New Mac Mini Reviews: Performance Boost Makes This a 'Mac Studio Junior'

[antnythr]

Ordered a M2 Pro Mini 10c/16GB/1TB to replace my well aged 2013 27” i5 iMac. Will be my first Mini and my first AS machine. I’m pretty excited to get it but I’m nervous about the 3rd party monitor situation and my lack of knowledge regarding scaling, dpi, and resolutions. I ordered a LG 34BK95U-W 5K/2K to go with it, I hope it will work without a hitch. 🤞🏻

At default 2x scaling you'll be running at an effective resolution of 2560x1080 and things will be super clear, but the size of all the UI elements will look (IMO) distractingly big.

If you attempt to scale to a different resolution, the UI will look normal again, but everything (especially fonts) will be slightly blurry. Some people say this blur doesn't bother them, but it drives many people nuts.

 

[svish]

Great to see M2 Pro on the mini. With the Studio Display, can be a good combination.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Ready to get one. Just need the right peripherals. a Monitor and a keyboard that can also play nice with my work laptop.

In a word ... Logitech!

 

[DeepIn2U]

Great to see M2 Pro on the mini. With the Studio Display, can be a good combination.

Off context : sorry

Man ... I really hope Apple buys or employs this companies solid state tech for future laptops and in time desktops. no more fans, smaller designed products.

 

[DeepIn2U]

A M2 Max Version with 64GB Ram would had been nice.

Yeah but in THIS case design

you'd need some serious solid state cooling.

 

[DeepIn2U]

The star of the show so far this year. Cannot wait to get mine.

Agreed.

But Why Apple did this M2 Pro mini NOT come in Space Grey or even Black?! Y?

 

[Mr. 123]

I dare one of these YouTubers to post a video with a thumbnail that doesn't include their face with a fake expression.

The best Apple reviewer was DetroitBorg but he no longer posts videos. He made the videos about the products themselves and not about himself which is refreshing.

 

[gleepskip]

Agreed.

But Why Apple did this M2 Pro mini NOT come in Space Grey or even Black?! Y?

There should be 5 colors of Mac mini to choose from.

 

[LeahJoFoxtrot]

dude you don't understand how macOS scaling works. any resolution that is not 2x sucks and uses a lot of resources, QHD looks great? without subpixel rendering? ok...

I'm reading this on my LG 5k2k 40" Monitor and its using a HiDPI but not 2x res. To me it looks great and a virtually non-existing performance hit on my M1 Max Studio (which I'm returning for an M2 Pro)

 

[Razorpit]

Agreed.

But Why Apple did this M2 Pro mini NOT come in Space Grey or even Black?! Y?

😳 Didn’t even notice that one.

The best Apple reviewer was DetroitBorg but he no longer posts videos. He made the videos about the products themselves and not about himself which is refreshing.

Never watched him, but from the sounds of it he probably didn’t make the numbers he needed to because of that. Quality informational reviews have gone the way of the 🦤. It’s now all about people who smile for 12 minutes and get free products to review because they hardly ever criticize. $5 says iJustine will have a HomePod unboxing video, grinning from ear to ear, and it will be the best HomePod ever, even though it is a lesser HomePod than the one before it.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I'm not sure what crying about it is going to do for this forum discussion.

It is content that MR posted as part of this item. This forum is so we can voice our opinion on what MR posted, and that includes everything MR decided to post, including 3rd-party links. It's really not difficult to understand.

 

[jwsf28]

It is content that MR posted as part of this item. This forum is so we can voice our opinion on what MR posted, and that includes everything MR decided to post, including 3rd-party links. It's really not difficult to understand.

Good for you. You reacted, and I reacted as well. We all win! Yay!

 

[DeepIn2U]

Never watched him, but from the sounds of it he probably didn’t make the numbers he needed to because of that. Quality informational reviews have gone the way of the 🦤. It’s now all about people who smile for 12 minutes and get free products to review because they hardly ever criticize. $5 says iJustine will have a HomePod unboxing video, grinning from ear to ear, and it will be the best HomePod ever, even though it is a lesser HomePod than the one before it.

Spot on!

I seen the same trend occur with Nokia S60 phones with the “All Things Symbian” site and videos long long ago. Smile and praise guarantees long review units and free products.

Of all those reviewers I mostly only see MKBHD having a full main business (he’s probably the only one getting over $100K US per year just from YouTube, Renee used to be an article editor so lots of $ to lounge on after leaving iMore yet now on YouTube review board, Karl works as an IT procurement and management of hospital critical equipment as his main 9-5 so decent funds there to afford a 911 and such lifestyle. Over the years iJustine has been branching out yet in sure YouTube’s are the main income I’m guessing.

 

[Horselover Fat]

Hm, this review (at 8:26) mentions the fan is audible across the room under load.

I wonder how such different reviews come about and hope it's not a lottery as with the Mac Studio.

 

[SiII5mb]

I'm torn between a M2 16/512 and an M2 Pro 32/512. The latter has the ports and plenty of RAM. I don't need the higher binned 12 core CPU. That SKU doesn't make a lot of sense, frankly, as once you go there you might as well buy a Studio. However, the 10 core with 32GB is $300 less than a base Studio with the differences of no value to me.

Torn between a 16/512 and the pro version for 350 UK pounds more. If it's any help to you I have an intel mac mini that can barely boot up to run safari these days without the spinning pizza of death as it caches each window

 

[SiII5mb]

No doubt at all that these are potent machines...but the upgrade pricing for extra storage is obscene.

UK prices are even worse 650 pounds is the base model here and the pound dollar exchange rate is 1.24 dollars to the pound. I hope someone in America can work out the mark up Apple is inflicting on its UK customers? It must be quite some cruise those machine go on to get from Ireland to the UK.

 

[smeagol]

A M2 Max Version with 64GB Ram would had been nice.

If you're willing to jump to the Studio that config will exist. Raincheck for an M2 Max Studio update.