Review: Mac Mini (M2 Pro, 2023): A Powerful Machine in an Unassuming Body

 The Mac mini, which is Apple's most reasonably priced computer, is used in embedded applications like kiosks and even as servers in addition to households and schools. It may not be as portable as a MacBook or have the same stunning visual impact as an iMac, but it's the only Mac that many people can buy. With the most recent M2-generation CPUs added by Apple, you can now choose between the M2 and the more potent M2 Pro for the first time.

With this generation, the beginning price has been slightly lowered. Interestingly, since Apple hasn't yet introduced a Mac Pro with Apple Silicon, it is said that this small desktop can perform noticeably better than its much more expensive and already outdated sibling in a variety of tests. It's worth reading our review to see whether the Mac mini will fulfill all of your needs, even though a new Mac Pro is probably just around the corner and the Mac Studio is also a possibility. I'll also tell you about the features of my brand-new Apple Studio Display and the accessories I have for the Mac mini.

India's price for the Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

In the US, the beginning price of the new Mac mini is $599, which is $100 cheaper than the previous generation's MSRP. The difference in India isn't quite as significant because of currency rate swings, but Rs. 59,900 is still less expensive than the beginning price of Rs. 64,900 for the M1 Mac mini from 2020. The M2 SoC with eight CPU and ten GPU cores, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD are all included in this pricing.

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The M2 Pro-based versions cost Rs. 1,29,900 for 10 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, or Rs. 1,59,900 for 12 CPU cores and 19 GPU cores. For an extra 10,000 rupees, all Mac minis can be customized with gigabit Ethernet as an option. Additionally, M2 Pro variants come with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, whilst M2 CPU configurations only come with two. 

The fact that storage is soldered to the motherboard and RAM is integrated into the SoC of Apple silicon-based Macs makes upgrades unfeasible. Better specifications are available only at the time of purchase, and upgrades are still absurdly costly. It would cost Rs. 20,000 to upgrade from 8GB to 16GB of RAM. Strangely, upgrading from 16GB to 32GB on the M2 Pro option costs the same as the 24GB option, which is now available for Rs. 40,000 more than the base pricing for the M2 variants.

A 512GB SSD will set you back Rs. 20,000 more than a 256GB SSD; a 1TB SSD would set you back Rs. 40,000 more; and a 2TB SSD will set you back an astounding Rs. 80,000 more—many times more than what retail SSDs with comparable sizes typically sell for. Remember that Apple employs SSDs that are a little bit slower for its entry-level 256GB versions; the spec sheet does not specifically mention this.

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All of this indicates that, if you maximize every standard, you may pay Rs. 4,49,900—and that doesn't include a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. Other from the Mac mini itself, a power cord, some pamphlets, and the standard Apple brand sticker, nothing is included in the box. This variant costs Rs. 1,79,900 and comes with an M2 Pro SoC, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

An additional expense of Rs. 1,59,900 is associated with the 27-inch Apple Studio Display that I'm reviewing. For an extra Rs. 30,000, you may select a matte panel finish with "nano-texture," and for an extra Rs. 40,000, you can replace the standard stand with one that can be adjusted in height. The Magic Mouse from Apple costs Rs. 9,500, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad costs an astounding Rs. 19,500, and the Magic Trackpad costs an additional Rs. 14,500 to complete the ensemble.

Design of the Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

Remarkably, the Mac mini's appearance hasn't altered since optical drives were removed in 2011. Apple was astute to maintain its design unaltered in 2020, thereby concentrating all attention on its significant transition to in-house processors and minimizing any impression of disturbance. Though Apple has already made significant design changes to the iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, it would have been good to see them try something different.

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With a weight of just 1.28 kg, the Mac mini is nevertheless incredibly portable and presents itself inconspicuously on a table. It is 358 mm tall and slightly smaller than 200 mm square. Unlike many other little PCs, this one cannot be easily mounted to the back of a display. With the exception of a small white power LED, the front is entirely blank, and the top has the black Apple logo. To provide space for the numerous antennae and to allow air to vent, the base is raised slightly on a plastic disc.

To access the power button, you have to reach around the back. There is no need for an extra brick because the Mac mini still has a built-in power supply with a straightforward mains connector that accepts a two-pin power cord. This area also has a sizable air vent. There are a number of connectors available, including Ethernet, two or four Thunderbolt ports (based on configuration), two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 video output, and a 3.5mm audio socket. While it's encouraging to see old ports still available, I would have preferred some to be front-facing for ease of use, similar to what's on the Mac Studio.

Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) features and applications

I've already talked about the new Mac mini's connectors, CPU, RAM, and storage choices. The remainder of the hardware is rather simple: it has built-in Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E, as well as a speaker, albeit with very poor sound quality. The M2 CPU family itself and the introduction of a more robust Pro option are what make it most intriguing. 

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A revised 5nm TSMC manufacturing process gives the M2 family clock speed advantages that span generations. It claims that there will be an 18% increase in CPU performance, a 35% increase in graphics performance, and a 40% increase in the speed of the "Neural Engine" logic designed specifically for AI applications. According to Apple, you also get additional memory bandwidth and GPU cores. ProRes video encoding now has native acceleration, while video decode has experienced some enhancements. The Mac mini doesn't care about battery life, but the M2 should also improve the power efficiency of the recently updated MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models.

The M2 Pro will outperform the M1 Pro, and the base M2 is an improvement over the base M1. The M1 Max or M1 Ultra will continue to outperform the regular M2, nonetheless. The effect of increasing core counts is not outweighed by the generational uplift. Nevertheless, your decision should be based on your workload. For instance, you can play multiple 4K or 8K video streams in ProRes and ProRes RAW codecs only with the M2 generation's faster decoding speed.

Support for external screens is an additional consideration when choosing between the M2 and M2 Pro-based Mac minis. The bandwidth capacity of the entry-level CPU is limited to one 6K and one 5K monitor operating at 60Hz each. Video can be output from the M2 Pro to up to two 6K plus one 4K panel at 60Hz, one 8K display at 60Hz, or one 4K monitor at 240Hz at the same time.

The software that comes with the 2023 Mac mini is called macOS 13, or Ventura. Upon initial startup, my device insisted on updating to version 13.2.1, requiring a 3.25GB download. The majority of the updates and modifications in this version are related to the included applications, which not everyone uses, like Messages, Photos, Mail, Safari, and Mail.

Along with a completely updated Settings app that is more compatible with iOS, more helpful Spotlight search results, text recognition within videos, and more, there's also the new Stage Manager multitasking interface, which I didn't find especially useful. You'll love features like synchronized focus modes, AirDrop for effortless file sharing, Continuity for continuing where you left off on another device, and of course, simple access to iMessage, FaceTime, and your photo library if you use several Apple devices.

Specifications and features of the Apple Studio Display

Apple handed us the Mac mini, a complete set of input devices, and a 27-inch Studio Display for this review. It's unlikely that anyone would purchase this monitor for basic home or office use along with an entry-level Mac mini given its pricing. To be honest, it's a little too big for most people's desks. It is, however, targeted at creative individuals and those who desire the full Apple aesthetic. Given that Apple is such an image-conscious firm and that the majority of consumers end up using inexpensive commodity displays from other brands, it's odd that the company has never offered a smaller, entry-level monitor to match the Mac mini.

The Studio display requires a hard-wired 16A plug for power, which not many people have on their workstations at home or at work. The monitor itself is rated for a relatively low 30.3W of power consumption when in operation and 0.36W when in standby. With just one connection, you can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro and obtain complete video and connectivity for downstream devices thanks to Thunderbolt's ability to send up to 96W to the linked source device. Apple's only response to the situation is that this decision complies with regional laws.

There are four Type-C ports on the back, but only one of them is designated as the video input and has a Thunderbolt icon, so you have to pay special attention to this one. The single video input is a letdown; in order to multitask, you will need to manually disconnect the source device's cord. The other three turn the display into a kind of docking station by using the 10Gbps USB 3.1 standard for downstream accessories. It also features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide webcam, a "studio quality" three-mic array, and six integrated speakers that support Dolby Atmos.

The Studio Display lacks any physical buttons or controllers. You must use the program on your linked Mac to make any changes. Although it should theoretically be possible to use this as a display for a PC that isn't Mac, you may find it difficult to configure to your liking and won't be able to update the embedded software or take full advantage of all the included technology.

The Studio Display, which has a resolution of 5120x2880 pixels, a 16:9 aspect ratio, full support for the DCI-P3 color gamut, and a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz, is more than adequate for creative professionals and everyday productivity. It has a peak brightness of only 600 nits and does not support any HDR standards, but it does function with numerous industry-standard color reference modes and Apple's TrueTone white balance adjustment capability. It would have been good to have had a high refresh rate.

Performance of the Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

The Mac mini was comparatively easy to set up. All that was required to be connected in was the power wire and a single Thunderbolt connection to the Studio Display. However, Apple's wireless trackpad, keyboard, and mouse required to be turned on and off right away. The keyboard's full-sized layout made it fairly comfortable.

Although Touch ID is incredibly handy, it's a shame that using it will cost you a lot of money. Although the Magic Mouse has a small fan base, it isn't particularly comfortable, it can't be used while charging, and it's nearly hard to play first-person shooter games because there isn't a middle button and right-clicking requires careful movement. The trackpad is really pleasant and supports all the laptop-specific movements you may be familiar with.

