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Apple Silicon Mac mini Q&A
Published February 9, 2023
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How fast are the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models compared to each other and earlier Mac mini models? How fast are they compared to the Mac Studio?
In the press release for the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models -- the Mac mini "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 2023, "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 2023, and "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023 -- Apple uses the word "powerful" seventeen times and backs up the boast with some actual performance claims.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Silicon Mac mini)
For the entry-level Mac mini model -- the Mac mini "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 2023 -- Apple specifies:
When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M2 offers:
- Up to 22x faster machine learning (ML) image upscaling performance in Pixelmator Pro.
- 9.8x faster complex timeline rendering in Final Cut Pro.
When compared to the previous-generation Mac mini with M1, Mac mini with M2 delivers:
- Up to 2.4x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
- Up to 50 percent faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
- Up to 35 percent faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
For the higher-end Mac mini models -- the Mac mini "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 2023 and "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023 -- Apple explains:
When compared to the 27-inch iMac with Intel Core i7 and Radeon Pro 5500 XT, Mac mini with M2 Pro offers:
- Up to 50 percent faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
- Up to 5.5x faster panoramic merge in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
- Up to 4.4x faster object tracking in Final Cut Pro.
When compared to the previous-generation M1 Mac mini, Mac mini with M2 Pro delivers:
- Up to 2.5x faster graphics performance in Affinity Photo.
- Up to 4.2x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
- Up to 2.8x faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
With such detailed performance claims, the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models must be faster than their predecessors in these particular tasks.
However, Apple's performance claims are so specific that overall performance data is particularly worthwhile. Apple does not compare the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models to each other or to their most obvious rival -- the Mac Studio -- either.
Accordingly, it is especially useful to also know how the performance of the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models compare to each other, to their immediate predecessors, to other Mac mini models, and to the Mac Studio.
General Performance Overview
For a helpful overview of the performance difference between the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Apple Silicon Mac mini and other Macs, EveryMac.com's own Ultimate Mac Comparison makes it quick to compare side-by-side 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench benchmark averages with all other G3 and later Macs for thousands of possible performance comparisons.
This Q&A combines Geekbench 5 benchmarks with our own independent evaluation for a deeper dive into the performance of these Macs.
2023 M2 vs. 2023 M2 Pro Mac mini
In single core tasks, the Mac mini "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 2023, "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 2023, and "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023 essentially are the same speed.
However, in multicore tasks, the two extra cores in the "M2 Pro" models make a significant difference with the stock Mac mini "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 2023 and configure-to-order Mac mini "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023 models roughly 35% faster and 64% faster than the entry-level Mac mini "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU 2023, respectively.
The configure-to-order Mac mini "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023, in turn, is roughly 22% faster than the stock Mac mini "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 2023, and costs 23% more (US$300), so it is a solid value in comparison for those who can put the extra performance to good use.
2020 M1 Mac mini vs. 2023 M2/M2 Pro Mac mini
Even the entry-level "2023 M2" Mac mini tops its predecessor with the higher-end "2023 M2 Pro" models significantly faster:
| 2020 Mac mini | 2023 Mac mini | Single Core | Multicore |
| "M1" 8/8 | "M2" 8/10 | +14% | +19% |
| "M2 Pro" 10/16 | +14% | +60% | |
| "M2 Pro" 12/19 | +14% | +95% |
Even more surprisingly, the entry-level "2023 M2" Mac mini costs US$100 less than its equivalently configured predecessor.
Late 2018 Mac mini vs. 2023 M2/M2 Pro Mac mini
As you would expect given the above performance, the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini beats the earlier "Late 2018" Mac mini models by even greater margins:
| 2018 Mac mini | 2023 Mac mini | Single Core | Multicore |
| "Core i3" 3.6 | "M2" 8/10 | +112% | +170% |
| "Core i5" 3.0 | "M2 Pro" 10/16 | +90% | +149% |
| "Core i7" 3.2 | "M2 Pro" 12/19 | +73% | +157% |
The "Late 2018" Mac mini models have the advantage of upgradable RAM, but the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models definitely are much faster.
2023 M2/M2 Pro Mac mini vs. 2022 M1 Max/Ultra Mac Studio
The less expensive "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models are faster than the Mac Studio models in single core tasks, but generally slower in multicore tasks:
| 2023 Mac mini | 2022 Mac Studio | Single Core | Multicore |
| "M2" 8/10 | "M1 Max" 10/24 | +10% | -29% |
| "M2 Pro" 10/16 | "M1 Ultra" 20/48 | +10% | -79% |
| "M2 Pro" 12/19 | "M1 Ultra" 20/64 | +10% | -38% |
However, it also is worth noting that the fastest configure-to-order Mac mini -- the Mac mini "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 2023 -- is roughly 10% faster in single-core tasks and 16% faster in multicore tasks than the entry-level Mac Studio -- the Mac Studio "M1 Max" 10/24.
Performance Summary
Ultimately, the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models provide an impressive speed boost compared to the "2020 M1" Mac mini replaced and even more so compared to earlier Mac mini models.
Compared to the Mac Studio models, the "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini models always are faster in single core tasks, but generally are slower in multicore tasks. However, the configure-to-order Mac mini is faster than the entry-level Mac Studio and yet the Mac mini costs 20% less (US$400), which makes it a particularly good value.
The entry-level "2023 M2/M2 Pro" Mac mini is cheaper than the Mac mini it replaced, as well. An effective price cut is exceedingly rare for Apple and savings always is welcomed, too.
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