As the technology world was buzzing with excitement over Apple’s new M1 chip, Linux enthusiasts were already looking forward to exploring the possibilities of running Linux on the new Apple silicon. And now, it seems that Linux on the M1 is already beating Apple at its own game.

The M1 chip is Apple’s first custom-designed silicon for Mac devices, replacing the Intel processors that have been used in Macs for over a decade. The M1 offers impressive performance improvements, energy efficiency, and improved security. Apple claimed that the M1 delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning performance compared to the previous generation of Mac processors.

However, Apple’s optimizations and customizations for the M1 are limited to macOS, which means that users who prefer to use Linux instead of macOS are left out. But thanks to the tireless work of the Linux community, support for Linux on the M1 is already available, and it is proving to be faster and more efficient than on other Mac devices.

One of the main advantages of running Linux on the M1 is the improved battery life. macOS uses a lot of power-hungry features and restrictions, such as power management, background processes, and user interface animations, which can drain your battery life quickly. Linux, on the other hand, is a lightweight operating system that focuses on performance and efficiency, making it ideal for the ARM-based M1 chip.

In benchmarks conducted by Phoronix, Linux on the M1 has demonstrated impressive performance gains compared to other Mac devices. In a test that measured the time taken to compile LLVM, one of the most demanding software packages, Linux on the M1 outperformed a 2019 iMac with a 6-core Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM. Linux on the M1 completed the task in just 5 minutes and 30 seconds, while the iMac took over 11 minutes to accomplish the same task.

Another benchmark test that measured the time taken to encode a 4K video using the x264 video encoder also showed Linux’s superiority on the M1. Linux on the M1 completed the task in just over 10 minutes, while a 2019 MacBook Pro with an 8-core Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM took almost 27 minutes to do the same job.

These impressive results are a testament to the potential of Linux on the M1 and highlight the benefits of running Linux on Apple hardware.

In conclusion, the M1 chip is a game-changer for Apple, offering unparalleled performance and efficiency. However, the limited support for Linux on the M1 is a significant drawback for Linux users. But thanks to the dedicated work of the Linux community, running Linux on the M1 is already proving to be a faster and more efficient alternative to macOS. As Linux on the M1 continues to mature, it promises to offer incredible performance gains for developers, professionals, and enthusiasts alike.