Why does the brand new M2 Mac Mini have lower specs than the M2 MacBook Pros?
Most of these caveats appear to be because the MacBook Pro getting the M2 Max, and the Mac Mini capping out with the M2 Pro. But why doesn't the Mac Mini get the M2 Max? Theoretically, it should be capable of it. It has a larger fan, more internal space, and doesn't run off of battery which allows it to use more consistent power.
The only reason I can think of is so that it doesn't tread into the space set up for the Mac Studio. I think that's a pretty poor reason though - The Mac Studio is still "new", but only does the M1 MAX or M1 Ultra. Apple should simply be making the best devices they can. Are there any technical reasons for this gap that I'm not aware of?
| Mac Mini | MacBook Pro | |
| Chip | M2 or M2 Pro | M2 Pro or M2 MAX |
| CPU | up to 12-core | up to 12-core |
| GPU | up to 19-core | up top 38-core |
| Memory | up to 32GB | up to 96GB |
| Storage | up to 8TB | up to 8TB |
| Thunderbolt Ports | Two or Four | Three |
| Power | 150W M2 or 185W for M2 Pro | 96W USB-C Power, up to 140W for fast charge |
| Display Support | Up to three external displays | Up to four external Displays |
Most of these caveats appear to be because the MacBook Pro getting the M2 Max, and the Mac Mini capping out with the M2 Pro. But why doesn't the Mac Mini get the M2 Max? Theoretically, it should be capable of it. It has a larger fan, more internal space, and doesn't run off of battery which allows it to use more consistent power.
The only reason I can think of is so that it doesn't tread into the space set up for the Mac Studio. I think that's a pretty poor reason though - The Mac Studio is still "new", but only does the M1 MAX or M1 Ultra. Apple should simply be making the best devices they can. Are there any technical reasons for this gap that I'm not aware of?
