This Is Your Last Chance to Escape From Apple
With the arrival of ARM-based Macs, the Apple Ecosystem is about to become even better — and harder to give up.
In light of last week’s leaks, it is more obvious than ever that Apple is not going to let customers go without a fight. According to user @komiya_kj on Twitter, Apple is set to announce the brand new iPhone 12 on 8th September. Following the September event, a lineup of refreshed devices will be announced on 27th October, including a new 13" ARM-based MacBook Pro. The same leaker gave an approximate starting price for the new 13" MBP at around $1099, a $200 cut compared to the current base model.
Apple recently announced their transition from Intel processors to custom, ARM-based processors, for all their notebooks and computers. The ARM-based processors, known as Apple Silicon, are set to come with a macOS upgrade from Catalina to Big Sur. At the moment, Apple is providing a transition kit for software engineers and developers to ensure the smoothness of this change, to largely positive feedback.
It is likely that the new MacBooks will outperform their Intel predecessors. Speculative benchmarks presented by YouTubers at Max Tech indicate that the A14X chip coming up this autumn will end up matching, if not outperforming, the 2.4 GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 chip in the most powerful 16" MacBook Pro available to date. Furthermore, Apple Silicon is likely to be very power efficient, as seen in the iPad Pro.
And what of it, you might ask? All of this is pure speculation, an endless year-by-year cycle perpetuated by Apple that enables them to build anticipation for their releases. The predicted benchmarks, battery life and prices are guesses, at best. They are not particualry noteworthy to the average user, who already expects the upgrade to be better than the current product.
The true game-changer for all users, however, is MacOS Big Sur and how seamless the Apple ecosystem has just become.
Your Favourite Apps, Out of the Box
As we learn more about the new MacOS, it is becoming apparent that software compatibility is less of an issue than we thought. What if I told you that, with Big Sur, you’ll be able to run iOS and iPadOS apps natively on your laptop, provided the developer is happy for you to do so?
Developer Steve Troughton-Smith (creator of apps such as Pastel, Broadcasts and Speed 5) tweeted screenshots of numerous iPadOS apps running smoothly on Big Sur beta 3, including Procreate Pocket, Pythonista and Adobe Draw. This cross-platform compatibility is unprecedented and the fact that it works out of the box (as it is Apple’s custom) will lock down many customers looking to upgrade their laptop or phone. As Apple releases more and more affordable products, the gap between them and their competitors is narrowing steadily.
Price Cuts Galore
What the release of Big Sur and iOS 14 means for you, the user, is that you will get more value from your Apple products than ever before. Apps purchased on iPad and iPhone will be one click away on your computer. Furthermore, you’ll get the performance you want and the Apple brand for cheaper.
For example, if you are using a Mac, you’ll be tempted to switch to iPhone on your next mobile upgrade, and vice versa. Disregarding the iPhone SE2 (priced at $450), the base model iPhone 12 is set to debut at $649, which is $100 less than the iPhone 11 base model. The newest MacBook Air is also back to $999 this year, $200 cheaper than it was six months ago, including double the storage and faster RAM. It is very plausible that the ARM MacBooks will further bring this price down, due to the reduced cost of production when using ARM-based chips.
Apple are keeping very quiet about it, though. They depend on their luxury brand reputation, going so far as to sell a $999 monitor stand and $699 Mac Pro wheels as PR stunts. However, things are changing. This autumn, users will be able to access the newest tech at very attractive prices. By making base models cheaper and providing expensive upgrades, Apple manages the best of both worlds: they put their devices in the hands of many more people, and they maintain their luxury status.
If you were planning to escape from Apple, now is the time. You have one or two months at best to commit to leaving Apple before all the new shiny devices come out. If you are a tech enthusiast like me, you’ll be very tempted by the new releases, especially if you already own an Apple product. Furthermore, a pros and cons list will not help you stay away from Apple, as the value for money is getting very appealing.
Whatever your thoughts on the Apple Ecosystem (with its pitfalls and advantages), there is no denying that Apple Silicon will make it stronger and more affordable than ever.