[diffeomorphism]

For the same reason the macbook pro, mac mini, ... have a fan.

> Is it impossible to passively cool i5, i7 (integrated graphics)?

Obviously not, but same as with the M1 in the air and in the pro: fan=more power and heat available. Add the fact that in many devices you have to try really, really hard to be even able to hear the fans adding them is a no brainer.

[microtonal]

but same as with the M1 in the air and in the pro: fan=more power and heat available

The MacBook Air M1 does not have a fan, it's passively cooled. The fan in the MacBook Pro M1 (non-Pro/Max) and Mac Mini M1 spins up very rarely.

Add the fact that in many devices you have to try really, really hard to be even able to hear

Then you have a lot of ambient noise. Everything from Intel MacBook Airs, Intel MacBook Pro 16" to Lenovo laptops make quite a bit of noise when under load (where 'load' can also mean something simple like a video call). Once you are used to a quiet machine (like an M1 Mac), it can be very annoying.

[diffeomorphism]

> The MacBook Air M1 does not have a fan, it's passively cooled. The MacBook Pro [does have one]

Yeah, that is what I said. Not sure why you are repeating that.

> Once you are used to a quiet machine (like an M1 Mac),

One with a fan or without?

> it can be very annoying

Yup, but you can simply turn that off by adjusting the fan and power. Allowing less fan usage on the M1 Pro just pushes performance down to the M1 air and makes the fan inaudible or even just off. However, you cannot go the other way: the Air is not going to magically grow a fan.

So most companies do exactly what apple does with the pro: include a fan.

[Tagbert]

“ with the M1 in the air and in the pro: fan=more power and heat available”

That statement can be interpreted to say that the Air and Pro do have fans. It’s ambiguous.