MacBook Air and MacBook Pro M1 Chips Have Same 8-Core CPUs, No Upgrades Available

The newly announced MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that Apple announced today are equipped with the same 8-core M1 chip that also offers an integrated GPU, with Apple offering no CPU upgrades.

macbook air m1 models
There is, however, a GPU upgrade available for the ‌MacBook Air‌. By default, the ‌MacBook Air‌ ships with an ‌M1‌ chip with a 7-core GPU, while the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has the same ‌M1‌ chip with an 8-core GPU.

If you choose the $1,249 ‌MacBook Air‌ model with a 512GB SSD, it upgrades to an 8-core GPU instead of the default 7-core GPU, but there is no custom configuration option to choose the lower tier model with the upgraded 8-core GPU option.

Both the ‌MacBook Air‌ and the ‌MacBook Pro‌ can be customized with more RAM and more storage space. The Mac mini also has the same ‌M1‌ chip with 8-core GPU as the ‌MacBook Pro‌ with no GPU/CPU upgrade option available. The new models are available today and will start shipping out next week.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, Mac mini
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

ilikewhey Avatar
69 months ago
for me its pretty obvious i'm getting the air, no touch bar please.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsound1 Avatar
69 months ago

I don't really understand why the pro is more expensive and needs a fan. Higher frequency?
$300 buys you a fan to prevent thermal throttling.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalafalas Avatar
69 months ago
They don’t mention clock speeds though. I imagine since the pro is actively cooled it is clocked higher and can maintain higher clock speeds under sustained load so it will provide better performance
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mariusignorello Avatar
69 months ago
M1 is going to change how computers are sold. No more cramming in ram when you can make the ram you have work more efficiently.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainMac Avatar
69 months ago
720p camera
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sajlonix Avatar
69 months ago
THIS IS A JOKE!!
pure, undenaible JOKE ??LOL ?

only two ports on pro?? So we just buy more eco-friendly adapters?? or is it just another "lower-end" Pro with touch bar so boomers can show off in starbucks..??

Attachment Image
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)