Key specs:
Value: From $599/£649 for primary and from $1,299/£1,399 for the Professional model
Weight: 2.6 lbs/1.18 kg
Reminiscence: 8 GB as commonplace, 16 GB, 24 GB and 32 GB choices
Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB and eight TB variations
Guarantee: 1 12 months, extendable with AppleCare
Working system: macOS Ventura (macOS Sonoma suitable)
CPU: Apple M2 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics: M2 consists of 10-core GPU (configurable with 16-core GPU)
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 2x USB-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Ethernet, HDMI
The Mac platform has arguably by no means been in a greater place for the reason that rollout of Apple Silicon, however it’s at all times been the laptops that take the plaudits. Whereas the M1 Mac Mini and M1 iMac had been nice, solely the previous noticed a bump as much as the most recent consumer-level chip, the M2. Which means the Mac Mini now affords its small form-factor with the M2 and M2 Professional chips as choices, and it additionally received a shock value drop to $599/£649 on the low-end.
Whereas not with out its flaws, the Mac Mini is a straightforward suggestion for anybody engaged on absolutely anything. It is received the ability for advanced duties and multitasking that places many Home windows desktops to disgrace. So, whereas technically not a MacBook, we expect that the Mac Mini M2 Professional is transportable sufficient to be thought of as an honorary point out for our greatest MacBook for college students record.
Mac Mini M2 Professional overview: Arrange & usability
So long as you have received peripherals useful, the arrange of the Mac Mini M2 Professional ought to take barely any time in any respect.
Join it up, hit the ability button (on the again nook) and macOS will information you thru setup, with the choice to import your settings from one other Mac, too.
Mac Mini M2 Professional overview: Design & Specs
- No design change
- Loads of ports, however they’re all on the again
From the skin, it is onerous to inform precisely what’s modified from the Mac Mini M1. The truth is, nothing has, that means you are still wanting on the identical rounded-square design, with aluminum casing and the Apple brand within the center.
The entrance and sides are equally nondescript (we might have preferred no less than one front-facing port, however you will want the dearer Mac Studio for that), however on the again, you will discover an HDMI port, a pair of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an Ethernet port. Should you go for the M2 Professional model, you will get an additional pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, too.
Within the field, you will discover a energy cable, and that is about it. Which means that you will want to produce your personal monitor, keyboard and mouse for the Mac Mini. You may additionally wish to take into account an extra onerous drive or SSD, since within the base mannequin you will solely get 256 GB of storage which could be very low except you retain the whole lot within the cloud.
Apple will cost you $200/£200 to double the storage, which is lots contemplating you may hook up an exterior drive for doubtlessly much less. We’ll word that the 8 GB of unified reminiscence is stable sufficient, however we might go for 16 GB should you can – one other $200/£200.
Mac Mini M2 Professional overview: Options & Efficiency
- Runs silently
- Superb for just about any process
Whereas the storage is low, we’re happy to report that we have been throwing duties on the Mac Mini M2 prefer it’s no person’s enterprise. Flicking between home windows whereas working intensive video games like Closing Fantasy XIV On-line, or modifying photos in Photoshop and Lightroom whereas checking emails and looking the net (in Chrome, no much less) has been clean as butter.
The true pleasure of the Mac Mini is that it runs silently, it doesn’t matter what you ask of it. It simply powers by, even when related to 2 shows. The fan is working, however you will need to get very shut to essentially inform.
We have already talked about the dearth of front-facing ports, however it appears like a giant miss given simply how a lot college students are more likely to join and disconnect peripherals. Nonetheless, the array of rear-facing choices definitely helps for connectivity with instruments like audio interfaces and SD card readers.
The truth is, we might argue that the Mac Mini, regardless of being Apple’s most cost-effective machine, is now the most suitable choice for creatives that may’t (or simply do not wish to) spend these further bucks on a MacBook or Mac Studio. Enhancing audio in Logic is a breeze, as is slicing collectively an edit in one thing like iMovie.
Mac Mini M2 Professional overview: Value
- Mac Mini M2 begins from $599/£649
- Mac Mini M2 Professional from $1,299/£1,399
- Best option to get into macOS
We have already talked about the extra price of storage, however should you do have a spare drive laying round, then that mixed with the bottom mannequin (the Mac Mini M2) is a superb laptop with pricing ranging from $599/£649.
Naturally, as you ramp up the specs issues get pricier, and doubling RAM and SSD house will take you to nearer to the value of the Mac Mini M2 Professional model which affords extra CPU and GPU grunt for $1,299/£1,399.
That additionally will get you an additional pair of ports, and there is an argument that choosing that might imply you will not need to improve once more for years. In any case, as soon as your Mac is constructed, you are unable to improve its components, so take into account what’s greatest on your wants.
You will additionally have to consider the price of an excellent keyboard and mouse combo, in addition to a monitor and, doubtlessly, a webcam.
Mac Mini M2 Professional overview: Consumer Critiques
Reviewers of the Mac Mini M2 and Mac Mini M2 Professional on Amazon are definitely happy, with an general 4.7 star out of 5 score from 519 opinions. 85% of these opinions providing a full 5-star score. It is value noting, nevertheless, that this rating relies on an amalgamation of opinions for each the Mac Mini M2 and the Mac Mini M2 Professional.
Customers had been amazed on the Mac Mini’s small, smooth dimension and the way highly effective the M2 chip may very well be. They discovered the Mac Mini M2 exceptional for the value as properly (word the Professional is dearer). There have been robust solutions that urged potential patrons to go for the upper reminiscence as sadly this isn’t one thing you may improve afterward. Customers additionally lamented concerning the lack of ports.
Do you have to purchase the Mac Mini M2 Professional?
Should you’ve already received a monitor, keyboard, mouse and webcam, the Mac Mini M2 or the Mac Mini M2 Professional are each a wonderful option to begin your macOS journey. It is extra inexpensive than it has been earlier than, whereas additionally being extra succesful for the whole lot from primary duties to extra power-intensive ones. This one will get a giant up from us.
If this Mac Mini 2 is not for you
There may be, in fact, the decrease price Mac Mini M2 – whereas its specs aren’t fairly nearly as good because the M2 Professional, it is nonetheless a reasonably first rate mini laptop and at a extra favorable value level too.
If you would like a conveyable Mac, the MacBook Air is a superb alternative that not solely affords the M2 chip, however now is available in MacBook Air 13-inch and MacBook Air 15-inch variations (each of that are good).
Or, if you wish to escape the Apple ecosystem altogether, then the AceMagician AMR5 Mini PC is a superb Home windows different.