M1 Mac vs. Intel PC for Photos and Video (Lightroom, Capture One, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro)

We compare Apple's new M1 Mac vs. Intel PC for everyday photo and video editing. Is the M1 as great as it sounds? According to our real-world tests... it depends.

Watch to find out how Apple's M1 Mac really compares to an Intel PC running windows.

Quicklinks:
0:00 - Intro
1:23 - Chris and Jordan's previous computers
2:46 - Computers tested
4:27 - Adobe Lightroom performance
6:10 - Capture One performance
7:39 - Photography conclusion
8:30 - Davinci Resolve performance
10:36 - Final Cut Pro performance
11:26 - Gaming performance
13:39 - Which should you get?

-----------------------

[niccollsvideo]

Yes, everyone, you saw correctly. I am an arrow key user, and not WASD. Maybe it's from gaming way back in the days when keyboard keys were 3 inches tall, and your wrist would push every key below or be propped in an incredibly uncomfortable position. Or maybe it's because arrow keys give you perfect symmetry, with plenty of larger and easier buttons around them to press. Or maybe it's because I am a pioneer, and you all are doing it wrong.

[JimmyMcAwesome]

The most controversial part of this video is Chris not using WASD while gaming.

[kimfarrelly]

My takeaway is buy the iMac and spend the saved $1750 on camera gear. OK I'll go do that right now, thanks guys another great vid.

[thecommenter]

Jordan refuses to play modern games. His dad transformation is complete

[citrusandseasalt]

Just two guys, drinking rosé, shooting the shit… 😂

[avonperera]

"Quake or forsaken?" Oof Jordan, way to hit me in the nostalgia.

[erinwiebe]

Commenting only to draw attention to Jordan's fantastic Amadeus shirt!

[LucianoStabel]

Aside from this Mac x Pc discussion, what a cool Amadeus t-shirt. Best movie ever.

[CarletonTorpin]

2:22 - Every Apple-store shopping trip, explained. "Here's a few thousand dollars, turn it into a computer for me".

[KenCheng]

my wife is all Apple (literally, you name it, she's got it), I'm all PC and Android... and we get along just fine

[spoons]

3500 dollar! Against 1699 🤔 It took an i9 maxed out to compete wait until M1X or M2

[crisfrancia]

I like how simple, straightforward and fun this video is. No fancy b-rolls or whatsoever, just plain facts and real life test/scenarios. It's interesting to see that Macs are now 'cheaper' than PCs. Apple's chip has tons of potential, to think we are just seeing the 1st generation. Can't wait to see 'gaming' Macs and more apps being optimized for the M chip.

[nyobunknown]

Just like with cameras I no longer crave the latest and greatest computers. My laptop is almost 2 years old and my desktop 4 yet they do everything very well.

[enregistreur]

As a « hardcore gamer » I decided to keep my old desktop PC (i7 2600 / GTX 970) and skip the upgrade for a few more months or years, and instead invested in a M1 MacBook Air.
It can’t do gaming, yes, but the complete silence yet power of this thing is amazing.

I just hope I won’t regret its unrepairability in a few years though (I probably will...).

Good video!

[PhilippeOrlando]

I'm an intel person, I"ve built all my computers myself, to edit video, and frankly the $2000 extra you pay for that laptop Chris is using are not justified to gain a few seconds. I think I'm going to seriously, for the first time in my life, at Apple computers.

[davidpeterson]

I’m really impressed that the entry level m1 is roughly equal to a very highly specked pc laptop for most tasks. Good job Apple!

[draven]

“ You’re enslaved to your golden overlord “ 🤣🤣🤣

[TheEverydayDad]

Just wanted to add in the dog piling of the arrow key gaming controversy.

[jacksoni]

Was Chris's Intel laptop plugged in during all the tests? That would also effect the results. Supposedly the RTX cards cut down their performance when not plugged in to be more efficient.

[AsianWithHat]

As an editor, I would like to see comparisons of renders from H265 422 Footage.

The render times are substantially different and the M1 should outperform an X86 computer.

No bias here. I use a Windows computer for editing on a daily basis and I am now considering an M1 for travel purposes.