Which M2 Mac mini SHOULD you buy?

[@HisenloKentRengma]

I got the M2 Mac Mini 24/256gb for wedding photo editing. I will be using a usb c hub with hard drive enclosure for storage expansion. I’m hoping it to go for at least 10 years.

[@ZmannR2]

Saying a Mac will only last 3 to 4 years is a joke. All my Macs have lasted 8-10 years easily

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I didn't want to over extend it since people use computers differently.. I'd rather short sell it and over deliver..

[@phil7121]

If you're continuously having it run 24/7 like say an automation rig or server or something yeah it will burn out in 3 years... Still very good value If 90% of what you do is browse pages and consume media, the hardware will basically last forever and the only reason to stop using it is when Apple stops releasing MacOS updates for it and therefore any apps will also stop supporting it

[@ZmannR2]

@@phil7121 the power supply on my 2011 MacBook Pro still works to this day. Hasn’t burnt out yet

[@kwick818]

I still daily drive a 2012 retina MacBook Pro

[@MuchoClips]

my macbook air from 2019 is about to fry out lmao they do not have a lifespan of 10 years

[@TheThaiLife]

Oh my gosh, I agree 1000% with your recommendation. I hope everyone sees this video.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

You are a commenting beast!!! Really going full send!!! 🙏👍

[@adampriroda]

Graphic designer and photographer here.. bought the 16gb ram m2 2023 Mac mini with 256gb ssd + the satechi replicator only because of the SDXC slot. Using Affinity designer, Lightroom and sometimes Photoshop. The ssd is used for the apps only and all my files go directly onto my Google Drive/iCloud. I'm more than happy B)

[@dinozoiks]

I opted for the M2 Pro 16/512 with external SSD, so totally agree. It gets extra spicy when you upgrade from an iMac as the display suddenly becomes a huge cost. My 2014 27” iMac had a 5k display… a stand-alone display now is north of £1300 / $1500. And I have a dual display setup (one is 4K). So add $3k for matched displays, it soon gets real expensive. I actually opted for a pair of refurbished Ultrafine 27MD5KA-B 5k monitors. Still $1500 for both. In retrospect, my 2014 Mac looks like an absolute bargain.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

It’s insane how the displays so many years later are still kinda pricey.. I bought my LG 5K’s used and they still weren’t cheap.. great choice on the Mini.. you will love hit

[@nzbeeker1]

I have a 2012 mac mini that still works. Yes it is dedicated to streaming stuff on a TV now, but yes it still works at 11 years old.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That is awesome to hear.. do you use it for Apple TV? Stream downloaded movies?

[@heathhoward]

Still rocking a 2010 MacBook Pro as a Plex server and home assistant server. Thing won’t die!

[@abipaine5067]

Very helpful. I left a comment on the last video I watched, but I think this answered all the questions I had. Thanks again.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I’m glad I read this before your other comment…’lol.. the issue you are having with the storage not being unified. I don’t know if you couldn’t fix that in the disk utility.. my best advice would be to search YT and see if anyone shows how to do that, if it’s possible

[@johnborges5938]

The two USB A ports on both the M2 and M2 Pro models are USB 3.0 (5Gb/s) rather than USB 2.0 (480Mb/s) as stated - the USB ports have been at 3.0 on the Mini since 2012. I'm guessing USB 3.1 (10Gb/s) on the 'A' ports will never happen. Otherwise a nice overview vid; I like your presentation style and pace.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Yup.. that info wasn’t available when I shot the video. Apple loves to hide that info for a while

[@denhouse1]

According to Apples tech specs they are USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbs/s)

[@johnborges5938]

@@denhouse1 - No, but I after you mentioned this I went back to double check and initially made the same mistake. Apple's Mac Mini tech specs page says that the M2 (or M2Pro) Mac Minis have 2 (or 4) Thunderbolt 4 ports "with support for: ... USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)....". And a bit below that it says that the Mac Minis also have "Two USB-A ports (up to 5Gb/s), HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet port ...", etc. The "up to 5Gb/s" tells you that they are USB 3.0. I have a new Mac Mini M2 Pro and can attest that the USB A ports are, in fact, USB 3.0.

[@denhouse1]

@@johnborges5938 agree. I too have the new M2Pro and I will try to use the Thunderbolt ports for speed and if all else fails use the USB A ports. Love the discussion and the breakdown of what to think about before ordering. That’s what I did. 👍

[@johnborges5938]

@@denhouse1 - LOL Right there with you. I fanatically watch every available video and read every article before I make a purchase. Too much cash on the line to risk it when there's so much information available on line!

[@brooklynboy1000]

Still using an iMac from 2015. It kinda died at one point but apple fixed it. Still works. Waiting for I don’t know what. M3. I don’t know

[@TheAppleHelpline]

LOL... If it works for you then wait... I am not sure when the M3 Mac Mini's will be coming out.. Since the iMac's look to NOT be getting the M2 we might see those later this year. I don't know what kind of power they will have or if they will be a more budget friendly machine,.

[@AlexGroen]

I'm using a specd out 2012 iMac (16gb ram, 1tb storage). It still runs, but keeps slowing down, especially when the storage is full. Looking for replacing it with the Mini M2 pro 16gb 1tb storage. Can't wait!

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That’s a great spec.. you’ll be super happy with it

[@AlexGroen]

@@TheAppleHelpline Thanks!!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

I’m 70 years old and only use my computer to surf the web, emails, texting, storing family photos and viewing KZbin videos and listen to music from my iTunes account. I do not edit or make videos and I’ve never played a game ever. Which mini would you recommend? I can certainly afford a more expensive unit but I don’t want to waste money. I do currently have an external hard drive for backup and a disc player to add CD’s to my iTunes account.

[@bassheadlife492]

The base model

[@prymeleader7827]

Thank you much for helping me to take a decision. I’m considering the performance/cost also I don’t neglect the longevity of the device and technology come within. I would go for Mac Studio M1 max if M2 max is not available soon. Liked and subscribed

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I hope I was able to help.. I don’t know if we see the studio updated this year.. but either one will be a power house. Thank you so much for the like and sub!

[@casper464]

I would also say, as a professional, the studio makes more sense. As an amateur or hobbyist tha base model is fine in terms of cpu and gpu performance but upgrade the ram if you have to edit or record music.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I agree... 100%... These machines are more than powerful enough for a majority of users... and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg..

[@manilamartin1001]

I'm pretty happy so far with a mini. Mostly photo video edit but I did beef it up. I also recommend staying away from the base if it's a photo/video 40 hour a week job. It just gets too frustrating. I came from a 2015 MacBook Pro, so probably any M1 or M2 chip would have been an improvement.

[@Technocrat.]

I bought last year's Base MacBook Pro, 10 core, 16 core 17gb Ram and 512gb storage. Plenty for me and if I get more will have more storage soldered in to board

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That's awesome to hear!! I would be afraid to solder anything on my machine.. LOL You are brave...

