The Mac Mini is simple to overlook because it isn’t a particularly fascinating little, square PC from Apple. It lacks the ultra-powerfulness of the Mac Studio, the modularity of the Mac Pro, and the vibrancy of the 24-inch iMac. Like you can with a MacBook, you can’t exactly carry it around and work anyplace. But the 2023 redesign makes it clearer that it’s Apple’s most functional device.
The only difference between the new Mac Mini and its predecessor from 2020 is that it now uses Apple’s newest M2 and M2 Pro processors. Just the fact that it’s a cheap plug-and-play solution that’s nonetheless powerful enough for people like content creators gives this small system fresh life. Starting at $599, the base price is more accessible than ever, and at $1,299, the Mac Mini is the most affordable way to get the M2 Pro CPU. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which start at $1,999 and $2,499, respectively, are the only other Macs powered by the M2 Pro. The entry-level Mac Studio, which costs $1,999 and has an M1 Max chip, is the closest desktop substitute. However, most people don’t require that much strength.
It doesn’t need to be extravagant. Regardless of the CPU you choose, the Mini is a clever and convenient way to obtain all the power most people require without breaking the bank—and you actually get to choose the peripherals!
Bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse
The BYODKM principle still applies on the Mac Mini. Because you just receive the device and a power cord in the package, the initialism “bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse” was first used by Steve Jobs in 2005 when he launched the first Mac Mini. The built-in speakers aren’t very good, so you need add a set of speakers for when you’re not wearing headphones.
If you already own such peripherals, the BYO design is fantastic news. You’re ready to go once you plug everything in. Even if you’re creating your workspace from scratch, it doesn’t have to be pricey. There are several excellent and affordable keyboards, mouse, and displays available that won’t drive up the price. Because of how small and unobtrusive the machine is, it is simple to design accessories around its footprint. In addition, it weighs only 2.6 pounds, making it portable and ideal for hybrid workers who spend time both at home and in the office.
If you appreciate having a lot of screens around your workstation, you might be surprised to hear that the standard Mac Mini, like the M1-powered model, only supports two external displays. Most people will find that to be sufficient, but if you upgrade to the M2 Pro, you can connect up to three monitors to enjoy all of that blue light.
Connectivity
The Mac Mini’s ports are the biggest complaint. The M2-powered model contains a 3.5-mm headphone connector, an HDMI port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, two USB-A ports, and a 10-gigabit Ethernet port. You can add two more Thunderbolt 4 ports by upgrading to the M2 Pro model. However, we wish Apple had included two USB-C connections and an SD card slot on the front of the device, similar to the Mac Studio.
With M2 and M2 Pro, performance is increased
The M2 is more than enough if you only intend to use this device for simple chores like web browsing, emailing, and making video calls. However, it is advised to upgrade to the model with 512 GB of internal storage because, like the base M2 MacBook Air, the base Mac Mini is said to have inferior SSD speeds.
However, for the majority of video and photo editors, the M2 Pro is a fantastic desktop solution. You won’t feel as though you are pushing the machine past its capacity. The additional ports are also always nice. (Those working in the industry with demanding jobs like 3D rendering and motion graphics should still choose the Mac Studio’s M1 Max chip.)
Apple has now filled a significant and serious gap by giving customers the option between the M2 and the M2 Pro. However, unlike a conventional desktop PC, these Macs still don’t offer many possibilities for future updates, despite how simple they are to use.
