Apple Makes GREAT Gaming Computers - Gaming on M1 Macbooks
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Thanks to War Thunder for sponsoring this video. War Thunder is a fantastic native experience on MacOS devices. Join us for FREE at playwt.link and get an exclusive bonus using our link. Believe it or not, after the switch to M1, there has never been a better time to game on Mac. With powerful CPUs and GPUs these new MacBooks and iMacs can game better than pretty much any computer Apple has produced in the past decade. These new devices would make for excellent gaming machines... if it wasn't for Apple's crappy behavior preventing it from happening. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Buy a Lenovo Legion 7i: geni.us Buy an Apple Macbook Pro M1: geni.us Buy an Apple Macbook Air M1: geni.us Buy an HP Envy x360: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:06 The MacBook Air M1 2:09 The MacBook Pro 3:40 Alternatives to Native Support 5:35 Adam’s Game Corner: Native Mac Gaming 6:52 Apple’s Biggest Obstacle: Apple 9:36 Conclusion
Apple Makes GREAT Gaming Computers - Gaming on M1 Macbooks examines how Apple’s M1 era machines perform for gaming, comparing the baseline MacBook Air with the M1 chip to the MacBook Pro and to a Windows gaming laptop. The video starts by highlighting the surprising capability of Apple silicon, noting that the M1 series can run select games at playable fps through Metal and translation layers, though performance varies by title and cooling design. The host then stages a detailed hardware comparison, starting with the thin and light category, where War Thunder showcases strong results on the MacBook Air at 1200p with high settings, albeit with elevated thermal output. As the discussion moves to more graphically demanding AAA titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the M1 experiences stutter and lower frame rates, particularly on passively cooled configurations, while still delivering a better experience than some similarly priced rivals. The video explores alternatives to native Mac gaming, including streaming options like Stadia, xCloud, and GeForce Now, which can mitigate some of the hardware constraints, and then pivots to Windows-on-M1 solutions such as Parallel and CrossOver, noting their limitations and cost. In Adam’s segment, the focus shifts to native Mac gaming through Apple Arcade and indie titles such as Fantasian, Chicory, Disco Elysium, Tunic, Wildermyth, and Timberborn, illustrating a robust ecosystem for lighter titles and indie experiences. The host concludes that while Apple still prioritizes hardware excellence and premium pricing, the Mac ecosystem remains capable for gaming in many scenarios, with caveats around API support, cross-platform availability, and the need for improved developer tools like Vulkan support, Intel/AMD competition, and broader native game support. War Thunder is spotlighted as a native Mac title that demonstrates practical gaming performance on Apple devices, while the video encourages viewers to consider streaming options, emulation viability, and native Mac gaming as a balanced landscape for the platform. The overall takeaway is that Macs can be viable gaming machines under certain conditions, but Apple’s control over the platform and the ecosystem limits the full realization of gaming potential without broader support and optimization.
Topics · technology · gaming · hardware · macos · virtualization
Questions answered
- Do M1 Macs offer playable frame rates on AAA games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided?
- Yes, but typically with reduced frame rates and cooling constraints on the baseline M1 configurations, improving on the Air with the Pro model where more GPU cores are available.
- What are the main obstacles to better Mac gaming today?
- The biggest obstacle is Apple's control over the platform, including limited Vulkan support and reliance on Metal, which complicates cross-platform game development and porting.
- Are there viable alternatives to native Mac gaming for Macs with M1?
- Yes, options include game streaming services like Stadia, xCloud, and GeForce Now, as well as virtualization and compatibility layers such as Parallels and CrossOver, though these have trade-offs in cost and compatibility.