CHOICE verdict
Apple's new Mac Mini is a very powerful computer that can meet the performance needs of average consumers or semi-professional creatives and gamers that want great graphics. The pro-grade Studio is even better, but the performance boosts are only worth the higher price tag for users that need to regularly render detailed animation, high-resolution video and complex 3D graphics.
Price: $2200–$6049
Contact: apple.com/au/store
Laptops rule contemporary computing, but the desktop is far from dead – it just got smaller. Apple's Mac Mini range has been the compact answer for users that want plenty of power in a smaller package, without having to worry about Windows.
The latest iteration – the Mac Mini M4 Pro – ups the ante with added grunt. More than enough for the average consumer, and even for enthusiast/semi-professional creatives that need power-hungry editing software.
An even more powerful alternative is also available in the Mac Studio, which is aimed at professionals, particularly those in the creative fields, and very serious enthusiasts. So how do they compare?
Mac Mini vs Mac Studio specs
The base version of the Mac Mini M4 Pro uses a 12-core CPU, 24GB RAM (unified memory), 512GB SSD and gigabit Ethernet. This will set you back just under $2200, but you can configure the hardware to your liking, which will increase the cost. For example, our review unit included a 14-core CPU, 48GB of RAM, 1TB storage and 10 gigabit Ethernet, which costs $3549.
It has a decent array of physical ports as well. You'll find HDMI for your main monitor, but it also supports up to three displays via two additional USB-C (Thunderbolt 5) ports. Ethernet is a nice addition in the world of Wi-Fi too, as a physical connection helps maintain a stable network.
The Studio, meanwhile, is a bigger boy in all respects – with the price tag to match. The base model, with a 14-core M4 Max CPU, 36GB RAM (unified memory), 512GB SSD and 10GB Ethernet, will set you back almost $3500. Our review unit had a bit more heft, though, with a 16-core Apple M4 Max CPU, 128GB of RAM, and a 1TB storage drive, which bumped up the cost to $6049.
The Mac Studio (left) has an additional USB-C port, two USB-A inputs and a headphone jack.
There's a larger selection of inputs/outputs too, with four USB-C Thunderbolt 5, two standard USB-C and two USB-A ports, HDMI, 10GB Ethernet and an SD card slot. The additional ports and SD slot will likely appeal to creative professionals as these can improve workflow from external devices such as hard drives, cameras or portable recorders.
All these extra bits and pieces make the Mac Studio quite a bit bigger than the Mini. The square footprint of the Mini is 12.7cm with 5cm of height, whereas the Studio takes up much more room at 19.7cm and 9.5cm respectively.
How do the Mini and Studio perform?
Apple's M4 CPU, whether it's the Pro version in the mini, or the upgraded Max alternative in the Studio, is the centrepiece on show. Each one is a big, beefy brain that can easily handle all but the most processor-heavy tasks.
You won't face any issues with demanding work such as graphic design or image and video editing, and graphically intense gaming shouldn't be a problem either. However, tasks like highly-detailed 3D rendering and animation can cause some slowdown in the Mini, but this isn't an issue with the Studio thanks to the higher RAM capacity.
Each one is a big, beefy brain that can easily handle all but the most processor-heavy tasks
Data moves around at a rapid pace, too. We clocked the solid-state drive (SSD) at over five gigabytes per second in the Mini when reading and writing data. The Wi-Fi 6E adapter in each model can also hit transfer speeds of up to 60 megabytes per second. In other words, really fast.
Where the Studio is markedly different to the Mini is in the way it handles displays and peripherals. It's better equipped to connect super-high-res screens like 8K and fast external storage devices (Thunderbolt solid state drives). The higher-end hardware also improves performance by about 20 percent overall.
And despite all this power, the M4 Pro CPU doesn't use much energy. Our experts recorded consumption rates of six watts when idle and up to 76 watts when processing a heavy load, which isn't too bad at all.
The Studio, with its M4 Max CPU, consumes a bit more power when it's really under the pump and working beyond the capabilities of the Mini. It uses up to 84 watts, or around 16 percent more than the Mini.
Other things to consider
While the small silver box looks very sleek on your desk, the Mini has one glaring design flaw – the power button. Apple has concealed it under the back-left lip of the Mac Mini, which means you need to lift the whole thing up every time you want to turn the computer on.
The Mini's power button is positioned under the case, which can be difficult to access.
This is irritating at the best of times and may be a downright deal breaker if you have grip or dexterity limitations.
The Studio is slightly more convenient, but not by much. Its power button is placed around the back, which can also be tricky to access, albeit less so than one that's on the bottom of the case.
With all that in mind, it's really a matter of figuring out your performance needs before buying the Mini or Studio. Odds are the Mini will suit the needs of most consumers who want the benefits of a desktop Mac without the cumbersome size of an old-school tower PC.
There's more than enough power on deck to straddle the line between casual use and more serious work, as long as you're not getting deep into 3D animation. But if you are, or you just want a crazy powerful computer, go for the Studio.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