[@p4ulodi4s]

Just got my base model M2 Mac mini and it's great for me.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That is awesome to hear!!! I'm glad you are happy!!

[@paulmax9871]

Awesome! Keep’em coming. Your experiences really help financially challenged people like myself. Thank you for sharing

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! I try to make sure I include the budget option when talking Apple even though sometimes it hard to do.. Lol

[@brandonw1604]

That base Mac mini is hard to pass up. My base M1 mini has been amazing, and I'm a sys admin in a window environment using it for work.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

These are the comments I am looking for... I am so glad you were able to get what you needed and saved money... Thank you for sharing!!

[@brandonw1604]

@@TheAppleHelpline I’m a firm believer that unless the machine is going to actively make income go for the base. When you’re making $10k a month on your craft get the Gucci MacBook. Lol

[@TheAppleHelpline]

LOL... Time is money for sure..... I like that my machine pretty much plows through everything no matter what I have open.. I'm sure if I shut some stuff down would be even more insane.. LOL

[@grizzlypaws461]

I bought the base 8/256 M2 Mac mini for $499 last Friday. The machine is amazing. I tested all my productivity tasks and games and my memory pressure never went above green and never used swapped. Buy for where you need today and not what you might need in the future.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That is awesome to hear!! I'm glad you like it. I like to make sure my machine will be good to go for years to come, but I understand your point of view as well..

[@johnshepherd2666]

Good comments....actually the best on these Mac minis i have watched

[@BrettsCorner92]

I had a MacBook that I was able to keep running. For about 10 years, you could upgrade the memory the hard drive everything. Everything was located under the battery

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Back when you can upgrade at least the mem and storage.. the good times. Lol

[@googlespynetwork]

No Mini is complete without a decent usb dock. So an SD card reader is a non issue for the price. But if you need ram and io, then the Studio is the way to go.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That is very true! Great point

[@rickyzhang]

My iMac 2013 is still kicking. I just retired my 2013 macbook air with M2 15inch Macbook air. Apple computer last for a decade consistently in my opinion.

[@Mike.Keeping]

To your point on paying a bit more for a similar or better machine vs a cheaper slower one... The cheaper price point is there for those who don't need the speed and want a cheaper machine. If you upgrade the SSD to a 512GB / 1Tb, you gain performance. I think the 1 tb on the M2 Pro is almost 7 GB /s

[@TheAppleHelpline]

You are correct. In reality even though Apple shouldn’t of made the base slower the performance for most people won’t even be noticed.. it’s the more demanding tasks that will feel it.. which is why spending more money is what Apple wants you to do… but they would never come out and say that even though it would help… lol

[@chrisx5127]

@@TheAppleHelpline So would the base Mac Mini M1 be better than the Mac Mini M2 for the same price due to better storage?

[@PhillipMarquez]

Consider too that the newer but slower/cheaper option is also an entryway for new Mac users.

[@amani2185]

What is the type of Mac mini that a a Financial markets trader need(Daytrader) without breaking his saving Account.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Honestly.. the base line with maybe a step up in memory.. that’s all you probably need. To save even more money you could even find a model from the previous gen and save even more money

[@dan.mcclellan]

Thanks for the video. Can I get your thoughts on something? I'm currently in the market for one of these new machines. Here is the build I've been looking at: M2 Pro with 10 cores, 16GB memory, and 2TB of storage. Here's a little background on my situation. I do some video editing for KZbin on FCP, and I also use Photoshop, and tend to download a lot of files. Here are the things I'm not completely sure about: 1. Memory - I was going to go with the 16GB option, because I saw on a video from another channel, that 32GB only offered a marginal improvement in most tests. I know you recommend going for 32GB in your video. I do tend to use my machines for many years. How important do you think this particular upgrade is in my case? 2. Storage: I currently have a 512GB machine, and am always running low on storage. I know many say that Apple overprices their SSDs, but I like the convenience of internal storage and thought that 2TB would be the best choice for me. However, after watching your accessories video, I'm considering going for 1TB internal and getting either the new Rocket Nano, or the Samsung external SSD that you recommended. What would you recommend in my case? If you would recommend going with some external storage, which of the two drives I mentioned is best? Finally, I'm looking for a new display with a size of at least 21 inches. Do you know of any good budget options (around $150 or so). Sorry for all the questions. I've been looking at review videos for ages, and am trying to come to a final decision. Thanks again!

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Thanks for reaching out. I am sorry for taking so long to get back to you. My biggest issue with memory isn't necessarily for the now. 16GB would probably good now, but as programs get more advanced and command more to operate your 16GB all of a sudden is lacking. The other issue is you can't upgrade the memory. Since you keep your machine for a long time the idea of upgrading to what you can afford will always be my recommendation. Since i have really been focusing on the machines I learned that the external SSD's allow you to get blazing speeds at a fraction of the cost. You can also upgrade when you need to and maybe the drives get a little faster. I mean we'll always be limited by the generation of ports on the machine. When I got the Mac Studio I got the 4TB of storage because I didn't want to depend on slow external storage. However, I wasn't up to date on the technology getting so fast. I could have easily got the 2TB and saved 600 bucks. I think you should get the 1TB storage and take that money saved and get the external SSD. The 2 you listed are good but this one is 4 times faster. amzn.to/41UYNh5 and get this 2TB NVMe SSD- amzn.to/44goFWu I used these 2 to edit off of on my M1 14:" Macbook Pro and it works great and they cost around 250 for the whole setup.. When it comes to monitors the 21" monitors that run 150 are usually 1080P and the refresh rate it 60-75. If you go larger like 26 and up you can find some good 1080P and even 4K monitors. I tend to stick with LG, BenQ, Samsung or Asus. My friends use these brands and they are very happy. This one from Asus is a great price and it's 4K. Geared towards gaming but it will be really nice for editing too.. amzn.to/41UqNlc. But be sure to look around from other brands I mentioned and see what works for your budget. You might find a good deal.

[@dan.mcclellan]

@@TheAppleHelpline Thanks for the extremely helpful recommendations! You sold me on the memory upgrade and external storage. I do have one follow up question: I've also been looking at the SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD, which promises speeds of up to 2,000MB/s (provided you plug it in to a port that can support the max speed). If I plug this drive into one of the new Mini's Thunderbolt ports, should I be able to get the max speed? If so, do I need any additional cable other than what comes with the drive? Thanks again.

