Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Would I need a fancy monitor with it or will it work fine with my current AOC 24 IPS LCD screen?
 
From $599 USD (~£480 GBP) on the US store, but from £649 GBP on the UK store. Why such a massive markup :(
Don't forget the U.S. price excludes any Sales Tax, where as the U.K. price includes the 20% U.K. VAT. Also there will be Freight and Import Duty charges applied, so with the exchange rate factored in then it's there or thereabouts inline with the U.S. retail price.
 
The M2 Pro mini with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU is the same price as the Mac Studio with M1 Max and 10-core CPU and 24-core GPU (both with 32GB unified memory). Which is better?

With Education discount the Studio is $30 less than the mini.

If you want the high-end mini then maybe it would be best to wait for the updated Studio with M2 Max, assuming it will also be the same price.
 
Last edited:
UK pricing is utterly ludicrous on the Pro Mini! If you spec it with 32GB and a terrabyte SSD it’s the same as the base spec M1 Studio, all be it with a Studio with 512GB SSD. Not worth it, unless that M2 Pro is faster then the M1 Max of course.
The M2 Pro is certainly faster than the M1 Max chip on the CPU front. It is using newer cores. The Max just adds more GPU cores. We will need to see what performance tests say to get specifics.

We will probably see the Mac Studio upgraded to M2 X later this year. We'll have to see if the price holds or if they bump up the price. That base model Mac Studio with M1 Max is a great deal.
 
Last edited:
The M2 Pro mini with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU is the same price as the Mac Studio with M1 Max and 10-core CPU and 24-core GPU (both with 32GB unified memory). Which is better?
Depends on your needs. If you don't need the GPU cores, the two extra USB-A ports, and the 10G ethernet, I think the mini makes more sense. The cores in the mini are faster and you get two more of them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DotCom2
$500 for the base model Mac Mini with education pricing is the best price, adjusting for inflation, Apple has ever had for a computer. That's one benefit of Apple Silicon. It's also likely something of a loss-leader -- not likely losing Apple money but it almost certainly a low margin device. They make up the margins in upgrades and services.

The original base model Mac Mini launched in 2005 for $500. That's $750 now with inflation. The non-education price is $600, which is 20% cheaper than the original "cheapest Mac ever".

It's even more surprising when you consider the package deal.

In January 2005, the brand new G4 Mini was $499, the 20" Cinema Display was $999, and the 23" Cinema HD Display was $1799. Adjusted for inflation, those prices are $777, $1555, and $2800, respectively.

In January 2023, the M2 Mini is $599, the Studio Display is $1599, and the Pro Display XDR is $4999.

Obviously the Pro Display XDR is out there. But if we consider the inflation-adjusted "cheapest Mini + cheapest display" package:
2005: $777 + $1555 = $2332
2023: $599 + $1599 = $2198!
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac
A m2 pro maxed out processor, max memory capacity and a terabyte storage system is 2300 dollars! For a mini. Maxed out system is 4500 dollars.High performance really does come at a price.
Most products (i.e. computers and cars) get very expensive if you add all of the options. Most people will only add a subset.

For a desktop like the Mini, you are better off getting a 256/512 GB SSD and then adding an external SSD for spillover. Apple's SSD prices reach nosebleed levels once you get past 1GB.
 
Depends on your needs. If you don't need the GPU cores, the two extra USB-A ports, and the 10G ethernet, I think the mini makes more sense. The cores in the mini are faster and you get two more of them.
Oh, the Studio includes the 10G ethernet. That means the Mini is $100 more than the Studio. That's pretty dumb. The Education or Refurbished Studio looks like the best buy.
 
I must say, the Mac Mini line up is looking good.

I'm thinking about the cheapest / base model as a media center for my TV for in the living room.
With Edu discount it's only $499 (assuming you qualify). That's a great deal for a media center mini or if you just need it for internet and office apps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac
Don't forget the U.S. price excludes any Sales Tax, where as the U.K. price includes the 20% U.K. VAT. Also there will be Freight and Import Duty charges applied, so with the exchange rate factored in then it's there or thereabouts inline with the U.S. retail price.
True, although the average sales tax is 5% -> around $630 total, or around £513. Still a near £140ish markup per device.
 
Holy Moly - that M2 Pro price and configuration is maybe the best value ever of a mac?

Edit - maybe the studio M1 Max entry still has that crown 🤩.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tagbert
Is the 10 Gigabit recommended or not? I don't know what I have on my PC, it says this on network properties though - 1000/1000 (Mbps)
Most people will not need it. Unless you are connecting to a network that supports it and use it for transferring huge files across it.
 
Agree. I know everyone says to just get an external, but I still prefer to have at least 1TB internal SSD. $400 just for that upgrade totally kills the supposed savings of dropping it to $599.
Me too, only I'm getting the 2TB. I know, I know it's a rip off but I knew this going in and I planned for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapmymac and Thakk
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.