Intel benchmarks say Apple's M1 isn't faster. Let's check the claims

Intel just clapped back with a carefully crafted takedown of Apple’s Arm-based M1 chip. Let’s review the claims, one by one.

- GORDON MAH UNG

After months of silence about Apple’s impressive M1 chip, Intel just clapped back with a carefully crafted takedown of the Arm-based chip. Its perspective on the M1 isn’t pretty.

Intel said its testing shows:

• An 11th gen Core i7-1185G7 can match or greatly exceed the M1’s performance in a MacBook Pro in both native and non-native applications.

• In battery life, it’s pretty much a wash.

• The MacBook Pro wouldn’t pass muster to be certified as an Evo laptop.

• The M1 just won’t run a lot of software.

• The new MacBooks have a range of compatibility issues, from multiple monitors to game controllers, as well as many documented software plug-in problems.

In the parlance of our time, it’s “shots fired” yet again, with Intel highlighting problems in competing products. In November, Intel did the same with AMD’s Ryzen 4000, which it found to suffer degraded performance when running on the battery in many situations (go.pcworld. com/rnbt).

The normal reaction from outside observers and die-hard Apple fanboys is to dismiss these challenges as sour grapes. Intel, however, says it has benchmark receipts. Since we enjoy a good reality TV fight, we’ll detail Intel’s claims and tell you whether to believe them or not.

CLAIM: MACBOOK M1 IS SLOWER THAN CORE i7