Apple M1 vs ARM Cortex-A15

Last Updated & Fact Checked:  April 18, 2026

Are you trying to decide between the Apple M1 and the ARM Cortex-A15?

Product Versus will provide you with all the product details so you can quickly compare the facts to find which product is right for you – the Apple M1 or the ARM Cortex-A15 – and find out exactly what the differences are.

Both the Apple M1 and the ARM Cortex-A15 are quality products, so read on to find out which one is best for your needs!

Apple M1 quick facts

ARM Cortex-A15 quick facts

Apple M1 product details

Bestseller No. 1
Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13.3 inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) Space Gray (Renewed)
  • Retina display; 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology (2560x1600 native resolution)
  • Apple M1 chip with 8 cores (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 7-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine
  • 8GB memory | 128GB SSD
  • Backlit Magic Keyboard | Touch ID sensor | 720p FaceTime HD camera
  • 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible | Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
Bestseller No. 2
Apple MacBook Air Late 2020 with Apple M1 Chip (13.3 inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Space Gray (Renewed)
  • Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
  • Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
  • Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
Bestseller No. 3
Apple MacBook Pro 2020 with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Space Gray (Renewed)
  • Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance - Get up to 20 hours of battery life
  • 8-core CPU delivers up to 2.8x faster performance - 8-core GPU with up to 5x faster graphics
  • 13.3-inch Retina display with 500 nits of brightness for vibrant colors and incredible image detail
  • 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning - 8GB of unified memory so everything is fast and fluid
  • Superfast SSD storage launches apps and opens files quickly - Active cooling system sustains incredible performance

ARM Cortex-A15 product details

Bestseller No. 1
ARM CORTEX-A15 NAS WITH HW
  • ARM Cortex-A15 Duad Core 1.7GHz, 2GB DDR3 RAM (max 8GB), SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x 10GbE(SFP+), 2 x 1GbE, hardware encryption, Container Station, Surveillance Station
  • 10GbE readiness, SSD caching. and hardware-accelerated encryption ; Enjoy containerized virtualization and IoT app development with Container Station
  • Rich productivity apps including QmailAgent for central mail management, Notes Station for collaborative note-taking, Qsirch full-text search engine, and much more
  • Build a private cloud to centrally store, backup, share and restore files ; Use the TS-431X to expand the storage capacity of other QNAP NAS with VJBOD
  • Secure access with VPN Server & VPN Client
Bestseller No. 2
QNAP TS-131P-US Personal Cloud NAS with DLNA, Mobile apps and Airplay Support. ARM Cortex A15 1.7GHz Dual Core, 1GB RAM
  • ARM Cortex-A15 dual-core 1.7Ghz, 1GB RAM, SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x Gbe LAN, 3 x USB3.0, HDD hot-swappable
  • Centralizes file storage, sharing and backup with excellent performance ; Full NAS encryption using volume-based technology and hardware acceleration
  • Supports Agent as a mailroom center and Contacts for centralizing contact information
  • Synchronize files between the TS-131P, computers, laptops, and mobile devices ; Stream your multimedia library via DLNA, Airplay & Chromecast
  • Build a surveillance center to safeguard your home and office
Bestseller No. 3
EMTOP EMB Industrial Single Board Computer EM-TF-BB-AM5728, AM5728 MPU,Dual Core Cortex-A15 1.5GHZ,Dual Core C66 DSP,3D,GPU, 2GB DDR3, 16GB EMMC, Linux OS,GPMC, SPI, I2C, UART, GPIO,etc...
  • PROCESSING POWER: Features Ti Sitara AM572x with dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 and Cortex-M4 processors, 2GB DDR3 RAM, and 16GB eMMC storage for high-performance computing
  • CONNECTIVITY: Equipped with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 3.0/2.0 interfaces, HDMI output, and multiple expansion options including PCIe and Mini PCIe
  • INTERFACE OPTIONS: Includes RS485, CAN, UART, GPIO ports, plus dedicated camera and LCD interfaces for versatile industrial applications
  • OPERATING SPECIFICATIONS: Supports wide voltage input range of 7-28V, operating temperature from -20° to 85°F, with Linux kernel 4.9.28 and Qt 5.5.1 support
  • EXPANSION CAPABILITY: Features 2x25 pin GPMC interface and 2x20 pin extension interfaces for SPI, I2C, UART, enabling flexible customization for industrial applications

