Apple Mac Mini M2 2023 review – Apple M2 unleashing its power via desktop

Apple is introducing new Mac Mini processors, including the new Apple M2 SoC and the more powerful M2 Pro versions currently available in MacBook Pro notebooks. This significantly increases performance of the device but can get too expensive. While the standard configuration with the M2 SoC (the stronger version with 10 GPU cores), 8 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD costs $760 USD, the M2 Pro version with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD is being sold for $1,660.

Due to additional costs for RAM and SSD upgrades, the normal M2 model may run just under $2,380 (24 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD) and the M2 Pro alternative can cost more than $6,000 (32 GB RAM, 8 TB SSD). Our test unit is the standard 2 model with upgraded 16 GB RAM as well as a 512 GB SSD, which brings the price up to $1,266 (current market value ~ $1,350). There is no change to the square housing with the rounded corners.

At just under 20 x 20 cm (~7. 9 in), the small Mac Mini is certainly not the most compact mini PC, but it is only 3. 6 cm (~1.

4 in) high. It only makes sense to place the Mac Mini underneath a display on the desk. The design matches the rest of Apple’s lineup, and the device is also incredibly high-quality, thanks to its aluminum casing.

The weight is around 1. 2 kg (~2. 7 lb), and this includes the power supply.

However, the design also requires certain compromises since all ports are located at the back, and it makes quick access to external devices like hard disks more difficult. In terms of connectivity, the M2 SoC has some advantages over the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro 13, as there are two USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 4. Furthermore, normal USB-A connectors, a Gigabit network interface (optional at 10 GBit/s), and an HDMI output (4K @ 60 Hz) are still available.

The Mac Mini M2 can support up to two external displays; the M2 Pro can accommodate up to three external monitors, has four Thunderbolt 4 connections, and a better maximum resolution. The absence of maintenance and upgrade options is a notable downside of the Mac Mini. having to decide up front how much RAM and SSD storage are needed.

However, the hard drive capacity can be easily increased, at least via external drives. In terms of the WLAN module, the Mac Mini M2 offers an upgrade over its predecessor and current MacBook Air models since the desktop uses the hardware of the MacBook Pro models (14 & 16) and offers modern Wi-Fi 6E networks as well as Bluetooth 5. 3.

The transfer rates are excellent when connected to our Asus router. We also encountered no issues with signal quality during the test. The Mac Mini M2 features Apple’s latest operating system, macOS 13 (Ventura), as well as an amazing software collection.

This also includes a full Office suite as well as iMovie, which can be used to create and edit videos. Meanwhile, practically all essential software have dedicated versions for Apple’s M1/M2 SoCs, while emulation of older apps (for Intel Macs) also works quite well. The Apple M2 is already well-known thanks to other Apple devices, such as the most recent MacBook Air models.

The basic configuration of four quick-performance and four efficiency cores remains similar to the previous M1 SoC; however, the individual cores of the M2 SoC may operate at greater speeds. The processor’s maximum power usage is 19 watts, which is maintained by active cooling. Essentially, the Mac mini M2 is on par with the MacBook Pro 13 M2 and significantly outperforms the MacBook Air models, which require extra cooling and lose power during heavy work.

However, this is not obvious during normal use, and neither is the tiny advantage over the Mac’s CPU performance. When comparing to Windows competitors, keep in mind that some of our benchmarks must run on macOS, which has a minor influence on performance. Cinebench R23 and Geekbench, which operate on the M2 Mac, are better at testing.

This demonstrates that AMD and Intel chips provide higher overall performance but consume more power. You can also read our thorough examination of the Apple M2 for a large efficiency comparison. We’ve also put the current MacBook Pro 14 in the comparison so you can see how the optional M2 Pro SoC performs.

The current Mac Mini, like the MacBook models that have already been tested with Apple’s M2 SoC, is an extremely responsive gadget for daily usage. The more expensive model with the M2 Pro SoC, like the older Mac Mini with the M1 processor, will have little impact on daily work. The test device performs admirably in the simulated benchmarks, particularly the browser benchmarks, and also well in the CrossMark test.

