Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | HP - Z2 Mini G1a | Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB |
| RAM | 64 GB | 36 GB |
| TDP | 120 W | 180 W |
| Volume | 2.7 L | 3.7 L |
Between the Z2 Mini G1a and Mac Studio M4 Max, the Z2 Mini G1a comes out ahead in storage / ram, while the Mac Studio M4 Max wins on several specs. Overall, the Z2 Mini G1a scores 60.1 and the Mac Studio M4 Max scores 47.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Z2 Mini G1a is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 12.8 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 Z2 Mini G1a if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are storage, ram, tdp, among others. The single most decisive one: Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
The Mac Studio M4 Max similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable thunderbolt, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Z2 Mini G1a is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: HP - Z2 Mini G1a or Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max?
HP - Z2 Mini G1a leads the current Mars Score by 12.8 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare ram, storage, volume, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose HP - Z2 Mini G1a if…
HP - Z2 Mini G1a has the measurable edge on storage gb, ram gb, tdp w.
Choose Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max if…
Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why HP - Z2 Mini G1a wins
- ▲Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
- ▲RAM — 77.78% more. 64 GB vs 36 GB.
- ▲TDP — 60.00 W less. 120 vs 180.
- ▲Volume — 1.00 L less. 2.7 vs 3.7.
Why Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Core
Form & I/O
| Spec | HP - Z2 Mini G1a | Apple - Mac Studio M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 2.7 Llead | 3.7 L |
| Weight | 1.99 kglead | 2.74 kg |
| TDPⓘ | 120 Wlead | 180 W |
| USB ports | 6 | 6 |
| Thunderboltⓘ | true | true |