Upon initial startup, macOS compelled a 3.25GB download in order to upgrade to version 13.2.1. It was also necessary for the Studio Display to update to firmware version 15.5, which required downloading 487 MB. However, this update was optional.

This set of Apple devices will feel very familiar to anyone who are familiar with macOS. Simple things, like using the keyboard to change the Studio Display's brightness, function flawlessly. Naturally, the Mac mini has more than enough power to drive the sharp display. Supported features include Night Shift, which reduces eye fatigue, and True Tone, which modifies color temperature to match surrounding lighting. The macOS status bar features a dropdown menu that allows you to quickly change color profiles.

The integrated speakers in the Studio Display deliver crisp, deep sound even at loud volumes, although the downward-firing design makes music less immersive. Nevertheless, you can easily follow movie dialogue and fill a tiny space with sound. In a poorly lit environment, the embedded webcam performed admirably. Using macOS, the Center Stage feature automatically reframes your video chat or capture feed as you move around or if there are numerous persons in the frame. It also has a Portrait option for blurring the background.

I went through a number of benchmarks and tests that show different usage scenarios. A single-core score of 2,654 and a multi-core score of 14,208 points were displayed on the general-purpose Geekbench 6. In contrast, the M1 Pro SoC-powered MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) scored 2,377 and 10,458 points in the same test, while the M2 SoC-powered MacBook Air (2022) scored 2,422 and 8,871 points, respectively. The Mac mini (M2 Pro) scored 49,686 points on the built-in CPU compute test, compared to 36,062 on the MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) and 27,822 on the MacBook Air (M2).

The new Mac mini's Cinebench R23 single-core and multi-core results were 1,646 and 14,776 respectively, indicating that the M2 Pro performed about on par with the 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900K in this test. The WebXPRT exam, which is conducted through a browser, yielded a score of 245; Basemark Web 3.0 scored 1,872 points, while the Jetstream 2 test scored 238.006 points. Of course, we're comparing a laptop with a desktop PC here, but the advantage over the M2 is evident, if not always significant.

I tried using Final Cut Pro to transcode a 5.52GB 60-second ProRES video clip that was shot at 4K 30 frames per second. I was able to export it in 4K and 1080p using the H.264 'Faster Encode' Apple Device preset defaults in just 31.81 and 10.68 seconds, respectively. The typical BMW render took Blender, which now works natively on Apple Silicon, 2 minutes, 30 seconds, while the Classroom scene took 5 minutes, 53 seconds. This is about half the time the M1 Pro-based MacBook Pro took to complete the same tests when it was reviewed.

My evaluation device with its 1TB SSD recorded sequential read and write scores of 6,477.90MBps and 7,193.02MBps in AmorphousDiskMark, which is a macOS-native version of CrystalDiskMark, keeping in mind that the performance of the base variant's 256GB SSD is believed to be worse.

Given the extra GPU power the M2 Pro offers, is it possible that the more expensive Mac mini model may make a good gaming computer? It turns out that you can say yes as long as you're satisfied with the games that are offered on the Mac operating system. Most casual games function fairly well, as might be expected, even on the high-resolution Studio Display. Simple games may be found in plenty in the Epic and Steam game stores right now, and Apple's Arcade subscription service is also available.

The Unigine Valley test recorded an average of 78.7 frames per second while operating at 1920 x 1080 pixels with 4XAA enabled. In the same test, the previous generation Mac mini with the less powerful M1 SoC averaged 26.5 frames per second, so that's a significant improvement. On Macs, GFXBench is tuned for Apple's low-level Metal API. When not restricted to the Studio Display's original resolution, it achieved 87.99 frames per second offscreen and 47.65 frames per second on screen in the Aztec Ruins scene.

Using its built-in benchmark at the High preset at 1080p, Shadow of the Tomb Raider ran remarkably well, averaging 70 frames per second and reaching over 100 frames per second in certain areas. In 2K, there was noticeable tearing during pans, and at 4K, that reduced to just 22 frames per second. Although it is a little antiquated, A Total War Saga: Troy is a Mac game that plays smoothly. With slight tearing, the integrated Battle benchmark displayed an average of 67.6 frames per second at 1080p when using the High option. It's not too bad; the average at 4K was 32.6 frames per second. I also spent some time playing Metro: Exodus, and I found it to be really fluid.

The Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) did not produce any noise throughout testing. Even during the unit's strenuous tests, there was just a slight hum from the fan. However, the metal exterior shell did get heated up a little, so watch what you place on top of it.