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Apple Silicon devices can get the same performance as a desktop in a laptop size. The only reason to get a desktop is if you need the Ultra chip.

And, the laptop gives you extra freedom for very, very little sacrifice (at least for Apple Silicon devices). I don't see any way you can argue for a desktop.

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You're slightly wrong.

The performance is better than all but the super expensive performance halo parts... sometimes. Sometimes it's just better full stop.

As someone who despises macOS: get the mac.

Not possible. Sustained performance will not be the same. Desktop will be vastly better.

I have the first generation of the M1 (M1 Max) and this is the first Apple laptop I own that doesn't seem to hit any thermal or power limit. I do use an app to spin the fans faster when doing something like encoding a blu-ray movie with HandBrake, but it keeps going for hours without any noticeable drop in performance.

If you look at stress tests from a M1 on a Macbook Pro and a M1 on a Mac desktop, performance is similar. There might be a difference on sustained performance on the M1 Air, but that's because it doesn't have any fans.

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