![]() ![]() When it comes to processing speed, the M2 Pro chip isn't just fast, it's the kind of speed where you just don't have to worry about limitations. (Image credit: Future) MAC MINI 2023 M2 PRO REVIEW: PERFORMANCE I tried this with both my MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro connected to the Mac mini and it worked perfectly. This is handy if you have a MacBook Pro, for instance, as your portable option and the Mac mini as your home machine, as you don't need to physically plug it in or swap your keyboard and mouse pairings. You can also take advantage of Mac OS Ventura's Universal Control feature, which lets you use the same keyboard and mouse across multiple Apple devices and even drag content from one to the other. The cameras on the iPhone are of course far better than any webcam, so the quality is incredible, and by using the Belkin iPhone mount that is coming soon, you can set your phone on top of your desktop monitor, not just your laptop. This allows you to use your iPhone as an external webcam for your Mac simply by holding it near the computer. Speaking of continuity, one of the coolest features of Ventura is the Continuity Camera. I feel this view is still more useful on the iPad but it's nice to see the continuity across the operating systems. It also allows you to create groups of programs, so you can group them by task. This brings your open applications into a series of larger icons to the side of the screen for easy switching between. While you can use the standard Apple taskbar you can also take advantage of the new Stage Manager view on Mac OS Ventura. Passkeys offer additional security when logging into websites and the Safari browser now offers both faster performance and the ability to group your tabs to stay organised. Search has been improved across the system and combines files, website suggestions, contacts, events and more to quickly find what you are looking for. The Mac mini runs Apple's latest Mac OS Ventura, which looks particularly slick on a large monitor, compared to a 14 or even 16-inch display. (Image credit: Future) MAC MINI 2023 M2 PRO REVIEW: SOFTWARE Of course, if you're looking to use the Mac mini on the move, you can plug any monitor into the HDMI port and use any combination of keyboard and mouse. You'll need to buy the monitor cable (either Thunderbolt or HDMI), keyboard and mouse separately, so if you don't have these already, be prepared for some extra spend.įor the test, I used the 27-inch Mac Studio display, which offers a stunning 5K retina display, and the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse. It's worth remembering that the Mac mini comes with just a power lead in the box. For most people though, 16GB and 1TB is a sensible spec, which is what my test model had. In terms of customisation, you can also choose to upgrade from the standard 16GB of RAM to 32GB and from the 512GB up to 8TB. The M2 Pro option, tested here also comes in two variations: the standard 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, or the more advanced 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU version that adds £300 / $300 to the price. The new Mac mini now comes with either the M2 or the M2 Pro chip. Inside, the biggest change here is, of course, the chip. The only thing missing here for me is the SD card slot, but I can live with one adapter for that. For those that have lots to connect up to their machines, this is a much better selection than on a MacBook Pro, and saves you having to play around with multi adapters. ![]() You get two full-size USB A ports, an HDMI port, four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the base model gets two of these), a headphone jack and an Ethernet port. ![]() There are no ports on the front, like the Mac studio but there's plenty on the rear. In fact, travelling with the Mac mini is as easy as with a laptop in my opinion, but more on that later. It's small enough to sit underneath your monitor and easy to throw in a bag if you're working on the move. ![]() This would of course affect the thermal dynamics of the unit and make it run hotter, which is never a good thing. From what I've seen of the internals, there is now plenty of room inside, so it could go smaller. This footprint hasn't changed since the Mac mini contained a CD drive, which is quite a long time (since 2010). Partly because the case is so flat (just 3.58cm or 1.41 inches) it does seem quite wide and long. ![]()
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