The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[CausticPuppy]

I love that this thread will be 10 years old in December.

By the way, given that rumors of the M3 MacBook Air are already coming out, I think we'll find that the M2 series is basically a stopgap between the M1 and the smaller 3nm process, but not what Apple originally had in mind. The GPU limit of 19cores (or 38 on the Max) just screams "yield issues" where they couldn't reliably get enough chips with the full 20/40 GPU's working. It also feels more like Intel's old "tick-tock" strategy. M1 was a revolution and a huge bump, M2 series is a refined version on the same process, M3 will be another big jump in performance/efficiency.

 

[jmpage2]

Do Mac Studio buyers still think it was right to not wait for the new Mini?

Keep in mind that this is the performance of the 12 core version of M2 pro, the Mini Pro comes with 10 cores unless you spring for the best CPU option which further adds to the price.

It also doesn't account for GPU performance differences where the 24 core M1 Max might still have the edge.

I would say that if someone wants the fastest CPU cores possible the M2 Pro in the Mini makes the most sense for a desktop machine, but the overall performance of the Studio at about the same price is still very competitive as it includes better GPU performance, more ports, SD card reader, etc.

I'm personally leaning towards a full spec Mini but it's a tough pill to swallow as Mini and studio display is $3700 at that point and you aren't even getting an HDR display when spending nearly $4K on the solution. Possibly better option is to just get a 16" MacBook Pro M2 and then at least you get one built in HDR display and can spring for a larger external HDR display later when it becomes available.

 

[Gudi]

Possibly better option is to just get a 16" MacBook Pro M2 and then at least you get one built in HDR display and can spring for a larger external HDR display later when it becomes available.

Just wait for the larger iMac. It will (almost certainly) come this year with an HDR display and an M2 Pro.

 

[Chancha]

Do Mac Studio buyers still think it was right to not wait for the new Mini?

The Studio was out in March, so day-1 buyers have already been using it for 10 months, so that's one thing. Then by extension, the base is readily available at a discount at 3rd party seller or Apple refurb, offsetting the math a bit.

Then the Studio has ability to get 64GB even while staying at base M1 Max, where the M2 Pro mini can never do.

Also extra ports, SD slot, better cooling... do we need to repeat this.

There are only three points in which the M2 Pro mini is undoubtedly superior: height, less noise, and HDMI 2.1. For people who wanted these but had to go for the Studio, they do get somewhat shafted.

 

[jmpage2]

Just wait for the larger iMac. It will (almost certainly) come this year with an HDR display and an M2 Pro.

I am very skeptical. If studio display doesn't have HDR display at $1600 then a $2500 27" iMac definitely won't.

 

[Gudi]

I am very skeptical. If Studio Display doesn't have HDR at $1600, then a $2500 27" iMac definitely won't.

The $1,999 14" MacBook Pro supports XDR, so their $2,500 pro desktop will too. That's the very reason it wasn't released together with the 24" iMac.

 

[icemantx]

Just wait for the larger iMac. It will (almost certainly) come this year with an HDR display and an M2 Pro.

Who knows when and if an m series 27” iMac will ever appear. By the looks of it, the Mac mini or Mac Studio plus Studio Display are viewed as the “new” 27” iMac replacement for the foreseeable future. I for one, do not want to wait any longer to move on from my late 2014 27” i5 iMac. I now am likely to get plan a Mac mini m2 pro (32gb/2 or 4TB, 10/16 core) with the studio display.

 

[jmpage2]

Who knows when and if an m series 27” iMac will ever appear. By the looks of it, the Mac mini or Mac Studio plus Studio Display are viewed as the “new” 27” iMac replacement for the foreseeable future. I for one, do not want to wait any longer to move on from my late 2014 27” i5 iMac. I now am likely to get plan a Mac mini m2 pro (32gb/2 or 4TB, 10/16 core) with the studio display.

I was pretty close to pulling the trigger on pretty much the same thing but am frustrated with the limitations of the studio display.

