Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Was the M2 Pro upgrade worth the wait? | Mage Tech

Worth when reviewed

$1,299

Greatest costs immediately: Apple Mac mini (M2 Professional, 2023)

$1299

$1,299.00

Not obtainable

When Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022, we had been impressed with its processing energy and glorious worth in comparison with the Mac Professional. Mac Studio is a good deal for content material creators of any stage, and admittedly, it is a appropriate substitute. for Apple’s high-end Mac in some conditions. However not everybody wants the total energy of a Mac Studio with M1 Max, not to mention the $3,999 M1 Extremely.

So regardless of the arrival of Mac Studio, there was a spot in Apple’s lineup. Whereas the MacBook Professional has provided an M1 Professional and now an M2 Professional chip, there hasn’t been a desktop Mac with such a chip till now. In January 2023, Apple launched a brand new M2 Professional Mac mini. It is the Mac we have been ready for since Apple launched the M1 Mac mini in November 2020, however left the high-end Intel mannequin behind.

Now that now we have the M2 Professional Mac mini, is the Mac Studio a much less enticing proposition? Do you have to skip the M1 Max Mac Studio and watch for Apple to give you a model with the M2 Max chip? Learn on for all of the solutions.

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Worth

We love the worth of the M1 Max Mac Studio. At $1,999/£1,999, it is $1,500/£1,300 lower than the M1 Max variant of the 16-inch MacBook Professional. At that value, there’s greater than sufficient left over to purchase a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

The Mac mini M2 Professional can be a discount in comparison with a equally specced MacBook Professional. The M2 Professional Mac mini with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU prices $1,299 / £1,399 in comparison with the $1,999 / £2,149 14-inch MacBook Professional with the identical chip. We perceive these are very totally different machines, but it surely illustrates how a lot it can save you by shopping for considered one of Apple’s desktop Macs. The Mac mini and Mac Studio are essentially the most cost-effective solution to get Apple’s strongest processors.

Evaluating desktop computer systems, let’s take a better take a look at what you get in your cash:

• Mac Studio: M1 Max (10-core CPU, 24-core GPU), 32GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1999/£1999
• macmini: M2 Professional (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU), 16GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,299 / £1,399

Closing the hole between the 2 machines even additional: you’ll be able to max out the Mac mini with an M2 Professional that has a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU with 32GB of reminiscence for a similar $1,999/£1,999 because the Mac Studio.

One other factor to contemplate is whether or not it is value laying aside shopping for till Apple introduces the M2 Max variant of Mac Studio, which is able to possible occur someday in 2023. Since we’re discussing pricing right here, we’ll notice that Mac Studio is prone to expertise a value improve when the brand new mannequin is launched, at the least outdoors the US, so preserve that in thoughts when you determine to attend.

For those who’re looking for a Mac, check out our roundup of the very best Mac mini offers and the very best Mac Studio offers.

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Design

Mac Studio is impressed by the design of the Mac mini. Each Macs are silver (there is no Area Grey model) and have a big Apple brand on prime. The Mac Studio measures 7.7 sq. inches, the identical because the Mac mini, however is 3.7 inches tall, virtually 3 times the peak of the Mac mini.

That additional house contained in the Mac Studio means it advantages from a extra environment friendly cooling system. Mac Studio additionally affords a helpful assortment of ports on the entrance, together with two USB-C ports and an SDXC card slot.

Apple

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Specs

Though the M2 Professional is a more recent chip than the M1 Max, the M1 Max, at the least when it comes to GPU cores, is the superior chip. Nevertheless it’s not an apples-to-apples comparability. This is how the specs evaluate:

Mac mini M2 Professional

• Base mannequin: 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,299/£1,399
• Further choices: 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU ($300/£300), 32GB reminiscence ($400/£400), 1TB/2TB/4TB8TB SSD (as much as $2400)

Mac Studio M1 Max

• Base mannequin: 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 32GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,999/£1,999
• Further choices: 32-core GPU ($200/£200), 64GB reminiscence ($400/£400), 1TB/2TB/4TB8TB SSD (as much as $2400)

CPU

When it comes to CPU, it would not seem to be a major distinction – there is a 10-core CPU as customary on each gadgets. However there are enhancements on the newer chip, together with a distinction within the variety of effectivity cores, from two to 4 on the newer chip.

