Mac mini M2 specs (as reviewed)
Value: $799
Processor: Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU)
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A. HDMI out, Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack
Measurement: 7.8 x 7.8 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 2.6 kilos
Now, I do know what you’re considering. What’s a Mac Mini doing on Laptop computer Magazine? However right here me out, weighing a scant 2.6 kilos, the Mini is lighter than a variety of laptops in the marketplace and much more compact. With that out of the way in which, let’s speak about what we’ve received right here. The Mac Mini M2 delivers all the facility of Apple’s M2 silicon in a light-weight field that may slip right into a backpack or purse.
And with a beginning worth of $599 ($799 reviewed), the Mac Mini M2 is a cellular marvel that may pique the curiosity of many a client. It’d simply be good in the event you might swap out or restore the system your self. My one grievance apart, the Mac Mini is a viable possibility for customers in search of a strong, compact system below $1,000. Simply be certain you’ve gotten a pleasant show useful.
Mac Mini M2 pricing and configuration
Affordability, thine title is Mac Mini M2. The bottom mannequin of the system prices $599 and has an 8-core (4 efficiency cores, 4 effectivity cores) M2 chip, 8GB of unified reminiscence, a 256GB SSD, 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. My overview unit has double the storage which jacks the value as much as $799. The M2 Mac Minis might be configured with as much as 24GB of reminiscence and 2TB SSD, which is able to after all, value extra.
If you would like extra efficiency oomph, Apple gives a Mac Mini M2 with a 10-core (6 efficiency cores, 4 effectivity cores) CPU with 16GB of reminiscence, a 512GB SSD, a 16-core GPU and the 16-core Neural Engine –– all for $1,299. The reminiscence might be expanded to 32GB whereas the storage can attain 8TB.
Mac Mini M2 design
As an alternative of asking what’s within the field, we have to speak in regards to the precise field. It’s a imaginative and prescient of silvery fashionable minimalist performance. The Mac Mini M2 doesn’t deviate from the Mac aesthetic which suggests rounded corners, a shiny half-eaten apple emblem on the highest and a giant black spherical cowl on the underside. It’s all encapsulated by a silver anodized silver case. The Mini’s rear is a black connectivity haven because it homes all of the ports (extra on that later).
And earlier than you get any concepts about and DIY upgrades or repairs, that backside cowl doesn’t grant entry to the system’s internals as Apple needs to maintain any potential tinkering in home. It’s a disgrace as a result of it looks as if it’s so easy to slip in some additional reminiscence or storage. C’est la vie.
At 2.6 kilos, 7.8 x 7.8 x 1.4-inches, the Mini is small and light-weight sufficient to slot in a small to medium guide bag or purse. The Mini M2 Professional is barely heavier at 2.8 kilos.
Mac Mini M2 ports
Apple’s loaded up the Mac Mini M2 up with a gaggle of ports. You title it, this factor’s received it –– inside cause. You get a pair of USB Sort-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI port, a headset jack and a port for the facility cable. When you’re with the Mac Mini M2 Professional iteration of the system, you get an additional pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Mac Mini M2 efficiency
My overview unit is supplied with a M2 chip. And it’s received loads of efficiency to spare. I ran 65 Google Chrome tabs with a mixture of Google Docs, Sheets and Displays, together with a number of YouTube movies, Twitter, Fb and some information web sites. The Mini didn’t stutter.
That’s all effectively and dandy, however how did the Mac Mini do on our artificial exams? Fairly effectively truly. On the Geekbench 5.5 general efficiency check, the Mac Mini M2 achieved 9,048. Our sister website, Tom’s Information, reviewed the Mac Mini M2 Professional which notched 15,038.
In the course of the Handbrake check, the Mini M2 took 6 minutes and 46 minutes to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. The Mini M2 Professional was considerably sooner at 4:26.
| Mutli-core rating | |
| Mac Mini M2 | 9,048 |
| Mac Mini M2 Professional | 15,038 |
On the Photoshop benchmark, the Mac Mini M2 reached 812 whereas the Mac Mini M2 Professional posted 963. On the Premiere Professional check, we noticed scores of 454 and 847 from the Mini M2 and Mini M2 Professional.
And on the BlackMagic Learn/Write check, the Mini M2’s 512GB SSD achieved 3,220.1MBps/2,933.7MBps. The Mini M2 Professional with its 1TB SSD produced speeds of 5,057.1MBps/6,186.5MBps.
Mac Mini M2 graphics
Are you a photographer, filmmaker or musician? How a few gamer? Then the Mac Mini and its 10-core GPU may be what you’re in search of, sure even avid gamers. The diminutive packing containers have a mighty huge punch, particularly the Mini M2 Professional with its 16-core GPU. Nonetheless, I noticed easy gameplay with out lag as I made my means via Girl Dimitrescu’s citadel as I averted her whereas searching down her murderous daughters on the Mac Mini M2. Nevertheless, I needed to downgrade the graphics to medium at 1920 x 1080 to take action.
The variations between the M2 and M2 Professional grew to become clear throughout our benchmark, with the Mini M2 solely reaching 27 frames per second in the course of the Rise of the Tomb Raider check (1080p). In the meantime, the M2 Professional reached a powerful 53 fps.
On the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark, the Mini M2 produced 45 fps, in comparison with the Mini M2 Professional’s 50 fps.
| 1920 x 1080 | |
| Mac Mini M2 | 45 fps |
| Mac Mini M2 Professional | 50 fps |
Mac Mini M2 software program
Identical to the MacBook Professional 14 and 16-inch laptops, the Mac Mini M2 runs macOS Ventura. The working system is easy and intuitive as Apple optimized how effectively Ventura assigns multithreaded duties to the CPU cores. The OS intelligently disseminates duties between the efficiency and effectivity cores, with a concentrate on delivering optimum efficiency and endurance. That is completed by using superior energy administration options.
Ventura brings seamless connectivity between all of your iDevices together with youryour MacBook, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. Handoff, for examplef, means that you can begin writing an e mail in your iPad or iPhone and choose up proper the place you left off in your MacBook or Mac Mini. Airdropping between iDevices has develop into even simpler. The Common Clipboard means that you can copy and paste textual content or pictures from an iPhone or iPad proper right into a doc on the MacBook.
And there are a number of new GPU-centric options through Steel 3, permitting the system to render high-res graphics sooner. Which means video games and content material creation apps like Ultimate Lower Professional are much less taxing on the system, taking much less time to render and cargo. There’s even Ray Tracing that shifts the load of all that advanced rendering over to the GPU, liberating up the CPU for different duties.
The Mac Mini M2 ships with a one-year restricted guarantee. See how Apple fared throughout Tech Help Showdown and Greatest and Worst Manufacturers, our annual studies.
Backside line
Sure, the Mac Mini is somewhat completely different than what I’m used to reviewing. However after spending time with the diminutive system, I don’t suppose it’s out of my wheelhouse. I’m an absolute fan of the tiny type issue and I might see myself touring with it, if solely to my workplace for some fast plug-and-play motion. It’s received a pleasant quantity of ports and that M2 chip has loads of energy on for productiveness and GPU-heavy duties, even gaming as I found first hand.
And whereas the Mac Mini is certainly highly effective (and très inexpensive!), I like to recommend upgrading to the M2 Professional iteration of the system as you’ll get much more energy on each fronts. Once more, my solely gripe is you could’t swap out elements regardless that that huge rounded cap on the underside says in any other case. Nonetheless, the Mac Mini is a superb selection for individuals in search of a mini-computing choice for below $1,000.
