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Mac Studio 2 vs. Mac Mini pricing

N

neilw

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 4, 2003
477
1,030
New Jersey
Mac Studio 2 with M2 Max (12 CPU core/30 GPU core), 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: $2599
Mac Mini with M2 Pro (12 CPU core / 19 GPU core), 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: $2599

What am I missing?

To be fair, the Mini offers a good price advantage if you're OK with a lower end configurations (which the Studio can't match), but I'm really surprised that they come out exactly the same when the Studio has the M2 Max vs. the M2 Pro.
 
With the same BTO options the price appears identical - so for the same price on the Mac Studio you get:
  • Front-facing ports
  • Higher memory bandwidth
  • More GPU cores.
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet
  • Higher performance media engine.
 
Last edited:
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Traverse said:
With the same BTO options the price appears identical - so for the same price on the Mac Studio you get:
  • Front-facing ports
  • Higher memory bandwidth
  • More GPU cores.
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet
  • Higher performance media engine.
Click to expand...
Exactly. How is a loaded mini not cheaper than the "equivalent" Studio? This seems like a weird bit of pricing on Apple's part.
 
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This was always what I was saying when the Studio launched.
An MxPro Mini had no pricing place.

Basically choosing between the size on desk and mini should draw less power.
Studio also has more TB ports so can add more externally.
 
mcnallym said:
This was always what I was saying when the Studio launched.
An MxPro Mini had no pricing place.
Click to expand...
I had thought they might increase the price of the Studio 2 to put some space between them, but no.

The niche for the M2 Pro Mini now seems to be either:
1) If you can live with less RAM and the lower-spec M2 Pro, then you can actually bring the price down quite a bit. The 8 core/10 core CPU + 24 GB RAM cuts $800 off the price. That would be perfect for my use, to be honest. I wish they had this option in the iMac.

2) If the smaller size of the mini is really important.

But other than that, the high-end configurations of the mini 2 now seem to make no sense.
 
mcnallym said:
This was always what I was saying when the Studio launched.
An MxPro Mini had no pricing place.

Basically choosing between the size on desk and mini should draw less power.
Studio also has more TB ports so can add more externally.
Click to expand...
I'll admit it is odd, but I just traded my M1 Max 64GB/1TB in on an M2 Mini Pro 32GB/2TB. The mini wont have the whine my Studio has, and that's my only reason -- I wanted a desktop Mac and that's the only one available that's not a Studio. (or a Pro!) And I was close to just throwing the Studio in the trash it was starting to annoy me even more than before. I couldn't sell it to anyone other than Apple in good conscience.

fwiw, I never had all my TB ports filled at the same time.

And you guys will get to stop seeing me complain about the Studio once it's out of here. :)
 
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bobcomer said:
I'll admit it is odd, but I just traded my M1 Max 64GB/1TB in on an M2 Mini Pro 32GB/2TB. The mini wont have the whine my Studio has, and that's my only reason
Click to expand...
I look forward to finding out if they've fixed the whine... certainly not something they'd mention in the product announcement. :)
 
neilw said:
What am I missing?
Click to expand...

I think the message is: Don't buy a fully tricked out Mini unless you're (for example) a Mac hosting company who can fit two Minis in the space of one Studio. Or maybe you want to VESA mount it on the back of a display. Or want to use it as a semi-portable that is half the height and weight of the Studio - and so on.

It's slightly unusual that the fully upgraded M2 Mini actually comes out at more than the Studio Max (if you add the 10Gb Ethernet) - but its not uncommon for a heavily upgraded "lower" model to be poor value c.f. a better base model (e.g. 13" MBP vs 14" MBP).
 
Was going for the mac mini m2 pro if the studio didnt get the upgrade.

Now that the studio has been upgraded, worth the xtra $200 over the mac mini spec’d the same ?
 
neilw said:
I look forward to finding out if they've fixed the whine... certainly not something they'd mention in the product announcement. :)
Click to expand...
I certainly hope so too, but I'm not going to take a chance on it this time around, and maybe not until there's a redesign.
 
I've always said the M2 Pro Mac Mini is a bit awkwardly placed. It's fine for the base model but for anyone looking for Pro they probably also want more than 8 GB memory. Once you start upping the configs, you basically get close to a Mac Studio in which case you might as well just jump to the next level.

The storage and RAM upgrades with Apple Tax are a given but one thing users should seriously think about is whether they need to pay $300 for the extra 2 CPU cores or not. You get 3 GPU cores but the CPU cores are performance cores. But if you're fine with 6x performance + 2x efficiency cores (same as M1 Pro), then you can save yourself a good $300 there.

I guess the other thing to consider is space. If you are sticking this on a HTPC shelf or on one of the storage trays on your network rack, the Mini size is really nice.
 
So if I am ok with the M2 performance, may trade in for M3 next year, have a TB4 hub/dock already, no urgent need for 16+GB RAM and 512GB+ SSD, I should go for the Mini M2? Otherwise, just get the base M2 Max Studio? I do need a 10GbE port.
 
hajime said:
So if I am ok with the M2 performance, may trade in for M3 next year, have a TB4 hub/dock already, no urgent need for 16+GB RAM and 512GB+ SSD, I should go for the Mini M2? Otherwise, just get the base M2 Max Studio? I do need a 10GbE port.
Click to expand...
There's plenty of room in between the base M2 Mini and the base Max Studio for higher-spec'ed Minis. It's just that once you get up to the highest spec Mini you bump up against the Studio, and then the Studio becomes the smarter buy.

