Apple Mac mini M2 Pro 2023, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Silver

The Mac mini MNH73LL/A nails reliability at the 99th percentile, making it one of the most dependable desktops we've seen. But the 512GB SSD is only 30th percentile, and gaming performance is a rough 17.9/100. At USD 575 it's a steal; at USD 1,299 it's a pass.

The M2 Pro's 16-core GPU lands at the 72nd percentile, which is well above average for this category. That's enough to chew through 4K video edits and photo batches without breaking a sweat. The 10-core CPU is more middle of the pack at the 56th percentile, but Apple's silicon tends to punch above its core count in real-world tasks like compiling code or rendering in Final Cut.

Where this machine stumbles is RAM and storage. 16GB of unified memory puts it at the 47th percentile, which is about average, but it's the minimum you'd want for pro work. The 512GB SSD is the real weak spot at the 30th percentile. That's underwhelming for a machine marketed at creators. You'll likely need an external drive, which eats into the clean desk aesthetic.

Against the Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS, the Mac mini wins on reliability and portability but loses badly on gaming. The Legion is built for gaming, while the Mac mini scores a dismal 17.9/100 in that category. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 and HP OmniDesk M02-0234 are traditional towers that offer more storage and RAM for the money, but they can't touch the Mac mini's 99th percentile reliability or its compact form factor. The MSI Aegis Z2 and iBUYPOWER Slate MESH are gaming-focused machines that will crush the Mac mini in GPU-heavy titles, but they're huge, loud, and less reliable. If you want a quiet, dependable workhorse for creative tasks, the Mac mini is the pick. If you want to game, look elsewhere.

Pricing is all over the place. US listings range from USD 575 to USD 1,299, a spread of USD 724 for what appears to be the same refurbished unit. The USD 575 listing is a genuinely good deal for an M2 Pro machine, but at USD 1,299 you're paying new-Mac prices for a refurb. Shop carefully and don't assume the higher price means a better unit. The value here depends entirely on which listing you land on.

The reliability score is the headline here, sitting at the 99th percentile. That's the absolute best right now, and for a machine you'll likely leave running for years, that's a big deal. The M2 Pro chip with its 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU is no slouch either, but the 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM are the specs that keep this from being a no-brainer for everyone.

At 1.28kg, this little box is genuinely tiny. You get four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6E, which is a solid port selection for a mini PC. But the storage sits at the 30th percentile, which is mediocre for a desktop in 2023. If you're working with 8K ProRes video as Apple suggests, you'll fill that drive fast.

Gamers should absolutely skip this. A 17.9/100 gaming score is one of the worst we've seen in this category. Anyone who needs lots of internal storage should also look elsewhere, since the 512GB SSD at the 30th percentile will fill up fast with games, video projects, or large photo libraries. And if you're on a tight budget, the USD 1,299 listing makes no sense when the same unit is available for USD 575.

The Mac mini MNH73LL/A is a fantastic little machine for the right person. If you're a creative professional who values reliability above all else and doesn't need massive internal storage, this is a strong buy, especially at the USD 575 end of the price range. But the 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM are real limitations. For anyone doing heavy video work or running lots of VMs, you'll outgrow this machine quickly. And if gaming matters at all, the 17.9/100 score should send you running.