⭐ Buy the Mac Mini M2: geni.us/a4AGi (affiliate) ⭐ Buy the Mac Mini M2 Pro: geni.us/9vBSPK (affiliate) ☕ WAS THIS VIDEO HELPFUL? BUY ME A COFFEE!! www.buymeacoffee.com/techgeartalk What's up everyone?! I hope this overview of the M2 Mac Mini for everyday use was helpful. Did I cover what you wanted to know? What else did you want to see or learn about? Would love to know what you think. Is the cheapest M2 Mac Mini a good option for you? Why or why not. If you’re currently using something else, please share your experience with me. I am grateful in advance 🙏
Just bought the base model M2 Mac Mini w 8GB RAM. I have it connected to a 36” SONY TV. Fantastic for web browsing with lots of tabs open and equally great for streaming movies. I’m a tech professional and always do “more RAM” but could not justify Apple’s insanely high price for 16GB RAM. $400 (teacher pricing) for the Mac Mini and another *$200* for the add’l RAM?!? No thanks! 8GB works awesome for normal everyday use!
Would this work for Homeschooling? I am looking at buying it using the education discount but also have access to military discount. I’m wanting to use the Mac mini for homeschooling and general web browsing, TH-cam viewing, photos but mainly general stuff.
I have had the M2 basic Mac Mini for a couple of weeks now. Upgraded from a 2012 Imac. It is a huge improvement. I have all the peripherals needed so it made the Mac Mini choice a no brainer. I am surprised how well the regular 24” Acer monitor looks. The resolution is great for regular use (Spreadsheets, Video viewing, browsing, etc.). I have Mail, Notes, Day One, Safari, Reminders, Excel, Messages, and what ever else I need up and running, with no issues at all. Having everything sync with the Iphone and Ipad is wonderful. I use the Ipad with notes for work and have it all available where ever I am. I use 1 2TB drive for backup and another 2TB drive for storage. I have a Brother multifunction printer attached so printing and scanning is very easy. I had it on a windows machine before and could never get it setup on wifi. The Mac Mini set it up on wifi automatically. The brother software works great with the Imac OS. Overall I am quite happy with how well the little beast is working out. Thank you for a good straight forward review on the basic MacMini. It is spot on. I did take your advice and got the Satechi hub. Front ports are very handy when you need to use something once in a while.
Currently using an 2017 27" Intel iMac...and my future upgrade path hopefully is an 27" M2 0r 3 chip iMac depending on price. If that falls thru then M2 Mac mini or Pro with at least 16 G RAM. Learned over 25 years ago to always boost/max out the RAM !
Hi! I’m thinking on buying the M2 basic Mac Mini and I was wondering if you could tell me which display do you have or if you can recommend me one of 24” or 27” because I have no idea which one should I buy 😄
I just replaced a 2013 intel iMac with an Mini Pro. There’s no question the Pro has WAY more firepower than I’ll ever need. I wanted both 16GB memory and the 512GB storage, so the regular Mini came to $999. Costco then put the Mini Pro on sale for $1099, and the Pro became a no-brainer. Very, very happy with it, needless to say.
As a long time user that's always had a top of the line MacBook Pro (currently my work computer is an MBP with Intel i9 with 32GB RAM), I'm realizing that we are at a point that even these baseline M2s are insanely powerful. I could literally replace my current MBP with a 16GB MacBook Air (or Mini) and still see improved performance. What a great thing to experience.
out of all the tech vloggers, there are...he is by far the best. His review is soooo damn easy to understand! He doesn't talk fast, he is on point, has cool recos, and is detailed.
Well I bought the M2 Pro Mini with 16gb RAM and I'm very happy with it. With 3 years of Applecare it came out to $1588, and I think I did very well with it. With my old M1 I had browser tabs locking up on me while running other apps and that was not good. Then too I needed a lot more GPU than the M1 had for Second Life. My M2 drives 2 monitors, a 32 and a 70 inch and mounts my 72tb disk array, 2 keyboards, 2 mice and it just plain rocks! I'm so very happy with it :)
I have the base model M2 Mac mini, I also have a 1TB SSD external drive connected. I use a lot of audio & video processing and it does everything perfectly- it is basically a very powerful little machine for everyday use, or will handle much more demanding applications.
It’s almost like one of the best kept secrets, even though reviews are out there people don’t realise what a steal the base m2 mini is at this price point. What you can do with it is unreal for the price, I have a 1500 Msi laptop and my Mac mini operates better, faster, smoother and emulates ps3 games better. They done some black magic with this thing lol
You know what we need from tech tubers like this guy? Videos that answer the "should I buy.." question about previous versions whenever something comes out. Like, now that the m2 is out, m1 is obviously even cheaper (right?). So should I still buy _it_? Is _it's_ performance still inline with every day use (or better) requirements of today? Edit: Don't get me wrong though, I still want "should I buy..." videos about stuff that just came out, but instead of just making one video every time something comes out, make 2. It's a win-win for everyone 😁.
