M2 Mac Mini Buyers Guide - Don’t Make These 9 Mistakes!

How to choose the PERFECT 2023 M2 or M2 Pro Mac Mini for your use case!
Don't WASTE your cash and follow our Guide to make it Easy!
THIS is the Mac Mini MOST Techies should buy ➡ geni.us/EfLTNVd
Like our wallpapers? Download them here ➡ bit.ly/2WNc6Qw
Thunderbolt 4 Hub for M2 Mac Mini ➡ geni.us/A37bR
External SSD for M2 Mac Mini ➡ geni.us/n7cbcMU
Budget HDMI Cable for FULL Performance ➡ geni.us/2axskD
Check out Casekoo's iPhone Cases! (10% OFF with code maxtech10) ➡ casekoo.com/ref/MaxTech/
Best deals on M1 Macs on Amazon ⬇️
M2 MacBook Air ➡ geni.us/UlLRm5
M1 MacBook Air ➡ geni.us/pzhMuL
14" MacBook Pro ➡ geni.us/qYardlV
16" MacBook Pro ➡ geni.us/SvtBND
If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to help us reach 2 million subscribers! We would greatly appreciate it!
Timestamps ⬇️
M2 Mac Mini Buyers Guide - 00:00
Giveaway - 00:43
#1 - 02:00
#2 - 03:34
#3 - 04:00
#4 - 05:16
#5 - 06:14
#6 - 06:58
#7 - 08:16
#8 - 10:18
#9 - 10:44
Xcode Benchmark built for Max Tech by Maxim Eremenko ➡ github.com/devMEremenko/Xcode...
WeTest PerfDog is what we use to test FPS. Full mobile platform performance test and analysis tool: www.wetest.net/?...
Max Tech Wallpapers ➡ bit.ly/2WNc6Qw
Buy one of our NEW T-Shirts to help support us! ➡ max-tech-store.creator-spring...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shop on Amazon ➡ geni.us/wB2mWqd
Shop on B&H ➡ bhpho.to/2kfoI34
Shop on Adorama ➡ bit.ly/2R7qezq
10% off unlimited yearly music licensing on Soundstripe (what I use for all my videos) use coupon code "Max" here: soundstripe.grsm.io/e/6lv
Shot with (Amazon) ➡ geni.us/XE0r
Lens (B&H) ➡ bhpho.to/2DZerxL
Mic (Amazon)➡ geni.us/83CN3V5
If you enjoy our content please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $2 a month helps us make more and better content for you!
/ maxyuryev
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
PRIVACY POLICY and FULL DISCLOSURE:
°Max Tech is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
°Max Tech is a participant in the B&H Photo Video affiliate program that provides an advertising commission if you purchase through our links.
°If you purchase something from our affiliate links will get a small commission with no extra cost to you. This makes it possible for us to make more videos. Thank you!
°We DO NOT collect, store, use, or share any data about you.
~-~~-~~~-~~-~

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Comment Below & On EACH New Video to get MORE Entries in our Giveaway! THIS is the Mac Mini MOST Techies should buy ➡ geni.us/EfLTNVd Thunderbolt 4 Hub for M2 Mac Mini ➡ geni.us/A37bR External SSD for M2 Mac Mini ➡ geni.us/n7cbcMU Budget HDMI Cable for FULL Performance ➡ geni.us/2axskD

[@dragonninja5607]

I would like the MacBook pro because it is portable and also powerful, and I do need a new computer for school and I'm trying to learn new stuff I'm using an HP laptop with intel core i7-3520M CPU @2.90Ghz with intel HD GPU with 4GB DDR3 RAM and 500GB of HDD.

[@dragonninja5607]

and also, a like your videos and I'm subscribed to your channel.

[@Emlt]

Apple just released the new HomePod 🎉. I did you see that one coming?😊

[@giovannialves3902]

Is there any major difference between this and the new MacBooks in terms of performance?

[@matthewsantiago8004]

Seeing the Mac mini at 599 is the first time I’ve ever been tempted to get it

[@truenorthent]

As an editor with 30+ years under my belt, I have to say Max Tech consistently gives great intel on value and performance. Thank you for all you give to the community!

[@JDW-]

I'm not in the market for a Mac Mini right now, but I agree that it is quite compelling. And as with most Macs, you really do need to take care when it comes to BTO options. That's why I appreciate Max Tech for giving us the straight scoop about which configs make the most sense.

[@originalspiff]

I really hope this update makes people check out the Mac Mini more - It's a fantastic computer that gets a lot less love than it should. Would love to see it be more popular/continually updated in future!

