Mac mini M4 Pro Pricing vs Upcoming M4 Max Mac Studio

[Allen_Wentz]

Like a rumor of it coming out around march.. bc for me its the waiting until june that made me pull the plug on the M4 Pro

Also the 550 CAD difference (between M4 Pro 48gb-1tb and Studio 64gb -1tb) felt kind of justified...but thinking about it now its 550 for a much better chip and 18gb more of memory..so i dont know anymore.

M4 pro feels more than enough for my coding needs but maybe Studio max is worth it..i feel so lost now

Yup: its 550 for a much better chip and 18gb more of memory
Also yup: M4 pro feels more than enough for my coding needs

However IMO the M4 Studio Max will be much, much more computer than a Mac mini M4 is. Much stronger chip, more RAM, twice the memory bandwidth, Thunderbolt 5, superior heat management, more ports. And that is if Apple does not sneak in any surprise bonuses with the M4 Studios. Tough choice but I would [try to] wait and pay the extra for the Studio.

I would not count on release in the next 30 days, however. For some reason Apple likes to make us wait for the Studios.

 

[Canadia69]

Yup: its 550 for a much better chip and 18gb more of memory
Also yup: M4 pro feels more than enough for my coding needs

However IMO the M4 Studio Max will be much, much more computer than a Mac mini M4 is. Much stronger chip, more RAM, twice the memory bandwidth, Thunderbolt 5, superior heat management, more ports. And that is if Apple does not sneak in any surprise bonuses with the M4 Studios. Tough choice but I would [try to] wait and pay the extra for the Studio.

I would not count on release in the next 30 days, however. For some reason Apple likes to make us wait for the Studios.

My 2019 mbp is incredibly slow to use and Ive been holding out for a while now..dont know if I can do another 3 month with the trash I have now.

I ordered it today so if shipping estimates are correct, it will be here in 2 to 3 weeks meaning I have 6-7 weeks (from now) to return it. I will definitely think long and hard about it.

I was so excited to get it..now i have mixed feelings lol

 

[Allen_Wentz]

My 2019 mbp is incredibly slow to use and Ive been holding out for a while now..dont know if I can do another 3 month with the trash I have now.

I ordered it today so if shipping estimates are correct, it will be here in 2 to 3 weeks meaning I have 6-7 weeks (from now) to return it. I will definitely think long and hard about it.

I was so excited to get it..now i have mixed feelings lol

FWIW when I was facing the similar scenario waiting for the M2 Studio it was finally released ~at WWDC in June. I had given up waiting because my 2016 MBP was rammed-out, and I purchased a loaded M2 MBP in March. Sorry that is not reassuring info.

 

[tenthousandthings]

My 2019 mbp is incredibly slow to use and Ive been holding out for a while now..dont know if I can do another 3 month with the trash I have now.

I ordered it today so if shipping estimates are correct, it will be here in 2 to 3 weeks meaning I have 6-7 weeks (from now) to return it. I will definitely think long and hard about it.

I was so excited to get it..now i have mixed feelings lol

June (WWDC) is still by far the most likely date, so your instincts were good. You decided not to wait until then, and you can still change your mind about that. But nothing about the situation is different. If you change your mind about the Pro mini, you will be waiting until June for the Max Studio.

I also think that if they were to launch it before June, then it would be in the same week as the MacBook Air, on consecutive days like they did last October for the Mini, the iMac, and the MacBook Pro. So it would be well within your return window.

But there are no signs of that, and there is one omission that argues against it (confirmation of the two MacBook Air identifiers, but no confirmation of the Mac Studio identifier).

 

[Canadia69]

FWIW when I was facing the similar scenario waiting for the M2 Studio it was finally released ~at WWDC in June. I had given up waiting because my 2016 MBP was rammed-out, and I purchased a loaded M2 MBP in March. Sorry that is not reassuring info.

if I return in beginning of april (at the end of the return period) I would technically only have to wait 2month so its not that bad I guess..but that if they release it close to their announcement

 

[Canadia69]

June (WWDC) is still by far the most likely date, so your instincts were good. You decided not to wait until then, and you can still change your mind about that. But nothing about the situation is different. If you change your mind about the Pro mini, you will be waiting until June for the Max Studio.