I beg to differ on one point... you are not stuck with your choice, whatever it is. I bought a 512GB M2 Mini because I usually keep my machines a long time. This time, I ditched a 2014 27"5k iMac that was no longer upgradeable to newest OS, and I just got tired of waiting on Apple to come out with another one with an M-series processor. Instead, I bought a 27" 5K Apple monitor and consider the M2 Mini to be what I'll use until I run out of capacity, which I won't. I'll just swap out the Mini for whatever comes next in a few years, and I think I'll be happy enough with the 5K monitor to keep it for at least 10 years. I'd almost recommend anyone go with the cheaper units and upgrade as needed. Resale should be good for a few years.
I've bought a base m2 Mac mini a week ago, and it's been great. I'm use it mostly casually to browse the web, write some essays for my university, some photoshop and illustrator as well. I also like to edit and render simple video clips (usually about an hour long) of me driving my car, at those tasks it's absurdly fast. As for games, I enjoy playing some civ VI and it's fine for that if you don't expect 4k 144 fps at max settings. Given that I got it with the student discount (2900 PLN, about $650) it's one of the best purchases in my life. Good work Apple, for real.
@@TechGearTalk just the basic 8 gigs - I've been using a m1 macbook air for almost 2 years with 8 gigs of unified memory and I haven't run into any situations when I needed more yet, so I think it'll do fine in the mac mini as well.
Hi there, I'm interested with M2 mini. But I'm worried which monitor that could go well really without giving any flickering issue. So which external display did you get. Thanks!
You should always buy the base model of any Mac (as a "normal" user), as their RAM and storage upgrade prices are so probibitively expensive that it doesn't make sense to go higher. I just purchased an M2 Mac Mini base model for $499, and it will serve me just fine.
This was such a great review! I have been on the fence for awhile deciding if I want to switch from a MacBook Air to a Mac Mini and I really appreciate someone making a video for the average user who doesn't necessarily care about every last detail. Thank you!
3:08, this is key here!, you reminded all of us to have a wired mouse / keyboard for the setup, might seem obvious, but nowadays having wired accessories lying around is a challenge, I don’t game on PC, and the old wired accessories I had I donated / recycle them some time back 😅
My only question is: How easy would it to connect it to my 2017 iMac so I can use the 27" monitor, rather than put a perfectly good screen into landfill.
I've been a Mac mini user since the mid-2012 model was released, so I'm a big fan. I finally upgraded from the M1 mini to the Studio Max last March and am very happy with it, but if the M2 mini Pro had been available at the time it would have been a tough choice.
After the ridiculous debacle about the M1 having BINNED and UNBINNED chips creating confusion in choices of machine, this time they just tell you (again to confuse buyers yet another way) which cores are efficiency ones etc! Now it's up to us to stick our necks out to test them and return them! In the case of the M1 I just stuck my middle finger at the "binned chip" and went for the higher one, no regrets!
My daily work, on the job and personal, is Adobe CC. I agree with you, this is good for most folk. Even professionals who are primarily 2-D design based, the base model M2 is a great buy. Even though I could afford the Mini Pro or lowest Studio, I don't regret the decision. And Sidecar with my M2 iPad Pro 12" works perfectly. The SSD speed isn't noticeable enough for me to care; plus the hub I use allowed for internal SSD.
Thank you for the fair review. Been using the base model for few days, with few video editing and photo editing and see no issues so far. working great for me. :)
Should you buy the base mac m2? Oh YES! You know, nowadays you get overwhelmed by so much information that says "the speed is blahblah, the RAM blahblah on the base model", but the actual experience is what matters the most! 8GB makes it do a lot of swap memories but you are SMOOTHLY doing 20 tabs of chrome and editing 4k on davinci resolve? Man, go for it! Make the most out of your base M2!
I was happy to see this video for every day use. Other videos go into details that do not matter to the average person. I would have liked this video to go into more detail about how the base model M2 Mac Mini works with daily productivity software like word processing, spreadsheets, simple photo editing, web browsing, playing music and videos, etc. Does someone need more than the base model for average user tasks?
thanks for that info...iam considering that mini....i have an old inac 27 (its beautiful...5k display ) but an OS system...just love the Studio monitor...it may be overkill....but I can upgrade to a bigger mini ...later 😅😅😅
Thank you! I am working on one. But in the meantime - check out this video - th-cam.com/video/eovQnPuBCuQ/w-d-xo.html - specifically the three monitors I discuss. Hope that helps.
I purchased the base model. I may sell it in around 4 years and replace it with the base model then. I'd guess to get something between $30'-$50 more for the m2 mini resell with the 16GB version. Not worth it since I don't see the need. I'm using two 4k monitors and this little machine is flying though regular usage with surfing, video streaming, office and photo editing.
Great vid! I have an old (2015) iMac with retina display and recently it has been giving me problems with wifi... It just stops working.. so I am thinking of getting a Mac Mini 2 with 8gb or 16h version and a 4k monitor..
I’ve had an external monitor and external keyboard on all my laptops - my laptop never leaves the house - so why do I keep buying laptops? Unconscious bias. Don’t need to. Glad I took the time to watch this. And I’m confident my little recording studio will still function with the Mac mini. Great video.
