Decision Paralysis - M2 Pro Mini vs Base Studio for Graphic Design

[ubermick]

So I'm in a bit of a weird spot.

I currently work in-house as a graphic designer, and my current machine is a 96GB 2019 Mac Pro. I'm not entirely sure how much longer I'll be there though (that's a whole story) and if as expected I leave in the coming months, I'll have to return the Mac Pro and be in the market for a new desktop. My work is 99% Indesign (which surprisingly runs horrifically on the Mac Pro when using overprint preview!) Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat. Productivity only, no gaming or anything like that.

Like most, I've been eyeing the Mac Studio, speccing one out with 64GB, 1TB, and 32 GPU cores - fully accept that 64GB is more than I need for 2D graphic design but considering these machines aren't upgradeable in any way I figured I'd get what I MIGHT need rather than what I currently do. But the new M2 Pro mini has me wondering it its a better bet. Limits me to 32GB but as mentioned that's plenty for the now.

Ordinarily I'd just wait since I don't need it right now, but the other fly in the ointment is that we may be moving internationally in the summer. Currently we're eligible for educational pricing (both my wife and I work in education) here in the US, and we'd be moving to Ireland where the pricing on the Studio is about 20% or so higher than it is here (not counting the discount) so would want to buy here and bring it with us.

Any suggestions? Get the Studio now and to hell with potential regrets? Get the M2 Pro knowing it might need replacing sooner than a higher spec Mac Pro? Wait until the last moment and see what happens?

 

[Rich B22]

Depending on which CPU you would get on the Studio (10 or 20 core), the price could approach $5,000; about the price of 3 Mini's. Over time, if they evolve, you could possibly move on to higher GPU core Mini's, with M2 or whatever comes next, at a lower price point, while the Studio you bought now, would still have the M1.
Remember that if you buy direct from Apple, they have a 14 day return window, so you could put the Mini through it's paces and if not satisfied, return it and get the Studio.
Good luck

 

[ubermick]

Depending on which CPU you would get on the Studio (10 or 20 core), the price could approach $5,000; about the price of 3 Mini's. Over time, if they evolve, you could possibly move on to higher GPU core Mini's, with M2 or whatever comes next, at a lower price point, while the Studio you bought now, would still have the M1.
Remember that if you buy direct from Apple, they have a 14 day return window, so you could put the Mini through it's paces and if not satisfied, return it and get the Studio.
Good luck

Cheers for that, Rich.

I was actually eyeing the M1 Max, 64GB, 1TB, 32 Core GPU. $2,519 with the educational discount. Versus $2,099 for the Mac Mini M2 Pro with M2 Pro, 32GB, 1TB, 19 Core GPU, and 10GB Ethernet.

So basically a $420 price difference which would net me a better GPU and double the memory - but sacrificing a more "modern" M2 processor which has 2 more CPU cores and HDMI 2.1.