[@kevinali6513]

I haven't seen any other KZbin channel that goes into such great depth in their analysis. I have always enjoyed watching your side by side comparisons and the level of detail that you put into them. Much love

[@FollowThatCaab]

I never really considered storage as a priority when buying a Mac, but after finding out about the M2 MBA debacle (from this awesome channel!) it'll now have to play a part in any purchasing decisions going forward. Great work, y'all.

[@deepin2u]

I wish MaxTech was CLEAR on this storage debacle with MacBook Air and MBP ... I believe the 13" aligns with the storage issue VS the 14/16" models.

[@icantgivecredit871]

Don't worry about it unless you expect to squeeze every drop of performance from your Mac. After all, even the 256GB SSD has fast read/write speeds compared to traditional SSD storage solutions; 1,400 MB/s read & write is by no means a small number.

[@Byronic19134]

@@icantgivecredit871 I dunno how guys get away with only having 256 GB memory at all, even using external drives, the music software I use takes up nearly 200 GBs alone and thats with samples on another drive

[@icantgivecredit871]

@@Byronic19134 I like to keep my boot volume uncluttered. If I keep music locally, I put it on an external drive.

[@nigelnicodimus]

I think the base model is great value for money. It's crazy how the prices hike with minor upgrades like upgrading RAM from 8gb to 16gb

[@ghost-user559]

It’s totally worth it if you plan on keeping it for years. It’s even more worth it if you make money using the machine. For casual use it makes sense to get the base model and save your money for accessories and software.

[@ExpatBriton]

Came here to say this. I think as techies we forget how many folks are just working in spreadsheets and email. Similarly, those folks don’t need 16GB of RAM and aren’t hammering the SSD. I kind of laughed when he said you could burn out the SSD in 5 years. I’ll eat my hat if that happens, but it’s especially not a concern to those who are just doing normal office productivity. The base model is great for most people, and the price is excellent when you compare to what you would get on the Windows side. How could you possibly recommend Windows with these products at these prices?

[@ghost-user559]

@@ExpatBriton The only caveat I’ll add is that even an average person might have many GB of movies and music and even things like regular backups will take twice as long with the reduced NAND chips in the base models. As long as people don’t have expectations that are beyond its capabilities they will be very satisfied with the base model. But due to hype people do tend to talk up Macs as if all are created equal. Obviously you cannot expect the full benchmarks people are touting for the base models. As long as people are realistic, it’s still an amazing deal compared to any PC at that price point.

[@DITTOE]

@@ExpatBriton podcast can eat 250gb up in no time

[@subtlehyperbole4362]

​@@DITTOE Word and don't get me started on eBooks they be eating storage for days on my machine.

[@Oh_Rio]

Great video! As someone who is considering purchasing an M2 Mac Mini, this buyer's guide was extremely helpful. The tips on storage and RAM upgrades were especially valuable. I appreciate the time and effort you put into creating this guide, it will definitely come in handy when I make my purchase. Thanks for sharing!

[@mikerowejersey1119]

Love your videos. As always, you go into such comprehensive detail. The comparison between the mini and the studio is fascinating. I may have reached the point where I need to replace my old desktop PC with a Mac. Thanks again for the hard work.

[@Eimost]

I agree the M2 Pro 16/512 combo is the one to go for. From your tests it seems there's little benefit to going beyond the 16Gb RAM. Apple's upgrade prices are insulting

[@rnak4629]

You all do such a good job researching into the specs and pricing options. I especially like how you test each model with different components. You are my “go to” people when I need to purchase. You were also the ones who converted me over to the Apple World. Thanks

[@stevenrast4261]

Yeah for sure Really looking forward to see the differences between each model in terms of performance

[@thejptech]

Awesome video! I am considering purchasing an M2 Mac Mini, and this is very helpful. Upgrading storage and RAM definitely makes a difference, even between the Mac Mini M2 and M2 Pro. Thanks for sharing, and I appreciate the time and effort you put into these videos.

[@sripriyan6952]

Keep up the quality content Max! Great Job as always!

[@jamonleecarter8698]

Thank you for the video! I currently own a 2014 Macbook Pro 15" and was considering getting the M1 or the M2 but I think this video helped me out what to get. M2 seems like an overkill for me and the M1 with the sale is probably a better deal. Thanks for the great work and I really appreciate you guys doing giveaways worldwide, it will definitely help out lots of people in need!