Glad the video was helpful - I'm super happy with how the Mac Mini runs my studio. If you end up getting one - swing by and let me know how it works for you.
Just cheaply upgraded my Mac Mini late 2014 with an NVMe SSD. It will now suffice for another two years as a basic family computer running Microsoft office, email, turbo tax, internet and other basic tasks. I almost bought a M2 Pro Mac mini 16Gb/1TB - not for the power now, I don't need that much today, but so it would last 8-10 years like my 2014 Mac Mini.
I’m considering purchasing the M2 Mac Mini. I’m going to be using it to copy DVD’s & Blu-ray’s from a Blu-ray Burner. I’m going to be copying these because I’m going to be taking Classic TV Series from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s that are on DVD and take every episode and Upscaling them to 4K using a Program called Topaz AI (Artificial Intelligence). And taking Classic Rock Videos and Upscaling them as well from 480p to 4K and possibly 8K.
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I've been using Mac Mini 2014 for 8 years now. I absolutely love it, but it's gotten very slow and it's not getting the updates anymore. I'm thinking about getting a Mac Mini M2. There are 2 things that concern me: 1. My current Mini is 1TB, but most of that 1TB is just files that I don't need to run from the machine itself. Should I just get a 512GB one and an external SSD? 2. The only ''heavy'' app that I use is Logic Pro. I also don't use too many plug-ins at once and even my old Mini, although slowly, does handle them well. Would 8GB Ram be enough for me?
I think that the average user would be better off with a MacBook Air, because laptops are more versatile. That said - Windows users (or even existing Mac/macOS users) who are accustomed to using a desktop computer will find that the Mac mini is a viable option, as it can sit within their existing setup of peripherals. It's also the smallest financial commitment with which one could enter the Mac/macOS world, which is great for a variety of reasons.
I totally agree with you and I follow the same motto "buy it nice or buy it twice". Great review and information especially the hub which I will definitely get. Thank you.
I want it for video editing, unreal engine 5 for game development and blender, as a student I don't have a whole lot of budget, can I buy the base model?
Hi, I wish to buy a M2 mini as a desktop computer. I never edit video and I never use application like Finalcut. The M2 pro it's definitely too powerfull for me. But I'm looking for a mac mini that will last 5 years. What do you think of the M2 mini / 512 Gb / 16 RAM ??
512 for sure because of the SSD speed issue, but 16 GB of memory is just not enough to run video editing (Premiere Pro) without worrying about crashing
I just purchased one of the $599 ones for learning purposes. I work in IT and our company is starting to integrate more mac computers so I wanted to learn the OS and Terminal. Picking it up today along with a magic keyboard and mouse...hoping this was not a waste of money
@@louisbertini I've been playing with it for a couple days. First impressions are that at this price point, you are getting a great computer. It's a small form factor setup with a pretty powerful processor, built in wifi. I would not hesitate to use this for everyday use. This can easily handle daily tasks (Office, email, web browsing, and more). If I were using it fro everyday and storing documents, I would purchase a 1TB external drive and if I were doing anything more multimedia intensive, I would step up to more RAM and possibly to the M2 Pro processor. I do wish they gave you a couple more USB ports. The worst thing I have to say about this computer is it does not come with a keyboard and mouse, there are cost effective alternatives out there but if you go for the apple keyboard and mouse, you can expect to add another $200-$300 to the price tag, which I think is a bit much. With the purchase of the keyboard, mouse, and a monitor, you are adding at least $300-$350 to the price tag which puts you at almost $1000. I found mouse and keyboard combos cheaper and would recommend going that route instead of the mac keyboard and mouse setup
@@mvol5973 Thanks for the detailed comments. Both you and I are facing the same challenges. I wish we had two more USB ports and an sd card slot. However, I am new to Mac OS, so I wanted something basic. I was looking at the pro model for 1299 but thought maybe I wouldn’t like it. That's a lot of money to throw away. I did take your advice and got a one tb samsung ssd for external media. Some other folks on youtube talked about getting a dock that gives you more USBs & thunderbolt ports plus an m2 SSD slot, which I thought was interesting.
I bought a base mac m2 today, and Im thankful that I bought it because I only use it for web browsing, watch porn, and youtube. it's really fast. I came from windows, a little adjustment and I learn that there are specific displays that fits well with mac os when it comes to scaling so better check that one as well.
Teacher on a tight budget here. Is the base model good enough for smooth teaching experience on Zoom, e.g. sharing screen, a couple of tabs, HD webcam?
No. No one should buy a desktop computer in 2023 with 256gigs of storage and 8 gigs of rams. This is Apple ripping people off. The base should be 512gigs of storage and 16gigs of ram.
And I’m asking You what I’m going to need to make this possible. I know for sure I’m going to need to purchase either 1 or 2 External Hard Drives that are like 5 Terabytes.
Hi, I’m wondering about using this with a smart tv as the monitor , are there any issues with doing this. And also , can you connect it to a P.A. mixer for listening to music.
I think this base max mini is a good place for someone like me to start when switching to macOS. The least amount of money of all the products spent so I can learn the OS before spending a dumb amount.