 

[icemantx]

I was pretty close to pulling the trigger on pretty much the same thing but am frustrated with the limitations of the studio display.

I agree that it is frustrating. But for me, the sputtering, crashing of apps, being stuck on Big Sur, etc... are more frustrating than any limitations of the Studio Display. All depends on your situation. Also, can always buy another monitor to use that is less expensive until a time comes (could be a while) where Apple provides the type of monitor you may like.

 

[jmpage2]

I agree that it is frustrating. But for me, the sputtering, crashing of apps, being stuck on Big Sur, etc... are more frustrating than any limitations of the Studio Display. All depends on your situation. Also, can always buy another monitor to use that is less expensive until a time comes (could be a while) where Apple provides the type of monitor you may like.

Yes, that's true and it's not like I need HDR capabilities enough that it's a complete deal breaker. Perhaps I get the studio display with the Mini and if there's a better option available in a year or two I just upgrade it or make it a 2nd display. Would be frustrating though if an M3 based 27" iMac with HDR became available at a similar price by end of the year.

My current machine is 2017 i7 so it's not ancient but it's definitely not as snappy as the 14" MBP M1 I got for my job. It is time to upgrade soon, at most 12 months or so before this 27" iMac is totally worthless (which it almost is now).

 

[Che Castro]

New m2 16/512
Or
Refurb M1 16/512

$200 difference
Is the $200 worth it for the m2 Mac mini ?

I’m coming from a 2012 i5

 

[jmpage2]

New m2 16/512
Or
Refurb M1 16/512

$200 difference
Is the $200 worth it for the m2 Mac mini ?

I’m coming from a 2012 i5

The M1 CPU & GPU are about 20% faster so that is up to you. M1 is based on older A14 architecture if I recall the M2 is based on A15 so it's an entire generation newer.

In my opinion yes the new one is very much worth $200, especially if you keep the machine for years.

 

[Che Castro]

The M1 CPU & GPU are about 20% faster so that is up to you. M1 is based on older A14 architecture if I recall the M2 is based on A15 so it's an entire generation newer.

In my opinion yes the new one is very much worth $200, especially if you keep the machine for years.

Thanks , yes I plan on keeping it for a long time just like the 2012 , I’ll keep my m2 order

 

[gusping]

The M1 CPU & GPU are about 20% faster so that is up to you. M1 is based on older A14 architecture if I recall the M2 is based on A15 so it's an entire generation newer.

In my opinion yes the new one is very much worth $200, especially if you keep the machine for years.

Agreed. I assume it will get an extra year or two of OS support as well?

 

[theluggage]

Do Mac Studio buyers still think it was right to not wait for the new Mini?

Whatever you buy, something better, cheaper or both will come along in 6-12 months.

In this case, looks like the ~$2000 M2 Pro Mac Mini with 32GB RAM and the upgraded CPU/GPU will slightly out-Geekbench the base ~$2000 Mac Studio on CPU and while the M1 Max has a slight GPU lead on GPU benchmarks that hit all the cores, that may not translate into better real-world performance. My guess is that the M2 Pro will be a bit all-round faster on typical workloads. I doubt it will be a night-and-day difference, or a reason to throw away your Studio.

If you bought the base Studio in the last few months because you wanted something a bit better than a M1 Mini, even though you didn't really need 32GB RAM or even the 24-core GPU then I think you can take a moment to curse the name of Tim Cook. Here we go... ...and back to work with your still pretty neat Mac Studio with front mounted ports and replaceable (if not upgradeable) SSD modules.

If you bought the Studio because you knew your workflow could use the full power of the M1 Max's GPU and/or the extra RAM it supported then - well, quite honestly you probably paid the extra $200 for the full 32 core GPU, if not the 64GB RAM, in which case you've still got something that outperforms a M2 Pro.

...and don't buy a M2 Pro Mini today, because the new M2 Max Mac Studio is almost certainly coming, and it will be space grey and magnetically levitate above your desk so it looks like a G4 cube without the plexiglass.

