Apple has debuted its next-generation Mac mini powered by the M2 or new M2 Professional customized silicon. Together with extra highly effective CPUs and GPUs, the brand new Mac mini machines assist as much as 32GB RAM, as much as 3 exterior shows, 8K output by way of HDMI, WiFi 6E, and the bottom fashions even begin at a extra reasonably priced worth. Learn on for our in-depth M2 Mac mini comparability for a way all the pieces stacks up in opposition to its predecessor.
After shifting from Intel to the M1 in 2020, Apple has given the Mac mini an enormous refresh to kick off 2023. The brand new desktop has rather more vary in terms of configurations and can cowl extra use circumstances with the choice of selecting the M2 or M2 Professional chip. Let’s dig in!
Desk of contents
Mac mini comparability: M2 and M2 Professional vs M1
CPU, GPU, reminiscence, neural engine
The M2 is a average improve over the M1, however the M2 Professional brings a a lot higher 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 Professional Mac mini | M2 Mac mini | M1 Mac mini | |
| Processor | As much as 12-core | 8-core | 8-core |
| Graphics | As much as 19-core | 10-core | 8-core |
| Storage | As much as 8TB | As much as 2TB | As much as 2TB |
| RAM | As much as 32GB | As much as 24GB | As much as 16GB |
| Neural engine | 16-core | 16-core | 16-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 presents 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 improve over its predecessor (notice: the M1 Professional was by no means out there within the 2020 Mac mini).
You’ve obtained 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.
I/O
Each the M2 Professional and M2 Mac mini get upgrades in terms of I/O. First, you’ve obtained 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 by way of HDMI (presumably HDMI 2.1 however Apple doesn’t specify).
| M2 Professional Mac mini | M2 Mac mini | M1 Mac mini | |
| USB-C/Thunderbolt ports (as much as 40 Gbps) | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports (as much as 5 Gbps) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| HDMI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 3.5 headphone jack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11.ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11.ax) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit or config to 10Gb | Gigabit or config to 10Gb | Gigabit or config to 10Gb |
| Exterior show assist | 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 2 shows: 1 as much as 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 as much as 4K/60Hz over HDMI | As much as 2 shows: 1 as much as 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 as much as 4K/60Hz over HDMI |
Dimensions and colour
Dimensions are kind of similar and silver stays the one colour provided. Apparently, Apple’s web site exhibits the silver for the M2 Mac mini as a contact lighter than the M1 (nevertheless it’s exhausting to know the way will probably be in actual life).
Not that it issues as a desktop, however the M2 Professional is 0.2 kilos heavier than the M2 and M1 builds.
| M2 Professional Mac mini | M2 Mac mini | M1 Mac mini | |
| Top | 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) | 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) | 1.42 inches (3.6 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 | 2.8 kilos (1.28 kg) | 2.6 kilos (1.18 kg) | 2.6 kilos (1.18 kg) |
What’s within the field
Like its predecessor, the one factor within the M2/M2 Professional Mac mini field is the pc and the facility cable.
Apple in fact presents its Studio Display as its extra reasonably priced exterior monitor. However there are additionally many nice alternate options which are inexpensive:
You may additionally need to choose up Apple’s Magic Keyboard and mouse or try choices like Logitech’s incredible MX Master lineup.
Mac mini comparability: worth
A pleasant shock with the brand new Mac mini, the bottom M2 configurations begin $100 lower than the M1 fashions. Leaping as much as the M2 Professional Mac mini greater than doubles the beginning worth of the M2 at $1,299 – however you’re getting much more energy and double the storage and RAM.
| M2 Professional Mac mini | M2 Mac mini | M1 Mac mini | |
| 256/8 | – | $599 | $699 |
| 512/8 | – | $799 | $899 |
| 512/16 | $1,299 | $999 | $1,099 |
| Customized | As much as $4,499 | As much as $1,899 | As much as $1,999? |
Mac mini comparability wrap-up
General, the brand new Mac mini with M2 or M2 Professional is a incredible refresh. It presents much more flexibility to configure the Mac you want with out having to step all the way in which as much as the Mac Studio.
For people who want a fundamental to medium-power machine, the M2 Mac mini can be an excellent match with choices between 8 and 24GB reminiscence and storage as much as 2TB.
For these with extra intensive workflows like artistic professionals or aspiring artistic professionals and related that don’t want a decked-out Mac Studio, the M2 Professional Mac mini will possible fill a niche within the Mac lineup.
The brand new M2 and M2 Professional Mac mini are available to order now from Apple with the earliest availability beginning January 24.
What do you consider the brand new Mac mini? Share your ideas within the feedback!
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