It is time for an M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini face-off. Apple’s littlest Mac obtained an improve this week, so let’s focus on what precisely makes it new.
The M4 Mac mini is right here and, true to its identify, it is a compact, desktop Mac pc that may match on any desk with ease. As you would possibly anticipate, it has been upgraded with a brand new M4 chip, however there are another modifications that differentiate it from the 2023 M2 mannequin.
Listed here are the variations between the M4 Mac mini and the M2 model from final 12 months.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: value and specs
Beginning at simply $599, the M4 Mac mini is among the extra inexpensive Macs, by advantage of not together with a show of any variety. Listed here are the specs you get for $599:
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Apple M4 chip
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256GB storage
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16GB RAM
Clearly, there are totally different variants of the M4 Mac mini, and people enhance in value as you bolt higher specs onto it. Storage can go all the way in which as much as 2TB, whereas RAM can go all the way in which as much as 32GB. There are a lot of totally different doable last costs relying in your configuration, however bumping storage and RAM all the way in which up balloons the entire value to $1,799.
The M4 Mac mini is priced the identical because the M2 mannequin was at launch, so there is no large benefit in that regard. Nevertheless, you might be getting a greater worth. For instance, the M4 chip is extra highly effective than the M2 chip. Plus, M4 house owners get 16GB of base RAM (the M2 mannequin’s beginning configuration solely got here with 8GB). A more recent chip and twice as a lot reminiscence for a similar value shouldn’t be a nasty deal.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: design
Whereas the inner specs aren’t too surprising nor out of this world, the M4 Mac mini has some noteworthy exterior design modifications.
M4 Mac mini hooked up to a monitor
Credit score: Apple
Most crucially, it is a lot smaller than the M2 mannequin. Listed here are the exact measurements for each machines:
M4: 2 inches x 5 inches x 5 inches (HWD)
M2: 1.41 inches x 7.75 inches x 7.75 inches (HWD)
The M2 mannequin may need been barely shorter from a peak perspective, nevertheless it was a lot greater and extra cumbersome than the M4 mannequin. At 1.5 kilos, the M4 mannequin can also be a full pound lighter than the M2 Mac mini.
Sadly, the facility button continues to be on the underside of the M4 Mac mini. Why does Apple maintain doing this?
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Ports
Ports!
Credit score: Apple
The port scenario is the place issues get a bit extra fascinating.
Imagine it or not, there’s really a definite benefit to getting the M2 Mac mini: It has two USB type-A ports on the again, whereas the M4 mannequin has none. That is actually the one benefit, although, as the remainder of the port choice on the M4 mini is stable:
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Two USB-C ports on the entrance
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Headphone jack on the entrance
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Three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the again
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HDMI 2.1 on the again
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Ethernet on the again
For these taking rating, that is another Thunderbolt 4 port than the M2 mannequin. Plus, you are getting HDMI 2.1 as an alternative of simply HDMI 2.0. As well as, the USB-C and headphone jacks have been moved round to the entrance of the system on the M4 mannequin (they sat on the rear finish of the M2 Mac mini). That ought to be extra handy, ideally.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Efficiency
This one is hard as a result of we have not really used the M4 Mac mini but. Nevertheless, we now have examined the M4 chip contained in the iPad Professional, and it was extremely spectacular by way of efficiency and battery life.
Plus, the massive RAM increase for the bottom mannequin ought to give it some efficiency enhancements over its M2 counterpart. By way of granular tech particulars, the M4 chip has 10 CPU cores (versus eight on M2) and assist for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. That might make this an honest gaming machine for the video games that truly assist Mac, if nothing else.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Which must you purchase?
At this second in time, it would not appear to be there are very many causes to get an M2 Mac mini over the M4 mannequin.
Barring any momentary reductions or impending value modifications we do not find out about but, the 2 computer systems value the identical amount of cash. Nevertheless, the M4 mannequin offers you extra port flexibility by transferring a few of them round, theoretically higher efficiency, and a complete new chip to play with. The one motive to get an M2 can be a big value drop or a determined want for USB type-A ports.
