Nevertheless, here is how you can check which apps running on your Mac, come with Universal 2 binary support and which are yet to be updated. This is why it’s important to know if an app is M1 native, or running via emulation.įact: You might be surprised but M1 Macs are so fast, that they can still run non-native apps, via emulator software, faster than Intel-based Macs that run them natively! 3 Ways To Tell If An App Is Optimized For The M1 Mac However, apps that run through the translation layer will generally run slower when compared to Universal apps that are executed directly. The M1 Mac can run apps that haven’t been updated, thanks to Apple’s Rosetta 2 emulation system. Some apps have been already updated with support for M1 Mac while others are still only customized for Macs that are powered by Intel processors.
Apple’s new M1 Silicone Chip, that’s powering the 2020 Mac flagships, requires third-party apps to be updated by their developers to the Universal 2 standard, in order to be able to run natively and reach peak performance in macOS Big Sur.