[@yashencaldera]

@@TheAppleHelplineThank you so much for a master piece of a review!!! After countless reviews and research I’m so glad I came across your review! Hats off!! Also grateful I kept reading through the multitude of comments until I found this brilliant question and even better reply with all the tech required to max out performance at a much better value! I just have one doubt which I would really appreciate your expertise to clarify 🙏🏼 I’m a VJ who requires a Mac for live events which leaves no room for error that can easily handle mixing and rendering of 4k footage simultaneously and is future proof. I need the best performance per dollar and don’t mind the convenience factor as I’ll be using an external io hub in addition to the external ssd hub and Samsung ssd recommended by you. I’m bogged between getting either the m2 pro 32GB/512, the m2 pro 32GB/1TB (for the faster ssd speeds mentioned in the video and several other reviews due to apple limiting the read/write speeds opposed to the base m2 pro) and the Mac Studio m1/m2 ultra. Your advise will be greatly appreciated!

[@bobbykalifonya57]

With a budget of around $700, which one would you pick for light video editing, multi tab browsing, client for virtual machine, and day to day email, and movie watching. M2 with 8GB ram and 512GB drive or 16GB ram with 256GB drive? Again, only M2 and no M1. Which and why?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Def go for more RAM.. the 16GB and 256GB... yes the SSD speeds are a little slower but the RAM is more important. You could always get an external SSD that is actually cheaper and faster.

[@lawrenceflowers2680]

Dude! I’ve been looking 👀 for your channel I was subscribe I don’t know how I end up being unsubscribed. Great video buddy keep up the good work! I’ll try not to lose your channel is future 🎉🎉🎉❤

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Gotta love YT doing Yt things. Glad you found me again!! I appreciate the kind words

[@jameshooper6165]

Thanks for the video. Was hoping to hear about the comparison in speeds between 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB drives in the Mac Mini/Mac Studios. Did you do a read/write test?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Typically the larger the storage size the faster it is.. TBH anything 256 and over has more than fast enough read/write.

[@deepakbisht7361]

Hey it's the best video till now about mac mini but i want to know which one will suit me best ? I do raw photos editing on lightroom photoshop video editing on premiere of my wedding shoots

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you rely on it to make money, i would consider the M2 Pro.... Maybe even the Mac Studio M2...

[@chrisncars317]

Can you make a video on how to set up an external drive the way you recommend? I am a little confused. Thank you

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That's a great idea.. I will get to work on that

[@chrisncars317]

@@TheAppleHelpline thank you. I really appreciate that. I am a student and I am looking at getting a budget desktop set up. Which looks like it’s going to be a base mini m2 and with what ever you recommend. Thank you for taking the suggestion

[@mikeeygauthier2959]

Question: Can I use my IPad Pro as a controller? I plan to use the Mini as a Music Server, and run the whole thing from my couch! Thx.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That’s a good question… I never tried that.. I know you can sync them but I’m not sure if using the iPad to control the Mac mini is a thing.. I’ll look into it

[@mikeeygauthier2959]

@@TheAppleHelpline Thank You, Much appreciate it.

[@Relege4444]

Hi - thank you so much for the information, although I'm still uncertain as to which model would be best for me (thinking long-term, 6+years down the road). My current (dying) system is an iMac 21.5-inch, late 2012 model. 3.1GHz Intel Core i7 with 16GB 1600 MHz DDR3. NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 512 MB. I honestly don't know what most of this means. I'm waffling between the Mini M2 with 24GB unified memory & 512GB SSD vs. the Mini M2 Pro with 32GB unified memory & 512GB SSD storage. From your video, I understand that I can upgrade the SSD storage (externally) in the future if needed vs. purchasing the 1TB SSD internal. I'm just using the system for some minor games, at-home office use, maybe Netflix, etc. Nothing major, but would prefer not to have to upgrade in 3-4 years because I didn't think far enough ahead on the hardware. Which of the two options would you suggest? Thanks!

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If that is all you're doing with the system.. the M2 with 24GB mem and 512GB ssd will be more than fine for many years to some and it saves you a bunch of money!

[@MrPipmeister]

a couple of wrong/misleading info in this video. The USB ports are 3.1. And it's not a simple to compare 8Gb of RAM and how a Applesilicon uses it (and the SSD) to how an InTel Mac uses it. M2 (and M1) uses SWAPs so much more efficiently. True, I wouldn't want to do full music producting using large sample libraries (like 32Gb large) into RAM - but if you are using softsynths and plugins you will go a long way with the 8Gb.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I did this video before any info came out about the USB. 🤷‍♂️.. As far as the memory it’s essential to how programs operate..The reviewers who stress tested these machines showed garbage results for the lower end machines since the SSD issue. I certainly tell people know who aren’t doing anything major 8GB is good but if they want to future proof, upgrading might be worth it..

[@sgtaneja]

I'm waiting for the New M4 Pro Mac mini - possibly slated to be launched by Oct end of 2024. Hoping for better design, and extra features at the same price point - else can go back to M2 pro mac mini at reduced price cuts post Oct'24.

[@adventureswithtime]

I still don’t know how to evaluate what additional CPUs and GPUs will give me. The big usage for my current machine is editing (via iMovie) 4K videos for KZbin. I’ve been keeping my current working video and picture files on an external 2TB SSD card AND the iMovie library on that same external card. Yes, this is slow on my old iMac. What sort of setup do you think would serve me well and where should I put my libraries and files? Oh, with a Mac Mini or Mac Studio I’ll need a monitor. That is something I’ve never had to consider given I’ve been using iMacs. My limitation is that the monitor needs to fit in a 22 inch wide space. So that limits my options. But I have no idea what resolution and other specs I should worry about. Thanks

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Yeah… i have watched so many videos trying to gauge what real world situations were actually tested so I knew which machine to get… in reality I probably could’ve gotten the higher level Max Pro on my Mac Studio and been just fine.. but I decided on the Ultra to hopefully have the machine for many years. What iMac are you using now? Year and the spec? Before I upgraded to the original M1 Mac Mini, I had the 2015 27” iMac, which was pretty spec’d out. So it lasted me almost 6 years. I took a quick peak for monitors under 22” and unfortunately I don’t see any over 1080p. I’m pretty sure you would miss the iMac screen after that.. I’ll keep looking though..

[@adventureswithtime]

@@TheAppleHelpline I'm using a 2017 iMac 21.5" with 16 GB and a 3.4 GHz quad-core Intel with 1TB storage. Yeah, it's an old machine. Whenever I start up Chrome it take minutes before it responds. Not sure why. So I keep a chrome tab open to avoid this. It also takes forever to fully boot. I use iMovie for KZbin. I keep my project files and the current iMovie library on a USB-C connected Samsung T7 2TB SSD. I keep my older project files and iMovie library on a 12TB G-Drive also connected through USB-C; but this one goes through a Satechi 4-port hub. I have a setup where my 21.5 iMac sits in a bookcase with a slide out shelve for keyboard and mouse. I like this and don't really have space for a larger monitor without completely changing things around. So have been considering the Mac Mini or Mac Studio. As I said, in addition to trying to figure out what machine to get (or waiting for the M2 Mac Studio if it ever comes) I also have to worry about a monitor suitable for these new machines. One thought was to use my existing iMac as just a monitor for the new machine. Not sure if that is even possible or desirable. I'm willing to limp along for several months to see what Apple announces this summer. I should go to the Apple store to see if they have any suggestions for a small monitor; but if they don't sell it, they may not know. Do you know what the GPU does and how valuable multiple GPUs are to iMovie? Thanks for your help.