New products & alternatives to the Apple M1 and the ARM Cortex-A15

New
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch Laptop Silver | M1 Chip 8GB Memory 256GB SSD | Retina Display, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID, Long Battery Life Notebook Computer
  • Apple M1 Chip Performance: Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, this MacBook Air delivers fast, responsive performance for multitasking, web browsing, streaming, photo editing, and everyday productivity. The 8GB unified memory keeps apps running smoothly while maintaining energy efficiency. Fanless design ensures silent operation, making it ideal for students, professionals, and home office use.
  • 13-Inch Retina Display: The high-resolution Retina display offers sharp text, vibrant colors, and excellent clarity for work and entertainment. True Tone technology adjusts the screen to ambient lighting for comfortable viewing. Slim bezels maximize screen space while keeping the laptop compact and lightweight for daily portability.
  • 8GB RAM + 256GB SSD Storage: Equipped with 8GB unified memory and a fast 256GB solid-state drive, this laptop provides quick boot times, fast file access, and smooth multitasking. Perfect for documents, presentations, video calls, cloud-based apps, and storing essential files without slowing down performance.
  • All-Day Battery Life & Portable Design: Designed for mobility, this MacBook Air offers long battery life to power through workdays, classes, or travel without frequent charging. The thin, lightweight aluminum build fits easily into backpacks and briefcases while maintaining durability and a premium feel.
  • Touch ID, Backlit Keyboard & Connectivity: Securely unlock and make purchases with Touch ID fingerprint login. The backlit Magic Keyboard delivers a comfortable typing experience, and the precision trackpad ensures smooth navigation. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support reliable connections for meetings, streaming, and wireless accessories.
New
Late 2021 Apple MacBook Pro, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10-Core CPU & 16-Core GPU (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage) (QWERTY English) Silver (Renewed Premium)
  • Apple M1 Pro chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
  • Longer battery life, up to 21 hours
  • 16-core Neural Engine for up to 5x faster machine learning performance
New
Late 2021 Apple MacBook Pro, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10-Core CPU & 16-Core GPU (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage) (QWERTY English) Space Gray (Renewed Premium)
  • Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
  • Up to 10-core CPU delivers up to 3.7x faster performance to fly through pro workflows quicker than ever
  • 16-core Neural Engine for up to 11x faster machine learning performance - Up to 17 hour battery life
  • 1080p FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor for sharper video calls
New
Late 2020 Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13.3 inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) Space Gray (Renewed Premium)
  • Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
  • Charge less with up to 29 hours of battery life - 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide color
  • 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever before
  • Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics - FaceTime HD camera for clearer, sharper video calls
  • 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning - 16GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
New
Apple Late 2020 MacBook Pro with M1 Chip, 13.3 inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Silver (Renewed Premium)
  • Supercharged Performance with Apple M1 – Experience incredible speed and responsiveness with the Apple M1 chip featuring an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, perfect for creative work, multitasking, and everyday productivity.
  • Stunning 13.3" Retina Display – Enjoy vibrant colors and razor-sharp detail with True Tone and P3 wide color, ideal for photos, videos, and streaming content.
  • 16GB Unified Memory – Seamlessly run multiple apps and demanding software without slowdowns, thanks to fast and efficient unified memory.
  • Fast 512GB SSD Storage – Boot up instantly, open apps in a snap, and store your files securely with lightning-quick solid-state storage.
  • All-Day Battery Life – Stay unplugged longer with up to 20 hours of battery life—the longest ever in a 13" MacBook Pro.

Our conclusion on the Apple M1 vs ARM Cortex-A15

Both the Apple M1 and the ARM Cortex-A15 are high quality products and we are sure you will be happy with either one. In the end it comes down to your budget and the value for money you are looking for.

Either way, the Apple M1 and the ARM Cortex-A15 are both excellent products that will more than do their job!