I also think that if they were to launch it before June, then it would be in the same week as the MacBook Air, on consecutive days like they did last October for the Mini, the iMac, and the MacBook Pro. So it would be well within your return window.

But there are no signs of that, and there is one omission that argues against it (confirmation of the two MacBook Air identifiers, but no confirmation of the Mac Studio identifier).

Most likely will return it. Just really hope they will release it at wwdc because like you said there is not a lot of info. Do you think it could be after wwdc?

 

[tenthousandthings]

Most likely will return it. Just really hope they will release it at wwdc because like you said there is not a lot of info. Do you think it could be after wwdc?

I’ll guess it could be announced at WWDC, with availability for the Max Studio, but with the Ultra Studio and Ultra Pro not launching until later in the year. That timeline would agree with what Mark Gurman has suggested. Apple did something like this at WWDC in 2019 with the Mac Pro (announced it, with availability much later in the year). It would also line up with what I think (unconfirmed at this point) about the three remaining known Sequoia model identifiers.

 

[streetfunk]

i agree,
if you take the 14core mini-pro with 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM or more, the Studio-Max will be the better deal for most users. ( the OP post was mentioning a 512GB SSD. That´s an incorrect number )


I had to add a TB doc to my mini for $220. I could save me that with a studio.
So, that alone nearly justifies the difference.
I expect the studio to be $200 more, in similar configuration. Eventually $300 more in my country.
But look what more you get ! in case the studio remains the same.
Some things will come in handy.
I expect the studio-max to come in june / WWDC.

 

[Woodcrest64]

I appreciate all of the responses and all of you have valid points. If you stick with the M4 Pro 12c/16 GPU, 48gb of memory and don’t upgrade the ethernet to 10gb there is certainly some cost savings there vs the studio. As of right now the M4 Pro offers better single core performance over the current M2 Max studio so there is that as well.

 

[Canadia69]

I’ll guess it could be announced at WWDC, with availability for the Max Studio, but with the Ultra Studio and Ultra Pro not launching until later in the year. That timeline would agree with what Mark Gurman has suggested. Apple did something like this at WWDC in 2019 with the Mac Pro (announced it, with availability much later in the year). It would also line up with what I think (unconfirmed at this point) about the three remaining known Sequoia model identifiers.

Not sure if ill just wait it out with my 2019 mbp or get a cheap refurb 400$ mac mini that will eventually be a tv unit…but i really hope we see it by wwdc

 

[Canadia69]

i agree,
if you take the 14core mini-pro with 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM or more, the Studio-Max will be the better deal for most users. ( the OP post was mentioning a 512GB SSD. That´s an incorrect number )


I had to add a TB doc to my mini for $220. I could save me that with a studio.
So, that alone nearly justifies the difference.
I expect the studio to be $200 more, in similar configuration. Eventually $300 more in my country.
But look what more you get ! in case the studio remains the same.
Some things will come in handy.
I expect the studio-max to come in june / WWDC.

Are you saying all studios will start at 200$ ? And what country are u in ?

 

[Canadia69]

I just cancelled my order before it shipped…was so excited to finally get my hands on apple silicon but the studio mac will be worth the extra 3 month of wait

 

[streetfunk]

Are you saying all studios will start at 200$ ?

You can look this up vs. the M2, and vs. your Country.

I´m not that firm with the prices. if i rememebr correctly, that was $200, M2Mini pro vs. M2 Studio Max.
I bought the M2mini pro and was somehow pissed when the M2Studio came out.
I have no need for more GPU power. But the 4 screen option, and better connectivity is a value for me.

