M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Are you thinking about upgrading from your M2 or M2 Pro Mac Mini to the new M4 or M4 Pro Mac Mini? You are not alone! Many people are curious about the new features and performance improvements. Let’s dive into what’s new and whether upgrading makes sense for you.

Redesign and Size

The biggest change in the new Mac Mini is its redesign. It is now over two inches smaller in both width and depth. It is also a little less than half an inch shorter than the previous model. The new Mac Mini looks like a mix of an Apple TV and a Mac Studio. It is lighter too, which gives you more options for where to place it on your desk or mount it.

M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Power Button Placement

Now, let’s talk about the power button. It is now on the bottom of the new Mac Mini. Some people think this is a strange choice. Many users said they do not turn off their machines often. So, it might not matter much. But for those who turn off their machines every night, this could be a small hassle. However, the new Mac Mini is light enough that you can easily lift it up to turn it on if needed.

Ports and Connectivity

The new Mac Mini has some changes in ports too. On the front, there are now two USB-C ports. These are not Thunderbolt ports but regular USB-C, which makes it easy to connect things. You also have a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the front now, which was moved from the back.

On the back, there are three Thunderbolt 4 ports. If you choose the M4 Pro option, you will get three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Thunderbolt 5 gives you faster data transfer speeds of up to 120 gigabits per second.

However, there is a trade-off. The previous M2 Pro version had four Thunderbolt 4 ports. So, now you have one less Thunderbolt port. But you gain an extra USB-C port on the front. Depending on your setup, this might be important to you.

One more thing to note is that the new Mac Mini does not have USB-A ports like the previous model. This means you might need adapters for some of your older accessories.

M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Performance and Specs

Now, let’s get into performance. The new M4 and M4 Pro models come with at least 16 GB of RAM. This is an upgrade from the M2, which started with only 8 GB of RAM. You can upgrade the base M4 to 32 GB of RAM. The M4 Pro can go up to 64 GB of RAM.

For processing power, the M4 has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The M4 Pro offers options for a 12 or 14-core CPU and a 16 or 20-core GPU. This means you get more power for tasks like video editing and graphic design.

In terms of storage, the M4 starts with 256 GB and can go up to 2 TB. The M4 Pro starts at 512 GB and can go up to 8 TB. This flexibility gives you more options based on your needs.

New Features

The M4 and M4 Pro chips also come with some new features. They support hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AV1 decoding. This is great for those who work in graphic design or video editing. The new architecture allows for better performance and efficiency.

When you combine these upgrades with the new LPDDR5X memory, the Mac Mini becomes very competitive. It can even closely match the capabilities of the Mac Studio for many tasks.

M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Should You Upgrade?

If you already have an M2 Pro with high specs, you may not find the upgrade necessary. If your current machine meets your needs, it might be worth waiting for an even better update in the future.

However, if you have a lower-end M2 model, the M4 offers a significant performance boost. The M4 Pro is an excellent choice for those who need high performance for demanding tasks like coding, graphic editing, or video production.

Final Thoughts

The M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini are strong upgrades. They provide better performance, more RAM, and new features that make them stand out. If you are looking for a powerful and cost-effective desktop Mac, the new Mac Mini is a great option.

So, what do you think? Are you considering the M4 or M4 Pro? Let us know in the comments!

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