[@sharingmatters]

Same here with 2015 MBP switiching to M2 Pro Mac Mini.

[@RAdamTrent]

I’m curious to see what they end up doing with the Mac Studio during this M2 rollout. I’m glad they put the pro chip in the mini because having that intel model still available was odd. Thanks for the great content!

[@thewiirocks]

I expect the Studio upgrade will come later this year. Apple has to stagger the releases so that they don't overwhelm the supply chain.

[@Aspire18Royals2014]

Keep up the great work guys! Love following the in-depth actual benchmarks. Very insightful. Thank!

[@davidmote6172]

Great comparison review. It's always nice to see info from multiple models before committing to buying one.

[@odalv7278]

New mac mini looks like a killer for a music production as faster CPU will definitely help for plugins’ computing while keeping a very low latency. I would max out RAM for those sample streaming libraries.. and go for at least 1TB storage while having a large external SSD. Form factor is great even for touring gigs that require a lot of computing power, while one can connect an iPad as a primary display.

[@zarvan359]

You guys really make incredible buyers guides thanks so much for all the R&D and testing will watch out for these mistakes. Can hardly wait to see all the comparisons you guys will do between the different MacBook configurations.

[@championchamp4964]

Thanks for this awesome buyer's guide bro, it's really very informative and the "mistakes while buying" part is what I appreciate a lot.... I've seen no other utube channel doing so👍👍💙🔥

[@Hannan_]

Love the in-depth comparison and analysis in your videos, and they bring a lot of value. They truly help.

[@Fredisaviewer]

I always appreciate the information you give about the hardware specs and real world performance. If I could make a suggestion, I am a musician, and running my software based studio system, virtual instruments, and virtual effects can be quite taxing. It would be helpful for people like me to learn what the best configuration options we should choose for what the average musician does. I always hear about performance in regards to video applications, but learning about how music applications perform (especially when loading up multiple instruments and effects) would really be helpful. Thanks for considering my suggestion.

[@SniperPaul]

Hearing about music production software performance would be awesome.

[@sircosmo01]

I'd like to hear how it performs with multiple tracks in Logic with plugins

[@flermusic]

Yeah! I wanna see how it performs in music production too

[@vewilli]

Yes, this is also my situation. I use the Logic Pro - DAW, which runs on the Mac (and only on that) perfectly and would like to know which MacMini model is good for music production with a lot of plugins and virtual instruments. Thanks.

[@Ronald-Reggae]

wouldn't that be single core performance. would love to see how it performs doing stems in serato and analysing library files

[@davidcalabrese1549]

Excellent summary -- I'd go for the M2 Pro, with additional TB 4 ports

[@HegoDamaskII]

Same but for me I care more about Hdmi 2.1, The 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports are an extra bonus to me.

[@ghost-user559]

It’s nice but idk, I mean the M1 Studio base model makes a lot of sense still unless you need the HDMi is absolutely essential. Better cooling and a built in 10GB Ethernet for a NAS.

[@jas0nm]

I really appreciate all the effort you guys put into these vids. Thanks so much

[@pavelivanov864]

Great content! I've been enjoying your testing and thoughts throughout this entire series.

[@shugpro]

Can't wait to see the actual test results in FCP and Resolve between the M2 Pro and the base Mac Studio. My business partner asked me today which was going to be faster and I literally said "we'll wait for Max Tech to make a video about it"

[@monsifmesbah2537]

I am excited to see how these devices perform in comparison once they are widely available.

[@ElConquistador01]

Thanks for the video! Keep 'em coming!

[@mrche2]

Thanks for proving another perspective on choosing the write Mac at a reasonable price point and highlighting the thresholds between models. Im in the market so i am subscribed now!

[@blakehipsley656]

I am really excited to see how the M2 Pro chip really compares to the M1 Pro and M2 chips. We had such a jump between M1 and M1 Pro, but the leaked specs makes me think the M2 Pro although great will not be worth upgrading from an M1 Pro chip machine.

[@dingdong2103]

The M1 has been awesome but not so good for developing x86 lol

[@jHouston68]

Great insights into the real-world capabilities of these devices. I’m looking forward to seeing the performance comparison between the M2 Pro Mac Mini and the current Mac Studio.

[@ghost-user559]

Probably the Studio has the faster ssd and better thermals. But other than long term tasks that heat up a machine, the Mini is gonna be a great value.

