The event itself isn’t big, but the giant is announcing an upgrade to its popular Mac Mini desktop computer and two MacBook Pros, all three equipped with upgraded M2 system chips.
Let’s start with the Mac mini, Apple’s next computer to be upgraded to the M2 chip – and this time it also comes with the Pro version of Apple’s processor. The new model was announced in a press release this morning with a starting price of CA$799 and is available to order today, with availability beginning Tuesday 24th January.
Apple
The port configuration on the back of the base Mac mini M2 with two Thunderbolt 4 ports
Apple
The back of Mac mini showing 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports
The Mac mini’s base configuration includes the M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It has an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port and a standard headphone jack, as well as two USB-A ports and two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports on the back of the device – an upgrade over the Thunderbolt 3 Previous Generation Connectors .
In the M2 Pro version, the new Mac mini comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and two additional Thunderbolt 4 ports alongside the ports already available on the standard M2 model. With this configuration, the price practically doubles to CA$1699.
The standard Mac Mini M2 can support up to two displays (one display up to 6K @ 60Hz via a Thunderbolt connection and a second display up to 5K @ 60Hz via Thunderbolt or a 4K @ 60Hz display via HDMI), while the M2 Pro variant that can support either three displays (two displays up to 6K@60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 4K@60Hz display via HDMI) or a single 8K display, making it the first Mac mini to do so.
Apple
Preview of the new MacBook Pro M2
MacBook Pro M2 and M2 Pro
The 14- and 16-inch versions of the company’s high-end laptops are now available with a choice of M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. These new MacBook Pros are the first systems to receive the M2 Max chip. Meanwhile, the 13-incher remains true to the good old M2 chip. The high-end system is “up to 6x faster” than the latest generation of Intel systems (a comparison that’s showing its age), the company claims.
For graphics performance fans:
- Rendering titles and animations in Motion is up to 80% faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 20% faster than the previous generation.
- Compiling Xcode is up to 2.5x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and nearly 25% faster than the previous generation.
- Image processing in Adobe Photoshop is up to 80% faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 40% faster than the previous generation.
Apple
MagSafe connector and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left
Apple
Right side, an HDMI-out, a Thunderbolt 4 port and an SD card reader
Battery life is now rated at 22 hours, which the company describes as “the longest ever in a Mac.” The display is Liquid Retina XDR type, and the new HDMI port now supports an 8K display up to 60Hz or a 4K display up to 240Hz. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as a MagSafe 3 power jack , headphone jack and SD card slot.
Let’s talk about dollars. The new 14-inch M2 Pro model starts at CA$2,599. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro jumps to CA$3,199. The laptops can be ordered from the Apple Store online store starting today, January 17. They begin shipping to customers Tuesday, January 24 and are available at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.