[@Qoonutz]

The only small regret I am having now is not opting for the higher bit ethernet port. Otherwise, I am very happy with my machine (Pro binned, 32/1).

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I hear ya… i was super annoyed when the M1 Mac mini was given that option after I bought it.. But their are options out there that you can get to boost it…

[@billrhea]

The thing I’m amazed but is to update the port it’s only $100 but for 16gb more ram is $400? Someone at Apple has lost their mind

[@bangzoom8180]

Helpful video..Seeking advice. Currently have a mid-2010 Mac Mini (2.66 GHz Dual Core; 320GB HDD; 4GB RAM) with an external HDD (dedicated for Media music via iTunes) all backed up via Time Machine to another external HDD. Primary use is music library access, iPhoto and internet movie/video viewing, ie, Prime or Netflix...nothing else. Mac Mini is connected to an active speaker system with internal amp and DAC. Should I just upgrade to a newer used Mac Mini, ie, 2018 with more RAM and more storage SSD??? Thanks.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you update to a 2018 you will def see a speed increase and the machine will be able to handle a lot more. I was looking at those recently and thought about picking up one to see how well it holds up to say the M2 Mac Mini. I was eying the Core i7 3.2 Ghz 64GB RAM and 2TB ssd for 689 bucks... I've seen these selling for a lot more.. I don't know if people are actually spending 1,000+ for these machines.. That would be stupid IMO... but 600-700 might be worth it IF it can match or better the M2

[@bangzoom8180]

@@TheAppleHelpline Wow...that is a good deal. OWC? Mac of All Trades? I appreciate your reply and advice.

[@terjemaurset6133]

Know this video was posted 10 months ago. But if you think about the 1Gb ethernet connection. 1Gb is aprox 3-4x faster than you can upload files to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. Unless you are editing over the ethernet port locally, you will probably never max out your 1Gb ethernet speed...

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That’s interesting to hear. Thank you for sharing that info. I did not know that!

[@nathansassaman9598]

Would the base model M2 with 8 gb work with all the new features of Apple Intelligence? I have heard arguments for 8 and 16 being the minimum for Apple Intelligence...please let me know.

[@suzubraz]

Hi & Happy New Year! I know it’s 10 months since this video, but thought if I could have your thoughts on which mini to buy. I currently have an old MacBook Pro 2012 (16gp & 512gb) & it’s slowly dying. I was waiting for the m3 chip, but now I just can’t wait any longer. I am torn between the Mac mini 24gb / 512gb and Mac mini pro 32gb / 512gb. There is a big price difference. So my question is, do you think the Mac mini 24gb would be powerful enough for Adobe Illustrator 3D imaging and larger illustrations, photo editointi in lightroom & photoshop? My current Mac is struggling with these, plus can’t get latest software updates. Thanx in advance! All suggestions appreciated. Or do I get the base modal for the time being and wait for the M3 to arrive. Right now I even can’t get create a pivot table in Numbers, as can’t upgrade the app. 😂 What do you recommend - I’m happy to put in the money, if needed.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think the 24GB would work just fine… obviously the Mac Mini M2 Pro with 32GB would be better for long term. Getting the M2 Pro also gets the slightly higher CPU, GPU… 2 more thunderbolt 4 ports.. If that is something you think you might want in the future. For most things you probably wouldn’t notice the difference. I don’t think you would be disappointed with the 24GB M2 version, if what I said about the Pro wasn’t important to you.

[@steve-ey4ol]

should we keep upgrading I believe its a trap as when the m3 arrives people will just upgrade again from there m2 cos its faster - at present I'm still using my late 2018 Mac mini i5 16gb ram which still runs very well I use it mainly for Logic Pro work the storage has 512 ssd and I use external ssd for samples and so on - think I will wait for the m3 before I upgrade and not keep falling into the trap of keep throwing cash at Tim - I also have a m1 air which works for my workload as I use it to sketch out projects - At the end of the day do we all focus on benchmarks and numbers no we should focus on enjoying what we have and upgrade when you only need to.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Def don’t need to keep updating as much as Apple releases products.. lol.. I actually bought a used 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14” for editing and it’s great for most things.. I got one with maxed Ram and a 1TB drive.. so far for good

[@steve-ey4ol]

Ok so a great deal just popped up on the M1 studio max as it was on sale for £1499 reduced from £1999 at Argos (base model) so thought I would take advantage of this offer - seems a good deal when the m2 pro mini was £1399 - getting more ram and ports for a extra £100 - this will move me away from intel which seem pretty future proof and won’t need to update for many year like about 6 years I’m looking at.

[@Galletti95]

Doesnt the 512SSD upgrade adds a second nand chip making it significantly faster?

[@TheGelatinousSnake]

Base bare bottom for me. Honestly just needed to sinc iPods, and back up devices. iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch 7th, iPod Video 5 and 5.5. I didn’t need a new Mac. Any old used Mac would do all that I need. Lowered price was enough to get me to buy new. I’ll turn it on maybe twice a month and never install anything. Should last well over 5 years never pushing its limits.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That is the way to go.. you’ll never have any issues with it. Might last even longer

[@jassalharry]

Great Recommendations ! Costco Has Mac Studio for $1499 and MacMini Pro2 for $1099 this Week. With main differentiator being M1 Chip vs M2 Chip, Would you recommend going for latest chip in Mini vs Studio?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Depending on what the machine is used for the M2 Mac Mini is a dang good deal. Of course I say that and the rumors out now point to Apple updating the Mac Studio to the M2.. I’m not sure if the improvements made will justify the cost. Especially if you will bd able to get the M1 Mac Studio at even more of a reduced price.

[@sglatitude]

Need your suggestion about specs of Mac Mini M2 or M2 Pro I should get? Currently I am using MacBook Pro 2019 with 2.3Ghz 8 core Intel i9, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB, 32GB RAM DDR4, and 1 TB SSD. Average memory utilisation on this MacBook Pro 2019 is 24GB. I am not video editor, or digital content creator, gamer, or programmer. However, I usually have 20 tabs on Google Chrome, 20 tabs of Safari, Adobe Acrobat, 5 Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, 2 Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams, Spotify, Zoom, and occasionally Photoshop to edit picture used for PowerPoint presentation. Question: should I get Mac Mini M2 or M2 Pro? Also, what specification I need to have (CPU, RAM)? I will get 1 TB SSD for sure. Thanks

[@TheAppleHelpline]

It seems you still have room left in power on the MacBook Pro…. Does it stutter or hang up at all with what you are using it for now?

