In 2016, the introduction of Apple silicon marked a revolutionary shift in the computing world, signifying the decline of my allegiance to Windows systems.
Five pulsating years have elapsed since Apple unveiled its Apple silicon during an epic virtual WWDC keynote, amid the chaos of a global pandemic. The electrifying moment, devoid of the thrilling stage presence of CEO Tim Cook revealing a jaw-dropping vision, was still monumental.
"One realm, one cosmos, one platform, unification." That's how I described Apple's explosive Worldwide Developer's Conference keynote, painting a picture of a world where barriers vanish, and from the silicon at the core to the pixels before your eyes, Apple's ecosystem becomes harmonious.
Switching hardware platforms wasn't alien to Apple - it had been 14 years since it migrated its systems from IBM and Motorola's PowerPC to Intel. This time, however, the stakes were heightened. Apple had meticulously prepared for this transition like an 'A' student embarking on finals. It used XCode to rewrite all its first-party apps, and collaborated closely with major partners like Microsoft and Adobe to ensure that critical third-party apps ran seamlessly on the revolutionary new hardware. There was even a Developers Transition Kit ready and waiting for its app partners.
Rosetta 2, a sophisticated software compatibility layer, was also released, promising to smooth the transition for non-Arm-ready apps.
The silicon promise unfolding
At that time, I was well aware of the potential benefits of a 5-nanometer, power-saving platform. It represented the zenith of mobile computing, a quest that Microsoft had already undertaken, though with less success, with Windows on Arm in the Surface X Pro, which was powered by the SQ2 chip.
Apple silicon would transform MacBooks from decent battery performers into 17-hour marathoners. I had reservations about the integrated graphics, but the stellar graphics performance on Apple's bespoke A-series chips on the iPhone and iPad offered reason for hope.
I captured the potential, writing, "What Apple's doing is switching all its systems from running on a variety of fuels, like wind, solar, and gas, to just one that might arguably be described as rocket fuel."
Yet, I had no intention of abandoning Windows in favor of the Mac.
The familiar, albeit sometimes clunky, comfort zone
Familiarity wasn't unfamiliar territory for me. I'd used the OG Macintosh in the 1980s, but switched to Windows for good when I joined PCMag in the early 1990s. Windows was like an old, trusty, but at times troublesome car. It might be clunky at times, and at times, break down in the middle of the road, but I knew every nook and cranny. It molded to me, and I, in turn, to it. I was aware of its quirks, but knew how to work around them. The fact that no Windows laptop could ever give me more than five hours of battery life (on a good day) was something I accepted, along with the specter of the infamous blue screen of death lurking around every unforeseen corner.
Barely five months after the announcement, developers got their hands on the transition kit, which, among other things, aided them in building Universal apps for all systems running Apple silicon. I reviewed the first Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip. I called it "an astonishing breakthrough."
Benchmarks turned Intel Core i7 systems into a laughing stock, especially in the area of integrated graphics. Battery life was awe-inspiring, ranging between 15 and 20 hours. I knew, instinctively, that such a system could revolutionize my life.
Even so, the idea of switching from Windows to macOS felt daunting. I tell myself I worried that most of my key apps wouldn't work on Apple silicon or that Apple might fail to meet its two-year deadline for fully transitioning away from Intel, potentially abandoning the project altogether.
I was wrong. By 2023, even the Mac Pro had switched to an M2 Ultra. I was impressed with Apple's innovative approach to producing ever more powerful Apple silicon chips, often by clustering them together (the M2 Ultra is essentially two M2 Max chips). What's more, I never found an app that wouldn't run on Apple silicon.
Making the leap, and the things I left behind
Three years into the Apple silicon journey, I made the switch to the M2 MacBook Air and documented the process in a journal. There were struggles, but they revolved primarily around long-standing differences between macOS and Windows. I was forced to learn numerous new keyboard commands and shortcuts.
Two weeks into my new life, I wrote, "Becoming second nature to use the Mac. Will I ever return to Windows?"
Spoiler alert: I never did.
If Apple had faltered on the Apple silicon promise it made on June 22, 2020, this narrative would've been quite different (one that may resemble an Apple Intelligence investigation). The fact that Apple had poured effort early on to make the tricky components look effortless (supporting all those apps, making different platform apps work on different systems, ensuring rock-solid stability, and providing unparalleled efficiency) gave wind to Apple silicon's sails. Apple showed immediate commitment by unveiling the MacBook Air M1, along with an iMac and a Mac Mini, in the first six months.
Apple has never wavered and continues to build and innovate on the Apple silicon platform, delivering even more powerful mobile CPUs. It's only in the last year or so that, with the help of Qualcomm, the Windows world has caught up, nearly matching Apple silicon in performance, efficiency, and stability.
Apple silicon altered the computing landscape, but it also transformed me. I left behind a platform I loved (and still have affection for) and never looked back. Apple's market share has expanded in the Mac realm as a result of Apple silicon, and, at least in that space, I believe the best is yet to come.
Additional reads
- Mac gaming takes a leap forward - Steam finally runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs
- The best Apple silicon Mac apps in 2025: top programs for every purpose
- Most Intel MacBook Pro laptops could miss out on macOS updates after 2025
- The transition from Intel to Apple silicon expanded beyond MacBooks, as laptops, smartphones, and gaming devices all benefited from the power-saving 5-nanometer platform.
- As Apple silicon offered improved graphics performance, it enabled a new era of gaming on Macs, making them a serious contender for gamers previously limited to PCs and gaming consoles.
- Meanwhile, the seamless compatibility between Apple silicon and popular gadgets like smartphones and tablets, due to the unified platform, opened up a whole new world of possibilities for developers, pushing the envelope of what technology could achieve.
