Verdict
The Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) remains an impressively thickset yet muscular machine . It ’s ideal for those who work at a desktop but desire a Mac that does n’t take up much room . Despite it ’s small size , it ’s got the superpower to get plenty of tasks done without wink .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is one of the easiest to recommend Apple computers I have ever review . But , a new M3 interlingual rendition now hangs over making this purchase . Nevertheless , it stay on splendid economic value for money .
useable with either theM2 – just like the 13 - inchMacBook airwave M2and the recently releasedMacBook atmosphere 15 - column inch – or a more powerfulM2 Pro chip , the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is the most accessible way to jump into the M - serial Mac ecosystem Apple has create . There ’s been no discussion from Apple on when a newM3 - powered Mac Miniwill launch but , with the M3 serial making its debuted with theiMac ( 2023)andMacBook Protowards the final stage of last class , it seems likely the new simulation will crop up some meter over the next twelvemonth .
Having two very distinct inner selection also makes this a very various machine and in many ways a much better choice for most than theiMac 24 - column inch – especially for those who already have a monitor , keyboard and mouse lying around . But , if you do need more performance grunt , theMac Studiois on the market , with the newMac Studio ( 2023)having been released since the M2 Mac Mini debut .
Design
The Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is a ridiculously wide-eyed automobile to depend at . This both endure in its favour , and against it .
The basic look and small-scale proportion take into account the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) to easily correspond into an existing frame-up . The computer stands less than 4 cm improbable and less than 20 centimetre wide , making it roughly half the altitude of theMac Studiowhich looked chunky in comparison .
I manage to skid the Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) under an be monitor I tend to use with a link MacBook , and I did n’t have to rejig too much to make it primed . I call back the Mac Mini in general is best for those who already own a projection screen and peripherals ( keyboard , mouse , trackpad ) as that guarantee the only outlay is for the automobile itself .
The front and sides of the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) are all clean , with all the I / group O around the back . After using the Mac Studio , I found it slightly annoying have to reach behind the Mac Mini to plug anything in and the lack of an Mount Rushmore State card lecturer ( either on the front or the back ) signify many will have to add a dongle into the mix too . But then Apple will still want to sell the Mac Studio , so I can see why some of the features have been restricted to that .
The numeral of ports differs depending on the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) model chosen . The standard M2 model boasts HDMI ( 4 K out up to 60Hz ) , 2x USB - A ( up to 5Gb / s ) , 3.5 mm earphone larboard , GigabitEthernet(configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet ) and a duo ofThunderbolt 4 - enabled USB - C ports . Move to the M2 Pro version and you get an special two Thunderbolt 4 ports .
That ’s a decent selection of ports , whichever way you look at it . I ’m surprised USB - A remains , specially as it was ditched on the recent iMacs , and HDMI means it ’s not justUSB - Cmonitors that ’ll work .
Do n’t feel the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is restricted to rigid desk role , though . This could be an awesome spiritualist auto plugged into the video or projector , while the 1.2 kilo weight means it can comfortably fit in a back pack for take between home and an office .
For me , the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is easier to recommend to more citizenry than the quickly ageing M1 - powered iMac 24 - inch . Not only does it have a newer , somewhat dashing chip ( plus the option of a far fast one in the M2 Pro ) but it has more ports and a more various design . With the iMac you ’re stuck with a undivided 24 - inch exhibit – with the Mac Mini you’re able to prefer whichever screen sizing suits your quad , be it smaller or big .
Performance
There are three versions of the Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) available flat from Apple and they deviate quite a lot . In fact , it ’s clear they are aimed at very different people .
The first two are power by theM2 chipset(the same one you ’ll find in the first-class MacBook Air ) while the third swop that for the M2 Pro – a profligate chip that ’s also found in the recent 2023MacBook Pro 14 - column inch .
Apple could have easily labelled the M2 Pro choice as a Mac Mini Pro and it probably would have made more sense .
The basic M2 model comes with up to a 2 TB SSD , 24 GB memory along with an 8 - core mainframe and 10 - core GPU . Plump for the cheapest option and you ’ll get a 256 GB SSD and 8 GB retention – enough king for canonical use no doubt , and it should be hunky-dory for some light video and picture redact too . You ’ll even get some decent play carrying out in titles like Football Manager 2023 .