[@sglatitude]

@@TheAppleHelpline thanks for quick reply. Well, this MacBook Pro belong to company. As such, I prefer not to use for personal activity such as I can’t install third party software (Photoshop) anymore after company enforce security policies recently. I keen to get MacMini so i can continue use those software. The current MacBook Pro seems quite “hot” and fan keep spinning with the current workload and memory utilisation average between 20GB to 28GB.

[@cylack]

Apple has always been hella expensive, but what if I told you modern Apple prices are relatively sane? When I went away to boarding school in 1990 my parents bought me a Mac IIcx system which cost $6000! (CPU was $5300 monitor and keyboard was $700). That’s $14k in 2023 dollars!

[@TheAppleHelpline]

LOL... That is insane!!! I hope that machine was epic back then...

[@GrnXnham]

For that price I hope you are still using it

[@RickRijuanaPro]

​@@GrnXnham 😂😂

[@madness8556]

I'm currently using a fully maxed out 2012 27 imac with 500gb SSD and 32gb ram and it's getting a bit old. Would a mac mini m2 pro and my choice of display be a worthy upgrade? I'm not into any graphics intensive video editing but have a home based project studio running Logic, Protools and a stack load of third party plug ins. Is the 512gb SSD and 16gb RAM of the Mac Mini m2 Pro enough for a machine to be used solely for music production that's future proofed for at least a few years? Your advice is much appreciated and keep up the great work.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think would be great… for everyday stuff you’ll see a huge improvement. It will fly. All the programs and plugins you have will flow great with the M2 Pro… It will also work well into the future

[@valhala73]

Wow, this is the video I was waiting for!!! I am using an iMac 21” late 2015 2,8 ghz, and I need to replace it. Which one you think that I will need if I use it to edit photos ( with capture one) and watch Netflix and KZbin?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

You won’t need much to do that.. I have never used Capture One, but it looks like the requirements are more then met with the M2 base line. The only suggestion I would make is additional memory for a more smooth experience if the editing gets heavier. You are stuck with what you but since it’s not upgrade able. Storage can always be external and the speeds should be good for the Machine for many years.

[@yvan2563]

The two USB-A ports are USB 3, not USB 2. From the Mac mini technical specifications page: "Two USB-A ports (up to 5Gb/s)" From the Wikipedia "USB 3.0" page: "USB 3.0 has transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s"

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Yup.. the info was not available at the time the video was made.. 🤷‍♂️

[@johnborges5938]

@@TheAppleHelpline - The USB A ports have been USB 3.0 since the Late 2012 rev (Intel). Somehow I suspect a lot of people here are two young to even remember USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s).

[@Msenlightened1]

I cant make up on my mind . I’m buying it off eBay and my limit is 1500 and I do make videos on iMovie so I don’t know what to go for. I definitely need one terabyte but should I get the M2 with the more ram, or the M2, pro with the less ram.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

My first question is are you editing as part of a job? Do you rely on the machine?

[@Msenlightened1]

@@TheAppleHelpline yes

[@TheAppleHelpline]

The M2 Pro might be the better route with the higher processing power.. the M2 is good but the extra RAM might not help as much as the Pro chip

[@Msenlightened1]

@@TheAppleHelpline I think I’ve decided to get the Apple Mac studio

[@gair1944]

This is the single best M2 Mac mini video encapsulating purchase criteria, logic and reason logic to to determine which model & costs make the best sense. Wow! This helps so much! One consideration not addressed regarding the M1 max Studio versus M2 Pro mini is fan noise. I record acoustic music in the same room as my Mac. Is there any notable fan noise to consider with m2 Pro versus M1 Max Studio? Thanks!! Well Done sir!

[@TheAppleHelpline]

WOW.. Thank you so much!! I was really happy with how this video came out.. As far as my M1 Ultra Mac Studio I don't think I've ever heard the fans kick on... When I was using my M1 Mac Mini and this M2 Mac Mini I don't think I even noticed when the fans kicked on...

[@MrPipmeister]

Just install an internal fan control app. The Max Studio comes with a rediculously over-redundant speed of like 13,000 for idle - you can set this safely to 11,000 and presto, your noise goes away... if it even is audible in the first place

[@kevinruss6157]

Just come across your video. I am on the verge of purchasing a Mac M2 with the view to edit a large number of RAW images using Adobe Lightroom and also for scanning in slides. I am considering the M2 16Gb and 512Gb as minimum requirements for Lightroom. I would also need an external drive to store the images. At present I only have a 24 inch DELL HD monitor so would also need to consider a monitor upgrade. Should I go for the M2 Pro and stick with the standard M2 16Gb please ?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think you will be ok with the M2 with 16Gb and 512GB of storage.. I don't do a ton of raw editing on Lightroom but I know from seeing other youtubers test it the machine does a great job. For future proof reasons the M2 Pro is always a good choice.. But for now the M2 is just fine,

[@willm5032]

What's your reccomendation for a graphic design work from home machine? I can't afford a studio for context and I've got a full office setup at work which my company provides (Currently a top of the range iMac but they're moving to the studio). I was thinking M2 pro with 32gb ram. I work on Adobe Illustrator and photoshop primarily and light video editing (4k max) for various side projects. I've already got a dock with a hard disk adapter and a 2tb WDD blue drive for external storage. (And an ancient mac pro as a dump for files). Great vid by the way. Worth mentioning that these new macs use memory swapping a LOT with the 8gb ram models (they borrow from the SSD to act as 'ram') and it seems to be degrading SSDs faster. So as much ram as possible is a good idea, AND it future proofs your machine a bit

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think your right on with the M2 Pro and increased memory. The SSD's memory swap seems to happen more with the base spec Mini according to the videos I watched. I think you really have to push the M2 Pro chip to get that to happen. But going with 32GB of Ram and keeping stored files off the internal you should be fine! Good luck!!

[@willm5032]

@@TheAppleHelpline yeah that was my thinking. I know the Mac studio is technically more powerful but my current old Mac at home is a 2008 Mac Pro I've hacked to run big Sur so anything will be a massive upgrade on that haha! Thanks for the advice!

