Apple's M1 Chip Brings Massive Battery Life Improvements for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air models are equipped with the M1, which is the first Apple Silicon chip. In addition to bringing impressive performance improvements, the ‌M1‌ chip also significantly increases battery life.

apple macbook pro m1 battery life
The battery in the ‌MacBook Air‌ (49.9WHr) lasts for up to 15 hours with wireless web browsing and up to 18 hours when watching movies using the Apple TV app. The prior-generation model lasted for up to 11 hours when browsing the web, or up to 12 hours when watching movies.

Battery life is even better in the new ‌MacBook Pro‌, which has a 58.2 WHr battery. The battery lasts for up to 17 hours when browsing the web and up to 20 hours when watching a movie using the ‌Apple TV‌ app. The prior-generation ‌MacBook Pro‌ lasted for up to 10 hours when browsing the web and up to 10 hours when watching movies.

Long battery life is enabled through the four high-efficiency cores that are included in the ‌M1‌. Apple says that alone, the four cores offer similar performance as the dual-core ‌MacBook Air‌ but at much lower power, providing an efficient way to run simple tasks like checking email or browsing the web.

When needed, the new machines also engage the four high-performance cores of the ‌M1‌ chip for more demanding tasks and better CPU performance. Apple promises that the ‌M1‌ chip brings up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 9:48 am PST by
Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date....
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
iphone pocket%402x

Apple Debuts iPhone Pocket, a Limited Edition iPod Sock-Style Accessory

Tuesday November 11, 2025 1:23 am PST by
Apple has teamed up with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE to launch iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory designed to carry an iPhone, AirPods, and other everyday items. The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, not unlike an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display...
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
homepod mini colors

New HomePod Mini Coming Soon With These Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 7:30 am PST by
Apple is expected to announce a new HomePod mini imminently, headlining with new chips. Here are all of the new features we're expecting. The second-generation HomePod mini is highly likely to contain a more up-to-date chip for more advanced computational audio and improved responsiveness. The current HomePod mini is equipped with the Apple Watch Series 5's S5 chip from 2019. Apple is likely ...
homepod mini thumb feature

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

Wednesday November 12, 2025 11:42 am PST by
While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen. Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet,...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App

Wednesday November 12, 2025 9:15 am PST by
Apple today announced that iPhone users can now create a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app based on information from their U.S. passport. To create and present a Digital ID based on a U.S. passport, you need: An iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.1 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 26.1 or later Face ID or Touch ID and Bluetooth turned on An Apple Account ...
Tesla Charging

Tesla Working to Add Apple CarPlay Support to Vehicles

Thursday November 13, 2025 8:31 am PST by
Tesla is working to add support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Tesla vehicles rely on its own infotainment software system, which integrates vehicle functions, navigation, music, web browsing, and more. The automaker has been an outlier in foregoing support for Apple CarPlay, which has otherwise become an industry standard feature, allowing users to...
iphone air thinness

iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version

Monday November 10, 2025 11:41 am PST by
The thin, light iPhone Air sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation iPhone Air that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, reports The Information. Apple initially planned to release a new iPhone Air in fall 2026, but now that's not going to happen. Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales...

Top Rated Comments

WestonHarvey1 Avatar
65 months ago
Someone tell me why this is bad.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
65 months ago
Several multiples faster and almost twice the battery life at the same price, yet it seems like all I see are complaints about longevity and upgradability... some people will literally never be happy, and it's 100% by their own choice.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
65 months ago

Looks like very limited RAM options with the unified memory if I read it correctly as part of the SOC.

Excellent for compute workloads but lacking the choice, particularly at the moment, to expand it ourselves.

It will be really interesting to see how they approach the more user upgradeable market i.e. the 27" iMac (probably will go) and the Mac Pro.
How do you expand RAM yourself in current MBAs and MBPs?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
65 months ago

So, the only things that make the Pro a Pro are the touchbar and more weight? I can't imagine someone saying, yeah I really want a touchbar and I'm willing to pay $300 for it... and I really prefer a heavier laptop.:rolleyes:
No. Why do people keep saying this? The M1 may be the same chip but it will be able to operate much faster for longer periods of time with the fan in the Pro. Also, the screen, battery, speakers, mic, and charger are much better on the Pro as well. It takes all of 15 seconds to figure this our for yourself.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applicious84 Avatar
65 months ago

Someone tell me why this is bad.
Never! It's glorious. The best! The fastest! The most efficient! The super duperest...most amazingest mac ever made. It's even better than macs made last year! And it's better than everything else in the world, including 98% of pcs!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mdracer Avatar
65 months ago
These specs that you are all complaining about are all the lower end MacBook Pros, keep that in mind, before you lose your mind.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)