Apple Silicon refers to a series of custom-designed system-on-a-chip (SoC) and system-in-package (SiP) processors created by Apple, primarily based on the ARM architecture. These chips power a wide range of Apple devices, including Mac computers, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
For Macs, Apple Silicon specifically denotes the M-series chips (such as M1, M2, M3, and M4), which integrate CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, unified memory, and other components into a single chip. This design allows for higher performance, greater energy efficiency, and tighter integration between hardware and software compared to previous Intel-based Macs. Apple began transitioning Macs from Intel processors to Apple Silicon in late 2020, and by 2023, all new Macs were powered by Apple Silicon processors.
Apple Silicon chips are notable for their advanced features, such as machine learning accelerators, high-performance graphics, and enhanced security, making Macs more capable and efficient for a variety of professional and consumer tasks.