The usual refrain for the Mac mini is that it's a simple and good value way to get people into the Mac ecosystem, and this is no different. In an unobtrusive block of aluminum, Apple packs in more than enough computing power to keep people productive, in an overall inexpensive package.
These qualities makes the Mac mini a fantastic tool for switchers, coders who need Windows and Mac hardware, and those looking for a quick computing upgrade for their desktop.
In 2023, Apple has gone with an entry-level M2 and a higher-end model with the M2 Pro. This is a similar strategy that it had with the Intel Mac mini, and been rumored for some time.
The two tiers serve very different markets. In this review, we'll be examining the $599 configuration with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and the M2 processor. We'll be looking at the M2 Pro in a future review.
Mac mini is very much a known quantity in the Apple catalog, and it has steadfastly remained the same externally between generations. You know deep down that the new one's more powerful than the last, and it will do what you want it to do.
M2 Mac mini - Design
The appearance of the Mac mini is, as usual, bold and impressive while also clearly communicating Apple's decade-long Mac design language from afar. It's a square-ish flat aluminum enclosure with an Apple logo on the top, rounded corners, and a sleek appearance that keeps all of the ports and other needed bits to the rear.
Practically everything after this point will be things brought up in earlier Mac mini discussions, because they've not changed. For a start, the measurements of the Mac mini are officially 7.75 inches long and wide, and 1.41 inches tall.
These numbers are different from the previous generation, but only because Apple's rounding to two decimal places, not one. This is evident in the metric measurements of 19.7cm or 19.70cm wide and long, and the height of 3.6cm for the M1 replaced by 3.58cm for the M2.
We've already tried it in mounts, docks, and so forth that rely on the form-factor, and it still fits fine in everything.
The weight is also identical to last time at 2.6 pounds, though in metric, the 1.2kg of the M1 is now 1.18kg in the M2 model.
To a point, and pardon the pun, Apple has boxed itself into a corner with the design. It's more than ideal for what the system offers, and Apple has few reasons to actually change how it looks.
Many rumors pointed to the Mac mini having a major design overhaul, including a plexiglass-like cover and a generally thinner appearance. We obviously didn't get that.
Apple could have used the opportunity to introduce a big change to its appearance, like it did for the 24-inch iMac and the MacBook Air. Instead, it offered the same well-worn design with no changes.
This isn't a bad thing. Accessories remain the same, and it's easy to market.