Why Apple Might Ditch the Mac Studio in 2023

#### The current flagship Apple silicon model faces challenges

Unlike the MacBook Pro, the Mac Studio has yet to see an M2 chip update, and the anticipated Mac Pro further complicates its appeal. However, the most significant challenge arises from a surprising competitor—the Mac mini.

We now have an exceptionally capable Mac mini powered by Apple silicon, available with up to 19 graphics cores, 32GB of unified memory, and 8TB of storage. This configuration is more than sufficient for most users, and since I began discussing the new M2 models, one question has dominated the comments: Which is the better choice—the M2 Pro Mac mini or the Mac Studio?

Let's explore this further.

M2 Pro Mac mini vs. Mac Studio: Pricing and Specifications

There’s a £600 difference between the entry-level Mac mini and the Mac Studio. Whether you are purchasing for personal use or for business productivity, this is a significant amount.

Is the upgrade to the Mac Studio worth £600? It's difficult to say definitively, as it largely depends on your specific needs, but I can highlight the key differences.

The base model M2 Pro Mac mini features a 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, which is on par with the basic M1 Max Mac Studio. The main distinction is in the GPU, where the Mac Studio offers 24 cores.

The Mac mini starts with 16GB of unified memory, while the Mac Studio begins at 32GB. Both models come with 512GB of SSD storage. To match the base Mac Studio, you would need to upgrade the M2 Pro Mac mini to a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU, raising the price to £2,099—£100 more than the entry-level Mac Studio.

Confused? Yes, that’s part of the strategy.

M2 Pro vs. M1 Max Benchmarks

While I usually avoid benchmarks, the M2 Pro Mac mini versus Mac Studio comparison warrants one. It's essential to remember that benchmarks don't tell the full story and shouldn't be solely relied upon for assessing a Mac's performance. However, initial benchmark results for the M2 Pro indicate it holds its own against the M1 Max.

The M2 Pro scores 1,952 for single-core performance and 15,013 for multi-core, whereas the M1 Max typically achieves 1,727 and 12,643, respectively. While the numbers might not mean much, higher scores are better, suggesting that the £600 premium for the Mac Studio is questionable.

M2 Pro Mac mini vs. Mac Studio: Maximizing Specifications

A major difference between the M2 Pro Mac mini and the Mac Studio is the maximum specifications. When fully configured, the M2 Pro Mac mini can reach a 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 32GB of unified memory, and 8TB of storage for £4,599.

On the other hand, a fully outfitted Mac Studio boasts a 20-core CPU, 64 GPU cores, a 32-core Neural Engine, 128GB of unified memory, and 8TB of SSD storage, all for £7,999. The £3,400 difference secures an exceptionally powerful Mac, with the M1 Ultra chip placing it in a different league compared to the maxed-out M2 Pro Mac mini.

M2 Pro Mac mini vs. Mac Studio: Additional Considerations

There are other distinctions worth noting between these two devices. The Mac Studio offers double the memory bandwidth of the M2 Pro Mac mini (400GB/s versus 200GB/s) and has twice the video and ProRes encoding engines. The Mac Studio can support up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display, compared to the three supported by the M2 Pro Mac mini.

Both models feature four Thunderbolt 4 ports (six on the M1 Ultra Mac Studio) and two USB-A ports, but the Mac Studio includes a built-in SD card slot, a feature absent in the new Mac mini.

Interestingly, the Mac mini excels in certain areas, offering WiFi 6E compared to the Mac Studio's WiFi 6 and featuring a high-impedance headphone jack, which is oddly missing from the Mac Studio.

Conclusion

When it comes to dimensions and convenience, both Macs are easy to accommodate on any desk. However, I couldn't help but chuckle at Apple's marketing slogan for the Mac Studio—“Stunningly compact.” Indeed, it's compact, but not quite as much as the Mac mini.

This comparison leads me to a clear conclusion: if you don't need the high-end specifications of the Mac Studio, the M2 Pro Mac mini is a much more sensible purchase. If those top-tier specs aren't essential, you likely aren't under pressure to maximize performance, making the M2 Pro Mac mini more than adequate for most tasks.

The Mac Studio is tailored for businesses and creatives where time is of the essence, but with its hefty price tag and the M2 Pro Mac mini’s impressive performance, one must question if it's truly worth the investment. Perhaps you could grab a coffee while waiting for those extra rendering minutes?

Before you go, consider joining my Substack newsletter for tips on becoming a successful online creator!

If you enjoy my writing, there's much more on Medium. I'm a paying member and highly recommend it. [Click here to join](#) (your membership fee partially supports my work!).

Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on January 25, 2023.