Things vs. $ can shift a bit since the studio-Max might have also two models, not all RAM sizes available on each. But we can extrapolate the prices for ourself easily. I personally have some flexibility vs. RAM. A little more a little less. I can acustom my mind vs. the upped $ on this one.(on my machine ! But not on a small machine, which has to remain affordable! )


vs. M4mini, i gave my M4mini-pro (14core) back, took a M4Mini base instead, and am waiting now for the M4Studio to come. I don´t want a M4mini pro as my big machine. It´s not cutting it for my taste vs. my music making. We´ll see how the cooling situation will be with a M4studio-max. The small mini will then be turned into my 2nd machine, rather than keeping my M2pro. Which has been the plan. But screw it. To have two M4s makes more sense.

 

[Ifti]

Looking to replace my current M1 Max MBP16 for a desktop solution, and have been waiting for the M4 Max Studio - should one come. I will then sell my MBP16 for a M4 Max Studio along with a Studio Display, so I'm hoping for one this summer. If not, then I'm in no great rush. I dont need one. I just want one.

 

[MacPoulet]

I’ll guess it could be announced at WWDC, with availability for the Max Studio, but with the Ultra Studio and Ultra Pro not launching until later in the year. That timeline would agree with what Mark Gurman has suggested. Apple did something like this at WWDC in 2019 with the Mac Pro (announced it, with availability much later in the year). It would also line up with what I think (unconfirmed at this point) about the three remaining known Sequoia model identifiers.

This also happened with the 2013 Mac Pro. Announced at WWDC and first units shipped in December just to get it under that "2013" window.

 

[Canadia69]

You can look this up vs. the M2, and vs. your Country.

I´m not that firm with the prices. if i rememebr correctly, that was $200, M2Mini pro vs. M2 Studio Max.
I bought the M2mini pro and was somehow pissed when the M2Studio came out.
I have no need for more GPU power. But the 4 screen option, and better connectivity is a value for me.

Things vs. $ can shift a bit since the studio-Max might have also two models, not all RAM sizes available on each. But we can extrapolate the prices for ourself easily. I personally have some flexibility vs. RAM. A little more a little less. I can acustom my mind vs. the upped $ on this one.(on my machine ! But not on a small machine, which has to remain affordable! )


vs. M4mini, i gave my M4mini-pro (14core) back, took a M4Mini base instead, and am waiting now for the M4Studio to come. I don´t want a M4mini pro as my big machine. It´s not cutting it for my taste vs. my music making. We´ll see how the cooling situation will be with a M4studio-max. The small mini will then be turned into my 2nd machine, rather than keeping my M2pro. Which has been the plan. But screw it. To have two M4s makes more sense.

Thinking about a second m4 as well to eventually be a tv unit but idk

 

[seggy]

If the M4 Max studio retains the same pricing as the current M2 Max Studio that top tier M4 Pro mini isn't worth it IMO.

The base Mac M4 mini is a real bargain. However the M4 Pro mini isn't all that great in terms of pricing when you start maxing it out compared to the Mac Studio.

My only thought around this would be that Apple increases the price of the Mac Studio when they launch the M4 Max and Ultra for it.


Mac mini M4 Pro with the 14 Core CPU and the 20 Core GPU
64GB Memory
2TB SSD
10Gbps ethernet
=$2,799.00 USD



Mac Studio
M2 Max 12 core CPU & 16 Core GPU (Eventually will be a M4 Max 14 Core CPU & 32 Core GPU)
64GB memory
2TB SSD
Built in 10Gbps ethernet
=$2,999.00 USD

Of course it's not worth it, maxing out a low-tier machine is never a smart move since most of that cost is just Apple's jacked up to the moon ripoff pricing for memory and storage.

 

[Canadia69]

Yup: its 550 for a much better chip and 18gb more of memory
Also yup: M4 pro feels more than enough for my coding needs

However IMO the M4 Studio Max will be much, much more computer than a Mac mini M4 is. Much stronger chip, more RAM, twice the memory bandwidth, Thunderbolt 5, superior heat management, more ports. And that is if Apple does not sneak in any surprise bonuses with the M4 Studios. Tough choice but I would [try to] wait and pay the extra for the Studio.

