M1 vs. M2. vs. M4 Mac Mini Buyer's Guide: 25+ Upgrades Compared

Apple just unveiled the first Mac mini redesign in over a decade. The previous major updates to the device were the transition to Apple silicon in 2020 and the option of a Pro-grade chip in 2023, so how does the latest model compare to its two immediate predecessors?


The new ‌Mac mini‌ looks dramatically different to previous models thanks to a markedly smaller enclosure and two front USB-C ports, but it is also much more powerful thanks to the M4 and M4 Pro chips. All of the hardware differences between the 2020, 2023, and 2024 ‌Mac mini‌ models are detailed below:

‌Mac mini‌ (late 2020) ‌Mac mini‌ (early 2023) ‌Mac mini‌ (late 2024)
Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm) Height: 2.0 inches (5.0 cm)
Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Width: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm) Depth: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Weight: 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg) Weight (M2): 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg)
Weight (M2 Pro): 2.8 pounds (1.28 kg)
Weight (M4): 1.5 pounds (0.67 kg)
Weight (M4 Pro): 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg)
Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust New thermal design that drives air up through the base
Rear power button Rear power button Bottom power button
Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3
3.5mm headphone jack 3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones 3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
HDMI 2.0 M2: HDMI 2.0
M2 Pro: HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1
Two rear USB-A ports Two rear USB-A ports Two front USB-C ports
Two Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports M2: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
M2 Pro: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
M4: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
M4 Pro: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
Maximum of two external displays Maximum of three external displays Maximum of three external displays
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage M2: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
M2 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage
M4: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
M4 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage

The chips offered across the three ‌Mac mini‌ generations are a key point of difference. These changes are outlined below:

‌Mac mini‌ (late 2020) ‌Mac mini‌ (early 2023) ‌Mac mini‌ (late 2024)
M1 chip (made with TSMC's 5nm (N5) process) M2 or ‌M2‌ Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 5nm (N5P) process) M4 or M4 Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 3nm (N3E) process)
8 CPU cores (4 performance + 4 efficiency) M2: 8 CPU cores (4 performance + 4 efficiency)
M2 Pro: 10 or 12 CPU cores (6 or 8 performance + 4 efficiency)
M4: 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores)
M4 Pro: 12 or 14 CPU cores (8 or 10 performance + 4 efficiency)
3.23 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 3.50 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 4.30 GHz maximum CPU clock speed
8 GPU cores M2: 10 GPU cores
M2 Pro: 16 or 19 GPU cores
M4: 10 GPU cores
M4 Pro: 16 or 20 GPU cores
Updated GPU architecture with improved efficiency
Hardware-accelerated ray-tracing
Dynamic caching
Video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decode engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
ProRes encode and decode engine ProRes encode and decode engine
Support for AV1 decode
LPDDR4X memory LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory
68.25GB/s memory bandwidth M2: 100GB/s memory bandwidth
M2 Pro: 200GB/s memory bandwidth
M4: 120GB/s memory bandwidth
M4 Pro: 273GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB or 16GB memory M2: 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB memory
M2 Pro: 16GB or 32GB memory
M4: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB memory
M4 Pro: 24GB, 48GB, or 64GB memory
16-core Neural Engine, 11 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 15.8 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second
Dedicated display engine

The M4 and M4 Pro ‌Mac mini‌ represent the most significant update to Apple's compact desktop in years, marking an evolution not only in performance but in design and functionality as well. The new, dramatically smaller enclosure, improved thermal design, and front USB-C ports are standout changes that make the M4 Mac mini much more versatile. For users who prioritize compactness and connectivity without sacrificing power, these design upgrades alone make the 2024 ‌Mac mini‌ an appealing choice.

In terms of performance, the M4 and M4 Pro chips offer substantial advancements. With higher clock speeds, more efficient core architecture, and memory bandwidth improvements, the ‌M4 Mac mini‌ brings noticeable gains in performance over the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ models. The new chips also introduce hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, support for AV1 decoding, and an updated GPU architecture, which are particularly beneficial for users in graphic design, video editing, and other GPU-intensive tasks. Paired with LPDDR5X memory, these upgrades make the ‌Mac mini‌ more competitive than ever, even nearing the capabilities of the Mac Studio for many professional workflows.

For ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ users, the latest model is a compelling upgrade that delivers tangible improvements in speed, graphics capability, and future-proofing. The leap in Neural Engine performance alone, which now handles 38 trillion operations per second, will significantly enhance AI-driven tasks and applications. Even ‌M2‌ ‌Mac mini‌ users may find the M4 and M4 Pro models tempting, given the design overhaul and even more high-end configuration options.

However, ‌M2‌ Pro users who already have a higher-spec configuration may not find the jump to the latest model as essential, especially if their needs are already being met by their current machine's power and capabilities. For these users, it might be worth waiting for an even more transformative update later down the line.

What is clear is that the M4 and M4 Pro ‌Mac mini‌ provide a noteworthy upgrade for users seeking a high-performance, compact, and cost-effective desktop Mac. The latest generation blurs the line between the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌, delivering substantial power and formidable specifications in a much smaller footprint. It stands out as one of the best-value options for desktop computing in Apple's lineup, making it an excellent choice for many users.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Mac mini

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
Global Close Your Rings Day Pin

Apple Stores Giving Away a Limited-Edition Pin For Free Today

Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last. Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
Apple Logo Spotlight Blue

White House Hits Back at Apple's Massive EU Fine

Thursday April 24, 2025 5:57 am PDT by
Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion, Reuters reports. The fine was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, following a formal investigation into Apple's compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the market dominance of ...
ipad air magic keyboard feature

iPadOS 19 Rumored to Show Mac-Like Menu Bar When Connected to Magic Keyboard

Thursday April 24, 2025 12:09 pm PDT by
When an iPad running iPadOS 19 is connected to a Magic Keyboard, a macOS-like menu bar will appear on the screen, according to the leaker Majin Bu. This change would further blur the lines between the iPad and the Mac. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously claimed that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS," with unspecified improvements to productivity, multitasking, and app window management,...

Top Rated Comments

Return Zero Avatar
26 weeks ago
Base model being 499 on edu pricing (I work for a school) and the unbinned (10-core) chip and 16GB RAM is absolutely the best value Mac ever, IMO.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
familychoice Avatar
26 weeks ago
The big surprise for me is price: I paid £1049 for my M1 16/512 combo, back in the day. The same M4 combo is now £799, £250 cheaper for more power and an extra port.

I seriously didn’t expect the new one to be that much cheaper. It’ll be interesting to see if the new entry level MBP’s get the same treatment….
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SteveJobs2.0 Avatar
26 weeks ago
This is a good upgrade hardware-wise. Nothing revolutionary, but a welcome advancement in terms of positioning this as a stylish, affordable and powerful option for the general public.

They can probably create a MacMini Pro the size of the previous generation MacMini for those who need even greater performance and I/O availability.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ShufromChina Avatar
26 weeks ago
One correction: The Mac mini 2023 isn't HDMI 2.1 across the board. M2 is still HDMI 2.0. Only M2 Pro is HDMI 2.1; whereas the new Mac mini has HDMI 2.1 across the board, including the base model.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Allen_Wentz Avatar
26 weeks ago
This upgrade is actually quite substantial, but folks do not really seem to be noticing. The new availability of 64 GB RAM is huge. MR said "The latest generation blurs the line between the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌," which is misleading because the past generation already fully blurred the line between the ‌Mac Mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌.

This new Mac Mini jumps the line between the ‌Mac Mini‌ and ‌the Mac Studio. Clock speed, ray tracing and 64 GB RAM ‌will have a new Mini outperforming the Studio lower end for many tasks that fit under 64 GB RAM [until the M4 Studio is released]. Tasks that optimize using more RAM will remain Studio or MBP territory.

Edit: The availability of 64 GB RAM in Apple's low end desktop product the Mac Mini extends the low end product choices upward, and really makes me wonder what the M4 Studios will bring us. I very much look forward to seeing the coming M4 generations of Studios and Mac Pros.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
madmax14304 Avatar
26 weeks ago
Bummer that it's taller because this kills the ability to put them into a 1U chassis. you'll have to occupy 2U now. Otherwise, it looks like a winner.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)