Between the Mac mini M2 and Mac mini M4, the Mac mini M2 comes out ahead in tdp, while the Mac mini M4 wins on ram and volume. Overall, the Mac mini M2 scores 53.8 and the Mac mini M4 scores 64.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Mac mini M4 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.3 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Mac mini M2 if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.
Pick the Mac mini M4 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are ram, volume.
Both ship with comparable storage, thunderbolt, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Mac mini M4 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - Mac mini M2 wins
- ▲TDP — 45.00 W less. 20 vs 65.
Why Apple - Mac mini M4 wins
- ▲RAM — 100.00% more. 16 GB vs 8 GB.
- ▲Volume — 1.06 L less. 0.34 vs 1.4.
Spec comparison
Core
Form & I/O
| Spec | Apple - Mac mini M2 | Apple - Mac mini M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 1.4 L | 0.34 Llead |
| Weight | 1.18 kg | 0.67 kglead |
| TDPⓘ | 20 Wlead | 65 W |
| USB ports | 4 | 5lead |
| Thunderboltⓘ | true | true |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.