Apple just unveiled its first redesigned Mac mini in more than a decade. Previous major updates to the device saw it transition to Apple silicon in 2020 and opt for a pro-grade chip in 2023, so how does the latest model compare to its two predecessors?
The new Mac mini looks radically different from previous models thanks to a noticeably smaller case and two front-facing USB-C ports, but it's also more powerful thanks to the M4 and M4 Pro chips. All hardware differences between the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Mac mini models are detailed below:
Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 2.0 inches (5.0 cm)
Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Depth: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.18 kg) Weight (M2): 2.6 lbs (1.18 kg)
Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 2.0 inches (5.0 cm)
Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Depth: 7.75 inchess (19.70 cm) Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Depth: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Weight: 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg)
Weight (M2): 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg)
Weight (M2 Pro): 2.8 pounds (1.28 kg)
Weight (M4): 1.5 pounds (0.67 kg)
Weight (M4 Pro): 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg)
Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust New thermal design that drives air up through the base
Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3
3.5mm headphone jack 3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones 3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
HDMI 2.0
M2: HDMI 2.0
M2 Pro: HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
Two rear USB-A ports Two rear USB-A ports Two front USB-C ports
Two Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports
M2: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
M2 Pro: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
M4: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
M4 Pro: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
Maximum of two external displays Maximum of three external displays Maximum of three external displays
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
M2: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
M2 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage
M4: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
M4 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage
Weight (M2 Pro): 2.8 lbs (1.28 kg) Weight (M4): 1.5 lbs (0.67 kg) Weight (M4 Pro): 1.6 lbs (0.73 kg)
Rear air intake cooling design Rear air intake cooling design New cooling design pushes air upward through the base
Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3
3.5mm headphone jack 3.5mm headphone jack, advanced support for high-impedance headphones 3.5mm headphone jack, advanced support for high-impedance headphones
HDMI 2.0 M2: HDMI 2.0M2 Pro: HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1
Two rear USB-A ports Two rear USB-A ports Two front USB-C ports
Two Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports M2: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports M2 Pro: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports M4: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports M4 Pro: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
Up to two external monitors Up to three external monitors Up to three external monitors
256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB storage M2: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage M2 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB of storage M4: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB storage M4 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB storage Table>
The chips available in the third-generation Mac mini are a key differentiator. These changes are summarized below:
M1chip(made with TSMC's 5nm (N5) process) M2 or M2 Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 5nm (N5P) process) M4 or M4 Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 3nm (N3E) process)
8 CPU cores (4 performance 4 efficiency)
M2: 8 CPU cores (4 performance 4 efficiency)
M2 Pro: 10 or 12 CPU cores (6 or 8 performance 4 efficiency)
M4: 10 CPU cores (4 performance 6 efficiency cores)
M4 Pro: 12 or 14 CPU cores (8 or 10 performance 4 efficiency)
3.23 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 3.50 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 4.30 GHz maximum CPU clock speed
8 GPU cores
M2: 10 GPU cores
M2 Pro: 16 or 19 GPU cores
M4: 10 GPU cores
M4 Pro: 16 or 20 GPU cores
Updated GPU architecture with improved efficiency
Hardware-accelerated ray-tracing
Video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decoding engine Higher-bandwidth video decoding engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
ProRes encode and decode engine ProRes encode and decode engine
Support for AV1 decode
LPDDR4X memory LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory
68.25GB/s memory bandwidth
M2: 100GB/s memory bandwidth
M2 Pro: 200GB/s memory bandwidth
M4: 120GB/s memory bandwidth
M4 Pro: 273GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB or 16GB memory
M2: 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB memory
M2 Pro: 16GB or 32GB memory
M4: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB memory
M4 Pro: 24GB, 48GB, or 64GB memory
16-core Neural Engine, 11 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 15.8 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second
Dedicated display engine
The M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini represent the most significant updates to Apple's compact desktops in years, marking an evolution not only in performance but also in design and functionality. A new, smaller chassis, improved thermal design, and front-facing USB-C port are notable changes that make the M4 Mac mini even more versatile. These design upgrades alone make the 2024 Mac mini an attractive choice for users who prioritize compactness and connectivity without sacrificing performance.
When it comes to performance, the M4 and M4 Pro chips offer significant improvements. With higher clock speeds, a more efficient core architecture, and memory bandwidth improvements, the M4 Mac mini delivers significant performance gains over the M1 and M2 models. The new chip also introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing, support for AV1 decoding, and an updated GPU architecture, which will make it easier for users to design graphics.Designing, video editing, and other GPU-intensive tasks. Paired with LPDDR5X memory, these upgrades make Mac mini more competitive than ever before, even approaching Mac Studio capabilities in many professional workflows.
For M1 Mac mini owners, the latest model is a compelling upgrade that delivers speed, graphics capabilities, and tangible improvements for the future. The leap in performance of the Neural Engine alone, now capable of processing 38 trillion operations per second, will significantly enhance AI-driven tasks and applications. Even M2 Mac mini owners may find the M4 and M4 Pro models tempting because of the design innovations and higher-end specs.
However, M2 Pro users who already have a higher-spec configuration may not find it crucial to upgrade to the latest model, especially if the power and features of their current machine already meet their needs. For these users, it may be worth waiting for subsequent, more transformative updates.
It’s clear that the M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini are designed for those looking for a high-performance, compact and cost-effective desktop Mac. The latest generation blurs the lines between Mac mini and Mac Studio, delivering powerful features and powerful specs in a smaller footprint. It's one of the best value desktop computing options in Apple's lineup, making it an excellent choice for many users.
The above are M1 and M2. vs. M4 Mac Mini Buying Guide: Compare 25 Upgrades in Detail. For more information, please pay attention to other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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<p style="display: inline-flex;float: right; color:#333333;">Source: macrumors.com</p>
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