About this deal
If you’re looking for a standalone best mouse for the Mac Mini, you can consider getting the Logitech M650. The Logitech K380 is a decent keyboard too, and it costs less than the combo we’ve listed above. You have several options to configure the Mac mini M2. For the base M2 model, you can upgrade to 16GB or 24GB of Unified memory, and you can opt for 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage space. You can also add 10 Gigabit Ethernet over the standard Gigabit Ethernet port. The fact that you can run older Mac apps on the Mac mini (M1, 2020) is commendable, and with the M1 chip allowing iOS apps to be installed as well, it means the Mac mini continues to be a very versatile little PC.
The exciting update is the M2 Pro processor. Unlike the previous generation, Apple is offering the new Mac mini with an M2 Pro processor, which is also available in the new MacBook Pro. It comes with more cores, allowing the M2 Pro to run much more demanding applications. Results are compared to previous-generation Mac mini systems with Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD. Every customer who buys a Mac from Apple can enjoy a free Online Personal Session with an Apple Specialist; get their product set up in select stores, including help with data transfer; and receive guidance on how to make their new Mac work the way they want. This likely won't make much difference for most, but for true multi-monitor fiends the Mac mini with M2 Pro can support up to three external displays, two via Thunderbolt (at up to 6K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate) and one via HDMI (at up to 4K/60Hz). The HDMI port is also capable of supporting one 8K display with a refresh rate of up to 60Hz or a 4K display with a refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which is remarkably high on both counts.When we put our review unit to the test using the Geekbench 5.4 multi-core CPU benchmark, it earned a score of 15,038. That's good, and better than what the M1 Pro chip earned (12,477) when we put the 2021 MacBook Pro through its paces. In fact, it's almost as good as the 17,229 earned by the 12th Gen Core i9 Intel CPU in a recent Acer Predator Orion 7000 gaming PC we tested, which shows you that Apple's latest mid-grade Mac chip is catching up to Intel's top-tier CPUs in terms of performance. However, this could also lead to some issues. First of all, it looks like the M1 chip may have a limit of 16GB, as none of the M1-toting Macs come with more memory than that. Unlike modular memory, it won’t be as easy for Apple to add more.
With incredible capabilities and a wide array of connectivity in its compact design, Mac mini is used in so many places, in so many different ways. Today, we’re excited to take it even further with M2 and M2 Pro,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value. And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.” Testing was conducted by Apple in November and December 2022 using preproduction Mac mini systems with Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, as well as production Intel Core i5-based PC systems with Intel UHD Graphics 730 and the latest version of Windows 11 available at the time of testing. The bestselling system is based on publicly available sales data over the prior 12 months. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac mini. The entry-level Mac mini is no slouch in this department either, and it can support up to two external displays at up to the same resolutions (6K via Thunderbolt 4, 4K via HDMI). However, the entry-level Mac mini can't support an 8K or 240Hz display — only the M2 Pro model can handle that. Mac mini M2 review: Performance I don’t want a case,” you might be saying. “I just want it out of sight, out of mind.” Okay, so the Mac Mini isn’t the prettiest computer around, but it’s got a lot going for it—not only is it a stylish little machine that fits seamlessly into any decor thanks to its compact size, but it’s also got ample processing power, making it a great multimedia center for connected TV setups. All you need is a few cables and maybe an external hard drive or two, and you can have your movies, music and photos all in one place. If you’re looking for a case for your Mac Mini, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been scouring the Internet to find some of the best cases I could get my hands on, and I’ve rounded them up here for your convenience.Meanwhile, in good news for graphics designers and videographers, rendering in Final Cut Pro is also promised to be up to six times faster than on previous models.
Another thing to note is that with previous models of the Mac mini you could connect up an external graphics card (eGPU), to add extra graphical firepower, and this was a popular choice with video editors and 3D animators; however, you can't use eGPUs with the Mac mini (M1, 2020). With M2 Pro, Mac mini users can run high-performance workflows that were previously inconceivable in such a compact form factor. Musicians can produce music with incredibly powerful plug-ins and effects without missing a beat, while photographers can adjust huge images in an instant. Creators can seamlessly work in multicam with multiple camera formats, including ProRes video, and gamers can play demanding titles in console quality. Gaming performance is up to 15x faster than the fastest Intel-based Mac mini. 3 The second reason is that, while the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro’s designs have been outclassed by competitors like Dell and HP, the Mac mini remains one of the nicest small-form-factor PCs ever made. We’re not sure that the MacBook designs fit the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” ethos, but the Mac mini’s certainly does. Testing conducted by Apple in November and December 2022 using pre-production Mac mini systems with Apple M2 Pro, 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 32GB of RAM and 8TB SSD, pre-production Mac mini systems with Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 10‑core GPU, 24GB of RAM and 2TB SSD, production Mac mini systems with Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM and 2TB SSD, and production 3.8GHz 8-core Intel Core i7–based iMac systems with AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB of GDDR6, 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, as well as production 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7–based Mac mini systems with Intel Iris UHD Graphics 630, 64GB of RAM and 2TB SSD. Final Cut Pro 10.6.5 tested using a complex 2-minute clip with 4K Apple ProRes RAW media. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac mini and iMac.
AirPods Max
This 3D-printed case for the Mac Mini M2 has two parts. A large groove for the Mac Mini and a horizontal slot for the iPad. This slot is fastened via a hinge, akin to a laptop screen. You can insert up to an 8.3-inch iPad Mini into this slot to be used as a monitor. The case has openings for the ports on the Mac Mini as well as on the iPad so that the I/O isn’t restricted.
The M2 Pro’s key advantage over the M2 is that it has double the memory bandwidth, at 200MB/sec vs 100MB/sec. It also can be configured with more cores: up to 12 versus a mere eight (consisting of up to eight high performance cores and four efficiency cores), and this combined advantage shows quite clearly in the benchmark results. For this review, I was supplied with the 12-core M2 Pro rather than the 10-core model, so you will see slightly less impressive results from the 10-core chip, but nonetheless it’s obvious that it’s a pretty big step up from the M2 to the M2 Pro. Both models can be further configured to offer up to 16GB of unified memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage. Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro will be available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, and New Zealand beginning Friday, February 3. What I wasn’t quite expecting to see was such a bump in GPU performance. In the admittedly quite simple GFXBench Metal Car Chase benchmark, which is designed to test gaming graphics performance, you can see that the 16-core GPU in the M2 Pro outperforms that of the Apple Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra I tested last year.AppleCare+ for Mac provides expert technical support and additional hardware coverage from Apple, including up to two incidents of accidental damage protection every 12 months, each subject to a fee.