Starting with certain models introduced in late 2020, Apple began the transition from Intel processors to its own desktop chips in Mac computers.
Legacy Macs (thankfully) don’t have an Intel inside sticker (like most Windows PC with Intel processors), and there’s no apparent way to distinguish these from Apple silicon Mac systems from the outside.
In this tutorial, we’re going to show you how to identify Apple silicon Macs.
Mac computers with Apple silicon
Currently, Apple offers the following Mac notebooks and desktops with the M1 family of chips:
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020, 13-inch)
- MacBook Pro (M1, 2020, 13-inch)
- Mac mini (M1, 2020)
- iMac (M1, 2021, 24-inch)
- MacBook Pro (M1 Pro or M1 Max, 2021, 14-inch)
- MacBook Pro (M1 Pro or M1 Max, 2021, 16-inch)
- Mac Studio (M1 Max or M1 Ultra, 2022)
Follow along for step-by-step instructions showing you how to identify Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computer models.
How to identify Macs with Intel or Apple chip
You can identify whether your Mac computer is powered by an Intel processor or Apple silicon by using the About This Mac feature that’s available under the Apple menu.
- Click the Apple menu () and select About This Mac.
- In the About This Mac window, look for an item labeled “Processor” or “Chip.”
Keep in mind that you’ll need macOS Big Sur to identify M1 Mac models.
And here’s how to interpret the results:
- Apple silicon: If your machine is powered by an M1 chip or another Apple silicon, About This Mac shows an item labeled “Chip,” followed by the name of the Apple chip.
- Intel: If your machine is powered by an Intel chip, About This Mac shows an item labeled “Processor,” followed by the precise name and/or model number of an Intel processor that’s powering the computer.
According to Apple, “a Mac with an Intel processor is also known as an Intel-based Mac.”
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