frequency	2.424 GHz	2.064 GHz
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	4 MB
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm	5 nm
Maximum frequency	3.504 GHz	3.204 GHz
Number of cores	8	8
Number of threads	8	8
Transistor count	20 billion	16 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	102.4 GB/s	66.67 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR5-6400	LPDDR4X-4266
Graphics
Execution Units	32	32
Graphics base frequency	1398 MHz	1278 MHz
iGPU core count	8	8
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down		10 Watt
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		15 Watt