This was an excellent video review of the M2 Mac mini. I’m looking forward to getting mine soon, my first trip into the Apple universe aside that is from my iPad which I use for work. Can’t wait to get working on the new computer, thanks for taking the time and giving us your informed thoughts. Liked and subscribed.
I bought a M1 w/ 8gb ram. Ive been happy with it. now with the M2 at 499 at Costco, it's even a better deal. I thought about upgrading to 16gb/512 ssd, but its $800 more. WTF? a whole machine with the same components of 8gb / 256 ssd is only 500, how does APPLE justify the cost of only those 2 pieces.
Exactly. It’s now net $400 with gift card promo. Then extra $180 for 16gb ram. That’s 50 percent of the computer’s price. Just go with 8gb at that price
I have MacBook Air M1 second tiered one with 8 ram 8gpu 512 connected to my Dell 34” monitor. I was thinking of getting the Mac mini M2 base model to have a dedicated desktop and free up my MacBook Air. You think it’s a good idea or waste of cash?
Your product links go to a page that won’t open . Why not link to Amazon like others ? I can’t see any information you are trying to to link . Interested in monitor s not as expensive as Apple Display Port .
Y'all I came here cause I want to ask some questions. My brother gave us a mac mini version 10.15.7. It still has lots of storage to use, but when opening apps or browsing the Internet, it's sometimes slow. Idk if something in the mac mini itself needs a part to be changed or the entire mac mini itself needs to be replaced?
Just switched from HP Spectre 360 2015 to M2 Mac Mini base model at education price together Dell U2723QE & 2 Beoplay A1 speakers for everyday use. Great value & experience!
Exactly the right perspective. I don't give a rat's ass how quickly it edits 4k video in Final Cut 2, I want to know how it performs on everyday tasks most everyone uses a computer for.
I have currently have a 21.5-inch, Late 2013 iMac. Its running very slow. Can I connect the iMac to the mini and use it as a monitor or connect them somehow?
Another great video bro 👍 M1 Ultra Mac Studio has been rock solid over here. Thinking of adding one of these M2 minis to my setup at some point. Good times for tech heads. So much power in a small and quiet package!
⭐ Buy the Mac Mini M2: geni.us/a4AGi (affiliate)
⭐ Buy the Mac Mini M2 Pro: geni.us/9vBSPK (affiliate)
☕ WAS THIS VIDEO HELPFUL? BUY ME A COFFEE!! www.buymeacoffee.com/techgeartalk
What's up everyone?! I hope this overview of the M2 Mac Mini for everyday use was helpful. Did I cover what you wanted to know? What else did you want to see or learn about?
Would love to know what you think. Is the cheapest M2 Mac Mini a good option for you? Why or why not. If you’re currently using something else, please share your experience with me. I am grateful in advance 🙏
Find a fingerprint scanner and register your fingerprint t put in saved passwords easily seems like game changer when surfing!
Just bought the base model M2 Mac Mini w 8GB RAM. I have it connected to a 36” SONY TV. Fantastic for web browsing with lots of tabs open and equally great for streaming movies. I’m a tech professional and always do “more RAM” but could not justify Apple’s insanely high price for 16GB RAM. $400 (teacher pricing) for the Mac Mini and another *$200* for the add’l RAM?!? No thanks! 8GB works awesome for normal everyday use!
I use Blender, Premiere Pro, InDesign, etc., with my BASE M2, which works perfectly. You don't need to get the Pro.
U didn't spend extra $200 to get additional 8GB ram?
@@limtzeming1125 I did not. The only extra item I bought is a Samsung external SSD to store my large files.
Thank you for the info!
Would this work for Homeschooling? I am looking at buying it using the education discount but also have access to military discount. I’m wanting to use the Mac mini for homeschooling and general web browsing, TH-cam viewing, photos but mainly general stuff.
@@IndianaDiy It's more than enough for what you need. I use it as a professional content creator for work.
I have had the M2 basic Mac Mini for a couple of weeks now. Upgraded from a 2012 Imac. It is a huge improvement. I have all the peripherals needed so it made the Mac Mini choice a no brainer. I am surprised how well the regular 24” Acer monitor looks. The resolution is great for regular use (Spreadsheets, Video viewing, browsing, etc.). I have Mail, Notes, Day One, Safari, Reminders, Excel, Messages, and what ever else I need up and running, with no issues at all. Having everything sync with the Iphone and Ipad is wonderful. I use the Ipad with notes for work and have it all available where ever I am. I use 1 2TB drive for backup and another 2TB drive for storage. I have a Brother multifunction printer attached so printing and scanning is very easy. I had it on a windows machine before and could never get it setup on wifi. The Mac Mini set it up on wifi automatically. The brother software works great with the Imac OS. Overall I am quite happy with how well the little beast is working out. Thank you for a good straight forward review on the basic MacMini. It is spot on. I did take your advice and got the Satechi hub. Front ports are very handy when you need to use something once in a while.
Currently using an 2017 27" Intel iMac...and my future upgrade path hopefully is an 27" M2 0r 3 chip iMac depending on price. If that falls thru then M2 Mac mini or Pro with at least 16 G RAM. Learned over 25 years ago to always boost/max out the RAM !
