Mini but Mighty: Unpacking the Mac Mini’s Evolution – M4/M4 Pro vs Previous Model: What’s Changed

This is the first complete change to the model, including the housing design, since it was equipped with Apple silicon.Mac mini with M4 and M4 ProIt was on offer until the other day.Mac mini with M2 and M2 ProWe compared them to confirm the differences in size and specifications.

summary

Comparison between M4/M4 Pro equipped with Mac Mini and M2/M2 Pro equipped with Mac Mini

chips, memory, storage

M4 M2 High performance 4 core CPU
6 high efficiency coresFrom
Equipped with10 core CPUWith 4 high-performance cores
4 high efficiency cores
Equipped with 8 core CPU GPU10 coreGPU10 coreGPU Neural Engine16 core16 core memory bandwidth120GB/s100GB/s Hardware-accelerated media engine H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW
video decoding engine
video encoding engine
ProRes encoding/decoding engine
AV1 decodingH.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration
video decoding engine
video encoding engine
ProRes encoding/decoding engine memory16GB unified memory
It can be changed to 24GB or 32GB8GB unified memory
It can be changed to 16GB or 24GB Memory 256 GB
512GB
1TB
2TB256GB
512GB
1TB
2TB M4Pro M2Pro processor8 high-performance coresAND
4 high efficiency cores
Equipped with12 core CPU

14 core CPU e
20 core GPU
It can be changed to M4 Pro

With 6 high-performance cores
4 high efficiency cores
Equipped with 10 core CPU

12-core CPU and
19-core GPU
Can be changed to M2 Pro

GPU12-core GPU16-core GPU Neural Engine16 core16 core memory bandwidth273GB/s200GB/s Hardware-accelerated media engine H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW
video decoding engine
video encoding engine
ProRes encoding/decoding engine
AV1 decodingH.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration
video decoding engine
video encoding engine
ProRes encoding/decoding engine memory24GB unified memory
It can be changed to 48GB or 64GB16GB unified memory
It can be changed to 32GB 512 GB memory
1TB
2TB
4TB
8TB512GB
1TB
2TB
4TB
8TB

Support display, video and audio playback

M4 M2 Number of display supportsSupports up to 3 displays simultaneouslySupports up to 2 displays simultaneously display outputFor up to 3 displays
Two displays with up to 6K, 60Hz resolution via Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K, 60Hz resolution via Thunderbolt or 4K, 60Hz resolution via HDMI

For up to 2 displays
A display with up to 5K resolution, 60 Hz via Thunderbolt and a display with up to 8K resolution, 60 Hz or 4K, 240 Hz resolution via Thunderbolt or HDMI

A display with up to 6K, 60Hz resolution via Thunderbolt and a display with up to 5K, 60Hz resolution via Thunderbolt or 4K, 60Hz resolution via HDMI

Thunderbolt 4 digital video outputStandard support for DisplayPort 1.4 output via USB-CStandard support for DisplayPort output via USB-C Video output on HDMI compatible displaySupports up to 8K resolution, 60Hz display or 4K resolution, 240Hz displayIt supports a display with resolution up to 4K and 60Hz HEVC, H.264, video playbackAV1Compatible with formats such as , ProRes, etc.
HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, HLG)Supports formats like HEVC, H.264, ProRes, etc.
HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG)audio playback It supports formats like AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, etc. It supports formats like AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, etc. integrated audio speaker
3.5mm headphone jack highly compatible with high impedance headphones
Speaker with built-in HDMI port that supports multi-channel audio output
3.5mm headphone jack highly compatible with high impedance headphones
HDMI port that supports multi-channel audio output M4Pro M2Pro Number of display supportsSupports up to 3 displays simultaneouslySupports up to 3 displays simultaneously display outputFor up to 3 displays
3 displays with resolutions up to 6K, 60Hz via Thunderbolt or HDMI

