In addition to the new MacBook Pros, Apple has announced an updated Mac Mini, its most affordable desktop computer. The new model includes M2 and M2 Pro processors and a significantly cheaper price tag — the base configuration will set you back $599 instead of $699 (M1-based Mac mini).
Apple says the new processors deliver “pro-level performance” to the Mac Mini, which is “previously unthinkable” in such a compact design. While the computer is visually unchanged, it now offers faster processors, more integrated memory, better connectivity, and up to three displays (on the M2 Pro).
Mac Mini with 8-core M2 supports up to 24GB of integrated memory with high bandwidth, allowing for faster performance in productivity and professional applications. According to Apple, image editing in Adobe Photoshop is up to 50 percent faster than the previous generation. Also, the M2 processor enables ProRes acceleration for better video editing in Final Cut Pro with simultaneous playback of two 8K ProRes 422 30 fps or twelve 4K ProRes 422 30 fps video streams.
After all, no Apple presentation is complete without shadowing the windows. Apple claims the new Mac Mini is five times faster than the best-selling Windows desktop. Other performance comparisons provided by Apple are:
When compared to the Mac Mini with the Intel Core i7,3 Mac Mini the M2 offers:
- Up to 22x faster machine learning (ML) image upscaling performance in Pixelmator Pro.
- 9.8x faster complex timeline rendering in Final Cut Pro.
When compared with the previous generation Mac mini, the M1,1 delivers the M2 with the Mac mini.:
- Up to 2.4x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
- Up to 50% faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
- Up to 35% faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
The M2 Pro-based Mac mini has a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU, plus up to 32GB of 200GB/s integrated memory. There’s also a “next-generation” neural engine with 40% faster performance than the M1. All that raw horsepower allows the computer to run up to five 8K ProRes 422 30 fps or 23 4K ProRes 422 videos at 30 fps.
Compared to the 27-inch iMac with Intel Core i7 and Radeon Pro 5500 XT, the Mac mini with M2 Pro 4 offers:
- Up to 50% faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
- Up to 5.5x faster panoramic integration in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
- Up to 4.4x faster object tracking in Final Cut Pro.
Compared to the previous-generation M1 Mac mini, the 1 Mac mini with the M2 Pro delivers:
- Up to 2.5x faster graphics performance in Affinity Photo.
- Up to 4.2x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
- Up to 2.8x faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
In terms of connectivity, the new Mac Mini has four Thunderbolt 4 ports (two in the M2 variant), two USB-A, one HDMI, one Gigabit Ethernet port (with optional 10GB connectivity), an updated headphone jack that’s high-impedance. Supports headphones. . Wireless includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The updated Mac Mini is now available for pre-order. at apple.com. Apple has promised to ship the computer to select regions on January 24, 2023.