A mini with the base M2 Pro and 16 GB DDR is many hundreds less than the Studio. Bump it up to 32GB and it starts to get into the gray area.
 
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neilw said:
There's plenty of room in between the base M2 Mini and the base Max Studio for higher-spec'ed Minis. It's just that once you get up to the highest spec Mini you bump up against the Studio, and then the Studio becomes the smarter buy.

A mini with the base M2 Pro and 16 GB DDR is many hundreds less than the Studio. Bump it up to 32GB and it starts to get into the gray area.
Click to expand...

My main problem is the Mini forgetting display settings on my dual-display setup. Tried three M2 Minis already but they are the same. Don't recall performing this test when I had a M2 Pro Mini. Not sure if the Studio has this problem but it looks like all Silicon Mac have this issue.
 
Well, since I'm getting education discount plus the Pro Apps bundle the difference between the Min Pro and Studio is $240. Since I want Logic Pro it's bundled with Final Cut Pro + others apps => $199. If you put together non-educational, Logic Pro is $199 and Final Cut is $299.

Bottom line i'll just spend the extra $240 for the Mac Studio.

One question though:
1. bumping up to internal 1TB SSD then if i need more add external SSD?
OR
2. Keep 512GB and go with external 1TB SSD?

thankx
 
Personally I think a more prosumer/pro grade machine deserves 1TB and 512gb to me is a joke. The 2TB tax is kinda crazy but if I were to buy one I'd also struggle with it. I have 2TB on my MBP so part of me feels I should have 2TB in a desktop too.
 
fromgophonetoiphone said:
Personally I think a more prosumer/pro grade machine deserves 1TB and 512gb to me is a joke. The 2TB tax is kinda crazy but if I were to buy one I'd also struggle with it. I have 2TB on my MBP so part of me feels I should have 2TB in a desktop too.
Click to expand...
so stay internal SSD and if nned be add external later if needed?
 
In my opinion, 1TB internal SSD is minimum, 2 TB is awfully nice and if I could afford the $$ I'd swing 2TB. Especially if you plan to keep it long term. The rest external. You can make due with 512, but will be happier withe 2TB.
 
I lean towards at least 1 TB internal as well... Honestly I wish I had gotten 2 TB on my iMac.
 
theluggage said:
...but its not uncommon for a heavily upgraded "lower" model to be poor value c.f. a better base model (e.g. 13" MBP vs 14" MBP).
Click to expand...
Isn't this a really bad strategy by Apple? I used to "overspec" my BTOs because the jump between upgrade prices would get smaller the higher you went. Now that the upgrade prices are linear there is no incentive.
 
mKizzo said:
Isn't this a really bad strategy by Apple? I used to "overspec" my BTOs because the jump between upgrade prices would get smaller the higher you went. Now that the upgrade prices are linear there is no incentive.
Click to expand...
OK, so you look at the Mini and add on the 12 CPU, 19 GPU, 32GB option - and that's as far as it goes.
Then you think "oh, look - the base 12/30/32GB Studio is now the same price and better value - I'll get that!"

...then you notice that choosing the Studio means, for just a bit more, you could have the 38 core GPU, 64GB of RAM and with all that computing power maybe you'll need a bigger SSD...

Cha-ching! And even if you don't fall down that slippery slope, others will and Apples marketing bods will surely have worked out the odds. Worst case - Apple still have $2k of your money showing up in their revenue.
 
I was debating on what to replace my 2018 Mac mini with.

A base studio is 1800 at with discount.

And it is better than I need in every way except internal storage.

I could bump to 1tb and be at 1979.

The 1tb internal ssd would be big enough for a few years.

Or I could go Mac mini 2

with 16gb ram

and 2tb ssd

for 1439

Maybe I wait for some studio refurbs

and get a studio with 2tb
 
I was planning on picking up my BTO mac mini 12 core M2 Pro, 32G Ram, 1T storage, and 10G networking this past Monday (the day they announced the M2 Studio models).

I cancelled that an ordered the new Studio with M2 Max with only the 1T storage upgrade.
It is basically the same machine, with a few more GPUs, more ports and better cooling, and was actually a little cheaper. I went with the 1T storage partly to protect against the possibility of the single chip slow down and partly because my current mac is already using over 400G on the internal drive.

So yes I agree the pricing of a BTO Mac Mini is strange at this point in time.
 
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I'm still trying to get a handle on the internal SSD for the Mac Studio. with 512gb, do you get more read/write hits vs with a 1TB, therefore more wear and tear? What if I stay with 512GB, and go external with 1 or 2TB SSD. Looking at specs and YouTubers with that configuration, speed is just as good. specifically:
SSD and SSD enclosure

So, apple charges $200 upgrade for 1TB, and external about the same. Plus already have the enclosure, so interchange additional SSDs if needed.

What the speed of the external SSD, could offload things like Parallels, etc.

🤯
 
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