M2 Mac mini One Year Later | An HONEST Review!

Summary

Andrew shares his 15-month experience with the M2 Mac Mini, highlighting its compact design, portability, and performance. He emphasizes the device's value, especially with student discounts, and praises the efficiency of the M2 chip. Andrew recommends the Mac Mini for those seeking a stationary MacOS device under $1,000, suitable for everyday tasks and light work. However, he suggests potential buyers might want to wait for the rumored M4 upgrade for possibly better deals.

Takeaways

• 😀 The M2 Mac Mini is described as an underrated product from Apple with a clean and iconic design.
• 🏷 The device has a simple, silver metal slab design with a secure base to prevent sliding on a desk.
• 📏 The dimensions of the M2 Mac Mini are compact, with a height of 3.5 cm and width/depth of 19.7 cm, making it almost a perfect square and very portable at 1.18 kg.
• 🔌 The M2 Chip model comes with an Ethernet port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• 💰 The starting price for the M2 Mac Mini is $599, but with student discounts, it can be obtained for $499, offering great value for its longevity.
• 💾 The speaker recommends not skimping on storage, as it's more important than upgrading the unified memory for most users.
• 🌟 The M2 Chip provides excellent performance, being efficient and powerful without causing overheating or loud fan noise.
• 🖥 The speaker paired the M2 Mac Mini with the Studio Display for an aesthetic and functional desk setup, despite its high cost.
• 👨‍💻 The Mac Mini is ideal for everyday use, including email, internet browsing, and light work or educational tasks, without performance drops.
• 📱 The M2 Mac Mini is suited for those who want a stationary desktop computer running macOS and are budget-conscious under $1,000.
• ⏱ There might be an M4 Mac Mini in the future, so potential buyers might want to wait for a possible price decrease or new model release.

Q & A

How long has the speaker been using the M2 Mac Mini?

The speaker has been using the M2 Mac Mini for over 15 months.

What is the speaker's overall opinion of the M2 Mac Mini?

The speaker considers the M2 Mac Mini to be one of the most underrated products from Apple and highly recommends it.

What does the speaker appreciate about the design of the M2 Mac Mini?

The speaker loves the clean, iconic look of the M2 Mac Mini, appreciating its simple silver metal design and secure base that prevents sliding.

What are the dimensions of the M2 Mac Mini?

The M2 Mac Mini has a height of 3.5 cm, and a width and depth of 19.7 cm, making it almost a perfect square.

How much does the M2 Mac Mini weigh?

The M2 Mac Mini weighs 1.18 kg, making it lightweight and portable.

What ports does the M2 Mac Mini have?

The M2 Mac Mini has an Ethernet port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

What is the starting price of the M2 Mac Mini, and is there a discount available?

The starting price of the M2 Mac Mini is $599, but with student discounts, it can be obtained for $499.

Why did the speaker choose to pay more for additional storage on the M2 Mac Mini?

The speaker chose to pay more for additional storage because they believe it's more important than upgrading the unified memory and should not be skimped on.

What is the speaker's opinion on the performance of the M2 Chip in the Mac Mini?

The speaker finds the M2 Chip in the Mac Mini to be incredibly powerful and efficient, with no performance issues or overheating problems.

Who is the M2 Mac Mini best suited for according to the speaker?

The M2 Mac Mini is best suited for those who want a stationary desktop computer, prefer macOS, and are looking for a machine under $1,000 for everyday use, work, and education.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the potential upgrade to an M4 Mac Mini?

The speaker suggests that if one can wait, it might be worth it to see if an M4 Mac Mini is released, as it could lead to a decrease in the price of the current model.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Long-Term M2 Mac Mini Review

Andrew shares his 15-month experience with the M2 Mac Mini, highlighting its underrated status among Apple products. He praises the device's simple yet iconic design, noting its small size, light weight, and secure base. The Mac Mini's port variety, including Ethernet, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB-A, and a headphone jack, is detailed, with a comparison between the M2 and M2 Pro models. Andrew emphasizes the value of the Mac Mini, especially with student discounts, and discusses his personal configuration choices, including opting for more storage over memory upgrade. He also shares his positive experience with the M2 chip's performance across various Apple devices and his investment in the Studio Display, which he considers a perfect complement to the Mac Mini despite its high cost.

05:03

🤔 Target Audience for M2 Mac Mini

The second paragraph delves into the ideal user for the M2 Mac Mini, outlining the criteria that make it a suitable choice. Andrew suggests that the Mac Mini is best for those seeking a stationary desktop computer running macOS, with a budget under $1,000. He recommends it for users who primarily need a machine for everyday tasks like internet browsing, watching movies, reading emails, and work or education-related activities. Andrew advises potential buyers to consider waiting for the possible release of an M4 Mac Mini, which could affect the M2 model's price. However, for those who cannot wait, he assures that the M2 Mac Mini offers solid performance and long-term value. He invites current M2 Mac Mini owners to share their experiences and ends with gratitude for his growing subscriber base.

