Is This Worth The Upgrade? M2 PRO MAC MINI REVIEW

[@mgaming7]

I love my M2 pro $1299 model. very fast.

[@billycullen6832]

Excellent ! Thank you, much appreciated. Greetings from Scotland.❤

[@bryans8656]

I enjoyed your review. I've been a Mac mini user since the mid 2012 model released so I'm obviously a fan. Last March I moved up from an M1 mini (16/512) to the base M1 Studio Max, and I agree, I think the M2 Pro mini is the perfect mid-tier Mac desktop.

[@alexblankenship7385]

I have a 2010 that was my very first computer and still turns on. 👍

[@bryans8656]

@@alexblankenship7385 Yep, they're very reliable, and I miss the ability to upgrade the RAM and storage inexpensively. It's all a trade-off. I went to high school with a Blankenship back in the 60s, don't see that name very often. And yes, I'm that old. 🙂

[@billrhea]

I got the m2 pro and could not believe they wanted $400 for 16gb more of ram. That should be criminal

[@hasansahin7965]

This comment doesn't have a logic. it's not ordinary ram, it's unified ram, new tech is always expensive. If you could develop this kind of memory first in the world, than you would sell it more expensive than Apple.

[@andre1987eph]

I want (need??) this computer SO BAD. Except Tesla tsla is a more compelling long term investment at this point. I guess I will wait for the M2 Mac Studio or even M3 Mac Studio.

[@aayobruv]

Can anyone help me understand any big differences between the two mac mini's i'm looking at, and if the differences will seriously matter ? I intend to purchase a mac mini for the use of Affinity photo (mostly), Affinity Publisher, Affinity Designer (for hobby designing), AutoCAD and maybe Logic Pro. I'm from Canada, and I'd love to keep my price under 2K if I can help it, but here are my options: Apple M2 Pro with 10‑core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 32GB unified memory 512 GB SSD Storage Total: $2199.00 CAD OR Apple M2 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 24GB unified memory 1TB SSD Storage Total: $1,799.00 CAD Will these suffice for what I'm trying to use them for? I just want to be safe before I inevitably purchase.

[@willm5032]

Apple M2 Pro with 10‑core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 32GB unified memory 512 GB SSD Storage Total: $2199.00 CAD is the model I went with for similar use cases (though I'm a creative professional with an office setup-this is my home machine) and so far its handled everything I threw at it. 32gb ram is better and a meatier GPU in the pro will help with graphics work. I also got a little dock with USB ports and SD and also a HDD bay for extra storage and a 2tb HDD. Remember that when you nbuy a mac mini it'll not be upgradable so get the highest spec you can afford as ur stuck with it.

[@wingsley]

In the Spring of 2022, I bought an Apple-refurbished M1 Mac Mini, loaded, w/ 16 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD. I am still waiting for the right monitor (Samsung ViewFinity S9?) to pair with the Mini, so I'm getting by with an ancient Acer AL1716W monitor. I get minimal use out of the machine right now; my primary workstation is still a late-2013 Core i5 iMac. In the coming months, I plan on migrating to work-from-home projects and buying more equipment. It would've been nice to wait a year and get the M2 Pro Mac Mini ( I plan to do some video editing and graphics/photography work) but that's all about timing and availability of money. If I had waited, I would want to wait even longer to secure a refurbished machine. If I am successful with a WFH migration, I want to eventually include both a Mac Mini and a 14" MacBook Pro into my workstation. I would probably leave Thunderbolt cables attached to a monitor arm so I could plug-in either a laptop or the Mini.

[@NurmYokai]

The base model of all Apple computers is adequate for general computer users. But anyone who does 'more' should get at least double the stock system memory. That's what I've noticed, ever since buying the Apple II. The average 'more (power)' user can live with external storage speeds. With internal memory being non-upgradable, buying now will save aggravation/buyers remorse in the future. OR buy two, and spread out the work load.

[@epcalderhead]

Are you editing off the internal SSD or using an external? Looking at a Mini Pro 16GB/1TB, which may give me space to use the internal. Curious what external enclosures and SSD's you may be able to recommend.

[@techspec1]

Internal definitely. I'd highly recommend the 1tb if you can afford it because the base 512gb still feels a little small. I've linked the external SSD and enclosure I use in the video description. Not the fastest but they've been great so far and not overpriced. Transfer speeds are really good

[@1983jmg1]

Nice vid. What’s the model of the LG monitor you’re using?

[@Dulcilady]

Great video. 2 things concern me as I want to replace my very old pc desktop with the M2pro 16 g ram 1T storage but I don’t have a Magic Keyboard or mouse. I think the keyboard & Mouse I have right now is wired using usb. Will that do the trick? Also, you mentioned using your iPad as a monitor, do you have a video for how to do this? Thanks a bunch.

[@techspec1]

Thanks! Your wired mouse and keyboard with USB should work just fine. I don't have a video on the iPad as a monitor but I'm working on a desk set up video that should cover it!