Finally, the results are comparable to Apple’s other M2 devices. The AP0512Z uses the well-known 512 GB SSD from the MacBook Air, which is connected via PCIe 3. 0 x4.

The transfer rates are excellent and clearly make full use of the PCIe connection. Similar to the MacBook Air, the Mac Mini M2’s entry-level version with the 256 GB SSD is probably only going to use one storage chip, causing the transfer rates to drop by around 50% compared to our 512 GB system, as we observed when testing the MacBook Air; this reduction in data transfer rates is unlikely to cause major inconveniences to the user, in our opinion. After initial setup, the owner of the 512 GB model will have access to roughly 469 GB.

The Apple M2 SoC is basically available in two versions, whereby only the number of GPU cores differ. The CPU in the small MacBook Air only has 8 GPU cores in its base configuration, whereas the Mac Mini essentially has the more efficient chip with 10 GPU cores. As in other Apple products, the iGPU is allowed a maximum of 12 watts, and the performance is completely stable.

The results of the M2 GPU are as expected and the 10-core model is also significantly faster than Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics G7 and AMD’s current Radeon 780M. Since we are still unable to record the FPS curves of domestic games, we continue to base our gaming tests on simulations with built-in benchmarks for the sake of comparison. Although the Mac Mini has a fan, you rarely hear it.

Even under full CPU or GPU load, all you can feel is the air movement at the fan outlet. Only when the CPU and GPU are fully loaded at the same time, does the fan speed slowly increase, and after about two minutes the maximum noise level of 29. 7 dB(A) is reached.

It is not more than a quiet hiss and it is never disturbing. In this regard, the Mac Mini has an advantage over its more compact competitors, which are frequently significantly noisier. In comparison to laptops, the surface temperatures of desktop PCs are, of course, secondary, as there is no direct contact.

However, with a maximum temperature of roughly 37 °C (98. 6 °F) on the top during our one-hour stress test, the Mac Mini M2 is completely trouble-free, even at the rear fan outlet, we only measured around 42 °C (107. 6 °F).

The performance in the stress test is more intriguing because active cooling is visible here, and unlike the two MacBook Air models, which must rapidly reduce power under combined load, the performance of the M2 SoC in the Mac Mini remains fully stable. We do not have specific data for the MacBook Pro 13 M2 with the fan for the following chart, but during the test, we were able to measure 28 watts, which is slightly less. The Mac Mini M2 still offers a single speaker, and even though this is considerably inferior to high-quality multimedia laptops, it is by no means impractical.

If you don’t have high expectations regarding sound and merely view YouTube videos every now and then, the speaker should be fine. The M2 SoC excels in terms of power consumption, with a maximum of 2. 6 watts in idle mode.

Under load, consumption is slightly greater than that of the old Mac Mini M1, but comparable to the EM680 with the Ryzen 7 6800U. Other competitors, on the other hand, require more power under load. The new Mac Mini M2 is an intriguing update since Apple not only updates the processor but also provides the tiny desktop with Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6E.

This also differentiates the Mac Mini from current MacBook Air models and places it with the more expensive MacBook Pro models (14 and 16 inch). Apple included the more powerful version of the M2 SoC with 10 GPU cores as standard in the Mac Mini. When compared to the M1 SoC, performance has improved, but so has power consumption.

The pure CPU performance of the Windows rival is usually slightly higher, but Apple has a distinct advantage with the GPU and overall efficiency is substantially superior. The latest Apple Mac Mini is a successful update over the previous M1 model, thanks to the new M2 processor, Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 6E. However, Apple continues to charge a premium for more RAM or SSD storage, and the tiny desktop machine lacks maintenance choices.

If you need even more performance, the Mac Mini is now also available with the M2 Pro SoC, although it rapidly becomes very expensive. Basically, the premiums for greater RAM and SSD capacity are excessive, but external hard drives can be easily connected. The lack of maintenance choices is, of course, a significant disadvantage for a desktop PC, and competitors such as the Intel NUC 13 Pro and the Minisforum UM790 clearly outperform.

If you don’t mind this, you’ll receive a high-quality and efficient mini-desktop computer with vast software features and virtually always silent operating ex works. The Mac Mini M2 in test configuration is available on Amazon for $990 USD. .