Apple reveals new M2 Pro and Max chips along with new MacBook Pro and Mac Mini models

Apple has kicked off it’s 2023 product cycle with a host of announcements this morning all based around their new pro-level silicon with new MacBook Pro and Mac Mini’s available featuring the new chips.

Apple Silicon M2 Pro and M2 Max are what the industry call SoC’s – Systems on a chip – because they aren’t just the processor. Apple’s Silicon is an all in one chip that features the processor, graphics and memory for the computer and putting it all together makes them faster and vastly more efficient.

The new M2 Pro features an up to 12 Core CPU and up to 19 core GPU along with as much as 32GB of memory. Up your game to the M2 Max and you’ll have access to up to 38 Cores of GPU and 96GB of unified memory.

Apple’s Johny Srouji says “Only Apple is building SoCs like M2 Pro and M2 Max. They deliver incredible pro performance along with industry-leading power efficiency,”

“With an even more powerful CPU and GPU, support for a larger unified memory system, and an advanced media engine, M2 Pro and M2 Max represent astonishing advancements in Apple silicon”

These are Apple’s “Pro” chips, for the most impressive performance, people who are doing coding, graphics, or even neural engine training work need the speed offered by this level chipset, and Apple’s announcement pegs the chips against Intel’s best on a Windows platform and claims a victory at every step.

You can’t just pop out and by an M2 Pro or M2 Max chip, they are built into Mac machines, and as such Apple also announced new hardware featuring these new chips.

A new 14 and 16 inch MacBook pro is now available to order, with shipping commencing Jan 24 and February 3.

For the 14 inch model with M2 Pro you’re looking at $3,199, while the 16 inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $3,999.

Spec that 16 inch up with an M2 Max, 96GB of Memory and 8TB of storage and you’re looking at a cool $10,099

Greg Joswiak from Apple says “MacBook Pro with Apple silicon has been a game changer, empowering pros to push the limits of their workflows while on the go and do things they never thought possible on a laptop,”

“Today the MacBook Pro gets even better. With faster performance, enhanced connectivity, and the longest battery life ever in a Mac, along with the best display in a laptop, there’s simply nothing else like it.”

Battery life is key here, with the new M2 Pro and Max silicon offering the best battery life yet on a MacBook Pro.

At the same time, for desktop users, Apple’s Mac mini (in my view one of the most underrated Apple Products) gets the same upgrades. You can get a Mac Mini with M2 for just $999, or spec it up to a M2 Pro for $1,999 – the M2 Max is not available on Mac Mini.

Joswiak says “With incredible capabilities and a wide array of connectivity in its compact design, Mac mini is used in so many places, in so many different ways. Today, we’re excited to take it even further with M2 and M2 Pro,”

“Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value. And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.”

Even when compared to just the previous Mac Mini with M2 processor, a Mac Mini with M2 offers 2.4x faster ProRes transcoding in Final Cut, 50% faster filter and function performance in Photoshop and 35% faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.

Throw the M2 Pro in and you’re getting 2.5x faster graphics performance in Affinity Photo, 4.2x faster Pro Res transcoding in Final Cut and 2.8x faster gameplay in Resident Evil Village.

Mac Mini with M2 pro can for the first time also support a single 8K display, or three thunderbolt displays.

Mac Mini is available from Jan 24, and can be ordered today.