Apple’s next-generation Mac mini with the M2 or new M2 Professional chip is right here. It’s received extra highly effective CPUs and GPUs, as much as 32GB RAM, as much as 3 exterior shows, 8K output through HDMI, WiFi 6E, and the bottom fashions are much more reasonably priced. The brand new desktop joins the extra highly effective Mac Studio, making the lineup extra various. However is the Mac Studio overkill for most individuals with the brand new Mac mini to think about? Right here’s an in-depth Mac mini vs Mac Studio comparability for the way every little thing shakes out.
After shifting from Intel to the M1 in 2020, Apple has given the Mac mini a big refresh to start out 2023. The brand new desktop has much more flexibility in relation to configurations and can cowl extra use instances than ever with the choice of selecting the M2 or M2 Professional chip.
The Mac Studio stays probably the most highly effective Apple Silicon Mac with both the M1 Max or M1 Extremely chip. Whether or not you’re available in the market for a brand new desktop Mac or are simply curious how every little thing compares, let’s dig in!
Desk of contents
Mac mini vs Mac Studio: How do they evaluate?
CPU, GPU, reminiscence, neural engine
The M2 is a average improve over the M1, however the M2 Professional brings a a lot larger vary of energy and functionality to the Mac mini – serving as a step up with out having to go all the way in which to the Mac Studio.
| M2 Mac mini | M2 Professional Mac mini | M1 Max Mac Studio | M1 Extremely Mac Studio | |
| CPU | 8-core | As much as 12-core | 10-core | 20-core |
| GPU | 10-core | As much as 19-core | As much as 32-core | As much as 64-core |
| Storage | As much as 2TB | As much as 8TB | As much as 8TB | As much as 8TB |
| RAM | As much as 24GB | As much as 32GB | As much as 64GB | As much as 128GB |
| Neural engine | 16-core | 16-core | 16-core | 32-core |
Apple says the M2 has an as much as 18% quicker CPU and as much as 35% quicker GPU than the M1. M2 additionally affords as much as 24GB RAM, 50% extra reminiscence bandwidth, and a 40% quicker neural engine than M1.
For extra energy, Apple says the M2 Professional offers 20% quicker CPU and 30% quicker GPU efficiency than the M1 Professional. And the M2 Professional neural engine has seen a 40% velocity enhance over its predecessor (word: the M1 Professional was by no means obtainable within the 2020 Mac mini).
You’ve received as much as 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU choices with the M2 Professional plus as much as 32GB RAM.
And one other improve with the M2 Professional chip is devoted ProRes encode and decode engines.
The M1 Max and significantly M1 Extremely soar means past the M2 Professional with as much as a 20-core CPU, as much as 64-core GPU, 32-core neural engine, as much as 128GB RAM, and extra. Whereas these numbers might look attractive on paper, keep in mind you’ll must have very intense workflows to utilize that energy.
I/O
Each the M2 Pro and M2 Mac mini get upgrades in relation to I/O. First, you’ve received WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on each builds.
Then the M2 Professional will get extra enhancements with double the Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports (4), assist for as much as 3 exterior shows, and as much as 8K output through HDMI (presumably HDMI 2.1 however Apple doesn’t specify).
| M2 Mac mini | M2 Professional Mac mini | Mac Studio | |
| USB-C/Thunderbolt ports (as much as 40 Gbps) | 2 | 4 | As much as 6 |
| USB-A ports | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SDXC | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ UHS-II |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 3.5 headphone jack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11.ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11.ax) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit or config to 10Gb | Gigabit or config to 10Gb | 10Gb |
| Exterior show assist | As much as 2 shows: 1 as much as 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 as much as 4K/60Hz over HDMI | As much as 3 exterior shows: 2 as much as 6K/60Hz with Thunderbolt, 1 as much as 4K/60Hz over HDMI
Or 1 show at 8K/60Hz, or 1 show at 4K/240Hz over HDMI |
As much as 5 exterior shows: 4 as much as 6K/60Hz plus 1 as much as 4K/60Hz |
However as you’d count on, the extra highly effective Mac Studio stays with probably the most I/O. It affords two USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 ports on the entrance together with its SDXC UHS-II slot. The remainder (majority) of the I/O stays on the again.
Whereas it’s a bit behind with WiFi, Bluetooth, and no 8K video assist, Mac Studio affords assist for as much as 5 exterior shows and comes commonplace with 10Gb Ethernet.
Dimensions and colour
The brand new Mac mini is actually an identical in dimension to its predecessor. The Mac Studio options the identical 7.7 x 7.7-inch width and depth because the mini however is about 2.5x taller at 3.7 inches.
Not that it issues as a desktop, however the M2 Professional is 0.2 kilos heavier than the M2 and M1 builds. And the Mac Studio is 2-3x heavier at 5.9 or 7.9 kilos for the M1 Max and M1 Extremely fashions.
| M2 Mac mini | M2 Professional Mac mini | Mac Studio | |
| Peak | 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) | 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) | 3.7 inches (9.5 cm) |
| Width | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) |
| Depth | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) | 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) |
| Weight | 2.6 kilos (1.18 kg) | 2.8 kilos (1.28 kg) | 5.9 or 7.9 kilos (2.7 or 3.6 kg) |
Each Mac mini and Mac Studio can be found in a single colour: silver.
What’s within the field
The one factor within the Mac mini or Mac Studio field is the pc and energy cable.
Apple in fact affords its Studio Display as its personal exterior monitor. However there are additionally many nice alternate options which might be cheaper:
You might also need to choose up Apple’s Magic Keyboard and mouse or try choices like Logitech’s in style MX Master lineup.
Mac mini vs Mac Studio: value
A pleasant shock with the brand new Mac mini, the bottom M2 configurations begin just $599 – $100 lower than the M1 fashions.
Leaping as much as the M2 Pro Mac mini greater than doubles the beginning value of the M2 at $1,299 – however you’re getting much more energy and double the storage and RAM. Mac Studio with M1 Max begins at $1,999 and goes as much as $7,999 for customized configurations.
| M2 Mac mini | M2 Professional Mac mini | Mac Studio | |
| 256/8 | $599 | – | – |
| 512/8 | $799 | – | – |
| 512/16 | $999 | $1,299 | – |
| 512/32 | – | – | $1,999 |
| Customized | $1,899 | As much as $4,499 | $7,999 |
Mac mini vs Mac Studio wrap-up
The new Mac mini with M2 or M2 Professional is a good replace is a really welcome replace. It affords flexibility to get (or construct) the Mac desktop you want with out having to step all the way in which as much as the Mac Studio.
- For anybody with primary to medium-intensity workflows, the M2 Mac mini will probably be a terrific match with choices between 8 and 24GB of reminiscence and storage as much as 2TB.
- For these with extra intensive workflows like inventive professionals or aspiring inventive professionals, prosumers, and related that don’t want a Mac Studio, the M2 Professional Mac mini ought to be an ideal match.
- I’d think about the Mac mini will probably be loads of energy for 95%+ of shoppers. However if you happen to usually push your Mac with numerous video exports, different inventive work like 3D modeling, are operating massive information units, and so forth., and in addition want that work to occur as quick as doable, the Mac Studio is there for you.
The brand new M2 and M2 Professional Mac mini can be found now from Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and extra.
What do you consider the brand new Mac mini and the way it compares with the Mac Studio? Share your ideas within the feedback!
Extra 9to5Mac comparisons:
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
[embedded content]