The new Mac mini, powered by M2, and the brand-new M2 Pro was recently announced by Apple. With a new starting cost of just $599, the Mac mini is actually more capable, powerful, and inexpensive. All due to the M2 chip. For the first time, the Mac mini offers pro-level performance because of the new M2 Pro chip. Allowing users to run high-performance processes that were previously impossible in such a small form factor. Advanced connection, better speed, even more, unified memory, and support for up to two displays on the M2 model. Up to three displays on the M2 Pro model are all features of the Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro.
Moreover, the power and accessibility of macOS Ventura combined with Studio Display and Magic add-ons make for a great desktop experience that will boost users’ productivity and creativity. Customers may order the new Mac mini models right now, and they will start to arrive on January 24.
According to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. The Mac mini can be used in so many places and in so many different ways. Because of its outstanding capabilities and a broad range of connectivity in its compact size. With M2 and M2 Pro, they are delighted to go even further today. The Mac mini with M2 offers even greater performance at a lower starting price, making it a fantastic offer. Additionally, the Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class for those who require outstanding professional performance.
Even Greater Performance With M2 and M2 Pro
The new M2 and M2 Pro versions of the Mac mini by Apple, bring significant improvements compared to the previous generation. They feature a faster next-generation CPU and GPU, increased memory bandwidth, and a more powerful media engine. These improvements result in extraordinary performance and industry-leading power efficiency. Additionally, both models come with an advanced thermal system that allows for exceptional sustained performance.
Mac mini with M2
The Mac mini with M2 model is equipped with an 8-core CPU. It includes four high-performance and four high-efficiency cores, and a 10-core GPU. It is designed to provide superfast performance and productivity at a more affordable starting price of $599. This model is ideal for everyday tasks such as launching and multitasking between apps, browsing the web, and can also handle demanding workloads. It features up to 24GB of unified memory and 100GB/s of bandwidth. Resulting in activities like image editing in Adobe Photoshop being up to 50% faster than the previous generation.
Additionally, the M2 model adds ProRes acceleration to Mac mini, enabling tasks like video editing in Final Cut Pro to be more than twice as fast. Furthermore, play up to two streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps or up to 12 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps. Overall, this Mac mini model is up to 5x faster than the best-selling Windows desktop, providing great value for first-time computer buyers, upgraders, and those switching from a PC.
Comparison of Mac Mini with M2 VS Mac mini with Intel Core i7
The Mac mini with the M2 model is particularly well-suited for machine learning (ML) and video editing tasks. Specifically, it has been reported that it offers up to 22x faster machine learning (ML) image upscaling performance in Pixelmator Pro and 9.8x faster complex timeline rendering in Final Cut Pro. These improvements are a result of the faster CPU, GPU, and memory bandwidth in the M2 model compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7.
Comparison of Mac Mini with M2 VS Mac mini with M1
Reports indicate that the Mac mini with M2 Pro offers up to 2.4x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro, up to 50% faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop, and up to 35% faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village. This is due to the next-generation Neural Engine, which is 40 percent faster than the M1 processor, and the 12-core CPU with eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores, along with a 10-core GPU.
Mac mini with M2 Pro
The Mac mini with M2 Pro model is Apple’s new high-end version of the Mac mini. It features a 12-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, as well as a 19-core GPU, and has 200GB/s of memory bandwidth, doubles the amount in M2. The next-generation Neural Engine is 40% faster than M1, which speeds up machine learning tasks such as video analysis and image processing.
Moreover, The M2 Pro is designed to dramatically accelerate video playback and encoding while using very little power. It offers a powerful media engine that can speed through the most popular video codecs and can simultaneously play up to five streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps, or up till 23 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps.
Comparison of Mac Mini with M2 Pro VS 27-inch iMac with Intel Core i7 and Radeon Pro 5500 XT
- Up to 50% speedier filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop
- Up to 5.5x faster dramatic merge in Adobe Lightroom
- Up to 4.4x quicker object tracking in Final Cut Pro
Comparison of Mac Mini with M2 Pro VS Previous-Generation M1 Mac mini
- Up to 2.5x snappier graphics performance in Affinity Photo.
- Up to 4.2x swifter ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
- Up to 2.8x speedier gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
Much Better Connectivity
Both the Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro models offer extensive connectivity options. The M2 model has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and can support up to two displays. The M2 Pro model has four Thunderbolt 4 ports and can support up to three displays, including one 8K display, a first for the Mac.
Additionally, both models have two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port with a 10GB option, and an upgraded headphone jack to support high-impedance headphones. As for wireless connectivity, both models feature the latest standards. Including Wi-Fi 6E which offers up to 2x faster throughput than before, and Bluetooth 5.3.
An Extraordinary Desktop Experience with Studio Display and Magical Accessories
The Mac mini can be paired with Studio Display and Magic accessories to provide a complete desktop experience. Studio Display is a 27-inch 5K Retina display that features a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. The Magic accessories are designed to complement the elegant design of the Mac mini and Studio Display. Includes a keyboard, mouse, and trackpad. Together, these accessories allow customers to have a seamless, integrated desktop experience with their Mac mini.
macOS Ventura
Mac mini comes with macOS Ventura which provides even more performance and productivity features. The Continuity Camera feature allows buyers to use their Mac’s camera for videoconferencing, including Desk View, and Center Stage. Handoff in FaceTime allows users to call on their Apple devices and easily switch to their Mac, and vice versa. Stage Manager is a tool that automatically organizes apps and windows. Making it easier for users to focus on their tasks and still have an overview of everything at a glance.
macOS Ventura brings several improvements to messaging, email, and browsing on Mac mini. Messages and Mail are more user-friendly and efficient than ever before. And Safari, the world’s fastest browser on Mac now supports a passwordless future with passkeys. Further, iCloud Shared Photo Library is a feature allowing users to create and share separate photos library among six members. The new Freeform app provides a flexible canvas for users to plan, brainstorm and collaborate more effectively. Furthermore, the power and popularity of Apple silicon, along with new developer tools in Metal 3, improved the gaming experience.
Effects on the Environment
The Mac mini is designed with environmental sustainability in mind. The use of recycled materials and energy-efficient design helps to minimize its impact on the environment. Besides, it is free of harmful substances and a significant portion of the packaging is made from fiber-based materials. Apple has also set a goal to completely remove plastic from its packaging by 2025. This makes Mac mini an eco-friendly and responsible choice for consumers
Moreover, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations. By 2030, plans to be 100 percent carbon neutral across the entire manufacturing supply chain and all product life cycles. This means every Apple device sold, from component manufacturing, assembly, transport, customer use, and charging, all the way to recycling and material recovery, will have a net-zero climate impact.