[@arpankar5937]

Thanks a lot bro for sharing this buyer's guide along with the mistakes while choosing Mac mini, it'll be very helpful 🤗🤗❤️

[@Lopesslevira]

Love your videos thanks for highlighting all the details

[@michaelmagulski6921]

I have never owned an apple device besides an iPhone before, but the mac mini looks like a great option for a smaller apartment where you do not want to take up too much desk space while also saving money compared to an expensive PC with overwhelming power. Great review and thank you for your generosity as always Max!

[@andrewcrossley2448]

Add a studio display and you also have a fantastic small room TV too. Sound is superb, picture razor sharp, and it’s super stylish too.

[@RandomStuffWithBill]

I have had many pcs, towers, all inones, I LOVE my mac mini 2014, excited about the new M2's great choice!

[@minecraftminertime]

PC prob gon be cheaper

[@RandomStuffWithBill]

@@minecraftminertime did Pc from 1994 to 2014 but once I got a Mac I’ve just slowly switched over life is just simpler when stuff works…

[@akramuzzamankhan8749]

I have never used a Mac before. This Mac mini looks promising. Hope it will be more powerful than a similarly priced desktop pc.

[@juang468]

Okay but the fact that Apple has the Mac Mini at 499 for the education store is mind blowing. That is such a great deal! Always look forward for the amazing comparison videos you guys make!

[@mohamedfouze1844]

Just came to know your channel. Am impressed and you gave me a lot of tips on the Mac Mini which I was pondering for a while on getting one. You really gave me a better insight to the specs of Mac Mini! Keep up the good work 👍👍👍😊

[@vaszilytibor9244]

It would be really great to see a test video about how the Mac Mini M2 Pro performs during using music production DAW’s such as Ableton combined with multiply virtual instruments/effects. Many producers are suffering from constantly freezing the audio channels due to the high CPU requirements of these plugins. That kind of test video would be really helpful and gap filling IMO.

[@AlienProbe73]

That’s exactly what I want to know

[@peterpayne2219]

Ah, the video that talks about the new computers without having them on hand at all...

[@nickjr2189]

Be patient, it will be seen in another video(s)

[@peterpayne2219]

@@nickjr2189 Of course!

[@btn237]

Presumably it’s for the crazy people who pre order computers before they’re available to be tested.

[@00z53]

@@peterpayne2219 Ah another person who knows about computers

[@alamraya7002]

Mac Mini M2 to replace my 2013 iMac maxxed out

[@josephsignorello5857]

These reviews are so huge in helping in deciding which to upgrade to. Thank you for all in info you provide

[@scothorne1790]

Love your videos!! This really has been helping me. I am a student that has a very little budget. Your incite and knowledge has helped me A LOT!!

[@ManyH2oyo]

exploring options to buy for new Mac! thanks for the content!

[@jujuhds]

Big shout out to everyone at Max Tech! All these tests and comparisons can be a bit overwhelming to process at once, but overall very helpful for average joes like me. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!

[@yourfavoriteyoutuber2917]

Really appriciate that you are really inspect all the Aspects of the device bedore most of the channels. Thank you guys

[@shubhasiskar7215]

Thnx bro for this amazing buyer's guide, it's much needed.... And also thnx for mentioning the mistakes while buying Mac mini, that really helps.... I've seen no other utube channel doin so Very cool!!💙💙💗👍👍

[@natep2708]

Always insightful, really appreciate the content!

[@hansdezutter8477]

Finally some real world info. Shows that it pays to know the systems presented and how you could use your money for more informed upgrades. Very nice video. Keep up the excellent work!

[@user-yf5mf1iz5p]

Thanks for these crucial pieces of information!

[@andyhighmore8418]

Thanks for all the detail in your videos!

[@DarioMendozaP]

Good video; I was waiting for a guide like this

[@account653G]

Thanks for the videos guys!

[@robertorosaleszepeda2117]

Thanks for highlighting all the little details we can miss as consumers. Your reviews and benchmarks are amazing.

[@Pete-S]

Thanks for this video. A very clear set of considerations for buying a new M2 Mac Mini. Getting ready to upgrade my 2012 Mini that has been going strong all this time. Thanks also for the external SSD recommendations.

[@darkythedragon]

I must admit that after subscribing to your channel I always watch every video that gets released to stay updated on every detail. keep up with the good work!

[@francisyuweh706]

Thank you for the recommendation list, for different uses cases and budget tiers. Hoping to get one soon that will fit my work and hobby needs

[@user-to4a]

Thanks for the video! Great as always

[@dougzimmerman8254]

Great video, thanks for breaking down the choices - I look forward to seeing your case studies!

[@eugeneum3655]

Thanks for the great discussion and video!

