Apple has unveiled a new M2 Pro-powered Mac mini, which the company claims will bring pro-level performance to the machine for the first time. Faster, more powerful and promising a lot more than its predecessor, the new chip turns the mini machine into a mighty powerhouse.
“With incredible capabilities and a wide array of connectivity in its compact design, Mac mini is used in so many places, in so many different ways. Today, we’re excited to take it even further with M2 and M2 Pro,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value. And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.”
At the heart of the desktop computer comes is the latest versions of Apple’s own chip, the M2 and the super-powered M2 Pro. Apple says the new chip generation chip will allow for faster CPU and GPU performance, higher memory bandwidth and a more powerful media engine compared to the previous generation of Mac mini.
The M2 offers a eight-core CPU, with four high performance cores and four high efficacy cores, and a 10 core graphics processing unit. In real terms, that means you can multitask with ease, edit images up to 50 per cent faster, and play up to two streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 frames per second (fps), or up to 12 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps.
The M2 Pro takes it up a notch, using a 12-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, and a GPU that stretches to 19-core GPU. It also has double the amount of memory bandwidth that the M2 has, and supports up to 32GB of memory. The machine can simultaneously play up to five streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30fps, or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30fps.
Prices or the new devices start from €729 for the M2 machine and from €1,529 for the M2 Pro. Preorders for the machines begin January 17th, with the first units expected to ship on January 24th.