Apple claims that the M2 Professional and M2 Max supply 20 % higher CPU efficiency than the M1 Professional and M1 Max. This performed out in our exams. As you’ll be able to see in our Geekbench benchmarks, Mac Studio with M1 Max (10 cores) lagged behind in multicore outcomes. The Mac mini we in contrast it to was a built-to-order mannequin with 12 cores, so anticipate an enchancment, however even in single-core benchmarks, the M2 Professional scored larger.

We noticed an analogous state of affairs in Cinebench R23 benchmarks, with the 12-core Mac mini M2 Professional beating the M1 Max in Mac Studio. Provided that the M1 Professional and M1 Max noticed very related benchmarks, we will definitely anticipate an enchancment even with the usual 10-core CPU choice.

GPUs

In the case of GPU cores, issues are a bit totally different. The usual Mac mini M2 Professional affords 16 graphics cores (up from 19), however the usual Mac Studio with M1 Max has a 24-core GPU (up from 32, and there will likely be as much as 38 graphics cores within the M2 Max). Whereas the M2 Professional’s GPU cores are forward of the M1 Professional’s, the M1 Max nonetheless affords higher graphics efficiency.

To get an concept of ​​how this fares in benchmarks, Geekbench 5 Compute compares the 16-inch MacBook Professional with an M2 Professional (12-core CPU, 19-core GPU) in opposition to the 14-inch MacBook Professional with an M2 Professional. M1Max. (10-core CPU, 32-core GPU).

Our iMovie benchmarks present the impact of the M1 Max’s two video encoding engines. The M2 Professional cannot sustain.

Nonetheless, the sooner CPU and Neural Engine within the M2 Professional make it sooner than the M1 Max when the video stabilization characteristic is utilized.

RAM

There are different methods Max beats Professional, regardless of the technology. The M1 Max has extra reminiscence bandwidth (400 GB/sec vs. 200 GB/sec) and may supply extra RAM than the M2 Professional (64 GB vs. 32 GB). Observe that there’s a 96GB RAM choice for the M2 Max that may come to Mac Studio, however there is a catch: the 96GB RAM choice is restricted to the 38 GPU core model of the M2 Max, whereas that the least costly choice with 30 GPU cores nonetheless maxes out at 64GB.

ports

Apple

The Mac Studio has essentially the most ports, with two USB-C ports and an SDXC card slot on the entrance, and 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 10Gb Ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. within the again. The M2 Professional Mac mini has 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, Gigabit Ethernet (10Gb ethernet prices an additional $100), and a headphone jack. In fact, there are many USB-C hubs obtainable in order for you much more choices.

You will discover that Mac mini affords the brand new HDMI 2.1 customary. HDMI 2.1 offers assist for 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 60Hz. With HDMI 2.0, you can solely join one show as much as [email protected] decision. In fact, you’ll be able to add further shows through the Thunderbolt ports on each Mac Studio and Mac mini. Mac mini with M2 Professional helps as much as three shows, whereas Mac Studio helps as much as 4 Professional Show XDR and one 4K show.

The 2023 Mac mini additionally affords the brand new Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 customary, whereas the Mac Studio has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Apple

Mac Studio M1 Max vs. Mac mini M2 Professional: Shopping for recommendation

Now that the M2 Professional Mac mini is right here, the Mac Studio with M1 Max definitely appears much less spectacular than it as soon as did. Now it can save you $700/£700 by shopping for a Mac mini with M2 Professional, as an alternative of Mac Studio, and nonetheless get a machine highly effective sufficient in your wants.

However in order for you the higher M2 Professional chip and RAM, it makes extra sense to take a look at the Mac Studio, even with an older M1 chip. It has extra ports, a extra highly effective chip, and the comfort of front-facing ports. For a similar $1,999, the selection between an M2 Professional Mac mini and an M1 Max Mac Studio should not be tough.

Nonetheless, we assume there will likely be an replace to the M2 Max and M2 Extremely for Mac Studio someday in 2023, so it might be well worth the wait. And there are additionally robust rumors {that a} new silicone Mac Professional from Apple will arrive within the coming months. However when you want a desktop Mac proper now, the $1,299 Mac mini is an effective choice till you begin including choices.

For extra assist deciding which Mac to purchase, learn our Greatest Mac shopping for information.