Chapter 1: Overview of the Two Macs

If you’re uncertain about whether to purchase the new Mac mini or the previous Mac Studio, the following comparisons might assist you.

Can the M2 Pro Mac mini compete with the M1 Max Mac Studio?

As the recent owner of an M2 Pro Mac mini, I was eager to test its video exporting speed in Final Cut Pro, especially against my M1 Max Mac Studio. To set the stage, here are the specifications and prices of both machines:

M2 Pro Mac mini

• 10-core CPU
• 16-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 32GB Unified Memory
• 1TB SSD
• 10Gb/e
• Price: $2,098 USD

M1 Max Mac Studio

• 10-core CPU
• 24-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 2TB SSD
• Price: $2,999 USD

The motivation behind this comparison stems from the many individuals pondering whether to invest in the M2 Pro Mac mini or opt for the more expensive Mac Studio. With the base model of the M2 Pro Mac mini priced at $1,299 USD and the M1 Max Mac Studio starting at $1,999 USD, the question is pertinent. Notably, the Mac mini features HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 6E, while the M1 Max Mac Studio is equipped with HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6. However, it includes two front USB-C ports and an SD card reader.

This decision is challenging, especially since minor upgrades to the Mac mini could bring its price closer to that of the base M1 Max Mac Studio.

To aid your decision, let's examine the export times I recorded while exporting three YouTube videos in two different formats.

All videos were shot and exported in 4K, with all media stored internally on the SSD. No render files were utilized in Final Cut Pro, and the videos featured some demanding effects from AddMotion, MotionVFX, and FilmConvert Nitrate.

The first video is a 1-minute YouTube Short filmed on an iPhone 13 Pro Max and exported in H.264 and ProRes 422.

H.264

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 45.5 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 1 minute 7 seconds

ProRes 422

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 20.28 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 20.40 seconds

Next, we have an 11-minute YouTube vlog shot in 4K H.264 on my Canon EOS R.

H.264

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 9 minutes 47 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 12 minutes 40 seconds

ProRes 422

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 4 minutes 18 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 5 minutes 28 seconds

Lastly, a 16-minute YouTube tutorial comprised of mixed footage, primarily 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 XF-AVC from my Canon C300 MkII.

H.264

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 33 minutes 29 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 34 minutes 12 seconds

ProRes 422

• M1 Max Mac Studio: 18 minutes 42 seconds
• M2 Pro Mac mini: 18 minutes 25 seconds

Although I anticipated the M2 Pro to outperform the M1 Max in more instances, these results align with my expectations. We should also consider factors like the difference in unified memory and internal SSD size.

What impact does the 2TB SSD in the Mac Studio have on export times compared to the 1TB SSD in the Mac mini? While Apple hasn’t provided explicit speed metrics, estimates suggest the 1TB SSD reaches 5.8GB/s, and the 2TB SSD achieves 6.5GB/s. What difference does that extra 0.7GB/s make?

If you're considering a new Mac and need to decide today, should you choose the M2 Pro Mac mini with some enhancements, or the M1 Max Mac Studio? Despite the mini's advantages like HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 6E, I'm leaning towards the Mac Studio. However, if I can hold off, I’m keen to see if Apple will introduce an M2 Max or Ultra Mac Studio soon. I would likely start with the base M1 Max configuration and upgrade the unified memory and SSD.

In my opinion, the extra features and ports in the Mac Studio justify its $3,000 price tag over the $2,100 configuration of the Mac mini. What are your thoughts on these export times?

Check out the video counterpart to this article on my YouTube channel:

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Chapter 2: Additional Insights on Performance

For further understanding, let’s look at how the M1 Pro compares to the M2 Pro in Final Cut Pro.