The M2 Pro model in its basic configuration comes with 512 G storehouse , 16 GB memory , a 10 - gist mainframe and a 16 - core GPU . This is the pick for those who want more oink , and as a comparison , this is pretty much the same internal specification that power the base MacBook Pro 14 - inch .
Spend a minute more ( £ 300/$300 ) and you’re able to upgrade to a 12 - Congress of Racial Equality C.P.U. and a 19 - core GPU , while the memory can be upped to 32 GB and the SSD up to 8 TB . Spec it up too much and you ’ll get near the damage of the al-Qa’ida Mac Studio , which is still a practiced choice for true Pro user .
All models come withWi - Fi 6EandBluetooth 5.3 , plus they can be configured with faster Ethernet for another extra fee .
For this review , I have been using the M2 Pro edition with a 12 - core CPU , 19 - core GPU and 16 GB storage . This is very much a gamy - end role model , costing around £ 1700/$1700 . While it ’s nice having so much power , I do n’t see this particular theoretical account being the most pop here – most spending this much would pay a number more for the Mac Studio ( now uncommitted with an M2 Max and M2 Ultra poker chip ) . rather , I can see the base modelling ( $ 599/£649 ) being far more pop .
But , the M2 Pro configuration I have here is a seriously up to simple machine . It ’s quiet too , with the fans rarely lather up even when rendering video or exporting 4 K footage . It benchmarks very closely to the MacBook Pro 14 - inch , with seriously impressive graphics and mainframe score across the board .
The benefit of the advance GPU are most noted , with oodles on norm of over 5000 in the Basemark GPU . As a comparison , something like theLenovo Slim 7i Prowith the RTX 3050 scored 1766 . However , this is still well below the functioning of a Mac Studio power by the M1 Max .
you may see all the benchmark score below ; I have also include the MacBook Air M2 which will give an mind of how the cheaper M2 - toting Mac Mini will run .
Test Data
I was also impressed by the read and save speed of the Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) , which were perceptibly flying than the MacBook Air . This should see speedy thrill up times , as well as decent stride when set up or opening applications .
Elsewhere , the onboard speakers are decent for podcasts and audio frequency from YouTube television though I would commend tie some external utterer – or possibly aHomePod Mini – for listen to music .
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Should you buy it?
If you act a lot from home , and already have a monitor , this is a smart alternative than plumping for a laptop . Either go for the M2 version and hold open lots of money or go for the M2 Pro and get more power than you ’d ever happen in a likewise - priced portable political machine .
However , if your use event is still very much exploit ‘ on the go ’ then a laptop remains a smarter choice and still gives you the ability to plug away into a monitor lizard if you require more screen .
Final Thoughts
The Apple Mac Mini ( 2023 ) is a arresting proposition for those who work in one spot and do n’t need a cumbersome background machine . have options when it comes to the processor makes this car imposingly versatile . If you decide to go for the regular M2 base poser then you ’re getting superpower similar to theMacBook Air M2for around half the price . For contribute power from theM2 Pro , you’re able to drop a bit more and get the juice for more serious originative tasking .
The primal choice to this gadget at launching was theiMac 24 - inchwith its M1 chip , and I ’d recommend the Mac Mini out of the two . It ’s a more subject machine and offers versatility when it comes to choosing your display , peripherals and where you send it in your base . However , with the upgrade M3 - powerediMac ( 2023)now usable , the gap is less stark , if you ’re penetrative to get the latest and groovy chip . But , if that is of care , then it may be worth waiting for the Mac Mini with M3 to come down the descent . There is still time value in the M1 interpretation though , while offering that all - authoritative versatility .
Having used theMac Studiofor so long , there are some design elements from that machine I would have enjoy to see trickle down here . The front - facing SD card expansion slot , for example , is a flyspeck detail that makes a huge departure , while the front USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate ports are welcome too for quickly plug something without fiddling around the back . Sometimes the to a fault dim-witted design here reserve it back . With the fresh M2 Max and M2 Ultra variant of theMac Studio ( 2023)now on the market place , the Mac Mini also no longer has the M2 edge over its large sib .
Still , the Mac Mini ( 2023 ) does enough to make it an easy alternative for many people and it ’s another example of how Apple ’s M - series of chips is making worrying about performance in more low-priced machine a thing of the past times .
Trusted Score
FAQs
There ’s a individual atomic number 47 colour usable .
Nope , the only one include is a superpower cable television service .
