Mac mini M2 Pro vs Mac Studio: Why it was worth the wait

Finest Costs As we speak: Apple Mac mini (M2 Professional, 2023)

$1,299.00

Not Obtainable

When Apple launched the Mac Studio in March 2022 we had been impressed by its spectacular processing energy and glorious worth for cash. The Mac Studio is an excellent deal for content material creators of any degree, and, frankly, it’s an acceptable substitute for the Mac Professional in some conditions. However not everybody wants all the ability of a Mac Studio with M1 Max, not to mention the M1 Extremely.

Regardless of the arrival of the Mac Studio there was a spot in Apple’s line up although. Whereas the MacBook Professional has supplied an M1 Professional, and now an M2 Professional chip, there was no desktop Mac with such a configuration, till now. In January 2023 Apple launched a Mac mini with M2 Professional chip. It’s the Mac we’ve got been ready for ever since Apple launched the M1 Mac mini in November 2020.

Now that we’ve got the Mac mini M2 Professional is the Mac Studio a much less enticing proposition? Do you have to keep away from the Mac Studio with M1 Max and anticipate Apple to introduce a model with the M2 Max chip. We examine.

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Value

We love the value of the M1 Max Mac Studio. At $1,999/£1,999 it value $1,500/£1,300 lower than the M1 Max variant of the 16-inch MacBook Air did. At that value there was greater than sufficient left over to purchase the required display screen, mouse and keyboard.

The Mac mini M2 Professional additionally represents a discount when in comparison with a equally specced MacBook Professional. The Mac mini M2 Professional 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, prices $1,299/£1,399 in comparison with the 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU 14-inch MacBook Professional that prices $700/£750 extra at $1,999/£2,149.

However we aren’t evaluating the MacBook Professional and the Mac mini, or the Mac Studio and MacBook Professional right here. We point out these comparisons for instance simply how a lot it can save you by shopping for one in all Apple’s desktop Macs. The Mac mini and Mac Studio are essentially the most value efficient technique to get the Apple’s strongest processors.

Right here the query is extra about whether or not it’s value spending the additional $700/£700 to get the M1 Max within the Mac Studio (from $1,999/£1,999), or whether or not you must get monetary savings with the Mac mini with M2 Professional (from $1,299/£1,399).

Let’s take a better take a look at what you get to your cash:

• Mac Studio M1 Professional 10-Core CPU, 24-Core GPU, 32GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,999/£1,999
• Mac mini M2 Professional 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,299/£1,399

Closing the hole between the 2 machines additional: You possibly can max out the Mac mini with a M2 Professional 12-Core CPU, 19-Core GPU and 32GB reminiscence for $1,599/£1,599.

One other factor to think about is whether or not it’s value holding off on the acquisition till Apple introduces the M2 Max variant of the Mac Studio, which is more likely to occur sooner or later in 2023. Since we’re discussing value right here, we’ll be aware that it’s possible that the Mac Studio will see a value hike when the brand new mannequin is launched, at the very least outdoors the U.S., so hold that in thoughts should you do resolve to attend.

If you’ll purchase both Mac check out our spherical up of one of the best Mac mini offers and one of the best Mac Studio offers.

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Design

Apple

The Mac Studio takes its design inspiration from the Mac mini. Each Macs are silver (there is no such thing as a Area Grey model) and have a giant Apple brand on prime. The Mac Studio measures 7.7 inches sq., the identical because the Mac mini, however it’s 3.7 inches tall, almost 3 times the peak of the Mac mini.

That additional area contained in the Mac Studio means it advantages from a extra environment friendly cooling system (though in case you are after the final word thermal system you must look to the M1 Extremely Mac Studio).

Apart from the peak distinction, the Mac Studio provides a helpful assortment of ports on the entrance, together with two USB-C ports and an SDXC card slot. We’ll focus on ports in additional element beneath.

Mac Studio M1 Max vs Mac mini M2 Professional: Specs

Despite the fact that the M2 Professional is a more recent chip than the M1 Max, the M1 Max, at the very least when it comes to GPU cores is the superior chip. If we had been evaluating the M2 Max and the M1 Max, or the M2 Professional and M1 Professional there could be clear enhancements, however we’re evaluating the M1 Max and M2 Professional – two very completely different chips.

Based on Apple, the M2 Professional and M2 Max chips supply 20 p.c higher CPU efficiency and 30 p.c quicker GPU efficiency than the M1 Professional and M1 Max did. Different enhancements embrace a more recent Neural Engine, which is as much as 40 p.c quicker than the one within the M1 sequence.