I would not count on release in the next 30 days, however. For some reason Apple likes to make us wait for the Studios.

Glad I listened to u! Just ordered my M4 Max Mac Studio

 

[Acronyc]

Unless the small form factor is your top priority, now that the Mac Studio has been updated, I think the base Mac Studio would be a better buy than upgrading an M4 Pro mini. I have a base M4 Pro mini that I am very happy with and it meets all my needs, even though I thought I needed more than 24GB of RAM (turns out I'm okay).

But out of curiosity I configured a mini how I originally thought I wanted (14/20 core, 48GB of RAM, 512 storage), and it comes to CHF 1,999. The new base Studio comes out to CHF 2,099 and is much more powerful for just CHF 100 difference. Comparing these two, I'd rather get the Studio.

But, I'm glad I stuck to the base mini. I saved a lot of money as the Studio is overkill for my needs.

 

[streetfunk]

I´m so glad i sent my M4mini-pro back ! 14core / 24GB / 2TB SSD
took a small Mini instead. 10c/Only 4 P-cores / 24GB / 1TB (the bare minimum for me)
Wanted to wait for the Studio.

The studio, i´d take it with 16c/12P-cores/48GB of RAM, make it 64GB/ 2TB SSD.
Not sure, maybe i even wait until the M5Macbooks are out just to see what it is.
Can live with the small mini for now.


i´d feel pissed if had kept my M4mini-pro.
As statet in previous post. The small studio with 36GB of RAM is barely more $, lets say with an 1TB SSD.
It´s so close.

Apple is doing something wrong in conceptionalising desktops, in my opinion.
More connectivity is so important to so many of us.
You quickly underestimate that ! and how much deskspace it takes to add more connectivity.
Does then the small form factor even count any longer ? in my case: NO

they really underestimate the value of onboard connectivity.
oh well, they don´t, they just let us pay for it. (i´d guess, that´s what it is)

 

[Norbert Mikołajczyk]

Ye

I´m so glad i sent my M4mini-pro back ! 14core / 24GB / 2TB SSD
took a small Mini instead. 10c/Only 4 P-cores / 24GB / 1TB (the bare minimum for me)
Wanted to wait for the Studio.

The studio, i´d take it with 16c/12P-cores/48GB of RAM, make it 64GB/ 2TB SSD.
Not sure, maybe i even wait until the M5Macbooks are out just to see what it is.
Can live with the small mini for now.


i´d feel pissed if had kept my M4mini-pro.
As statet in previous post. The small studio with 36GB of RAM is barely more $, lets say with an 1TB SSD.
It´s so close.

Apple is doing something wrong in conceptionalising desktops, in my opinion.
More connectivity is so important to so many of us.
You quickly underestimate that ! and how much deskspace it takes to add more connectivity.
Does then the small form factor even count any longer ? in my case: NO

they really underestimate the value of onboard connectivity.
oh well, they don´t, they just let us pay for it. (i´d guess, that´s what it is)

Yeah, you’re right on the missing connectivity, but for me the small factor of MM M4 Pro 64GB 1TB I bought on sale is more important so that’s why I bought it instead of MS. I like that I can throw it in the backpack and work remotely connected to my iPad Pro screen.
Too solve the connectivity and add seamless nvme storage I’ll buy satechi dock. If I would choose the MS I would buy the dock too to add the nvme.

For heavy lifting I have pc with Ryzen 7950x3d with rtx 4090 in small itx enclosure. It is way more powerful and cheaper than MS Ultra M3

 

[neomorpheus]

I swear (dont quote me) that apple have two “secret” teams.

1- Its sole existence is to make sure that similar products dont overlap enough for us to have a clear option.

2- The other is to make sure in designing the most hostile to self service devices, so you cant even dust off your system without being forced into an apple store.

They did throw us a bone with the still hostile replaceable ssds.