Keywords

💡M2 Mac Mini

The M2 Mac Mini is a compact desktop computer by Apple, equipped with the M2 chip, which is a processor designed for improved performance and efficiency. In the video, the presenter discusses their positive experience with the device over a 15-month period, highlighting its design, portability, and performance as key aspects of its appeal.

💡Design

In the context of the video, 'design' refers to the physical appearance and layout of the M2 Mac Mini. The presenter appreciates its simple, clean, and iconic look, which includes a silver metal slab with a secure base to prevent sliding on a desk. The design is considered a core element of the product's aesthetic appeal and user experience.

💡Dimensions

Dimensions are the physical measurements of the M2 Mac Mini, which are highlighted as being small and light, making the device portable yet suitable for a desk setup. The script mentions specific dimensions (3.5 cm in height, 19.7 cm in width and depth), emphasizing the compact nature of the device.

💡Ports

Ports on the M2 Mac Mini refer to the various input/output connections available on the device, such as the Ethernet port, Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, USB-A ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The variety and number of ports are important for connecting peripherals and expanding the device's capabilities, as discussed in the script.

💡Price

Price is a critical factor discussed in the video, with the presenter mentioning the starting base model's price of $599 and the discounted student price of $499. The price point is considered in terms of value for money, especially given the device's performance and longevity.

💡Storage

Storage in the context of the M2 Mac Mini refers to the device's internal memory capacity for saving files and data. The script discusses the presenter's choice to opt for more storage over additional unified memory due to personal needs, and the cost associated with upgrading storage capacity.

💡Unified Memory

Unified memory, or memory that is shared among the CPU, GPU, and other components, is a feature of Apple's M2 chip. The presenter chose 8 GB of unified memory for their M2 Mac Mini, indicating a preference for storage over memory in their specific use case.

💡M2 Chip

The M2 Chip is the processor at the heart of the Mac Mini, known for its performance and efficiency. The video script discusses the presenter's satisfaction with the M2 Chip's capabilities, comparing it to other devices with the same chip and emphasizing its ability to handle everyday tasks without performance issues.

💡Studio Display

The Studio Display is an external monitor by Apple, which the presenter mentions as a part of their desk setup with the M2 Mac Mini. Despite its high cost, the presenter appreciates its aesthetic and screen quality, suggesting it as a complementary product to the Mac Mini for those prioritizing a cohesive setup.

💡MacOS

MacOS, or macOS, is the operating system that powers the M2 Mac Mini and other Apple devices. The video script praises macOS for its seamless user experience, built-in apps, and integration within the Apple ecosystem, which contributes to the overall appeal of the M2 Mac Mini.

💡M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is a more advanced version of the M2 Chip, offering additional capabilities and performance. The script briefly mentions the M2 Pro as an alternative configuration for the Mac Mini, with the main difference being the additional Thunderbolt 4 ports, catering to users who require more connectivity options.

💡M4 Mac Mini

The M4 Mac Mini is a hypothetical future model of the device, which the presenter suggests may be on the horizon. The mention of the M4 Mac Mini serves as a caution to potential buyers who might want to wait for newer technology or potential price reductions on current models.

Highlights

Andrew has been using the M2 Mac Mini for over a year, providing a long-term user perspective.

The M2 Mac Mini is considered underrated and under the radar by many.

The design of the Mac Mini is simple, clean, and iconic with a secure base to prevent sliding.

The Mac Mini has compact dimensions and is lightweight, making it portable.

Different models of the M2 Mac Mini come with varying port configurations.

The M2 Chip model includes an ethernet port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and other standard ports.

The M2 Pro model offers two additional Thunderbolt 4 ports for a total of four.

The starting price of the base model is $599, with student discounts bringing it down to $499.

Andrew suggests not skimping on storage, as it's more important than upgrading memory for most users.

The M2 Chip provides great performance and efficiency, with no overheating or loud fan noise issues.

Andrew's personal setup includes the M2 Mac Mini and the Studio Display, which he highly recommends despite the cost.

Mac OS is praised for its seamless integration and convenience within the Apple ecosystem.

The Mac Mini is a capable device for everyday use, including work and education.

Andrew suggests the Mac Mini is ideal for users who want a stationary desktop computer running MacOS.

For users with a budget under $1,000, the Mac Mini offers great value.

Andrew advises potential buyers to consider waiting for the possible release of an M4 Mac Mini for potential price decreases.

Andrew has no plans to upgrade and will continue using his M2 Mac Mini long-term.

