Apple is making the entry-level desktop Mac more attractive: In the future, the Mac mini will be available with the faster M2 chip and, for the first time, the optional Pro version of the chip (M2 Pro). The company introduced the M2 Pro on Tuesday together with the MacBook Pro 2023, as well as the fresh top model “M2 Max”. However, the latter is not offered for configuration in the Mac mini.
More ports with M2 Pro
Externally, the Mac mini remains unchanged, but with the M2 Pro chip, the number of Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C) has doubled from two in the entry-level model with M2 to four. All models also have two large USB ports type A on board, as well as HDMI and Gigabit Ethernet (10 Gigabit Ethernet is optional for a surcharge). With M2 Pro, the Mac mini supports the connection of three instead of two monitors.
The M2 is intended to further improve the performance of the Mac mini, which is already fast with the M1. With 24 GB of RAM and a memory bandwidth of 100 GB/s, image processing in Photoshop is up to 50 percent faster than its predecessor, Apple promises. The improved video engine of the M2 should also significantly speed up work with video material in Apple’s ProRes codec.
The M2 Pro has a memory bandwidth of 200 GB/s and supports up to 32 GB of RAM in the Mac mini. The Pro chip allows “high-performance workflows” that were not previously possible in such a compact case, writes Apple. Like the new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro 2022, the Mac mini now supports Wi-Fi 6E. Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board. The headphone jack is now also designed for high-impedance headphones, which are common in the studio, notes Apple.
Mac mini is getting cheaper
With the new models, the Intel Mac mini has also become obsolete, which Apple had kept in its range even after the big switch to its own ARM processors – among other things to offer a model that supports more than 16 GB of RAM.
In contrast to the MacBook Pro, the price of the Mac mini has not increased, but reduced: Apple is selling the entry-level model with an M2 chip, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD in Germany for just under 700 euros – 100 euros less than its predecessor previously cost from the manufacturer. For the Mac mini with M2 Pro, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, Apple estimates 1550 euros. In a full upgrade, the price rises above the 5000 euro mark. The new models will go on sale on January 24th.
(lbe)
