Apple developed the ARM-based M-series chips used in its Mac computers.
Apple introduced its first M-series Mac chip, the M1, in 2020. The move began Apple’s transition away from Intel processors in the Mac line and followed the company’s earlier use of custom-designed chips in devices such as the iPhone and iPad.
Apple silicon uses the ARM instruction-set architecture and combines central processing, graphics, memory-related functions, and other components into a system-on-a-chip design. This integration can improve performance per watt and lets Apple control both hardware and software more closely.
The M-series is not a separate publicly traded company. It is a family of Apple-designed processors, and Apple’s market capitalization reflects the value investors place on the whole company, including its iPhone, services, Mac, iPad, and wearables businesses.