[@phillblake6829]

This is a great review Simple and easy to understand

[@GTphotofilm]

Excellent review. I have the M1 mac Mini 16GB & 512GB storage and works pretty good but like you said rendering took time and time its money but in my case quality time its better so was deciding between the M2 mac Mini Pro 16GB and the M1 Max Mac Studio base model. Finally decide for the M1 Max Mac Studio. I got it brand new with $250 discount at Costco store so it cost me the same price of the M2 Mac Mini Pro with 32GB ram. At that price the difference its I got more ports, SD card reader, the M1 Max runs cooler than the M2 Pro at heavy loads and in some cases can render faster however the Mac Mini M2 Pro is faster doing single core task as exporting from LR, PS or navigating the web, has HDMI 2.1 and wifi-6E. Really difficult to decide but both machines are capable of any task. Maybe you can do a comparison video and let us know your final thoughts.

[@techspec1]

Great points all around! A comparison video is a great idea

[@saidul02]

M2 mac studio is yet to be revealed.

[@andrewlee4082]

What a great video. Clear and to the point. What arm desk mount have you used? Is it height adjustable?

[@techspec1]

Thanks! It's from a company called Mount It! It's very solid but unfortunately not height adjustable. It would be nearly perfect if it was!

[@JeffRose1]

I'm seriously considering the M2 Pro Mac Mini and have heard both stories about slow SSD. The M2 with 256 is slow, that's given, but some sources report that even the M2 Pro with 512 is a single NAND chip. Glad to see you're getting fast speeds with 512.

[@techspec1]

That being said it still seems slower than my older Mac mini M1 so if you do get the M2 I'd go for the terabyte if you can swing it

[@sharonb.9128]

Yes, I’ve heard it’s slower than the M1 Mac Mini too, but it’s not SLOW. Even the M2’s single chip still gets respectable SSD speeds in general.

[@dreswan1]

@@sharonb.9128 👍

[@Pootleflump]

I'm going for base M2 Mac mini with an external 1/2TB nvme SSD over thunderbolt 3. That way the 256GB SSD will just be for system and swap memory.

[@ayyoquicks]

@@Pootleflumpcurious how has that been working out lately? Do you notice differences in speed? I have a 4tb external sea gate I use for all my virtual belongings so wondering is upgrading everything but storage

[@56phil020244]

Grate video. what are the efficiency / performance distribution binned / unbinned M2 PRO? Thanks,

[@DeusRegum]

I got the base M2 Pro Mac mini and it plays WoW and FFXIV without a hiccup! I even play with my PS5 controller hooked up via bluetooth.

[@nunaisdu12]

why except gaming? It won't work with dota2 or starcraft?

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

I believe the usb-c's on the back are thunderbolt, bot not thunderbolt 4's.

[@supermario5601]

what's BGM？begin & end，everybody.

[@hueybui]

Thanks for the review. Gotta say, love the approach you’re taking. Straightforward, no fluff. Nice production as well!

[@DaleClaassen]

Great vid! Really informative thank you

[@bryannehadloc4972]

Is it worth it for adobe editing apps?

[@goldead1]

Do the home pod minis work well with the m2 pro?

[@nvasudeva]

Great video ! I am a pc user and contemplating on buying mac mini pro. I am used to my wireless logitech mouse & keyboard i.e. K350 . Do you have any recommendation for similar keyboard and mouse for mac ? I would hate to use the apple mouse n keyboard.

[@techspec1]

I use a Logitech mouse and keyboard with my Mac mini! Those you have should work great. You just need to get a wired mouse and keyboard for the initial setup

[@nvasudeva]

@@techspec1 awesome, thank you for your prompt response, appreciate it. I will get hold a temp keyboard n mouse which is a wired one.

[@1XX1]

Nice review. Thanks

[@user-zr7kz4vs7c]

May I ask is there bluetooth issues on m2 pro mac mini ? Thanks

[@techspec1]

None so far for me 👍

[@user-zr7kz4vs7c]

@@techspec1 that’s great thanks

[@ron_wayne]

which LG monitor is that?

[@techspec1]

It's an LG 29" Ultra wide. Model number 29WP500. Nothing fancy but a solid 1080p IPS monitor for productivity

[@jeffreydavis7161]

Do you need to buy the mx master 3 mouse specific for Mac?

[@techspec1]

No any wireless mouse will do. It's just my preference

[@jeffreydavis7161]

@@techspec1 what I meant was I see the Logitech comes as mac or windows version. Was wondering if you needed the Mac version.

[@techspec1]

@@jeffreydavis7161 Oh, I'm sorry. I use the windows version with no issues, since I swap use between a Mac mini and a gaming pc. Logitech has a great software experience to customize just about anything you could want to change.

[@jeffreydavis7161]

@@techspec1 great thanks, why do they even have a different version if it works on both🤷🏼‍♂️

[@hvasya]

​@@jeffreydavis7161 Mac version has only one difference - no USB dongle. Better option to get a version for PC, it has the same price.