For up to 2 displays
A display with up to 6K, 60 Hz resolution via Thunderbolt and a display with up to 8K resolution, 60 Hz or 4K, 240 Hz resolution via Thunderbolt or HDMI

For up to 3 displays
Two displays with up to 6K, 60Hz resolution via Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K, 60Hz resolution via HDMI

For up to 2 displays
A display with resolution up to 6K, 60 Hz via Thunderbolt and a display with resolution up to 4K, 144 Hz via HDMI
Up to an 8K, 60 Hz resolution display or a 4K, 240 Hz resolution display via HDMI

Digital lightning
video outputThunderbolt 5 digital video output
Standard support for DisplayPort 2.1 output via USB-CThunderbolt 4 digital video output
Standard support for DisplayPort output via USB-C Video output on HDMI compatible displaySupports up to 8K resolution, 60Hz display or 4K resolution, 240Hz displaySupports up to an 8K resolution display at 60Hz or a 4K resolution display at 240Hz HEVC, H.264, video playbackAV1Compatible with formats such as , ProRes, etc.
HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, HLG)Supports formats like HEVC, H.264, ProRes, etc.
HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG)audio playback It supports formats like AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, etc. It supports formats like AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, etc. integrated audio speaker
3.5mm headphone jack highly compatible with high impedance headphones
Speaker with built-in HDMI port that supports multi-channel audio output
3.5mm headphone jack highly compatible with high impedance headphones
HDMI port that supports multi-channel audio output

Connectivity and scalability

M4 M2 Thunderbolt 4 ports3 Thunderbolt 4 ports
Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gb/s maximum)
USB 4 (up to 40 GB/s)
DisplayPort2 Thunderbolt 4 ports
Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gb/s maximum)
USB 4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) USB2 USB-C ports supporting USB 3 (up to 10 Gb/s)2 USB-A ports (up to 5 Gb/s) Gigabit Ethernet port to 10Gb Ethernet
Changeable to 10Gb Ethernet
variable HDMI port ◯◯ 3.5mm headphone jack ◯◯ M4Pro M2Pro Thunderbolt port3 Thunderbolt 5 ports
Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gb/s maximum)
USB 4 (up to 40 GB/s)
DisplayPort4 Thunderbolt 4 ports
Thunderbolt 4 (maximum 40 Gb/s)
USB 4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) USB2 USB-C ports supporting USB 3 (up to 10 Gb/s)2 USB-A ports (up to 5 Gb/s) Gigabit Ethernet port to 10Gb Ethernet
Changeable to 10Gb Ethernet
variable HDMI port ◯◯ 3.5mm headphone jack ◯◯

Communication function, maximum power consumption

The maximum power consumption of the Mac mini with M4 Pro is lower than that of the Mac mini with M2 Pro under the same conditions.

M4/M4 Pro M2/M2 Pro Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3 EthernetGigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45 connector)

option
Can be changed to 10Gb Ethernet (Nbase-T Ethernet supports 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb, 10Gb Ethernet, uses an RJ‑45 connector)

Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45 connector)

option
Can be changed to 10Gb Ethernet (Nbase-T Ethernet supports 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb, 10Gb Ethernet, uses an RJ‑45 connector)

Maximum energy consumption
(When used continuously)155WM2:150W
M2 Pro: 185W

size and weight

In addition to internal changes such as the installed chip, the M4/M4 Pro-equipped Mac Mini features a redesigned design including the housing.

Even if a successor model is announced in the future, such as the Mac mini featuring the M5/M5 Pro, it is expected that the same design will continue to be used for a while.

M4/M4 Pro M2/M2 Pro Height 5.0cm 3.58cm Width 12.7cm19.7cm Depth 12.7cm 19.7cm M4 weight: 0.67 kg
M4 Pro:0.73kgM2:1.18kg
M2 Pro: 1.28kg

Geekbench benchmark scores from previous Mac minis

AppleInsider has compiled benchmark scores for subsequent Mac minis featuring Apple silicon.

Source:apple (1), (2), AppleInsider

Photo:iSpazio（@ispazio）/X