M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Outsized performance?

Following the debut of the M4 iMac, the all-new M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini devices are here. Read on to find out everything new and different about the M4 Mac mini compared to the M2 Mac mini in terms of performance, design, I/O, features, price and more.

After Intel switched to the M1 in 2020, Apple gave the Mac mini an update in early 2023 with the option of the M2 or M2 Pro chip.

Now Apple is back with the latest Mac mini, which is “more powerful, smaller and built for Apple Intelligence.”

Let's take a look at the M4 Mac mini vs. M2 and the M4 Pro Mac mini vs. M2 Pro.

M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini

CPU, GPU, memory, neural engine

Like the 2023 Mac mini, the 2024 M4 offers a solid basic computer for light to medium use, with the M4 Pro offering a much wider range of power and capabilities without the need to upgrade to the Mac Studio.

M4 and M4 Pro bring CPU and GPU, storage and Neural Engine upgrades. The latter has a CPU with up to 14 cores, a GPU with 20 cores and up to 64 GB of memory.

While Apple Intelligence is a highlighted feature of the new M4 Mac Mini machines, keep in mind that the M1 and newer Macs get support.

According to Apple, the M4 Pro is up to 60% faster in CPU performance and up to 50% faster in GPU performance than the M2 Pro.

The M4 Pro chip also gets AV1 decoding media engine, hardware accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, a ProRes RAW video decoding engine, a video encoding engine and a ProRes encoding and decoding engine engine supported.

And Apple highlights that the M4 GPU brings hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing to the Mac mini for the first time.

I/O

Both the M4 Pro and M4 Mac mini receive I/O upgrades. The base M4 Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-C ports on the front.

And the M4 Pro Mac mini gets three Thunderbolt 5 (yes, TB5) with two USB-C ports on the front.

The other big upgrade is better external display support for up to 3 6K monitors at 60Hz with the M4 Pro.

Dimensions and color

The M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini offer a more compact design than ever before. What's impressive is that its size is closer to the footprint of the Apple TV 4K than the previous Mac mini.

What's in the box?

Like its predecessors, the only thing inside the M4/M4 Pro Mac mini box is the computer and power cord.

Apple continues to offer its Studio Display as a cheaper external monitor. But there are also great alternatives that are cheaper:

You might also want to buy Apple's new USB-C Magic keyboard, mouse or trackpad, or check out options like Logitech's fantastic MX Master range.

M4 Mac mini vs M2: Price

The M4 configurations are priced the same as their predecessors – $599 to $1,899.

But moving up to the M4 Pro Mac mini more than doubles the M4's starting price at $1,399. This starting price is $100 more than the M2 Pro and maxes out at $200 more than the M2 Pro.

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini buying guide

The new Mac mini with M4 or M4 Pro is a remarkable innovation that packs a powerful computer into a tiny package.

Reasons to buy an M4 or M4 Pro Mac mini:

• Latest Apple Silicon
• Advanced storage options
• New, more compact design
• Thunderbolt 5 option
• Upgraded external display support

For those who need a basic to medium performance machine, the M4 Mac mini is a good choice with options ranging from 16 to 32GB of memory and storage up to 2TB.

For those with more intensive workflows, such as creative professionals or aspiring creative professionals and the like who don't need a full-featured Mac Studio, the M4 Pro Mac mini is a good choice.

The new M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini are available to order from Apple and soon from Amazon, Best Buy and more.

What do you think about the new Mac mini? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for reading our M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini guide!

More detailed comparisons: