Which Mac Mini to purchase M6 vs. M5 Pro

[Traveller604]

I currently have an Intel iMac 27" w/i7 processor & 32 GB RAM and it's time to upgrade. I need help/guidance on deciding which Mac Mini to purchase.

Set up considerations:
1. Mac Mini M6 with 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD
2. Mac Mini M5 Pro with 24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD

I currently use the iMac for the following:

• Browsing the internet, emails, etc
• Online meetings, recording podcasts via Google Meet, etc
• Editing photos on Lightroom and Photoshop, I have a Canon 5DII camera and may upgrade to a newer camera that outputs bigger RAW files in the future. When using Lightroom and Photoshop, I often do panorama and HDR merging & rendering
• Excel spreadsheets and writing documents in Word
• Editing audio podcasts using an online tool, not editing files locally but transferring files locally and to the online tool

My kids also play Minecraft on the computer. I may play some games as well, but nothing graphic intensive.

We also have a Mac Air M4 w/16GB RAM, used mostly for browsing the internet and online meetings.
I currently do not do any video editing or local AI modelling, but may do some video editing in the future, although the editing may utilize an online video editing tool rather than a local one (TBD). It remains to be seen whether the kids will do coding and AI modelling in the future or not. Plan to keep the new Mac Mini for ~5 years.

Based on what I can find, looks like the M6 is the way to go. But I'm wondering if 24 GB RAM is sufficient, as I typically have 20 or more browser tabs open while using other apps like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Excel at the same time.

When I looked at M6 w/32GB, the price delta between that and the M5 Pro w/24 GB isn't huge ($200 CAD). So I'm curious if it's better to go with the M5 Pro with 24 GB only because it has a higher memory bandwidth.

Pricing between the models (in Canadian dollars)
$1,849 Mac Mini M6 with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD
$2,149 Mini M6 with 32 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD
$2,349 Mini M5 Pro with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD

Thank you!

 

[Fishrrman]

I would not "go forward" from the 32gb RAM you have now, to a 24gb Mini of ANY kind.
That's simply "going the wrong way".

For the tasks you outlined, m6 CPU should do fine. This might be different if you were to start editing 4k video in large quantities, etc. But for still photos... fine, more than enough.

You're going to find that a 512gb drive becomes "constrained" in the future.
I'd recommend 1tb internal SSD as "the minimum" these days.

So...
m6
32gb RAM
1tb SSD

You will pay more "up front" for this, but you will be "paid back" in longevity and an overall smoothness of operation.

That's my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it.

Aside:
Canon 5DII?
It's time for mirrorless...!
Look at the EOS r6 mark 3.
Or even the upcoming EOS R8 mark 2, to be announced around Sept. 15...