Hi! I’m thinking on buying the M2 basic Mac Mini and I was wondering if you could tell me which display do you have or if you can recommend me one of 24” or 27” because I have no idea which one should I buy 😄
I just replaced a 2013 intel iMac with an Mini Pro. There’s no question the Pro has WAY more firepower than I’ll ever need. I wanted both 16GB memory and the 512GB storage, so the regular Mini came to $999. Costco then put the Mini Pro on sale for $1099, and the Pro became a no-brainer. Very, very happy with it, needless to say.
As a long time user that's always had a top of the line MacBook Pro (currently my work computer is an MBP with Intel i9 with 32GB RAM), I'm realizing that we are at a point that even these baseline M2s are insanely powerful. I could literally replace my current MBP with a 16GB MacBook Air (or Mini) and still see improved performance.
What a great thing to experience.
out of all the tech vloggers, there are...he is by far the best. His review is soooo damn easy to understand! He doesn't talk fast, he is on point, has cool recos, and is detailed.
Well I bought the M2 Pro Mini with 16gb RAM and I'm very happy with it. With 3 years of Applecare it came out to $1588, and I think I did very well with it. With my old M1 I had browser tabs locking up on me while running other apps and that was not good. Then too I needed a lot more GPU than the M1 had for Second Life. My M2 drives 2 monitors, a 32 and a 70 inch and mounts my 72tb disk array, 2 keyboards, 2 mice and it just plain rocks! I'm so very happy with it :)
Brother you are pro user category.
I have the base model M2 Mac mini, I also have a 1TB SSD external drive connected. I use a lot of audio & video processing and it does everything perfectly- it is basically a very powerful little machine for everyday use, or will handle much more demanding applications.
It’s almost like one of the best kept secrets, even though reviews are out there people don’t realise what a steal the base m2 mini is at this price point. What you can do with it is unreal for the price, I have a 1500 Msi laptop and my Mac mini operates better, faster, smoother and emulates ps3 games better. They done some black magic with this thing lol
Can you watch 4k drone videos without being choppy?? My 2014 mac mini can't handle it. Really really jerky
You know what we need from tech tubers like this guy? Videos that answer the "should I buy.." question about previous versions whenever something comes out. Like, now that the m2 is out, m1 is obviously even cheaper (right?). So should I still buy _it_? Is _it's_ performance still inline with every day use (or better) requirements of today?
Edit: Don't get me wrong though, I still want "should I buy..." videos about stuff that just came out, but instead of just making one video every time something comes out, make 2. It's a win-win for everyone 😁.
I beg to differ on one point... you are not stuck with your choice, whatever it is. I bought a 512GB M2 Mini because I usually keep my machines a long time. This time, I ditched a 2014 27"5k iMac that was no longer upgradeable to newest OS, and I just got tired of waiting on Apple to come out with another one with an M-series processor. Instead, I bought a 27" 5K Apple monitor and consider the M2 Mini to be what I'll use until I run out of capacity, which I won't. I'll just swap out the Mini for whatever comes next in a few years, and I think I'll be happy enough with the 5K monitor to keep it for at least 10 years. I'd almost recommend anyone go with the cheaper units and upgrade as needed. Resale should be good for a few years.
I've bought a base m2 Mac mini a week ago, and it's been great. I'm use it mostly casually to browse the web, write some essays for my university, some photoshop and illustrator as well. I also like to edit and render simple video clips (usually about an hour long) of me driving my car, at those tasks it's absurdly fast. As for games, I enjoy playing some civ VI and it's fine for that if you don't expect 4k 144 fps at max settings. Given that I got it with the student discount (2900 PLN, about $650) it's one of the best purchases in my life. Good work Apple, for real.
Great value for ghthe price! How much unified memory did you get?
@@TechGearTalk just the basic 8 gigs - I've been using a m1 macbook air for almost 2 years with 8 gigs of unified memory and I haven't run into any situations when I needed more yet, so I think it'll do fine in the mac mini as well.
@@tecoz3083 that’s a prime example of using the Mac mini 2 basic model for regular usage since it’s an overkill with a great price in value.
Hi there, I'm interested with M2 mini. But I'm worried which monitor that could go well really without giving any flickering issue. So which external display did you get. Thanks!
@@drbenirusani Asus vg27aq, a good 27” 1440p 144hz monitor. It’s a bang for the buck
I love how you respond to the comments diligently unlike other big channels. 💕
You should always buy the base model of any Mac (as a "normal" user), as their RAM and storage upgrade prices are so probibitively expensive that it doesn't make sense to go higher. I just purchased an M2 Mac Mini base model for $499, and it will serve me just fine.
This was such a great review! I have been on the fence for awhile deciding if I want to switch from a MacBook Air to a Mac Mini and I really appreciate someone making a video for the average user who doesn't necessarily care about every last detail. Thank you!
I have the M2 Pro Mac Mini w/16GB 1TB and it's my video editing / work machine. My backup is a 2019 MBP 16". The M2 Pro is a powerhouse, I love it.
Let's be honest. Anyone who buys anything more than the base model doesn't "need" it, but "wants" it.