Transcripts

I've had the M2 Mac Mini for over a year

now 15 months to be exact and today I

want to share my long-term user

perspective on the device and if I think

you should get one in 2024 hey everyone

it's Andrew and welcome back to the

channel I feel like the M2 Mech mini

doesn't get on a lot of people's radar

and they haven't updated it in quite

some time but let me tell you this is

one of the most underrated products that

you can get from Apple and I'll explain

why starting with design the design

design is pretty simple it's just a slab

of silver metal but I love the clean and

iconic look if you flip it over the

bottom part has a nice base to be able

to sit the Mac Mini on it says Mac Mini

on it and it looks really good it's more

secure so it doesn't slide around and

it's not metal clinging on your desk I

think this form factor is so sick it

looks great in any minimal desk space

and really any Des space that you bring

it to and it's actually like the name

says quite many now when it comes to the

dimensions of the device I actually

think it's important to call it out just

to understand how small and light it is

the height is 3.5 CM the width and depth

are the same at 19.7 cm and it's almost

like a perfect square it's also super

light at 1.18 kg and it can easily fit

inside a bag if for whatever reason you

need to take it on a trip with you now

depending on the model that you

configure you'll get different ports not

that much difference but we'll talk

about it for the M2 Chip there's an

ethernet port two Thunderbolt 4 ports

and an HDMI port you also get two usba a

ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack

there's also the power button and the

port where you put in the power cord and

there's also a really nice fan on the

back the only difference I can see when

it comes to the M2 Pro is you have two

extra Thunderbolt 4 ports so you get a

total of four obviously the big draw

with getting a computer like this is

going to be the price the starting base

model is $5.99 but right now with

student discounts you can get it for

$4.99 and that's an incredible value for

a machine that I think is going to last

you many many years I bought mine with a

little extra storage so the cost of mine

was

$7.99 yes I hated that Apple makes you

pay for more storage like a ridiculous

amount $200 more you have to do it and

it's something that you shouldn't skimp

on if you're going to pay for anything

more I would go with getting more

storage I also went with only 8 GB of

unified memory I really need storage

more than that so I decided to kind of

hold back on upgrading that for more

storage and I also went with the M2 Chip

and not the M2 Pro I have no reference

to compare the two obviously the M2 Pro

Pro is better but I have a ton of

products with the M2 Chip like the iPad

Air my wife's MacBook Air as well as the

Apple Vision Pro and all three of those

devices including the Mac Mini with M2

is an incredible device that performs

great while I did save money on the

configuration of my Mac Mini I did spend

a lot with the studio display but I

don't regret it because it is one of my

favorite parts of my desk setup probably

my favorite and it's one of my favorite

products that I've ever owned and yes I

know it's expensive and there's a ton of

other monitors out there for a great

value as well and for some reason I just

was drawn to this I think it's the

aesthetic the way it looks and the

screen is phenomenal I think it's a

perfect combo if you are saving money

with your Mac Mini to go with the studio

display but I will link my friend

minimalist Tech he has a chance chel

that does a little bit more reviews of

monitors and just kind of different

things in Tech that I don't cover and so

I'll link a few of his videos if you

want to check out some budget monitors

and getting back into the M2 Chip if

you're looking for a more technical

specs driven and performance review I'm

not the guy for that but just using this

machine every day for the last 15 months

has been a joy to use Mac OS is chef's

kiss it's perfect and the built-in apps

and in convenience of the Apple

ecosystem is second to none let's be

honest most of us we're doing email

we're looking at the internet and we're

probably going on YouTube in reality you

don't really need that much power for an

everyday computer this is a more than

capable device for your everyday use

honestly I haven't had any drop in

performance I think it's one of those

things where I don't even think about it

which is a good thing I've never had

issues there's nothing to complain about

and it's just a solid performing machine

I also don't really recall a time that

I've experienced any overheating or the

fans blasting and actually hearing them

and that's what's so great about the M2

series chip is it's super powerful but

also extremely efficient so who is the

M2 Mac Mini actually for and I think if

you check these boxes it is 100% the

computer for you starting with the kind

of obvious things you got to want to

have a computer that you can't move

around so yes it's portable but it's not

meant for that so you need to expect

that you don't want a laptop you want

something that's going to be at your

desk all day next up would be the

operating system you got to want to have

Macos if not just get a Windows computer

and your price point has to be below

$1,000 if it's not it might be better to

get something like a MacBook Pro or the

Mac Studio you might need to level up

depending on your use case and I would

say if you want a machine for browsing

the internet watching movies reading

email but also for things like work and

education the Mac Mini is probably the

best Mac for you so if you check off all

of those boxes go ahead and order it but

with one disclaimer you might want to

wait a little bit longer because there's

probably an M4 Mac Mini on the horizon

I'm not quite sure when it's coming so

you could see a decrease in price but if

you can't wait the M2 Mac Mini is going

to be great I personally have no desire

to upgrade I'll be keeping this for the

long term and if you watching this have

the M2 Mac Mini go ahead and leave a

comment of your experience we'd all love

to hear it if you like this kind of

video go ahead and give it a like we're

actually getting close to 35k

subscribers which is incredible could

have never even imagined that and as

always guys thanks for watching God

bless and I will see you on the next

video

[Music]