[@Stanislav_Teghipco]

Appreciate the good work mate!

[@nobodypanic71]

Thanks, covered a lot of the things I had been wondering about. I still not sure which configuration or machine I would go for, but this was helpful.

[@LesleyCox-ws2qx]

Thank you so much for all this very helpful info!

[@neilp.devera759]

Thank you for your perspective. Very informative!

[@markantonyap]

excellent guide again! appreciate the all the good insights and suggestions.

[@plegion]

Great video as always! Look forward for more.

[@degustandotapasbychefyara6741]

THX for the insight. Exactly whay I needed to know!

[@eoghanmorris3136]

Really appreciate the videos - super informative and helpful!

[@reeloutdoorjunkies3262]

Max, Yuri and the team Thanks for putting these out. you are going to save my butt looking for a new editing rig.

[@SwiftEgadgets]

Thumbs up for your thorough reviews. Keep it up guys!

[@purnagopinath7475]

Good Info Bro and helps a lot to decide who need which one, thank you !

[@lornesteed2417]

I am actually shopping for a new mac - my older 2014 mini i7 model needs upgrading and your channel ( newly subscribed today ) is helping out my decision...thank you.

[@AlpacoFilms]

Seriously thanks for doing these!

[@timotheuse]

very in-depth, as always!

[@dmaendeleo]

Thanks for pointing these things out

[@andrewschwarz4001]

Extremely helpful in my search for a new machine. Thank you Max Tech!!!😊

[@madhusmitadash1183]

I appreciate your efforts to bring out such an amazing n detailed content for us.... A buyer's guide was much required for Mac mini and also thanks for intimating us with mistakes while buying. Well I think Mac studio is still a better option considering its design, configuration and that sd card slot n even powerful SSDs Thnx for bringing the best content for us 💗💗🤗

[@tgtassios]

Thank you again for the detailed comparison!!!!

[@martinsynacek9344]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm looking at buying a new machine for music production and your insight helped me a lot. Subscribed 🙂

[@steves.9440]

I'm making a decision as this video is being played - long time Windows user, now finally going to a MAC. Been looking at M2 Mac Mini - undecided between 16gb vs. 32gb memory. I came across this video at the perfect time. Very informative.

[@deuteros4915]

Keep up the great work guys, very insightful. Thank you!

[@VPCreative]

Thank you. Incredibly helpful!

[@OnlineEgadget]

Thumbs up for your thorough reviews. Keep it up.

[@FernTheFisherman]

I’m so glad you made this video! I’m about to buy one of these or the studio! So glad you uploaded this!

[@redfive.x5]

Another excellent review and tip on what to look for when choosing the right configuration for your new Mac

[@darkphoenix5876]

Thanks for the information, great video!

[@pavank446]

Amazing tests dude all the best

[@LarryCastle]

Great review! I'm shopping for a mini and this makes it that much easier to decide on the right config for me. Thanks!

[@shaebulkley3451]

Great content!! I’m getting so much info to help me decide what to purchase.

[@CurtTerpstra]

Nice video. A lot of good information throughout

[@WPBusinessclub]

Thanks for the detail. I was overwhelmed by the options

[@isaatalay5320]

you are making buying more reasonable and it really stands out when i compare you with other channels. Great work !

[@kreativekorp]

Great review, love the emphasis on how storage upgrade can boost the power of this beast. greetings from Singapore!

[@propanon1]

Thanks for the info.! That's really helpful!

[@mcforman]

As always, great information!

[@williamcrdv]

Thank you for the videos. I am looking for a new computer and these help a lot.

[@redyeamans8113]

Amazing helpful video. Thank you for posting this. This answered my questions exactly!!

[@AlfredPaoloConfiado]

Awesome thanks for doing this!

[@hybryd83]

I’m so glad that you make these in depth analysis tests. One thing I am learned from your tests over the years avoid the base models.

[@ghost-user559]

Base models are totally fine for normal computing tasks like email or browsing or streaming. Most older people would be completely fine with the base models, and most students too.

[@maximkolousov]

Thanks for your video! Soooo informative!

[@hernaniglesias2271]

Excellent review as always! Thanks!!!

[@ericjj4546]

Excellent presentation . Deciding which Mac mini can be confusing and this video helps clarify what I need as a stock trader running numerous programs and screens at a time, as well as some graphic programs for my main profession as an architect. Will watch your other videos for more info and inside. Thanks!

[@AngeloSampaio27]

Really nice video, guys. Congrats for the excellent work!