3:08, this is key here!, you reminded all of us to have a wired mouse / keyboard for the setup, might seem obvious, but nowadays having wired accessories lying around is a challenge, I don’t game on PC, and the old wired accessories I had I donated / recycle them some time back 😅
So glad it was helpful. I was stuck without a wired mouse and keyboard the first time. Had to get some boxes out
Yes just bought one, no regrets ....... love it
CONGRATS!!! Glad you love it. Thank you for being part of the channel!
My only question is: How easy would it to connect it to my 2017 iMac so I can use the 27" monitor, rather than put a perfectly good screen into landfill.
I've been a Mac mini user since the mid-2012 model was released, so I'm a big fan. I finally upgraded from the M1 mini to the Studio Max last March and am very happy with it, but if the M2 mini Pro had been available at the time it would have been a tough choice.
You've been riding with the Mac Mini for a while! I still think Mac Studio over M2 Pro - just because of the ports. Working on a comparison.
@@TechGearTalk Agree on the ports, especially those in front. I'm looking forward to your comparison.
finally a person who seems to understand what i think i need, would you be willing to answer a couple of questions for me?
Offtopic, but could you tell which speakers you got there on the desk?
After the ridiculous debacle about the M1 having BINNED and UNBINNED chips creating confusion in choices of machine, this time they just tell you (again to confuse buyers yet another way) which cores are efficiency ones etc! Now it's up to us to stick our necks out to test them and return them! In the case of the M1 I just stuck my middle finger at the "binned chip" and went for the higher one, no regrets!
What a question? A clear yes!!!!
I have had a mac mini for many years, and by turning the device 180 degrees I have all the ports on the front and the little useless lamp on the back.
The magic trackpad is absolutely life changing.
I agree - It’s so good!!!
My daily work, on the job and personal, is Adobe CC. I agree with you, this is good for most folk. Even professionals who are primarily 2-D design based, the base model M2 is a great buy. Even though I could afford the Mini Pro or lowest Studio, I don't regret the decision. And Sidecar with my M2 iPad Pro 12" works perfectly. The SSD speed isn't noticeable enough for me to care; plus the hub I use allowed for internal SSD.
Thank you for the fair review. Been using the base model for few days, with few video editing and photo editing and see no issues so far. working great for me. :)
Thank you for watching and for hr kind words. I appreciate you being part of the channel.
Should you buy the base mac m2? Oh YES!
You know, nowadays you get overwhelmed by so much information that says "the speed is blahblah, the RAM blahblah on the base model", but the actual experience is what matters the most!
8GB makes it do a lot of swap memories but you are SMOOTHLY doing 20 tabs of chrome and editing 4k on davinci resolve? Man, go for it! Make the most out of your base M2!
Amazing video! Instant subscribe.
I was happy to see this video for every day use. Other videos go into details that do not matter to the average person. I would have liked this video to go into more detail about how the base model M2 Mac Mini works with daily productivity software like word processing, spreadsheets, simple photo editing, web browsing, playing music and videos, etc. Does someone need more than the base model for average user tasks?
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for the feedback.
Thanks for laying it out so clear
Switching from a maxed out 2010 Mac Pro to this with the 16gb ram. Will be using it for professional graphic design. I have high hopes for it.
Amazing. Let me know how it works out!
thanks for that info...iam considering that mini....i have an old inac 27 (its beautiful...5k display ) but an OS system...just love
the Studio monitor...it may be overkill....but I can upgrade to a bigger mini ...later 😅😅😅
Great video! Have you added a new video for additional accessories...specifically monitors that are not Apple?
Thank you! I am working on one. But in the meantime - check out this video -
th-cam.com/video/eovQnPuBCuQ/w-d-xo.html - specifically the three monitors I discuss. Hope that helps.
I love my M1.I had problems with Chrome. so I had to factory reset it. and now with a different browser is super fast.
I purchased the base model. I may sell it in around 4 years and replace it with the base model then. I'd guess to get something between $30'-$50 more for the m2 mini resell with the 16GB version. Not worth it since I don't see the need. I'm using two 4k monitors and this little machine is flying though regular usage with surfing, video streaming, office and photo editing.
Hi which monitor did you get for the M2 mini?
Great vid! I have an old (2015) iMac with retina display and recently it has been giving me problems with wifi... It just stops working.. so I am thinking of getting a Mac Mini 2 with 8gb or 16h version and a 4k monitor..
Great video, still trying to decide if its worth me upgrading from my current Mac Mini with the M1 chip to the new one with the M2 chip. Thx
From everything I've watched so far, if you aren't doing video renders or something cpu-intensive, the upgrade wouldn't be worth the money
I’ve had an external monitor and external keyboard on all my laptops - my laptop never leaves the house - so why do I keep buying laptops? Unconscious bias. Don’t need to. Glad I took the time to watch this. And I’m confident my little recording studio will still function with the Mac mini. Great video.
Glad the video was helpful - I'm super happy with how the Mac Mini runs my studio. If you end up getting one - swing by and let me know how it works for you.
