Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro: what changes in Apple’s computer | computers

Entry computers will cost from R$ 7,499 and there is still no prediction of when they will be launched in Brazil. Below you can see what has changed with the new models of Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro.

🔎 Apple unveils new MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips; see price

Apple has stayed true to the idea that you don’t mess with a team that’s winning and has maintained the minimalist look adopted in the Mac mini since 2010. The compact size remains, at a mere 19.7 cm in width and length and 3.58 cm in height , as well as the gray aluminum housing. The cable entries and the exhaust are located at the back, while the apple logo stamps the top.

The new Mac mini for the first time comes with a professional version, which has more advanced hardware (as we will explain below). Externally, both models are identical, except that the Pro version is slightly heavier: 1.28 kg versus 1.18 kg.

Before talking about the technical specifications, it’s important to know the new chips coming to the Mac mini. The previous model, launched in November 2020, uses the Apple M1 chip, the company’s first aimed at computers since 2006, when Apple started to adopt chips. Intel. using the architecture ARMthe M1 uses the system-on-chip (SoC) platform, which unites processor and GPU on a single board.

In 2022, Apple launched the second generation of the chip, called the M2, which is present in the brand’s latest notebooks, the MacBook Air it’s the MacBook Pro 13-inch, and now comes to the new Mac mini. According to Apple, the improvement in performance is 18% in CPU by 35% GPUin addition to having 50% more bandwidth than memory. One of the reasons for this difference is the number of transistors (20 billion in M2 versus 16 billion in M1).

Finally, Apple also announced a Pro model of the Mac mini, which uses the new M2 Pro chip. Like the M1 Pro, the M2 Pro is aimed at anyone who works with image editing and achieves a huge leap in performance thanks to its 40 billion transistors — against 33.7 billion for the M1 Pro. According to the company, performance can be up to four times better compared to the 2020 Mac mini model.

Technical specifications

In addition to the M2 chip, the new Mac mini also has improvements in the technical part. In common, both the 2020 and 2023 models have an 8-core CPU (4 performance and 4 efficiency) and a 16-core Neural Engine.

However, the Mac mini with M2 has a 10-core GPU, while the model with M1 has only 8. In terms of RAM, the 2023 model has a capacity of up to 24 GB, while the 2020 model reaches up to 16 GB. As with all desktop models, the memory card is soldered, making it impossible to upgrade.

The Pro version has a CPU with up to 12 cores (8 for performance and 4 for efficiency), a GPU with up to 19 cores and a 16-core Neural Engine. As for RAM memory, the Mac mini Pro reaches up to 32 GB, in addition to having 200 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

For the first time, Mac mini comes with Thunderbolt 4 input. This update allows you to connect a higher resolution display. 8K, except that this option is only available for the model with the M2 Pro chip. The Pro model still manages to connect up to three 4K displays simultaneously, while the standard model allows for up to two 4K displays using this connection.

Another novelty is the possibility of adding a Gigabit Ethernet port of 10 Gb/s, which enables very high speed downloads and uploads. In addition, the wireless network uses the Wi-Fi 6E standardwhich allows you to use the 6 GHz frequency bands, and the Bluetooth version is 5.3, the latest.

software compatibility

The new Mac mini will come standard with the latest version of macOSo Ventura. According to the company, the M2 chip manages to use the full potential of the operating system launched in 2022, which is designed to integrate the Apple ecosystem more fluidly.

It is worth mentioning that the ARM architecture of the M1 and M2 chips is the same used in other Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads and even the Apple TV 4K. Therefore, some apps can be used together, such as using the FaceTime on more than one gadget or use the camera on iPhone like webcam.

Since its first launch, the Mac mini has become one of the most affordable options among Apple’s desktops. And so it has remained. In Brazil, the Mac mini with an M2 chip has an official price of R$7,499, while the Pro version costs R$15,799.

Despite costing twice as much as the standard model, the Mac Mini Pro still manages to be cheaper than the recent model. Mac Studio (which costs from R$ 23,799) and that the top of the line Mac Pro (which costs at least R$56,699).

Both models are already available for pre-order, however, there is still no date for when they will be launched in Brazil. In the US, Mac mini with M2 and Mac mini with M2 Pro are expected to ship on January 24th.

With information from Apple e Apple Insider