[@willm5032]

​@@TheAppleHelpline Yeah I think the SSD ram swap issue really only affects you if you're really hammering the base model by using it for high res vid editing or 3d work, which tbh probably wouldn't damage it in small amounts. But regardless of that the base model is rediculously competitive for cost vs performance. I put the order in today, I resent paying £400 for 16gb of ram and the lack of user repair and upgrade options saddens me- they could sell logic boards even but thatw a different conversation haha and Lois Rosmann puts it better than I ever could ;) Keep going with the channel and props for still replying to people on old content. GOAT behaviour

[@Bmad185]

I Think the M2 pro would be the because of 1 simple port the HDMI is 2.1 and the on the Studio its only HDMI 2.0

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I don’t use the HDMI on the Studio so I don’t really benefit from it…

[@jasonfleury9150]

Great video. So I am getting my fist computer in 14 years. Most of my work is at the office with a desktop the hospital provides but I want to have something at home so I can look at patient charts before clinic. I was thinking the base Mac mini would be fine for opening/running electronic medical record (emr) apps (Epic and Cerner). I don’t see myself doing anything much more than that. Maybe mincraft or Roblox for my daughter. Stream music. Thoughts?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think your choice would be great for what you are going to be using it for.. Maybe bump the memory if you can to help it stick around for another 14 years…

[@Goankobro]

What about 8GB and 512 storage will it work 4 k without lag

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you don’t overload it, it should be good. I always recommend upping the memory for future use.. It will last a lot longer.. but for casual editing it should be fine

[@siddharthanrajakumaran2601]

Great explanation I'm a software engineer looking for a system to handle multitasking like 8-10 chrome tabs, vscode, docker containers, running servers. Which model of the m2 mac mini should i go for ? i would really appreciate some help

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Wow… I am not sure how much all those Programs would use processing wise. If they get intense when it comes to processing power and it’s something you would rely on. I might think getting the M2 Pro chip with some extra memory might be best way to go. If that’s within the budget you have set.

[@rajeshraj9330]

Hi i'm planning to buy first Mac mini m2 & i have confusion which one should to go m2 with base model or m2 16gb or m2 pro for lightroom,ps and pr

[@TheAppleHelpline]

How much do you use these? Are they for work? Or a side thing?

[@lwarner777]

Very good Analysis ....

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Thank you!!

[@DaRealStiffhand]

As a pc gamer i usually need more power for more fps in games. Most of the mac videos talk about video rendering speed. As someone who rarely create videos do i need more power in my mac? if rendering my video took 20 mins as opposed to 5 I'm ok with that. Is content creation the main focus on power with macs?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I feel like to main focus with power on macs is the native or 3rd parties who work closely with Apple. However, we see Adobe working closely with Apple and they still have issues.

[@smellyrhinostudio]

For someone needing to use design suites like Adobe or Affinity design suites, should I get a new mini? ugh.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What are you using right now?

[@Gourmetslots]

@@TheAppleHelpline I have a late 2014 mac mini. It won't run design software --too old and slow.

[@tridave294]

i like very simple words clear vocal professor thank you cog i can explain to my Daughter what to buy we argue hahaa u helped us and today we going to buy m2 pro

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Oh wow!! I am really glad to hear that!! I hope you enjoy your new machine!! Great choice!

[@worldwidehuntingproduction]

Hi. Just discovered your channel. Great piece you did on the Mac Minis. Thanks. I am a videographer, my old faithful 2012 Macbook Pro just cannot operate anymore, no plan to upgrade OS further, cannot load the software I need. Want to buy a Mac Mini, portability important to me. What should I get, not a Mac guru, need good advice. Thanks. (Saw a post, "I see that Apple makes a remote desktop for $79.99, I need a really good one with low latency, is this the best one, or is there a better one?"

[@chueyesquela]

Before buyer's remorse sets in, I just bought an M2 with 24gbs unified memory in a 1tb drive. I use an dock connected to a pair of 2tb externals drives. I edit with Premiere Pro, a little Photoshop and maybe some simple After Effects. So far so good, but should I spend another $500 for the M2 Pro before my return window runs out? Thanks bro

[@mrleglove3377]

Is there anyway I can use a third party Bluetooth Mouses or keyboard with the Mac mini M2?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Absolutely… Unless it says PC only you should be good to go..

[@mrleglove3377]

@@TheAppleHelpline Thanks, it just because I heard you can't on the M1. It has to be wired third party equipment. It will not read bluetooth , especially on the initial set up from the box

[@arnabghosh676]

I play Guitar and thinking of starting music production....which one should i buy a mac mini m2 base model...or build a pc? I want to use it for atleast 5 years

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you know what you’re doing when building a PC and the software you want to use is on Windows. You could probably build it cheaper. If you just want it to work with minimal issues and live on Apples software ecosystem then a Base Model with some spec bumps like more memory would be better for you.

[@arnabghosh676]

Thank you very much 🥰... thinking of buying a mac ❤️

[@lacijeszi309]

Hello! I want to change from PC to iMAC MINI, but I'm hesitating which one to choose. I use it for all normal use and photo editing and in Lr and video editing, but mostly only in FHD. Maybe the iMAC Mini M1 or iMAC Mini M2 base enough for me, or iMAC Mini M2 with 16GB? I do not hold files on the inside drive it useing only for operating system and sofwares. What do you think?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you can afford to up the memory to 16GB you'll be happier down the road you did. Apple should have a min 16Gb IMO but they want to make more money...

[@mp6779]

Hi! I currently use iMac 27” 2017 with fusion drive and it’s getting slower somhow…As a photographer I use LR PS. I have a plan to buy Apple studio display and now what would be ok according to you to buy from Mac mini? Thank you.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

When the last time you did a clean install of the OS on your iMac? Also, how much room do you have left on the drive? Oh and how much RAM?

[@mp6779]

@@TheAppleHelpline never did that clean in a last 3 years that I used this iMac. I have about 250gb room of 1tb. Here are the specification of the machine: 3,5 GHz Quad-Core Intel, Graphic:Radeon Pro 575 4 GB Memory: 24GB 2400 MHz DDR4

[@adaasl6465]

please make a video of Mac mini m2 base machine using Davinci resolve studio magic mask and FPS achieved in magic mask

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I wish I still had it to try.. I didn’t just pick up a MacBook Air 15” that’s an M2 that would give the same experience. Maybe I’ll try it

[@thewoodys_surf_instrumental]

Just bought the Mac mini like you said disappointed it doesn’t come with a SD card reader :( Come on Apple how hard would’ve that been to ad that in there?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I know right!!! I really wish they would add it for the next machine

[@Just4Artist]

Would the Mac mini m2 be good for music or more specific ableton live 11 and maybe Final Cut Pro and if so how long would it last?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I've never used Ableton Live 11. As far as FCP it will work great.. AS for how long it will last that all depends on the specs you get for it.

[@Just4Artist]

@@TheAppleHelpline so what about if I got $700 mac mini do you know how long it would last like 8GB and 512GB SSD how long do you think it would last?

[@Mr1950]

Hey great vid ...Im about to upgrade and have some q's 1st ...Im a youtube and I do a lot of live streams and don't want lag ..What would you suggest? 2 . I do Vid editing for my uploads ... Anything will hep ...For my lives I use ecamm live

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What’s are you using right now?

