Is the Mac mini Now Superior to the Mac Studio?
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Chapter 1: Overview of the Mac Mini and Mac Studio
Recent developments have stirred up the debate regarding Apple's silicon flagship models. Just a few days ago, I shared my concerns about the future of the Mac Studio. Observing from the comfortable yet uninformed vantage point of an Armchair Apple Commentator, it seems the flagship Mac powered by M chips is facing significant challenges.
In contrast to the MacBook Pro, the Mac Studio has yet to receive an update with the M2 chip, and the anticipation surrounding a new Mac Pro could potentially diminish the allure of the Mac Studio. However, the most pressing issue arises from the new Mac mini.
The latest iteration of the Mac mini boasts impressive specifications, including the option for up to 19 graphics cores, 32GB of unified memory, and a staggering 8TB of storage. This configuration is more than adequate for the majority of users. Since I began discussing the new M2 features, one question has dominated the comments: Should you choose the M2 Pro Mac mini or the Mac Studio? Let’s analyze this.
Chapter 2: M2 Pro Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio - Specs and Pricing
There’s a £600 price difference between the base model Mac mini and the Mac Studio. Whether you intend to use this machine for personal enjoyment or as an investment for your business, that’s a significant amount.
The real question is: Does upgrading to the Mac Studio provide an additional £600 in value? Unfortunately, that’s subjective and depends entirely on your usage. However, I can highlight the key differences.
The entry-level M2 Pro Mac mini features a 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. While the exact function of the Neural Engine remains somewhat unclear, it mirrors the specifications of the base M1 Max Mac Studio. The primary difference is in the GPU cores: the Mac Studio offers 24 cores compared to the Mac mini's 16.
The Mac mini starts with 16GB of unified memory, whereas the Mac Studio begins at 32GB. Both models come with 512GB SSD storage. To match the base model Mac Studio, you would need to upgrade the M2 Pro Mac mini to include a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU, which raises the price to £2,099—£100 more than the base Mac Studio.
Feeling perplexed? That’s the marketing strategy at play.
Chapter 3: Performance Benchmarks
Typically, I refrain from relying on benchmarks to substantiate a point, but the comparison between the M2 Pro Mac mini and the Mac Studio warrants an exception.
It’s important to reiterate that benchmarks don’t provide a complete picture and should not be solely relied upon to gauge performance. However, initial reports suggest that the M2 Pro can hold its own against the M1 Max.
The M2 Pro achieves a single-core performance score of 1,952 on Geekbench, with a multi-core score of 15,013. In contrast, the M1 Max generally scores around 1,727 and 12,643, respectively. While the significance of these numbers may be unclear, higher scores indicate better performance, which raises questions about the value of the £600 premium for the Mac Studio.
Chapter 4: Maxing Out Specs
One substantial difference between the M2 Pro Mac mini and the Mac Studio lies in their maximum specifications.
If you fully upgrade the M2 Pro Mac mini, you’ll end up with a 12-core CPU, a 19-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, 32GB of unified memory, and 8TB of storage, costing £4,599. Conversely, the fully specced Mac Studio will feature a 20-core CPU, a staggering 64-core GPU, a 32-core Neural Engine, 128GB of unified memory, and 8TB of SSD storage for £7,999.
That £3,400 difference grants you a significantly more powerful Mac, with the M1 Ultra chip placing it in a league of its own compared to the maxed-out M2 Pro Mac mini. It’s worth noting that the Mac Studio begins to pull ahead as you increase specifications.
Chapter 5: Additional Considerations
There are other distinctions between these two machines that should be considered.
The Mac Studio has double the memory bandwidth of the M2 Pro Mac mini (400GB/s vs. 200GB/s) and features twice the video and ProRes encoding engines. It can also support up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display, while the M2 Pro Mac mini can handle three displays.
Both models come with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-A ports. However, the Mac Studio offers a built-in SD card slot on the front, which the new Mac mini does not have.
Surprisingly, the Mac mini excels in a few areas; it includes WiFi 6E, while the Mac Studio is limited to WiFi 6, and the Mac mini features a high-impedance headphone jack—an odd omission in the Mac Studio.
Chapter 6: Final Thoughts
When it comes to dimensions and usability, both Macs are quite convenient and can fit into any workspace without hassle.
I couldn’t help but smile when I came across Apple’s marketing phrase for the Mac Studio during my research: "Stunningly compact." And while it is indeed compact, it doesn’t quite match the size of the Mac mini, does it, Tim?
This comparison has been challenging, but I’ve reached a clear conclusion. If you don’t require the high-end specifications offered by the Mac Studio, the M2 Pro Mac mini is a much more sensible purchase.
This conclusion is straightforward: if you're not racing against the clock for performance, the M2 Pro Mac mini will meet your needs effectively.
The Mac Studio remains the ideal choice for businesses and creative professionals who need every second to count. But considering the substantial premium for that performance and the M2 Pro Mac mini's capabilities, is it truly worth the extra expense?
Perhaps you could enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting those few extra minutes for rendering. One thing is certain—you need a compelling reason to invest in a Mac Studio today.
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