[sjwright]

The original iPad was, in terms of compute specifications, a minimum viable product. The M1 Macs are not—they are the combination of a mature platform with a mature silicon chip. Given the sheer volume of M1 sales there’s no chance they’re going to be so prematurely deprecated as the original iPad was.

At the very least I’d put money on the M1 not being deprecated before all Intel-powered Macs (present and future) are deprecated.

[solarkraft]

I think the M1 will easily last for a few years - but we don't know what they have left in stock. Was the original iPad regarded as MVP when it came out?

[sjwright]

The original iPad was a first generation product; its status as a minimum viable product was only clear after subsequent product cycles.