Just cheaply upgraded my Mac Mini late 2014 with an NVMe SSD. It will now suffice for another two years as a basic family computer running Microsoft office, email, turbo tax, internet and other basic tasks. I almost bought a M2 Pro Mac mini 16Gb/1TB - not for the power now, I don't need that much today, but so it would last 8-10 years like my 2014 Mac Mini.
I’m considering purchasing the M2 Mac Mini. I’m going to be using it to copy DVD’s & Blu-ray’s from a Blu-ray Burner. I’m going to be copying these because I’m going to be taking Classic TV Series from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s that are on DVD and take every episode and Upscaling them to 4K using a Program called Topaz AI (Artificial Intelligence). And taking Classic Rock Videos and Upscaling them as well from 480p to 4K and possibly 8K.
I've been using Mac Mini 2014 for 8 years now. I absolutely love it, but it's gotten very slow and it's not getting the updates anymore. I'm thinking about getting a Mac Mini M2.
There are 2 things that concern me:
1. My current Mini is 1TB, but most of that 1TB is just files that I don't need to run from the machine itself. Should I just get a 512GB one and an external SSD?
2. The only ''heavy'' app that I use is Logic Pro. I also don't use too many plug-ins at once and even my old Mini, although slowly, does handle them well. Would 8GB Ram be enough for me?
I think that the average user would be better off with a MacBook Air, because laptops are more versatile. That said - Windows users (or even existing Mac/macOS users) who are accustomed to using a desktop computer will find that the Mac mini is a viable option, as it can sit within their existing setup of peripherals. It's also the smallest financial commitment with which one could enter the Mac/macOS world, which is great for a variety of reasons.
I have and I'm an average user, I LOVE IT!
Yes! I do "everyday computing" and some podcasting, video editing, and will be upgrading
my 2014 Mac mini w/ i7 chip to a Mac mini Pro.
I totally agree with you and I follow the same motto "buy it nice or buy it twice". Great review and information especially the hub which I will definitely get. Thank you.
For me I think it's nice to have M2 now and M5 later on .
Great advice 👍🏼 Would I need a special adapter to plug in my old Cinema Display, which uses a MiniDisplay port?
I am a cronhub viewer., Is Mac mini the right one for me? Or should I stick to chromecast
waiting for your mac mini accessories video (i.e. display, mouse & keyboard etc)
I want it for video editing, unreal engine 5 for game development and blender, as a student I don't have a whole lot of budget, can I buy the base model?
Love my M2 Mac mini Pro
Right now I use a Logitech keyboard that also works with my phone and iPad by pushing buttons. I think I'd use another one for the mini.
I saved some money and bought a M1 16 gig from Apple refurb and I love it. Finally switched from windows.
Glad you got a good deal!
Great video!
Thanks. Loved the video.
Not if you already have a computer that works for what you do with a computer.
Whats your input for M2 Mac mini with 16 gb ram and 256 SSD?
Hi, I wish to buy a M2 mini as a desktop computer. I never edit video and I never use application like Finalcut. The M2 pro it's definitely too powerfull for me. But I'm looking for a mac mini that will last 5 years. What do you think of the M2 mini / 512 Gb / 16 RAM ??
512 for sure because of the SSD speed issue, but 16 GB of memory is just not enough to run video editing (Premiere Pro) without worrying about crashing
I just purchased one of the $599 ones for learning purposes. I work in IT and our company is starting to integrate more mac computers so I wanted to learn the OS and Terminal. Picking it up today along with a magic keyboard and mouse...hoping this was not a waste of money
Let me know your thoughts!
@@louisbertini I've been playing with it for a couple days. First impressions are that at this price point, you are getting a great computer. It's a small form factor setup with a pretty powerful processor, built in wifi. I would not hesitate to use this for everyday use. This can easily handle daily tasks (Office, email, web browsing, and more). If I were using it fro everyday and storing documents, I would purchase a 1TB external drive and if I were doing anything more multimedia intensive, I would step up to more RAM and possibly to the M2 Pro processor. I do wish they gave you a couple more USB ports. The worst thing I have to say about this computer is it does not come with a keyboard and mouse, there are cost effective alternatives out there but if you go for the apple keyboard and mouse, you can expect to add another $200-$300 to the price tag, which I think is a bit much. With the purchase of the keyboard, mouse, and a monitor, you are adding at least $300-$350 to the price tag which puts you at almost $1000. I found mouse and keyboard combos cheaper and would recommend going that route instead of the mac keyboard and mouse setup
@@mvol5973 Thanks for the detailed comments. Both you and I are facing the same challenges. I wish we had two more USB ports and an sd card slot. However, I am new to Mac OS, so I wanted something basic. I was looking at the pro model for 1299 but thought maybe I wouldn’t like it. That's a lot of money to throw away. I did take your advice and got a one tb samsung ssd for external media. Some other folks on youtube talked about getting a dock that gives you more USBs & thunderbolt ports plus an m2 SSD slot, which I thought was interesting.
Fish!
Thank you for explaining so well for the lay person (me :) Would the Mac Mini 2 be a good choice if I want to download and burn a lot of movies? TIA
Just ordered a base mac mini with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD... is it enough for music production? I'm new to it.
