Compared to the previous-generation Mac mini, M2 and M2 Pro bring a faster next-generation CPU and GPU, much higher memory bandwidth, and a more powerful media engine to Mac mini, delivering extraordinary performance and industry-leading power efficiency. Both models feature an advanced thermal system for exceptional sustained performance. Apple has made big strides in improving the efficiency of the M2 Pro chip, and while that is arguably more important when it comes to the MacBook, as better efficiency can lead to longer battery life, it’s also welcome with the Mac mini. Due to its compact size, the Mac mini can keep working without producing too much heat, and that means it also doesn’t need to use its fans that often, leading to a pleasingly silent PC. In these days of ever-higher energy bills, the efficiencies brought in by the M2 and M2 Pro are certainly welcome, especially if you’re planning on using the Mac mini for long periods of time.

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. YouTuber Brandon Butch tested the base model and found that the M2 Pro was around 32% faster than the M2 in a multi-core Geekbench 5 run. Butch also highlighted the SSD in the base model. The 256GB SSD is about half the speed of the 512GB model, and Butch recommended upgrading the SSD even if you go with the base M2 chip. Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro will be available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, and New Zealand beginning Friday, February 3. 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 For most purposes, an external USB-C SSD can connect to one of the mini’s combined Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. The Samsung T5 can theoretically reach 5Gbit/s, and the T7 doubles that. I use a T7 to store photo libraries and Logic Pro X instruments, and there’s no noticeable lag compared to using the internal SSD. In actual use, I get around 650 MB/s for the T7, for read and write.

Apple’s little PC gets a big upgrade

There is one slight design change, though, as the M1 Mac mini comes in a new color: Silver. This is lighter than the Space Gray color of the Intel model, and it’s a handy way of differentiating between the two, although if you prefer the Space Gray look (and to be honest, we do), it's not an option with the Mac mini. The model I got in for review is the M2 Pro model, but I’m reasonably sure that the performance of the Mac mini (2023) with the M2 chip will be pretty close to the M2 models of the MacBook Air and 13-inch Pro. If that is indeed the case – and I’ll hopefully get hold of an M2 Mac mini at some point to confirm – then you’re looking at an impressively versatile mini PC that, for the price, easily outperforms the competition. If you were disappointed with the price rise of the MacBook Air (M2, 2022), then the Mac mini (2023) with M2 is almost half the price - though, of course, no screen, keyboard, or mouse is included in the price. Results are compared to previous-generation 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7-based Mac mini systems with Intel UHD Graphics 630, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD. In addition to newer Thunderbolt and wireless protocols, the M2 Pro Mac mini comes with four Thunderbolt 4 ports as opposed to the two featured on the base M2 Mac mini. You can also add more storage and memory to the M2 Pro model. Slow storage is a bad buy on the Mac mini With a mini at the heart of my custom setup, however, if I want to update to the M3 Mac mini in 2022, or whenever it arrives, I only have to swap out the little mini. I can keep my monitor, keyboard, external storage, and all the rest. That minimizes the waste and expense of an upgrade. Plus, the Mac mini has one other practical, environmentally-friendly upgrade advantage: They hold their resale value. Buying (and selling) guide Example from Mac2Sell of the resale value of a 2018 Mac Mini

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. The Mac Mini M2 Pro has a couple of advantages, as well. It comes with two additional Thunderbolt 4 connections, enabling up to three displays or up to a single 8K monitor. It can even support 4K monitors at 240Hz if you wanted to pair a gaming display like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 with your Mac Mini (you probably shouldn’t). The Mac mini (2023)’s design is pretty much identical to the Mac mini from 2020, and that’s no bad thing. It remains small and unobtrusive, with a solid metal case and the large Apple logo on the top. This means you can spend just a few hundred dollars every few years, have the latest Mac, and know that your prior gear is finding good use. Mind you, the hunger for new hardware is the primary driver of e-waste, so the longer you can use your existing computer, the better. Selling off computers to another human who wants it is not a perfect circular economy, but then neither are Apple trade-ins. Boost your storage at a discount 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.

A few different aspects of this design deserve special mention. The case has been specially designed to fit the Mac mini perfectly, so you won’t have to worry about the case being too big or small for your computer. It also has enough room to store small accessories like a USB keyboard, mouse, flash drive, and even an Apple TV remote control.