The latest Steam hardware survey has revealed a significant shift in the Mac gaming landscape. The long-reigning M1 processor, a fan favorite for years, has finally been dethroned by a newer technology. According to data shared by Valve, the Apple M4 chip has become the most preferred processor among Apple M4 Steam gamers on the platform.
Why Apple M4 Resonates with Steam Gamers
According to Steam’s most recent hardware and software survey, an impressive 19.60% of Mac owners on the platform are now powered by the M4 processor. The M1 chip, which launched the Apple Silicon revolution in 2020, has moved to second place with an 18.06% usage rate. First introduced with the iPad Pro in May 2024 and subsequently rolled out across nearly the entire Mac lineup, the M4 has proven its performance capabilities, quickly becoming the new favorite for gamers.
A major factor behind this rapid rise is the M4 chip’s widespread availability. It is offered in a broad range of products, including the 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. This accessibility has allowed a large number of users to adopt the new technology quickly. In contrast, the newer M5 processor, which boasts a 45% faster graphics performance than the M4, is currently used by only 1% of players. This is primarily because the M5 is currently exclusive to the 14-inch MacBook Pro model.
How Do Other Apple Silicon Chips Compare?
Following the M4 and M1 in the rankings are the M2 and M3 processors. The M2 chip holds a respectable 13.08% share, while the M3 chip, despite offering advanced features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, lags behind at 7.31%. These figures suggest that gamers have been slower to transition to the M3 series, possibly indicating that the M2 still offers a compelling balance of price and performance.
The survey also sheds light on other hardware preferences among Mac gamers. The data shows that 16 GB of RAM is the most common memory configuration. Additionally, on the software side, more than a quarter of users are running macOS Tahoe. While Apple’s efforts to position the Mac as a serious gaming platform are often debated, the performance of the M4 chip appears to be a compelling reason for gamers to upgrade.
So, what are your thoughts on the success of the Apple M4 chip? Share your opinions with us in the comments!