[@Mr1950]

@@TheAppleHelpline Imac 2017

[@cyberlizardcouk]

i just wanted a new mac monitor, but it seems they've pulled the plug.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

BA DUM DUM..... LOL

[@arunkumar-gn8nf]

i am proffesional wedding photographer,what do you recommend for lightroom & photoshop .m2 with 24gb or m2pro with 16gb

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That’s a tough choice.. the performance of the chips CPU wise is pretty close. Getting more memory on the M2 might put it on par with the M2 Pro and save you some money. GPU wise the M2 Pro chip has a slight advantage. The one variable is the 24GB to 16GB.. if the programs you are running start using the RAM up it would then turn to the SSD to allow for more processing. If the M2 Pro uses the 16GB it will then rely on the 512GB SSD for memory swap, which could slow everything down. However, Lightroom and Photoshop are very well optimized for Mac. If I had to chose I would go for the M2 Pro… but I don’t think you be disappointed with either choice..

[@kleemyberlin6444]

Great video. Thank you so much. May I ask you? Doing Photoshop and Lightroom as a hobbyist, would a M2 (non pro) 24 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD (plus external) would do the job?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think that would work just fine for you!!

[@MrBullseyeYT]

Hey Apple Help Line! Thank you so much for your input about the Mac Mini! I plan on getting spending $2500 for a M2 Mac Mini + M2 IPad Pro combo setup for content creating/ media consumption! Would you approve this combination for 1080p Video editing/Thumbnails/media consumption or is this too much? - M2 IPad Pro 12.9” 512 GB ($1299) - M2 Pro Mac Mini 16GB 512 GB ($1199) Lastly, Do you recommend buying these products refurbished or open box? Especially if you can find a upgraded model around the same price?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What is it about the iPad Pro 12.9" you like? It's a bit much for what you want it for. Unless you like the bigger screen. I mean the Pad Air 5th gen or the Pro 11" can accomplish the same things for a lower price. You could also decide to take some of that saving and beef up the Mac Mini with more memory..

[@MrBullseyeYT]

@@TheAppleHelplineI prefer the 12.9” because of the extra screen real estate and the better screen for media consumption and productivity! However I took your advice into account and found some deals: Instead I purchased a M2 IPad Pro 256GB for $900 open box! 256 GB is more than enough for me since any work can be done on a external drive! Open box products are just new devices but with not the original packaging. With the money saved there, I am thinking of getting a Base M1 Max Studio open box for $1400 instead of the based M2 Pro Mac Mini! While the M2 Pro is a new chip, the M1 Max Studio has 8 more gpu cores, 16gb more memory, a second video codec, faster storage/bandwidth, and front I/0 with a sd card reader! I think this a much better investment then the original combination! What do you think?

[@prathmeshdk]

Until now I was planning to buy M2 pro mac mini with 32gb ram but after watching your video I think, wise decision is to purchase a M1 max mac studio for my purpose... Becoz of IO & 24 core GPU.. Thank you..

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What are you using it for? Sounds like you will be getting a great machine!!

[@prathmeshdk]

@@TheAppleHelpline For video editing

[@TheAppleHelpline]

A lot of editing? Is it your business? Job? Do you rely on it to make money?

[@prathmeshdk]

@@TheAppleHelpline not lot but I'm cinematographer & on 80% of projects I also edit... I'm also working on my KZbin channel.. Right now I edit on my 13 inch i5 8gb Ram MacBook Pro... So it will be a big upgrade for me...

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I'll be honest... I don't know if you'll see a huge difference in performance between the M2 pro and the Mac Studio M1 Max. On paper the numbers are really close. Single core usage is actually a little better on the M2 Pro Mac mini and the Muti Core score is a little better on the Mac Studio m1 Max. Now for real world usage.. The I/O ports on the Mac Studio are better and more convenient. Maybe not at first when the machines are new will you notice a big difference between the 2.. but a couple years down the road you might be wondering what if i got the Studio fora few hundred bucks more. I think you will get more years out of the Studio. If that is important to you. I hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more.. LOL

[@mbrock-73]

So I was thinking of the base M2 w/16gb memory and 500gb storage and add Satechi hub w/nvme ssd external storage. What do you think for regular everyday use?

[@couldsleep]

Hey, just discovered your channel! quick question for the Apple Man, I see that Apple makes a remote desktop for $79.99, I need a really good one with low latency, is this the best one, or is there a better one? thanks for your help

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I’ll be honest I haven’t really used any other kind of Remote Desktop other than Apple. I think it works pretty well… I don’t use it all tag often though.. sorry I can’t be more help

[@MVWDave]

Thanks for the video, Michael. I wonder if I might bug you for some advice. I do music production, but will also be making my music videos. They will be a combination of live footage, as well as limited 3D and 2D animation. The 3D will be low poly, and mainly short clips. I will probably use a render farm for rendering, but I'll need a computer that doesn't have tremendous lag when viewing and working on scenes. Also, I can take some time with my videos. I won't be putting them out every day. So the workflow doesn't have to be ideal. I was thinking of getting a Mac Mini M2 (not pro) with 512GB HD, or perhaps 1TB, 24GB RAM, and an external HD like you mentioned. This doesn't have to be a 10 year solution. It's mainly to get this enterprise started. So I'm thinking I need to have it in use for 2-3 years max. What do you think? Will this setup suit me? I know this was an involved question. Thanks for any help you can give.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you have the money to get the 1TB, 24GB of Ram pull the trigger. I think that will be a beast for now and hold you over for a few years.

[@MVWDave]

@@TheAppleHelpline Awesome. Thank you.

[@sunildmello2610]

Awesome video ..I loved it..a very good thorough step to step comparison.. . Super.. Looking forward to the Mac studio review.. Hats off.. ❤ India.. I’ve subscribed your channel..

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Thank you so much!! That video is live, go check it out!!

[@mrleglove3377]

Thanks for this

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and leave a comment!!

[@Amit.Shrestha]

I m going to buy one this cpu soon so M2 max studio or wait for m3 mac mini ?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Hmmmm.... what are you using it for?

[@Mr.mermelman]

Hi Mike, What laptop would you recommend for light video editing but mostly for browsing data and writing

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Check out the refurb section on Apple dude..I think an M1 laptop could save a bunch of money.. if you want an M2 they have some good ones too and you can save a couple hundred.. I am going to wait to see if the 15” MacBook Air is a real rumor and I might explore that to replace out 15” MacBook Pro.

[@Mr.mermelman]

@@TheAppleHelpline thanks, I’ll check them out, didn’t think about them.

[@Mr.mermelman]

@@TheAppleHelpline The refurb section sadly dosent exist I Denmark, but I ende up buying an MacBook Air m2

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Poo on a stick… I think you’ll like the Air

[@JuanRivera-oq8eh]

Look I just wanna browse, KZbin & email. Is the basic one good enough?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Did you watch the video? Lol..

[@JuanRivera-oq8eh]

@@TheAppleHelpline I did lmao like 3 times and I understood it 😂

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Lol.. thank you are watching it 3 times!! Yes the base is perfect for what you want to do!

