by When it comes to Mac mini, I’ve always been most impressed by how much performance it packs into its small form factor. But with Apple throwing its M2 and all-new M2 Pro chip into the mix, the 2023 model seems to be taking performance to a whole new level.
Just announced last week, I’ve had a few days to put the new Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) through its paces, and the early results are very, very impressive. There’s no doubt that this will remain in our top spot for the best computers for graphic design, but let’s take a closer look at what I’ve found so far…
Mac mini (M2, 2023) in the test: price
Get ready. We’re about to say something you probably don’t hear often when it comes to Apple products. The Mac mini (M2, 2023) is actually cheaper than its predecessor, costing just $599/£649 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD model. This is how you get newer hardware for less. Yes, you read it right. It’s a move we can’t help but be impressed by Apple (especially after recent iPad price increases).
The new Mini follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, with a pre-configured model with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage (and the same M2 chip) for $799/£849, which again is less than the M1 version. However, unlike its older brother, which can have up to 16GB of RAM, the M2 mini can be configured to 24GB of unified storage.
The all-new M2 Pro device starts at $1,299 / £1,399 for the 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD model. That’s the same price in the US and just £50 more in the UK than a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a smaller CPU and half the RAM and storage.
Mac mini (M2, 2023) review: Design
The dimensions and overall look of the Mac mini remain the same in this new iteration, which I have to admit is a little disappointed. I know PCs are small. Really small. However, I would appreciate it if the design of the 2023 model embodied its name even further. That said, connectivity has been a big focus, certainly for the M2 Pro, and I can see how making it smaller would have struggled from that perspective.
I have to admit that I was also really hoping Apple would continue their more vibrant color schemes with the M2 mini lately and offer something flashier than the M1’s silver. I had visions of a gorgeous matte black or glossy sky blue Mini on my desk, but sadly it wasn’t to be. Maybe I’m missing the Mini’s purpose of being neither seen nor heard?
Mac mini (M2, 2023) review: performance
I’m reviewing the Mac mini M2 Pro with a 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 16GB Ram, and 1TB SSD model. In terms of specs, this is one of the highest you can get and buying it in this configuration would cost $1,799 / £1,899.
So what does this price bring you, I hear you cry? Having just gotten my hands on it, I have yet to test the Mac mini to its full potential. With a CPU and GPU, it’s said to be able to handle complex, labor-intensive tasks with ease. And I can confirm that it does just that. At one point I was editing 8K video footage in Premiere Pro while simultaneously running Photoshop, Freeform, and an obscene amount of browser tabs, and it didn’t even flinch. No significant delays, delays, jitter or noise.
benchmarks
Here’s how the Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) performed in our series of benchmark tests:
Cinebench R23 CPU: Single core: 1,646; multi core: 14,768
geek bench 5: single processor: 1,958; multi core: 15,198
I wasn’t expecting that given the performance under the hood of this particular M2 Pro model, but the benchmark tests I ran returned results that were even better than I expected. For context, these numbers (right) showed that the new Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) is much more powerful than the M2 MacBook Air and almost 10% faster than the MacBook Air with M2 Max. It’s a cheaper alternative to the Mac Studio, not as fast as the Mac Studio M1 Ultra chip (23,300 Geekbench score) but faster than the Mac Studio with the M1 Max chip (12,500).
But this model will be overkill for many from both a price and performance perspective. The entry-level M2 mini has an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, which Apple used as a demo model in a briefing last week. In it, the system ran multiple applications including video game streaming with ease. For a PC at such a low price it looked very impressive and we look forward to putting this particular model through its paces soon.
By the looks of it, the entry-level M2 mini is less than half the price of a MacBook Pro, but has the exact same chip, RAM, and SSD. The Mini obviously requires different accessories and isn’t portable like a laptop, but incredibly the Mini now offers an even more affordable way for creatives to get their hands on pro-level performance.
Simply put, the Mac mini (M2, 2023) is very, very fast and fully functional as a main workstation for professional developers. From what I’ve learned, it can easily run several very demanding apps, including Cinema 4D, After Effects, 3DS Max, Premiere Pro, etc., making it fully functional as a main workstation for professional developers.
Mac mini (M2, 2023) review: Connectivity
The Mac mini follows the same design as the previous models with its selection of connections (Ethernet LAN, two Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, two USB and one audio jack). However, the M2 Pro model goes one step further, adding two additional Thunderbolt ports and support for up to three displays. This is also the first Mac to offer support for an 8K display.
If you’re a digital content creator who needs a multiple high-resolution display setup, rest assured that the M2 Pro model will deliver.
Should you buy the Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)?
If you’re looking for a small PC that packs a punch, our first verdict is a resounding yes. The entry-level model offers an impressive amount of performance and truly excellent value for money, and the same goes for the M2 Pro version if you need that extra bit of performance. Yes, it’s more expensive, but so far I haven’t found anything that its seemingly unassuming little machine can’t handle.
Which model you choose will depend on how intensely you need it to work and your desk space and system setup, but both the M2 and M2 Pro minis are really solid investments for digital content in my opinion Creator.
