Our Verdict
We retrieve an M2 Pro Mac miniskirt could be the perfect Mac for many Mac users who may be reckon the Mac Studio , but there is no doubt that the Mac Studio is the right machine and the cheapest way to get maximum force .
Best Prices Today: Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023)
When Apple enclose theMac Studioin March 2022 we were impressed by its processing power and first-class time value combined . Now theMac Studiohas been update with Apple ’s M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips it is still a superb batch for content creators of any level , but Apple ’s offer has interchange over the months since the original Mac Studio launched . Now the Mac Studio has competitor from an M2 Pro Mac mini on one side and the M2 Ultra Mac Pro on the other .
As long as you do n’t ask the expansion choice of the Mac Pro , the M2 Ultra Mac Studio , which shares the same specs as the Mac Pro , will meet the motive of all but the most demanding creative . But not everyone call for all the top executive of a Mac Studio with M2 Ultra , and some do n’t even demand the power of the M2 Max , for those the M2 Pro Mac miniskirt could be more than sufficient .
In this clause , we are concerned with how theM2 Pro Mac minicompares with theM2 Max Mac Studio . We also discusshow the Mac Pro compares to the Mac Studioseparately .
Mac Studio vs Mac mini M2 Pro: Price
In January 2023 , Apple introduced theM2 Pro Mac miniskirt . This Mac filled a gap in Apple ’s lineup : while the MacBook Pro offered an M1 Pro and now the M2 Pro chip , there was no background Mac with such a chip , until the arrival of this Mac miniskirt . commence at $ 1,299/£1,399 the Mac mini with M2 Pro is also a lot cheaper than the equivalent MacBook Pro at $ 1,999/£2,149 ( that leaves plenty to bribe a nicemonitor to practice with your Mac ) .
How does the price of the Mac mini M2 Pro compare with the Mac Studio though ? Starting at $ 1,999/£2,099 the Mac Studio costs $ 700/£700 more than the Mac mini with M2 Pro , which is quite a leap , but you do get a 30 - heart and soul GPU in the Mac Studio , while the M2 Pro Mac mini only offers a 16 - essence GPU as criterion .
For another $ 300 you could get a 19 - center GPU alternative for the Mac miniskirt . In that case , the 10 - core group processor in the Mac mini is updated to a 12 - meat CPU , which is identical to the 12 - core mainframe in the M2 Max Mac Studio . So you’re able to meet the CPU in the Mac Studio in a $ 1,599 Mac mini , which might be an option to consider if you do n’t need the surplus GPU cores . If you add 32 GB unified memory to that Mac mini to match that of the Mac Studio then you almost have the same Mac , stop the GPU cores , for the same damage of $ 1,999/£2,099 .
Incidentally , the M2 Max MacBook Pro starts at $ 2,899 ( that ’s a construct - to - order option ) making the Mac Studio , at almost $ 1,000 less , appear even more attractive .
The Mac mini M2 Pro also represents a deal when compared to a likewise specced MacBook Pro . The M2 Pro Mac miniskirt with a 10 - core processor and 16 - Core GPU price $ 1,299/£1,399 equate to the $ 1,999/£2,149 14 - inch MacBook Pro with the same chip . We infer that these are very dissimilar machines , but it illustrates just how much you may keep by buying one of Apple ’s desktop Macs . The Mac miniskirt and Mac Studio are the most cost - effective style to get Apple ’s most powerful processors .
Comparing desktops , allow ’s take a near expression at what you get for your money :
If you are rifle to buy either Mac take a looking at our round - up of thebest Mac mini dealsand thebest Mac Studio deal .
Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023)
Mac Studio vs Mac mini M2 Pro: Design
The Mac Studio takes its invention divine guidance from the Mac miniskirt . Both Macs are silver ( there is no Space Gray version ) and feature a big Apple logotype on top . The Mac Studio measure 7.7 inches square , the same as the Mac miniskirt , but it ’s 3.7 inches magniloquent , well-nigh three times the height of the Mac mini .
That extra space inside the Mac Studio means it benefits from a more effective cooling system . The Mac Studio also offers a handy collection of ports on the front , including two USB - C embrasure and an SDXC card time slot .
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Mac Studio vs Mac mini M2 Pro: Specs
When considering the CPU cores there is n’t a vast leap between the M2 Pro and M2 Max : the exact same processor is uncommitted for both . However the stock Mac mini M2 Pro ships with a 10 - core CPU , compared to the 12 - core CPU in the Mac Studio with M2 Max . As we said above when discussing the price , you may prefer for the 12 - inwardness C.P.U. M2 Pro at the point of cut-rate sale if you desire that in your Mac miniskirt .
There are two key difference between the two models . One is the amount of RAM supported : the M2 Pro can support up to 32 GB merged memory , while the M2 Max can support up to 96 GB memory ( if you choose for the 28 - core GPU option ) .
The other major difference is the bit of GPU cores , with the Mac mini shipping with 16 - cores , but maxing out at 19 - cores , and the Mac Studio with M2 Max offering 30 - substance as standard , and a 38 - core GPU as a work up - to - order selection . And that ’s not even deliberate the M2 Ultra , which offer a 60 - core GPU as stock and 74 - cores as a make - to - parliamentary procedure selection .