[@EddieRyce]

Hey - Great video thank you for this. I am looking to do live streaming with webcam and playing a game on it too (Zwift). WOuld the base version be enough?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

The only thing to be careful about it how much the game takes in processing power.. Besides that it should livestream pretty well.. Also, make sure your stream is optimized for the best results. My buddy @michaelfeyrerjr has a channel dedicated to all things live steaming.. it will help you make sure the machine runs well

[@haseebahmad509]

i am buying mac mini m2 16gb 512ssd for programming with two simulators on at the same time, is this device enough for my needs ?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I wish I could give some advice on this but I have never programmed using a Mac. What are you programming for?

[@YamakuziTv]

I want to get a Mac mini(first apple product) i need it for Programming and Video editing, im thinking about getting the 24gb and 200gb harddrive. And adding a external hub with a m.2 slot? what is your thought?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

You're definitely covered on the RAM side! The only thing to note about the SSD is the base model 256Gb being slower than the 512GB... But it's an expensive upgrade.. If you don't do an super heavy editing you should be ok... Just make sure when you get an external drive it's the fastest you can get.. Like the one I mentioned in my Accessories video..

[@Moondoggy1941]

I have I-Mac that is about 6 years old, I only view KZbin and some hobby websites, this computer is super slow, the computer states if I want better performances I should should close the only website I have on. I am thinking about getting a MAC Mini from Costco, is that a good idea or get my computer repaired?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

How much memory and storage do you have on that machine? Also, how much storage is left?

[@federicoaliasi7815]

Hi, what would you recommend between M2, 24gb RAM, 512gb and M2 PRO, 16 gb, 512gb. My max workflow is editing videos in DaVinci Resolve, in particular 4k H265 files (oversampled from 7k). Thanks.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I am testing an M2 Macbook Air right now with 24GB of Ram. it does have 1tb of storage... but I am editing 4K footage from my External drive and it's working ok so far. The Project I am working with is for another channel, it had a lot of cuts, music, other clips added. Took my about 2 days of work and I feel like it did a good job. I didn't feel like it like it has any major issues. At the start I had some issues with Final Cut Crashing... I think it may have missed some files when I installed it. It was more smooth after redownloading.. The other weird thing was my external drive kept unseating and reseating when the machine was asleep. I am not sure if that was the drive or the machine. It stopped doing all these things the last couple days. LOL.. Now... that being said.... I am using an M1 Pro Macbook Pro 14" with 32GB Ram and 1 TB of storage... I found it for 2,000 bucks and I am super happy with it. In fact I feel comfortable editing these videos on it, even though I have the Mac Studio. I do understand that getting an M2 or M2 Pro has it's positives... But don't rule it out IF it ends up saving you money. It's still plenty powerful enough to do what you are looking for it to do. Heck, on Swappa the prices have dropped even more. You can score an M1 MAX setup for 2,100 bucks... MINT.. If you would rather get the M2's at the end... I think you would be more than happy with the M2 and 24GB of Ram... BTW... What model are you looking at? the 13 or 15 air? Or the 13, 14 or 16 Macbooks?

[@federicoaliasi7815]

@@TheAppleHelpline Ops, sorry! I didn't specify well. I meant Mac mini M2.

[@tomscott4438]

The Studio at base level is more powerful and has better specs than a Mini for about the same price. Apple has really made this a grind to figure out what you need. Gone are the days where the choices were limited and it was clear what the best option was for a given situation. If Apple didn’t charge so much for memory and storage, it would be a LOT easier.

[@laraemanuelle4877]

Hi, I'm a film student in my last year. I currently have a MacBook 2020 13" with 16gb of ram & 500ssd and to put it lightly editing on this has been a pain in the ass. I now considered the M2 16gb 256gb but also the base m2 pro. Now after watching the video I'm also thinking about m2 24gb. I edit quite a bit (also with a lot of different footage) and want something I can work with after my studies too. What would you suggest for my situation? Thanks in advance.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

I think if you’re going to be editing a lot the M2 Pro might serve you better for a longer time. Yes it only has 16GB compared to the M2 with 24GB… but with the upgraded GPU that will help the processing much more than the memory.

[@InfamousHp]

Bro you’re buggin’ the avg person holding on to a Mac beyond 3-4yrs! Furthermore the best option is the base mini Pro for the 2 xtra thunderbolt & HDMI 2.1 along with the bump in RAM

[@freemax469]

Please reply sir M2 mac mini 16/512 M2 mac mini 24/256 Which should i buy

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What will you be using it for?

[@digilux4017]

Mac mini 2014 3.0 i7 16GB RAM with NVMe 2TB SSD running OCLP Sonoma

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Very nice! I am guessing it's working well?

[@digilux4017]

Flawlessly, I dont work with video editing, I write, do research and documentation. Still photo editing does not require atomic quantum power og M3 Ultramax zillion core speed - in other words.. I work with my Mac just like 98% of any user. For AI work, graphs, large datasets, and spreadsheets and databases with multiple relations etc yes I have a stronger MBP i9 with 32GB/2TB power. And there is a MBA 24GB/2TB on the way.. in space gray. BTW I have a 2012 Mac mini 16GB/8TB as server also running OCLP Sonoma as home office server ;-) @@TheAppleHelpline

[@TheAppleHelpline]

Oh man… I love reading about that older machines with higher specs… little secret… I ordered a maxed out 2018 Mac Mini for some testing.. 🤫

[@Goffas_and_gumpys]

I have the M1 with 8gb/512ssd and it has NEVER let me down. Very happy with it, BUT, am considering upgrading to the Mac Studio soon.

[@TheAppleHelpline]

What do you use your machine for?

[@sanjivraj15]

is 16gb ram m2 good for 3D blender? or should i get 24gb of ram?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

If you can afford it more RAM always!!

[@Tk.daniel.z]

I would like to get the Mac mini 2018 with the i7 I believe and 16 gb of ram and a 512 ssd and I’m debating if I should get the m2 with a 10 core gpu with 256 ssd and 8gb of ram so Wich one should I get ?

[@TheAppleHelpline]

That depends on what you’re using the machine for?

[@DanielBowdenAMA]

Looking to get a Mac Mini for my WFH setup to have a dedicated computer, instead of using my M2 Macbook Air 8GB RAM 500 GB storage laptop. I work in marketing so I do some video editing, podcast editing, graphic design, etc., and usually have a good number of programs/tabs open at once. Right now my M2 is good but wondering what Mac mini you would you recommend and how much RAM?

[@NewToneProducer]

Welp. This would have been helpful a month ago. I ended up getting a base M2 Pro Mac Mini + 2 TB Samsung external drive

[@TheAppleHelpline]

LOL.. sorry.. I hadn’t used it enough to be able to offer full feedback.. I think you did ok