Mac mini comparison: What’s different with the M2 and M2 Pro vs M1

After moving from Intel to the M1 in 2020, Apple has given the Mac mini a big refresh to kick off 2023. The new desktop has much more range when it comes to configurations and will cover more use cases with the option of picking the M2 or M2 Pro chip. Let’s dig in!

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Mac mini comparison: M2 and M2 Pro vs M1

CPU, GPU, memory, neural engine

The M2 is a moderate upgrade over the M1, but the M2 Pro brings a much greater range of power and capability to the Mac mini – serving as a step up without having to go all the way to the Mac Studio.

Apple says the M2 has an up to 18% faster CPU and up to 35% faster GPU than the M1. M2 also offers up to 24GB RAM, 50% more memory bandwidth, and a 40% faster neural engine than M1.

For more power, Apple says the M2 Pro gives 20% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU performance than the M1 Pro. And the M2 Pro neural engine has seen a 40% speed increase over its predecessor (note: the M1 Pro was never available in the 2020 Mac mini).

You’ve got up to 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU options with the M2 Pro plus up to 32GB RAM.

And another upgrade with the M2 Pro chip is dedicated ProRes encode and decode engines.

I/O

Both the M2 Pro and M2 Mac mini get upgrades when it comes to I/O. First, you’ve got WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on both builds.

Then the M2 Pro gets more improvements with double the Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports (4), support for up to 3 external displays, and up to 8K output via HDMI (presumably HDMI 2.1 but Apple doesn’t specify).

What’s in the box

Like its predecessor, the only thing in the M2/M2 Pro Mac mini box is the computer and the power cable.

Apple of course offers its Studio Display as its more affordable external monitor. But there are also many great alternatives that are less expensive:

You may also want to pick up Apple’s Magic Keyboard and mouse or check out options like Logitech’s fantastic MX Master lineup.

Mac mini comparison: price

A nice surprise with the new Mac mini, the base M2 configurations start $100 less than the M1 models. Jumping up to the M2 Pro Mac mini more than doubles the starting price of the M2 at $1,299 – but you’re getting a lot more power and double the storage and RAM.

Overall, the new Mac mini with M2 or M2 Pro is a fantastic refresh. It offers a lot more flexibility to configure the Mac you need without having to step all the way up to the Mac Studio.

For those that need a basic to medium-power machine, the M2 Mac mini will be a great fit with options between 8 and 24GB memory and storage up to 2TB.

For those with more intensive workflows like creative professionals or aspiring creative pros and similar that don’t need a decked-out Mac Studio, the M2 Pro Mac mini will likely fill a gap in the Mac lineup.

The new M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini are available to order now from Apple with the earliest availability starting January 24.