From 2017 to 2020, Apple’s second-generation security chip, known as the T2 chip, was used in MacBooks. Deciding to keep up with the times, Apple upgraded the Mac processors and shifted from T2 to the M1 chip. This was featured in Macs released in late 2020.
Various features set the two processors apart from each other. If you want a detailed T2 chip vs. M1 comparison, look at the following article.
Part 1: Key Features of Apple’s M1 and T2 Chips
Want to know what it means to have Apple’s T2 chip vs. M1 on your device? Here is a detailed overview of the two processors commonly used in Mac devices:
1. What is Apple’s T2 Chip?
The T2 chip is Apple's second-generation custom-built chip developed for MacBooks. First seen in the 2017 iMac Pro, the T2 chip was built on the foundation of its predecessor – the T1 chip. The T2 chip primarily delivers enhanced security features. However, it is also capable of other essential functions.
Apple’s T2 chip provides a range of features. This includes encrypted data storage, enhanced image and signal processing, Touch ID data security, and more. The T2 chip also provided detection of non-Apple hardware in Macs. It prevents your Mac from starting up via external drives, so hackers cannot access your data.
2. What is Apple’s M1 Chip?
Subsequent to the release of the T2 chip, Apple released its first-generation ARM-based silicon chip. It came by the name of M1, specifically designed for Macs. The chip first debuted in the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini. Recently, the M1 chip is also seen in iMac and iPad Pro.
It is Apple's first custom-built silicon system on a chip (SoC). The M1 chip is specially optimized to deliver high power and efficiency for Mac systems. Packed with 16 billion transistors, the M1 chip provides many features. It includes boosted efficiency and faster machine learning capabilities.
Part 2: Apple M1 Speed
The M1 chip served faster performance speed and efficiency in the supported Macs. A major factor is that it includes several chips integrated into a single base. This unified memory architecture has enabled the Mac systems to access data from one place. This came up instead of switching between multiple memory pools.
Apple has incorporated 16 billion transistors on the low-power silicon M1 chip. This provides remarkable speed and efficiency. Owing to these structures, the M1 chip delivers up to 15 times faster learning capabilities. It associates a 3.5x faster CPU performance and a 6x faster GPU performance.
Part 3: Security Features Provided by the M1 Chip
The M1 chip features an upgraded version of Apple’s Secure Enclave. It provides a broad spectrum of security features to the equipped Mac devices. Here are a few such features that have made the M1 Macs more secure in the Apple T2 vs M1 comparison:
1. Sealed Key Protection
The Sealed Key Protection feature provided by the M1 chip is intended to protect the device against external attacks and hackers. The chip prevents encrypted data from being copied to a storage medium. Because the copied data then can be decrypted.
Even if an attempt is made against the macOS or the hardware, the device data is made unavailable off the device. In addition, third-party developers can also use file-level encryption. This helps them secure sensitive data without impacting the system’s performance.
2. Secure Boot
One of the major security advantages of the M1 chip to protect the device is the Boot Monitor option. This enables the Secure Enclave to undergo a series of steps upon every system boot. It will ensure that your device has not been compromised.
The primary function of the Secure Boot is to certify that the OS upon startup is Apple-authorized. If the system cannot be verified as legitimate. The Mac automatically downloads updated integrity information required for verification. The M1 chip also continues to perform authorization checks in the background to protect your device against malware.
3. Secure Neural Engine for Face ID
Apple’s M1 chip works to keep your Face and Touch ID data secure using its Secure Neural Engine. This is achieved via a dedicated hardware security controller. It resets the state of the Neural Engine after every transition.
4. Memory Protection Engine
The updated Secure Enclave in this chip provides a dedicated Memory Protection Engine. The task is to encrypt data or blocks of memory using AES in Mac XEX mode. The Memory Protection Engine then creates a cipher-based authentication code for the memory. It ensures that external sources cannot access it.
The authentication tag is necessary for verification to decrypt the message. In any other case, a memory authentication error occurs. This leads to the Secure Enclave becoming inoperable. The Memory Protection Engine also adds replay prevention of critical data. Only the Secure Enclave can read and write data as if it were unencrypted.
Part 4: Apple T2 Chip vs. M1: Which Is Better?
