Final Verdict! - M2 Pro Mac Mini 3 Weeks Later.

After 3 weeks of using and testing the M2 Pro Mac Mini I have a good idea of exactly who, the desktop Mac is and isn't for.

Test PC Components (Affiliate Links):

Timecodes:
00:00 - Opener
00:14 - Intro / Agenda
01:01 - The Base M2 User
02:57 - Step-Up To the M2 Pro?
06:51 - Who Needs More?
08:30 - Are Memory & SSD Upgrades Worth It?
09:07 - You Do You!
09:46 - Don't Buy a Mac!
10:45 - Compatibility.
11:27 - How Far It's Come.
12:20 - Apple's Desktop Space

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My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)

Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound

[ElevatedSystems]

In the original video I wasn't able to get the final timeline to render on the test PC. However, after several days of research and tinkering I was able to get it to work. I had to disable Resizable BAR support in the UEFI, and enable Smart cache rendering in Resolve. The final render did finish faster than the M2 Pro Mac Mini however I did have to wait over 20 minutes for the timeline to cache first so realistically it was twice as long to output the final product. I think ReBAR was just allowing the VRAM to be flooded with too much data all at once.

[TonyCrenshawsLatte]

I was all ready to jump on M2 Pro Mac Mini when it was announced. But thankfully it still is not released in my country yet, which gave me time to watch videos like this, and conclude that my needs would be better served with a used M1 Max Studio. Thanks!

[TheGoodBoy]

As enticing it is, my workflow def requires a max chip but I recommended this to quite a few people with less demanding workloads, great video!!!

[UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Eerm, I think your underselling the base mac mini, I use the m1 for 4k video editing with effects and all and it handles it all, no problem :)

[ricardorgomez]

I love your 'professional roi' take on systems and the longer review time you take to flesh them out. Too many YouTubers have no experience outside of their little Youtube channel and try to give their 'professional' take. They'll run some test and get the video out. Not really helpful.
As a pro photographer and valuing roi, I watt to keep my system for a good 5 years. So with that, I'm probably going with the Mac Studio. I just haven't decided on the Max or Ultra. I think the Ultra may be worth the extra $1400 if it gives me an extra 2 years of useable life. Maybe.

[accentontheoff]

Thanks, one semi related question. So, for heavy duty music production, the Mac Mini M2 Pro base model with 16 GB would be enough? Or would the extra RAM resulting in 32GB (as specced into the Mac Mini M2 Pro or available by default in the base model Mac Studio M1 Max) help.

[bryans]

This video is absolutely spot on, with objective comparisons by a pro know really knows what he's doing --- I'm very impressed. Apple really nailed the desktop lineup with that M2 Pro mini (I'm not including the Mac Pro since I haven't got a clue where it's headed, besides being expensive).

[akin]

College students in software engineering, bootcamp students, and junior front-end web developers are fine with the base M2 MacMini. Just spec bump it up to $999 for the 16/512GB configuration. Senior Developers may need to upgrade to the M2 Pro MacMini.

[brichpmr]

Excellent video! I just opted for a refurbed M1 Mini with 16gigs of ram and a 1TB SSD, upgrading from a late 2014 Mini. For me, the move has been very positive.

[Crackalacking_Z]

I only discovered this channel recently, looking for Linux on Framework stuff. You guys deserve way more than 40K subs, great presentation, techwise everything rings true. Stellar effort, keep it up!

[codenamegrs]

The fact that since 2016, Apple has been soldering the SSDs onto the Mac motherboards is an Absolute Abomination.

On top of that they also overcharge 4x the price per TeraByte.

ON TOP OF ALL THAT. When your SSD fails you (and it will eventually), when you go to apple for a repair/replacement you'll find out the way that Apple chooses to go about this "repair". They will replace your whole MOTHERBOARd with ALL components on it just because your SSD failed. it will Cost you at least 50% of what you paid for that Apple machine.

P.S. I've been an apple mac book user since 2015 (Still have the Macbook Pro 15 inch Late 2014) and i really enjoy using Logic pro X and Davinci Resolve on it and i'm also an iPhone user since 2011.. But the devious nefarious shit that Apple has been doing for a while is really pushing me out of their dumb ways....

[minnami]

I do web dev n photoshop mostly. I eventually decided to go with the base mini M2 pro for desktop set up with 3 displays output and an m1 air for portable. I think if you do intensive professional video editing, the studio is a way to go. Finally I’m done with my setup and I’m very happy with these combo 🎉

[davidbailey]

While I still think Apple products are $200 to $500 over-priced, I did get one. I have the M2 Pro Mac Mini at based $1299.99. 10 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, 16GB ram, and 512GB SSD. It's super fast, it's ideal. Mac OS software is the best part. Time machine always works and backs up 100% of my files. iMovie always works and is super easy to use. Photo booth is also very easy to use. I also use notes to remind me of things and have it open at start up. Tons of great apps that Windows has nothing like them at all. There is no backup software on windows that's as easy to use as time machine.

[MoncoCarser]

I just placed an order for Mini M2 Pro. More power than I probably do need, but I hope that that translates to longevity. For a long time I was going for a Macbook, and did not expect some little thing like this would convince me to get it :D

[Tigerex]

Non upgradeable desktops are not really desktops.
They are stopgaps.

[grampamix]

what would be most important to work with large images? CPU 12-core + GPU 19-core or 32 GB?

[grizzlypaws]

Try the base M2 first. It’s more than capable!

[MDTKITECH]

M2 pro mac mini 16gb ram 512 storage or pc build i5 13600k 32gb ddr4 ram rtx3060 12gb which will be better for video editing

[suman_ku_mishra]

I want a machine that is better for freelance video & photo editing. which one will be better? ( Ican't afford mac studio )

[abrock]

So far I have watched quite a number YouTube videos on the Mac Mini, M2 and Pro models as well as the MacBook Pro, and Mac Studio. I am still unsure which one would be best for Adobe Photoshop which I use to create very large image files. Since Photoshop seems to always eat up memory faster than a starving dog. It's really difficult to make a decision.