Apple Announce New Mac Mini and MacBook Pro With M2 Pro And M2 Max
Today Apple has announced new M2 powered Mac mini and MacBook Pro computers, powered by new M2, M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. We have the details.
In Brief
Apple has released two new M2 chips, the M2 Pro and M2 Max. They have announced a new Mac mini using the M2 or M2 Pro chips. In addition, they have announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptop models powered by the new M2 Pro or M2 Max chips.
Apple Release M2 Pro And M2 Max Chips
Let’s start with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips. Today Apple has announced two next-generation SoCs (systems on a chip), the M2 Pro and M2 Max, designed to take the power-efficient performance of Apple silicon to a new level.
The M2 Pro chip scales up the architecture of M2, providing options that max out with a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU, together with up to 32GB of fast unified memory. Built using a second-generation 5-nanometer process technology, the M2 Pro System on a Chip consists of 40 billion transistors — nearly 20% more than in the M1 Pro and twice the number used in the M2 chip.
More And Faster Memory
The M2 Pro features 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, twice that of M2, and up to 32GB of low-latency unified memory. The next-generation 10- or 12-core CPU consists of up to eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, resulting in multithreaded CPU performance that Apple claims is up to 20% faster than the 10-core CPU in M1 Pro. Apple claims that apps like Adobe Photoshop run 40% faster than an M1 pro and 80% faster than the fastest Intel-powered MacBook Pro faster, and is able to compile in Xcode up to 2.5x faster than on the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro.
Larger GPU
The GPU in M2 Pro can be configured with up to 19 cores, three more than the GPU in M1 Pro, and includes a larger L2 cache. Apple claims that the speeds of the graphics in the M2 Pro are up to 30% faster than that of the M1 Pro, resulting in increases in image processing performance and enabling console-quality gaming.
The M2 Max then builds on the capabilities of the M2 Pro, including an up to 38-core GPU, double the unified memory bandwidth, and up to 96GB of unified memory. With 67 billion transistors, 10 billion more than the M1 Max and more than three times that of the M2, the M2 Max has been designed to push the performance and capabilities of Apple silicon even further.
Double The Memory Bandwidth Of The M2 Pro
The M2 Max has 400GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, which is twice that of the M2 Pro, 4x that of the M2, and supports up to 96GB of fast unified memory. All are intended to ensure that huge files open instantaneously and that working across multiple pro apps is incredibly quick and fluid.
Even Larger GPU
The M2 Max SoC features the same next-generation 12-core CPU as M2 Pro. However, the GPU is even more powerful, with up to 38 cores, and is paired with a larger L2 cache meaning that Apple can claim that graphics speeds climb up to 30% faster than M1 Max. Along with up to 96GB of unified memory, Apple claims that the M2 Max can tackle graphics-intensive projects that competing systems can’t even run.
“From powering visual effects, to training machine learning models, to stitching together gigapixel images, MacBook Pro with M2 Max brings incredible performance whether plugged in or running on battery power. M2 Max is the world’s most powerful and efficient chip for a pro laptop.”
Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies, told us…
“Only Apple is building SoCs like M2 Pro and M2 Max. They deliver incredible pro performance along with industry-leading power efficiency. With an even more powerful CPU and GPU, support for a larger unified memory system, and an advanced media engine, M2 Pro and M2 Max represent astonishing advancements in Apple silicon.”
Both the M2 Pro and M2 Max now come with updated custom technologies:
Both the M2 Pro and M2 Max include Apple’s next-generation, 16-core Neural Engine, capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second and up to 40% faster than the previous generation.
The M2 Pro has a more powerful and efficient media engine, including hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, and ProRes video encode and decode, allowing playback of multiple streams of 4K and 8K ProRes.
The M2 Max features two video encode engines and two ProRes engines, bringing up to 2x faster video encoding than M2 Pro.
Apple’s latest image signal processor has been designed to deliver better noise reduction and, along with the Neural Engine, uses computational video to enhance camera image quality.
A next-generation Secure Enclave is a critical part of Apple’s best-in-class security.
Let’s look at how Apple has deployed these new chips…
Apple Release New Mac Mini Models With The M2 and M2 Pro Chips
Today Apple unveiled the new Mac mini, powered by the M2 and the new M2 Pro chips. With the M2 chip, Apple claims that the Mac mini is even more powerful, capable, and affordable.
The new M2 Pro chip has been designed to deliver pro-level performance to Mac mini to enable users to run high-performance workflows that Apple claims were previously not achievable in such a compact design.
The Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro offers faster performance, even more unified memory, and advanced connectivity, including support for up to two displays on the M2 model and up to three displays on the M2 Pro model. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, told us…
“With incredible capabilities and a wide array of connectivity in its compact design, Mac mini is used in so many places, in so many different ways. Today, we’re excited to take it even further with M2 and M2 Pro. Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value. And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.”
The M2 Pro Mac mini comes with two more Thunderbolt ports, bringing the TB count up to four. Whereas the M2 model's port selection is identical to the M1 version, including Gigabit Ethernet with 10Gig upgrades available, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. Another change is with the wireless connectivity, with upgrades to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 included.
Customers can order the new Mac mini models today, with availability beginning Tuesday, January 24th 2023.
When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, the Mac mini with M2 offers the following:
Up to 22x faster machine learning (ML) image upscaling performance in Pixelmator Pro.
9.8x faster complex timeline rendering in Final Cut Pro.
When compared to the previous-generation Mac mini with M1, the Mac mini with M2 delivers the following:
Up to 2.4x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
Up to 50% faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
Up to 35% faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
When compared to the 27-inch iMac with Intel Core i7 and Radeon Pro 5500 XT, the Mac mini with M2 Pro offers the following:
Up to 50% faster filter and function performance in Adobe Photoshop.
Up to 5.5x faster panoramic merge in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Up to 4.4x faster object tracking in Final Cut Pro.
When compared to the previous-generation M1 Mac mini, the Mac mini with M2 Pro delivers the following:
Up to 2.5x faster graphics performance in Affinity Photo.
Up to 4.2x faster ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro.
Up to 2.8x faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.
Apple Release New14-inch And 16-inch MacBook Pro Models With The M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips
Apple has also announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max SoCs. With these new chips, the MacBook Pro has been designed to tackle demanding tasks, like effects rendering, which Apple claims are up to six times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro, and colour grading, which is up to two times faster.
Building on the power efficiency of Apple silicon, the battery life on the MacBook Pro is now claimed to be up to 22 hours, which Apple say is the longest battery life ever in a Mac.
For enhanced connectivity, the new MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is up to twice as fast as the previous generation, as well as advanced HDMI, which supports 8K displays for the first time.
With up to 96GB of unified memory in the M2 Max model, creators can work on scenes so large that Apple claims PC laptops can’t even run. The new MacBook Pro comes with Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display, an extensive array of connectivity, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a six-speaker sound system, and studio-quality mics.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, told us…
“MacBook Pro with Apple silicon has been a game changer, empowering pros to push the limits of their workflows while on the go and do things they never thought possible on a laptop. Today the MacBook Pro gets even better. With faster performance, enhanced connectivity, and the longest battery life ever in a Mac, along with the best display in a laptop, there’s simply nothing else like it.”
With M2 Pro powered MacBook Pro, Apple claims…
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 in Xcode is up to 2.5 times 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.
With M2 Max powered MacBook Pro, Apple claims…
Effects rendering in Cinema 4D is up to 6 times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 30% faster than the previous generation.
Colour grading in DaVinci Resolve is up to two times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 30% faster than the previous generation.
Customers can order the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro today, with availability beginning Tuesday, January 24 2023.
Apple Release An Event Style Video
If you would like the Apple event experience, check out this video released by Apple…
M2 Mac Mini Pricing
M2 Mac Mini Option Pricing
Base model comes with 8GB of unified memory
Upgrade to 16GB unified memory + $200
Upgrade to 24GB unified memory + $400
Base model comes with a 256GB SSD
Upgrade to 512GB SSD + $200
Upgrade to 1TB SSD + $400
Upgrade to 2TB SSD + $800
Base model comes with Gigabit Ethernet
Upgrade to 10 Gigabit Ethernet + $100
14-inch M2 MacBook Pro Pricing
16-inch M2 MacBook Pro Pricing
M2 MacBook Pro Option Pricing
Base model comes with Apple M2 Pro with 12-core CPU and 19-core CPU
Upgrade to M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU + $200
Upgrade to M2 Max with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU + $400
Base model comes with 16GB of unified memory
Upgrade to 32GB unified memory + $400
Upgrade to 64GB unified memory + $800 (M2 Max only)
Upgrade to 96GB unified memory + $1,200 (M2 Max only)
Base model comes with a 512GB SSD
Upgrade to 1TB SSD + $200
Upgrade to 2TB SSD + $600
Upgrade to 4TB SSD + $1,200
Upgrade to 8TB SSD + $2,400