The Mac Mini M2 Pro is a compact, cheap desktop computer that can edit professional videos. The M2 Pro processor powers Apple’s smallest Mac. The M2 Pro chip is a computer revolution, combining performance, efficiency, and compatibility. How does the Mac Mini M2 Pro edit videos? Should you upgrade from a Mac Mini M1 or PC? We’ll evaluate the Mac Mini M2 Pro with the help of pros and cons for video editing in this review.
Contents
Design & Ports
The silver aluminum Mac Mini M2 Pro weighs 2.6 pounds and dimensions 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches. It’s one of the tiniest and lightest desktop PCs, perfect for tiny places or travel.
The Mac Mini M2 Pro has fewer ports than Intel variants. On the back:
2x USB-A (5Gbps)
2x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 (up to 40 Gbps)
Gigabit Ethernet port (10Gb capable)
HDMI 2.1
3.5mm headset jack
Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 connectors enable two 6K monitors, external storage, docks, and adapters. If you require extra ports or more than two screens, you’ll need a Thunderbolt dock or USB-C dongle converter.
Software and Performance
The 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine of the Apple M2 Pro processor power the Mac Mini M2 Pro. The CPU’s six performance and six efficiency cores work together to give quick, smooth performance while using less power. For video editing and other graphics-intensive applications, the GPU is up to nineteen times quicker than earlier Intel versions. The Neural Engine can recognise faces, track objects, and reduce noise 15 times quicker than prior Intel versions.
The Mac Mini M2 Pro has 8GB or 16GB of shared CPU/GPU memory. This improves data throughput and latency but prevents memory upgrades. The Mac Mini M2 Pro has 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage, configurable up to 4TB. Fast and dependable SSD storage is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.
macOS Monterey, tailored for the M2 Pro processor, powers the Mac Mini M2 Pro. The M2 Pro processor runs native and non-native programs perfectly. Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Wondershare Filmora3 are M2 Pro chip-native programs. The Mac Mini M2 Pro runs these programs quicker and smoother than other Macs and PCs.
Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder are non-native Intel programs. Rosetta 2, which instantly converts Intel code to M2 Pro code, runs these programs on the Mac Mini M2 Pro. Rosetta 2 performs nicely and is compatible. On the Mac Mini M2 Pro1, non-native programs may have minor issues or missing functionalities. The Mac Mini M2 Pro does not support several Adobe Photoshop plugins or extensions.
Mac Mini M2 Pro Video Editing Review
Video editing with native software like Final Cut Pro X or Adobe Premiere Pro works great on the Mac Mini M2 Pro. The Mac Mini M2 Pro can edit 8K video with smooth timeline playing, rapid rendering, and no overheating or fan noise4. Multi-stream video, complicated effects, color grading, audio editing, and exporting are no problem with the Mac Mini M2 Pro.
The Mini M2 Pro provides unique video editing tools. On compatible monitors, the Mac Mini M2 Pro supports HDR video playback, which enhances image detail and color. Dolby Atmos audio playing on compatible speakers or headphones makes the Mac Mini M2 Pro sound more lifelike.
Cameras, microphones, displays, keyboards, and mice also operate nicely with the Mac Mini M2 Pro. The Mac Mini M2 Pro includes fast, dependable Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The Mac Mini M2 Pro features a built-in speaker for casual listening but not video editing. External speakers or headphones improve sound quality and accuracy.
Price and Value
The Mac Mini M2 Pro costs $899, $300 more than the M1. It’s one of the most cheap Macs with amazing performance and features. For typical video editing jobs, the basic model has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. If you work with huge or complicated files, you may wish to upgrade to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $1,299.
The Mac Mini M2 Pro is cheaper than most video editing PCs. The Dell XPS Desktop (8940) with an Intel Core i7-10700 CPU, 16GB of memory, 512GB SSD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card costs $1,199. The $949 HP Envy Desktop (TE01-1022) has an Intel Core i7-10700 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD storage, 1TB HDD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. Both PCs feature more ports and upgrade possibilities than the Mac Mini M2 Pro, but they are slower, bigger, and noisier.
Read This: Mac mini M1 Vs M2 Video Editing Review
Conclusive
Video editing on the Mac Mini M2 Pro is powerful and small. It’s compact and powerful. It edits 8K video with smooth timeline playing, rapid rendering, and no overheating or fan noise. It also plays HDR video, Dolby Atmos audio, and native and non-native applications seamlessly.
The Mac Mini M2 Pro has restricted ports, no memory or storage upgrades, and minor compatibility difficulties with non-native software. The M2 Pro chip’s advantages outweigh these small drawbacks. The Mac Mini M2 Pro is a superb desktop machine for video editing that’s affordable and compact.