 

[EugW]

Agreed. I assume it will get an extra year or two of OS support as well?

Probably 2 years more macOS support for the M2 I’m guessing.

 

[espacioami]

One thing I didn't realise is:

M2 HDMi 2.0
M2 Pro HDMI 2.1

Disagree Apple. In 2023 it makes no sense!

 

[wbeasley]

Probably 2 years more macOS support for the M2 I’m guessing.

Seriously, Apple support their hardware with updates WAAAAAAAAAY longer than two years.
Android devices are shockers. What you buy OS-wise is often what you get until they die in a couple years time.
Apple on recently stopped supporting iPhone 6...

 

[EugW]

Seriously, Apple support their hardware with updates WAAAAAAAAAY longer than two years.
Android devices are shockers. What you buy OS-wise is often what you get until they die in a couple years time.
Apple on recently stopped supporting iPhone 6...

You are confused. I was stating the M2 Mac mini will likely be supported for another 2 years after the end of support for the M1 Mac mini.

 

[EugW]

I'm hoping to see the M2 Mac mini 24/512 for CA$1529 edu, which is US$1150. I'm predicting the M2 Mac mini will get 1 year longer macOS support than Mac Studio. (As in both will be the same length of time for support, but the M2 Mac mini will come out 1 year after the Mac Studio did.)

I'm still surprised. The M2 Mac mini 24/512 edu is CA$1369 (US$1016). That's $160 less than my guess above.

A M2 Pro-powered Mac mini, with 24GB RAM & 1TB SSD, for US$1500...?

Yes, please...!

So, no 24 GB option, but it's $1379 in the US for M2 Pro 16 GB / 1 TB or $1739 for M2 Pro 32 GB / 1 TB.

 

[gusping]

One thing I didn't realise is:

M2 HDMi 2.0
M2 Pro HDMI 2.1

Disagree Apple. In 2023 it makes no sense!

I'd also like them to use PCIE 4.0 NVME speed SSDs in the non-Pro/Max SoCs as well. But that isn't the case. The price difference isn't that large nowadays, but Apple will be Apple.

 

[Gudi]

You are confused. I was stating the M2 Mac mini will likely be supported for another 2 years after the end of support for the M1 Mac mini.

Rule of thumb is five to seven years of software support after the last M2 equipped Mac was sold as new. More likely seven years, five years is for depreciated hardware like Intel silicon. The M1 is still on sale in the 24" iMac, it even got a hefty price raise in Europe. It's end time clock didn't even start ticking yet.

 

[EugW]

Rule of thumb is five to seven years of software support after the last M2 equipped Mac was sold as new. More likely seven years, five years is for depreciated hardware like Intel silicon. The M1 is still on sale in the 24" iMac, it even got a hefty price raise in Europe. It's end time clock didn't even start ticking yet.

To be clear, the M1 iMac is basically irrelevant to the discussion of the macOS support schedule of the M1 Mac mini.

 

[sublunar]

Rule of thumb is five to seven years of software support after the last M2 equipped Mac was sold as new. More likely seven years, five years is for depreciated hardware like Intel silicon. The M1 is still on sale in the 24" iMac, it even got a hefty price raise in Europe. It's end time clock didn't even start ticking yet.

imac price increase in Europe is a saddening thing, not entirely surprised. It might affect Mac mini refurb prices though so well worth keeping an eye on.

Obviously anyone needing an iMac ought to quickly look at third party retailers to see if they have stocks left at the old price.

 

[Gudi]

Obviously anyone needing an iMac ought to quickly look at third party retailers to see if they have stocks left at the old price.

Even better, I bought a used one last year for €1,050 which now goes for €1,779 at Apple. People expect M1 iMacs to lose value much too quickly and at the same time overestimate the worth of old Intel iMacs. I feel like I'm on TV and Chip Gaines tells me, my house already gained value. 😆