Not only does it have a newer, slightly snappier chip (plus the option of a far faster one in the M2 Pro) but it has more ports and a more versatile design. This could be an awesome media machine plugged into the television or projector, while the 1.2kg weight means it can comfortably fit in a backpack for taking between home and an office.įor me, the Mac Mini (2023) is easier to recommend to more people than the quickly ageing M1-powered iMac 24-inch. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)ĭon’t feel the Mac Mini (2023) is restricted to rigid desk use, though. I’m surprised USB-A remains, especially as it was ditched on the recent iMacs, and HDMI means it’s not just USB-C monitors that’ll work.

That’s a decent selection of ports, whichever way you look at it. Move to the M2 Pro version and you get an extra two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The standard M2 model boasts HDMI (4K out up to 60Hz), 2x USB-A (up to 5Gb/s), 3.5mm headphone port, Gigabit Ethernet (configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet) and a duo of Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-C ports.

The number of ports differs depending on the Mac Mini (2023) model chosen. But then Apple will still want to sell the Mac Studio, so I can see why some of the features have been restricted to that. After using the Mac Studio, I found it slightly annoying having to reach behind the Mac Mini to plug anything in and the lack of an SD card reader (either on the front or the back) means many will have to add a dongle into the mix too. The front and sides of the Mac Mini (2023) are completely clean, with all the I/O around the back. I think the Mac Mini in general is best for those who already own a screen and peripherals (keyboard, mouse, trackpad) as that ensures the only outlay is for the machine itself. I managed to slide the Apple Mac Mini (2023) under an existing monitor I tended to use with a connected MacBook, and I didn’t have to rejig too much to make it fit. The computer stands less than 4cm tall and less than 20cm wide, making it roughly half the height of the Mac Studio which looked chunky in comparison. The basic look and small dimensions allow the Mac Mini (2023) to easily fit into an existing setup. This both goes in its favour, and against it. The Apple Mac Mini (2023) is a ridiculously simple machine to look at. An SD card on the front would have been welcome.

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