Apple M1 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

The Apple M1 is a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) developed by Apple, manufactured using a 5 nm process. Designed for Macs and iPads, it targets users who need high performance and energy efficiency.

It integrates an Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics unit, 16 MB L2 cache, and supports PCIe 4.0. With a maximum memory bandwidth of 68 GB/s, the M1 delivers high throughput rates. In benchmarks, it outperforms the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in single-core and multi-core performance (Geekbench 6).

It also shows higher performance in the Cinebench R23 single-core comparison. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is an SoC also manufactured by Qualcomm using a 5 nm process, primarily developed for high-end smartphones. It is based on the Kryo 680 architecture and integrates a Qualcomm Adreno 660 graphics unit, 1 MB L2 cache, and 8 MB L3 cache.

The maximum memory bandwidth is 51 GB/s. The Snapdragon 888 shows lower single-core and multi-core performance (Geekbench 6) compared to the Apple M1. For Cinebench R23 and Cinebench 2024, no valid multi-core results are available for the Snapdragon 888. In gaming scenarios, the integrated graphics unit of the Apple M1, supported by software optimization, offers superior performance compared to the Qualcomm Adreno 660 of the Snapdragon 888 in a desktop context.

The Apple M1 is characterized by excellent energy efficiency, leading to low heat generation and quiet systems. The Snapdragon 888, optimized for mobile efficiency, can reach its limits under sustained desktop load. For demanding tasks, the Apple M1 is preferable; for very specific mobile development, the Snapdragon 888 might be interesting.