Compare the Mac Mini M4 (2024) to the Mac mini M2 (2023)
Compare the Mac mini (2024) and the Mac mini (2023)
| Mac mini (2024) | Mac mini (2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4 or M4 Pro chip with 10 or 14-core CPU | Apple M2 or M2 Pro chip with 8 or 12-core CPU |
| Video card | Apple M4 or M4 Pro chip with 10 or 20-core GPU | Apple M2 or M2 Pro chip with 10 or 19-core GPU |
| RAM | Up to 64GB | Up to 32GB |
| Storage | Up to 8TB | Up to 8TB |
| Connectors | Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, USB-C, mini jack, HDMI, Ethernet | Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet |
| Connections | Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E | Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E |
Processor and speed
Mac mini (2024): render up to 2 times faster
With the Apple Mac mini (2024), you can choose an M4 or an M4 Pro chip. This makes the Mac mini even more powerful than its predecessor. The M4 Pro chip model has a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU, so you can render images up to 2 times faster in Motion 6 and you can render 3D designs up to 2.9 times faster in Blender. Thanks to the 64GB maximum RAM, you can use multiple demanding video and photo editing programs at once. It's really a very powerful mini PC.
Mac mini (2023): smooth, fast, and powerful
With the Apple Mac mini (2023), you can choose between 2 chips: the Apple M2 and the Apple M2 Pro chip. With an 8 or 12-core CPU or a 10 or 19-core GPU, you can run programs such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop easily and smoothly. Thanks to the 32GB maximum RAM, you can run multiple demanding programs at the same time.
Connectors and size
Apple Mac mini (2024): smaller and more connectors
The Apple Mac mini M4 (2024) has a completely new design and more connectors. The new model is a lot smaller because it's 5cm high and 12.7cm wide and deep. This way, the Mac mini takes up less space on your desk. The Apple Mac mini M4 (2024) also has more connectors, including 2 USB-C and a mini jack connector on the front. On the back, it has an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and 3 Thunderbolt 4 connectors. The M4 Pro models even has 3 Thunderbolt 5 connectors, so you can connect up to 3 6K screens.
Apple Mac mini (2023): Thunderbolt 4
The Apple Mac mini M2 (2023) has 2 USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. You can connect 2 screen via the 2 Thunderbolt 4 connectors thanks to the M2 chip. The Apple Mac mini with an M2 Pro chip even supports 3 screens. If you connect 1 screen, you can reach up to 5K via Thunderbolt 4 with the M2 chip. With the M2 Pro chip, it's even 8K.
Conclusion
The largest difference between the Apple Mac mini (2024) and the Mac mini (2023) is the processor. The Apple M4 and the Apple M4 Pro chips are even more powerful than the Apple M2 and the M2 Pro chips, so you can work smoother and faster. Additionally, the Mac mini with M4 is smaller than its predecessor but it does have more connectors.
