It is time for an M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini face-off. Apple’s littlest Mac received an improve this week, so let’s talk about 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 may anticipate, it has been upgraded with a brand new M4 chip, however there are another adjustments that differentiate it from the 2023 M2 mannequin.
Listed here are the variations between the M4 Mac mini and the M2 model from final yr.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: value and specs
Beginning at simply $599, the M4 Mac mini is without doubt one of the extra reasonably priced 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 completely different variants of the M4 Mac mini, and people enhance in value as you bolt higher specs onto it. Storage can go all the best way as much as 2TB, whereas RAM can go all the best way as much as 32GB. There are numerous completely different doable last costs relying in your configuration, however bumping storage and RAM all the best way up balloons the entire price to $1,799.
The M4 Mac mini is priced the identical because the M2 mannequin was at launch, so there is no big 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 homeowners 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 just isn’t a foul deal.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: design
Whereas the interior specs aren’t too stunning nor out of this world, the M4 Mac mini has some noteworthy exterior design adjustments.
M4 Mac mini connected 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, but it surely was a lot larger and extra cumbersome than the M4 mannequin. At 1.5 kilos, the M4 mannequin can be a full pound lighter than the M2 Mac mini.
Sadly, the facility button remains to be on the underside of the M4 Mac mini. Why does Apple hold doing this?
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Ports
Ports!
Credit score: Apple
The port state of affairs is the place issues get a bit extra attention-grabbing.
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 strong:
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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 yet 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 gadget 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’ve not really used the M4 Mac mini but. Nevertheless, now we have examined the M4 chip contained in the iPad Professional, and it was extremely spectacular when it comes to efficiency and battery life.
Plus, the large RAM enhance 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 help for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. That might make this a good gaming machine for the video games that truly help Mac, if nothing else.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Which must you purchase?
At this second in time, it would not seem to be there are very many causes to get an M2 Mac mini over the M4 mannequin.
Barring any short-term reductions or impending value adjustments we do not find out about but, the 2 computer systems price the identical sum of money. 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 cause to get an M2 can be a big value drop or a determined want for USB type-A ports.