Here ’s how the specs compare :
Mac mini M2 Pro
Mac Studio M2 Max
CPU
you may get an idea of how the CPUs liken from our benchmarks below . We ’ve screen the M2 Pro 12 - core and the M2 Mac 12 - gist central processing unit and can support there is not a huge difference .
We ran the new Geekbench 6.1 bench mark on the C.P.U. . Because our early benchmarks were made using Geekbench 5 we do n’t have the benchmarks for the Mac mini in doubtfulness , but we have run Geekbench 6.1 on the tantamount chip in the MacBook Pro and as you’re able to see the results are similar , as you would look from such nearly pit CPUs .
We also ran the Cinebench R23 bench mark on the Mac Studio , in that case , we do have the Mac mini M2 Pro to compare to . Here you may also see how similar the two CPUs are .
GPU
When it comes to GPU heart things are a bit different . The standard Mac mini M2 Pro offers 16 computer graphic cores ( up to 19 ) , but the standard Mac Studio with M2 Max has a 30 - core GPU ( up to 38 - core GPU ) .
To get an thought of how this plays out in testing , in Geekbench 6.1 Compute benchmarks the 38 - core GPU Mac Studio scored a lot more than the M2 Pro in the MacBook Pro ( we do n’t have the Geekbench 6.1 gobs for the Mac miniskirt , but it is the same chip in interrogative here ) .
If you are a gamer you could also await much better performance from the Mac Studio , as per our telecasting game benchmark .
See how the M2 Pro and M2 Max compare here : M2 Pro vs M2 Max .
RAM
There are other ways in which the Max beats the Pro , whichever propagation . The M2 Max has more store bandwidth ( 400 GB / sec vs 200 GB / sec ) and can offer more Aries than the M2 Pro can ( 96 GB vs 32 GB ) . notice that there is a catch with the 96 GB Aries option for the M2 Max – it is limited to the version of the M2 Max with 38 GPU gist , while the less expensive option with 30 GPU cores still crown out at 64 gigabyte .
Mac Studio vs Mac mini M2 Pro: Ports
The Mac Studio has the most porthole , with two USB - snow ports and one SDXC wit one-armed bandit on the front and four Thunderbolt 4 ports , two USB - A ports , one HDMI 2.0 interface , a 10Gb Ethernet sea dog , and one 3.5 millimetre earphone jack on the back . The M2 Pro Mac mini has four Thunderbolt 4 ports , two USB - A ports , an HDMI 2.1 embrasure , Gigabit Ethernet ( 10Gb ethernet costs an supererogatory $ 100 ) , and a earpiece jack . Of course , there are plenty ofUSB - C hubsavailable if you want even more options .
The M1 Max Mac Studio was held back by its HDMI port , which was HDMI 2.0 rather than the Mac miniskirt ’s raw HDMI 2.1 standard . HDMI 2.1 bring support for 4 K at 240Hz and 8 super acid at 60Hz . The 2023 Mac Studio offers HDMI 2.1 , so there is no longer a limitation ( HDMI 2.0 can only connect one show with up to 4 K resolution at 60Hz . ) This means that the M2 Max Mac Studio can now support up to eight 4 K show , six 6 cat valium showing , or three 8 K displays , where previously it was limited to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4 K video display . The Mac mini with M2 Pro supports three display .
The 2023 Mac Studio also take in the fresh WiFi 6E standard and Bluetooth 5.3 as the Mac mini M2 Pro did earlier in 2023 . The old Mac Studio only offer Wi - Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 .
Mac Studio vs Mac mini M2 Pro: Buying Advice
Now that the M2 Max has arrived in the Mac Studio it is certainly a more attractive option than it was , but even with the M1 - serial publication chips the Mac Studio was still a great option for those look for a brawny Mac that did n’t fall in the bank .
The Mac mini with M2 Pro is certainly a contender though . The main differences between the two machines as the livelihood for more RAM and the extra graphics substance in the Mac Studio . The Mac Studio be more than the Mac miniskirt , but you get your money ’s worth ( especially when you compare it to how much the M2 Max equipped MacBook Pro cost ) . When you consider that , if you were to spec a Mac mini up to a interchangeable allocation of RAM and CPU heart , it would cost the same as the Mac Studio , and still lack the additional GPU cores , it ’s clear which is the ripe note value for money machine .
But if you do n’t need as much power , and you do n’t use the most graphics - intensive apps , then the Mac mini with M2 Pro will be more than sufficient and exemplify a well rescue on the cost of the Mac Studio . you’re able to now save $ 700/£700 by buying a Mac miniskirt with M2 Pro , rather than the Mac Studio , and still get a automobile that is plenty muscular enough for your needs .
With that saving you could bribe a hub plus a 4 TB SSD and still have hard cash in your scoop . For more Mac mini accessory options , read our feature onHow to upgrade the M2 and M2 Pro Mac miniskirt .
The Mac Studio volunteer much more though , aside from the extra RAM and GPUs , you ’ll get hold more ports ( including some that are front - veneer ) and support for more video display .
For more assistance deciding which Mac to purchase register ourBest Mac buying usher .
