Malcolm Owen
Apple has updated the Mac mini, with the second-generation Apple Silicon model now including M2 and M2 Pro chip options.
Announced as part of Apple's January launch event, the newest Apple Silicon Mac mini has undergone a spec bump, with an internal upgrade giving it more performance, and more chip options.
The main change is that Apple has upgraded the chip from an M1 to the choice of an M2 or M2 Pro, giving users the choice to go for a higher-performance version of the compact Mac.
That includes an M2 with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, the 16-core Neural Engine, and the Media Engine. Unified memory is offered in 8GB, 16GB, and 24GB varieties, with 100GB/s of memory bandwidth.
M2 Mac miniThe M2 Pro starts with a 10-core CPU with 6 performance and four efficiency cores as well as a 16-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine, and the Media Engine. An upgrade option is available, boosting the CPU to 12 cores and the GPU up to 19 cores.
On the memory side, with 200GB/s of memory bandwidth, the M2 Pro starts at 16GB of unified memory, with a configuration option of 32GB.
For storage, the M2 model has a 256GB SSD with 512GB, 1TBm, and 2TB options. The M2 Pro version starts at 512GB and has 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options.
The M2 Pro Mac mini has more Thunderbolt ports than the M2 version. While there were rumors that Apple would bring out an overhauled design for the Mac mini, it seems at this time it's staying pretty identical to the M1 version. This includes the 7.75-inch rounded square aluminum enclosure, with all of the ports to the rear.
The M2 model's port selection is identical to the M1 version, including Gigabit Ethernet with 10Gig upgrades available, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. The M2 Pro version adds another two Thunderbolt 4 ports to the mix.
Another internal change is wireless connectivity, with upgrades to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 included.
Apple says the new Mac mini models are available to order from Tuesday. Shipments will arrive as early as January 24.
The Mac mini with M2 starts at $599, while the M2 Pro version will start from $1,299.
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13 Comments
Yes. It’s time.
Cool -- it really is 12 cores for the M2 Pro. One thing I've learned since getting my M2 MacBook Air is that the 'efficiency' cores in the M2 are pretty powerful.
I'm super curious to learn what process is used to fab the M2 Pro. I'll be shocked if it's 3nm. Might be 4nm. Probably 5P (same as M2).
The M2 Pro configuration is more expensive than what I had hoped, but I knew my hopes were likely too optimistic. Still, though -- these look like the best Minis ever (not just in absolute terms -- also relative to what else is available on the market at the same time).
Not to be ungrateful, but where are the Mac Studio updates with the M2 Pro, Max and Ultra options?
At $599 for the M2 Mini if the rumored more affordable Apple monitors materialize such a combination might be a really good entry point for potential Mac converts.