Apple T2 vs M1 chips have a range of distinguishing features. The T2 chip is Apple's second-generation custom-built coprocessor used in Intel-based MacBooks from 2018-20. On the other hand, the M1 chip is a first-generation Apple silicon SoC processor being used in recent models of Macs.
The T2 chip used the Secure Storage Component gen 1 (or EEPROM). Apple has replaced this with the SSC gen 2 in the M1 chip. The Intel-based Macs required an additional T2 chip for a Secure Enclave. Apple has built the M1 chip with multiple coprocessors embedded into one. It provides a range of functions, including the Secure Enclave.
This has also enabled the M1 chip to enhance the Macs' processing speed while removing the CheckM8 vulnerability. The M1-equipped Macs offer notably improved security, speed, and performance capabilities. It has displayed results in contrast to the Intel-based Macs containing the T2 chip.
Part 5: Why Is It Difficult to Repair T2 Chip?
While the T2 chip provides improved security benefits to users, it comes at a cost. The additional security layers accompanying the T2 chip have made it extremely difficult to repair Macs.
The T2 chip is designed to detect and operate only Apple-authorized hardware. If you decide to repair your Mac from a non-Apple source, the T2 chip will identify it upon post-repair reboot and will not allow your Mac to operate. This is why you cannot repair T2 Macs on your own.
Apple has developed diagnostic software and distributed it to its authorized service providers (ASP) and official stores. This AST 2 System Configuration suite software can be recognized by the T2 chip, in which case the repair can proceed normally. The software is required for repairs involving the display, logic board, Touch ID, flash storage, and more.
Part 6: What Macs Have the M1 Chip?
The following Macs have the Apple Silicon M1 chip:
- MacBook Pro (13-inch 2020)
- MacBook Air 2020
- Mac mini
- iMac (24-inch)
Part 7: How to Disable Apple’s T2 Chip?
Apple's T2 chip provides extra layers of security to Macs, which means your computer will only start when booted with Apple-trusted hardware. While this protects your Mac from hackers, it gets complicated if you want to boot your Mac from an external drive or network.
You will need to disable the boot security function if you want to do that. The following steps indicate how to disable the T2 chip’s Boot Security feature:
Step 1: Begin by restarting your MacBook. When the reboot starts, tap and hold the “Command + R” keys to boot to the recovery partition.
Step 2: When your Mac starts, log in using the administrator account. Now, go to “Tools” and select the “Boot Security Tool” option.
Step 3: After that, choose the options that read "No security" and "Allow booting from external media." Next, close the window and reboot your device.
Step 4: During the reboot, press and hold the "Option" key. When the available drives are visible on the screen, tap "EFI Boot."
Video Tutorial on Apple M2 chip vs M1 chip
Conclusion
The T2 chip by Apple is used in old Macs and focuses more on security features. So, the M1 chip is a new processor that provides versatility and resourcefulness all in one. Knowing the basic features and the key differences between the two chips. You can now decide which better suits your needs after a comparative T2 chip vs M1.
People Also Ask
What is the main purpose of the Apple T2 chip in a Mac?
The T2 chip is a dedicated security co-processor. Its primary job is to handle security-related tasks independently from the main processor. This includes managing Touch ID data, encrypting the SSD in real-time with the Secure Enclave, and ensuring a secure boot process to protect your Mac from tampering.
Do Macs with the M1 chip also have a T2 chip?
No, they do not. A key aspect of the M1 chip's design is its System on a Chip (SoC) architecture. This means all the security features previously handled by the separate T2 chip are now fully integrated directly into the M1 chip itself, creating an even more secure and efficient system.
Is a Mac with an Intel processor and a T2 chip still a good choice?
Absolutely. A Mac featuring the T2 chip still offers outstanding security features that protect your data effectively. While the M1 chip provides a significant leap in performance and efficiency, an Intel-based Mac with a T2 chip remains a powerful and highly secure computer for many users.
Can I notice the T2 chip working in my daily use?
You generally won't "feel" the T2 chip working, as it operates seamlessly in the background. Its benefits are most apparent through features like fast and secure Touch ID authentication, on-the-fly storage encryption, and the overall security and stability it provides to your macOS experience.
