Apple launches new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in MacBook Pro and Mac Mini

Apple has announced new additions to its M-series chips, adding the M2 Pro and M2 Max versions, and offering them in updated versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Mini desktop.

The new MacBooks and Mac Minis share the same design as their predecessors, and these new chips replace the M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max chips from previous versions.

In a press release, Apple states, “M2 Pro evolves the architecture of M2 to deliver up to 12-core processor and up to 19 GPU cores, along with up to 32GB of fast unified memory. M2 Max builds on the capabilities of M2 Pro, including up to 38-core GPU, double the bandwidth of Unified Memory, and up to 96 GB of Unified Memory.”

MacBook Pro adds M2 Pro/Max

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops were released in October 2021 and began a shift to a more structured, boxy design with a flat lid and pointed corners, rather than the slightly angled lids of previous MacBooks. These models also lacked the Touch Bar interface of previous MacBook Pro laptops, and that feature only remains on the 2022 M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, which also retains the older look and feel (for now ).

The biggest change, aside from chip generation, is Apple’s claim of up to 22 hours of battery life, which the company says is “the longest battery life ever seen on a Mac”. The MacBook Pro also adds Wi-Fi 6E, up from Wi-Fi 6, and an HDMI connection that now supports 8K displays at up to 60Hz and 4K displays at up to 240Hz.

Apple claims the M2 Pro chip’s performance is up to 40% faster than the previous M1 Pro in Photoshop image processing, and the M2 Max can perform effects rendering in Cinema 4D and color grading. colors in DaVinci Resolve up to 30% faster than M1 max.

New 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $1,999, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $2,499.

Mac Mini gets its first update since 2020

The Mac Mini was last updated in 2020, when it added the M1 chip, moving away from Intel. The new version offers both M2 and M2 Pro chips.

Apple claims that the M2 version offers Photoshop performance that can be up to 50% faster than the M1 version and 2.4 times faster when transcoding in Final Cut Pro; while the M2 Pro version can be up to 4.2 times faster than the M1 Mac Mini in Final Cut Pro. There was no M1 Pro version of the Mac Mini for direct comparison.

It should be noted that Apple also killed the Mac Mini Intel, a version of which was still available (alongside the M1 version) until this announcement. That leaves the Mac Studio desktop as the latest Intel-based Mac you can buy directly from Apple. Some retailers still have stock of Intel Mac Minis, including Best Buy, if you absolutely need them.

The new model starts $599 for the M2 version and $1,299 for the M2 Pro version.

Apple says the new Mac Mini and MacBook Pro are available to order starting January 17 and will start arriving in customers and stores on January 24.

And no, despite some recent rumours, no touch screen yet.

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