Mac Mini (2023): Price, release date, and everything you need to know

 

Powered by macOS Ventura and Apple silicon, the latest Macs are some of the best Apple products for students and employees alike. Not only do they typically operate reliably for many years, but they also support a wide variety of productivity apps that can significantly simplify users’ workflows. Notably, though, these computers aren’t cheap, and many may find it hard to justify paying for them. Fortunately, Apple caters to those on a limited budget through the Mac Mini (2023). Despite it being the cheapest Mac in the line, it still offers a powerful punch and the features customers expect. Below you will find what’s new with the Mac Mini (2023) in terms of technical specifications, in addition to its price and availability.

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Apple Mac Mini (2023)

The Mac Mini (2023) packs Apple’s M2 or M2 Pro chip in a tiny form factor. It blends power with affordability, thanks to its low price tag.

Mac Mini (2023): Price and release date

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The Mac Mini launched in the U.S. on Jan. 24, 2023. This mini-computer is only available in Silver and starts at $599 and $1,299 for the M2 and M2 Pro variants, respectively. You can buy it through the Apple Store and most major U.S. retailers, such as Amazon and Best Buy. Based on the country you reside in, though, its price and availability could differ.

Mac Mini (2023): Specifications

Specification Mac Mini (M2) Mac Mini (M2 Pro)
Dimensions & Weight
  • 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches
  • 2.6 pounds/1.18kg
  • 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches
  • 2.8 pounds/1.28kg
SoC
  • Apple M2 (8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU)
  • Apple M2 Pro (10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU)
  • Apple M2 Pro (12-Core CPU, 19-Core GPU)
RAM & Storage
  • 8/16/24GB RAM
  • 512GB/1TB/2TB SSD storage
  • 16/32GB RAM
  • 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB SSD storage
Ports
  • Ethernet
  • HDMI
  • 3.5mm jack
  • USB-A (x2)
  • USB-C Thunderbolt 4 (x2)
  • Ethernet
  • HDMI
  • 3.5mm jack
  • USB-A (x2)
  • USB-C Thunderbolt 4 (x4)
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
  • Bluetooth 5.3
  • Wi-Fi 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
  • Bluetooth 5.3
Colors
  • Silver
  • Silver
Price Starts at $599 Starts at $1,299

Mac Mini (2023): Performance

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With the 2023 Mac Mini release, the improved performance at a lower price is arguably the biggest highlight. This time around, you get to pick between two main processor types — the base M2 and the M2 Pro. For the first time ever, users get to take advantage of an M Pro chipset on the Mac Mini. So you’re no longer limited to buying a MacBook Pro. You additionally get to utilize Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and HDMI 2.1 for the first time. As an added bonus, you can optionally include a 10-gigabet Ethernet port, as well.

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In the processor department, the base M2 includes 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores with support for up to 24GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD. Meanwhile, the maxed-out M2 Pro includes 12 CPU cores and 19 GPU cores with support for up to 32GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD. That’s a lot for a computer as small as the Mac Mini.

And depending on the M chip you pick, you can utilize up to two or three external displays. The former supports one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz through HDMI. Similarly, the latter supports two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz through HDMI. There are a lot of great monitors you can connect to your Mac Mini, too.

Mac Mini (2023): Design

In the design department, pretty much nothing has changed. You get the same square with a 7.75-inch width and depth and a 1.41-inch height. On the front side, towards the right, you get a power LED indicator, while the ports are all placed on the back. The I/O includes Ethernet, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two USB Type-A ports, and two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports. If you buy an M2 Pro model, you get two additional Thunderbolt 4, bumping the total number of USB Type-C ports to four.

What’s actually new with the Mac Mini (2023)

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While there had been rumors about a redesigned Mac Mini, it appears that a chassis overhaul won’t see the light of day anytime soon. Leaks indicate that even the upcoming, unreleased Mac Mini will also stick to this same design Apple has been adopting for years. While exterior changes are usually fun and kill the mundanes of device, the Mac Mini already offers a minimalistic body in a tiny form factor. So there aren’t really many improvements that the company could apply here. So what’s new with the 2023 model? Apart from the boosted M chips, upgraded Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and HDMI 2.1, optional 10Gb ethernet, and increased RAM and SSD capacities, not much.


Mac Mini M2

The Apple Mac Mini (2023) is a welcome introduction to the growing family of Mac computers. Considering that it’s the most affordable Mac in the line, it could certainly become more popular amongst an even larger number of people. After all, it packs one of the most efficient computing chipsets to date in a competitively miniature form factor and starts at just $599. The future for the Mac Mini truly looks bright.

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Apple Mac Mini (2023)

The Mac Mini (2023) packs Apple’s M2 or M2 Pro chip in a tiny form factor. It blends power with affordability, thanks to its low price tag.