Great video. New subscriber. Thanks!
Thank you for being part of the channel!
I bought a base mac m2 today, and Im thankful that I bought it because I only use it for web browsing, watch porn, and youtube. it's really fast. I came from windows, a little adjustment and I learn that there are specific displays that fits well with mac os when it comes to scaling so better check that one as well.
cool
Teacher on a tight budget here. Is the base model good enough for smooth teaching experience on Zoom, e.g. sharing screen, a couple of tabs, HD webcam?
Yes. If you can swing it - get 16 gigs of unified memory. It’ll work better for longer.
No. No one should buy a desktop computer in 2023 with 256gigs of storage and 8 gigs of rams. This is Apple ripping people off. The base should be 512gigs of storage and 16gigs of ram.
btw mac mini may not the the right choice., however I like the choice of your keyboard mouse on the desk.,
And I’m asking You what I’m going to need to make this possible. I know for sure I’m going to need to purchase either 1 or 2 External Hard Drives that are like 5 Terabytes.
As a music server, for a high end system, which would u recommend? Thank you.
Just wish it was space grey, don't understand why all the other products have silver and space grey but not the Mac mini
Awesome video! ❤
Subscribed! 😀
My mac mini 2012, i7, 16gb, ssd running 13.4 on a 27" curved monitor is my everyday unit. Who needs M2.
I love m2. It’s paired with studio display and satechi hub + 1tb (ssd). I just wish they made a hub with thunderbolt connections.
Hi, I’m wondering about using this with a smart tv as the monitor , are there any issues with doing this. And also , can you connect it to a P.A. mixer for listening to music.
I think this base max mini is a good place for someone like me to start when switching to macOS. The least amount of money of all the products spent so I can learn the OS before spending a dumb amount.
GET the extra RAM !!!!
This was an excellent video review of the M2 Mac mini. I’m looking forward to getting mine soon, my first trip into the Apple universe aside that is from my iPad which I use for work. Can’t wait to get working on the new computer, thanks for taking the time and giving us your informed thoughts. Liked and subscribed.
I like to use 3ds max, will it able to handle the rendering???
With M2 mac mini 256GB
I bought a M1 w/ 8gb ram. Ive been happy with it. now with the M2 at 499 at Costco, it's even a better deal. I thought about upgrading to 16gb/512 ssd, but its $800 more. WTF? a whole machine with the same components of 8gb / 256 ssd is only 500, how does APPLE justify the cost of only those 2 pieces.
Exactly. It’s now net $400 with gift card promo. Then extra $180 for 16gb ram. That’s 50 percent of the computer’s price. Just go with 8gb at that price
What is the name of the monitor that you use?
I have MacBook Air M1 second tiered one with 8 ram 8gpu 512 connected to my Dell 34” monitor. I was thinking of getting the Mac mini M2 base model to have a dedicated desktop and free up my MacBook Air. You think it’s a good idea or waste of cash?
Your product links go to a page that won’t open . Why not link to Amazon like others ? I can’t see any information you are trying to to link . Interested in monitor s not as expensive as Apple Display Port .
Y'all I came here cause I want to ask some questions. My brother gave us a mac mini version 10.15.7. It still has lots of storage to use, but when opening apps or browsing the Internet, it's sometimes slow. Idk if something in the mac mini itself needs a part to be changed or the entire mac mini itself needs to be replaced?
You forgot to mention the state of the art hdmi and usb A port!
What would be recommended for running virtual machines labs and for working remotely? 24GB-1GB external storage?
That would be a good setup - I definitely wouldn't go with 8GB. 16 could work, 24 is better.
Just switched from HP Spectre 360 2015 to M2 Mac Mini base model at education price together Dell U2723QE & 2 Beoplay A1 speakers for everyday use. Great value & experience!
CONGRATS!!! Glad you’re enjoying it. Thank you for being part of the channel!
Exactly the right perspective. I don't give a rat's ass how quickly it edits 4k video in Final Cut 2, I want to know how it performs on everyday tasks most everyone uses a computer for.
Glad it was helpful. Thank you for being part of the channel!
Anything in Windows system u can recommend which is similar to M2 mac mini ? In terms of spec and price
Just got the base one for $499.99.
Liar
@@johncena6701 discounts are a thing you know? Especially the student discounts
Mac mini m2 (3d modelling softwares) best or not
How do you set it up ?
I had to use a wired keyboard and mouse.
M2 Mac mini 8/256 vs 8/512 which one is better? Or m1 8/256 or 8/512?
It would honestly make more usability if they just added a massive battery we have to use power 😢
What USB hub do u recommend for apple?
Can anyone tell me if a Mac is a good option for someone who’s training for an IT and cybersecurity job?
I have currently have a 21.5-inch, Late 2013 iMac. Its running very slow. Can I connect the iMac to the mini and use it as a monitor or connect them somehow?
Will it work with All In One 2013 iMac Computer?
Another great video bro 👍 M1 Ultra Mac Studio has been rock solid over here. Thinking of adding one of these M2 minis to my setup at some point. Good times for tech heads. So much power in a small and quiet package!
can you use the mac mini on a regular monitor?
Sure