Apple introduced the ARM-based Apple M1 processor in its Mac computers in 2020.
Apple announced the M1 on November 10, 2020, and used it first in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The chip was designed by Apple and manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
The M1 began Apple's transition away from Intel processors in Mac computers. It combined CPU, graphics, memory, and other functions in a system-on-a-chip design, helping improve performance per watt and battery life.
The M1 was not Apple's first custom chip. The company had already designed its own processors for iPhones and iPads, including the A-series family. The Mac transition extended that silicon strategy to personal computers.