Right here’s how the specs examine:

Mac mini M2 Professional

• 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,299/£1,399
• Extra choices: 12-Core CPU, 19-Core GPU +$300/£300, 32GB reminiscence +$400/£400, as much as 8TB SSD

Mac Studio M1 Max

• 10-Core CPU, 24-Core GPU, 32GB unified reminiscence, 512GB SSD, $1,999/£1,999
• Extra choices: 32-Core GPU +$200/£200, 64GB reminiscence +$400/£400, as much as 8TB SSD

CPU

When it comes to CPU it doesn’t seem like a big distinction—there’s a 10-core CPU as normal in each units. However there are enhancements within the newer chip, together with, Apple claims, a bigger L2 cache, although it doesn’t present specifics. There’s additionally a distinction within the variety of effectivity cores—up from two to 4 within the newer chip.

Apple claims that the M2 Professional and M2 Max supply 20 p.c higher CPU efficiency than the M1 Professional and M1 Max.

This performed out in our testing. As you may see from our Geekbench benchmarks, the Mac Studio with M1 Max (10-core) lagged behind within the multicore outcomes. The Mac mini we in contrast it to was a build-to-order mannequin with 12-cores, so an enchancment is to be anticipated, however even in single core benchmarks, the M2 Professional scored increased.

We noticed the same state of affairs in with our Cinebench R23 benchmarks, with the 12-core Mac mini M2 Professional beating the M1 Max within the Mac Studio. Because the M1 Professional and M1 Max noticed very comparable benchmarks, we are able to definitely anticipate an enchancment even with the usual 10-core CPU possibility.

GPU

With regards to GPU cores issues are a bit completely different. The usual Mac mini M2 Professional provides 16 graphics cores (as much as 19), however the usual Mac Studio with M1 Max has 24-core GPU (as much as 32, and there shall be as much as 38 graphics cores within the M2 Max).
Whereas the GPU cores of the M2 Professional are forward of these within the M1 Professional, the M1 Max nonetheless provides the higher graphics efficiency.

To get an thought of how this performs out in testing, in Geekbench 5 Compute benchmarks the 16in MacBook Professional with M2 Professional (12-core CPU, 19-core GPU) scored beneath the 14-inch MacBook Professional with M1 Max (10-core CPU, 32-core GPU).

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

Nevertheless, the quicker CPU and Neural Engine within the M2 Professional make it quicker than the M1 Max when making use of the video stabilizing characteristic.

RAM

There are different methods through which the Max beats the Professional, whichever technology. The M1 Max has extra reminiscence bandwidth (400 GB/sec vs 200 GB/sec) and may supply extra RAM than the M2 Professional can (64GB vs 32GB).

Be aware that there’s a 96GB RAM possibility for the M2 Max which can be coming to the Mac Studio, however there’s a catch—the 96GB RAM possibility is proscribed to the model of the M2 Max with 38 GPU cores, whereas the inexpensive possibility with 30 GPU cores nonetheless tops out at 64GB.

Ports

Apple

The Mac Studio has essentially the most ports, with two USB-C ports and one SDXC card slot on the entrance and 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, one 10Gb Ethernet port, and one 3.5mm headphone jack on the again. 10 gigabit Ethernet is normal.

That’s greater than sufficient ports for most individuals, however you don’t have to purchase a Mac Studio to get all these ports—there are many USB-C hubs accessible if you’d like much more choices.

Not that the Mac mini doesn’t supply a good provide of ports. There are fewer than there are on the Mac Studio, however you’ll nonetheless discover 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, Gigabit Ethernet and a headphone jack. You possibly can pay an additional $100/£100 for a ten gigabit Ethernet possibility.

You’ll discover that the newer Mac mini provides the newer HDMI 2.1 normal. HDMI 2.1 brings help for 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 60Hz. With HDMI 2.0, you could possibly solely join one show with as much as 4K decision at 60Hz. You possibly can in fact add extra shows through the Thunderbolt ports on each the Mac Studio and Mac mini. The Mac mini with M2 Professional helps as much as three shows, whereas the Mac Studio helps as much as 4 Professional Show XDRs and one 4K show.

The 2023 Mac mini additionally provides the brand new WiFi 6E normal and Bluetooth 5.3 (though that’s extra about future-proofing proper now).

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 seems much less spectacular than it did. There’s a group of Mac customers who can now save $700/£700 by shopping for a Mac mini with M2 Professional, quite than the Mac Studio, and nonetheless get a machine that’s a lot highly effective sufficient for his or her wants.

Nevertheless, there’s additionally a gaggle of Mac customers who want the additional graphics prowess that solely the Max can supply, be it the M1 Max, or the M2 Max. The Mac Studio with M2 Max is certain to make an look sooner or later in 2023 so it might be value ready. Alternatively, an much more highly effective machine might be within the pipeline—the Mac Professional is certain to be launched in 2023.

Within the meantime, listed below are one of the best costs proper now for the Mac Studio.

$1999.00

$1999.99

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