The M5 Pro Mac mini is $1,700 and the M5 Max Mac Studio is $2,500, and the core counts make that gap look smaller than it is. The CPU is not where your money goes. I go through the four spec lines that actually separate these two machines, GPU cores, memory capacity, memory bandwidth, and the media engines, so you can tell whether the $800 buys you anything. There’s also a case for skipping both and getting the M6 Mac mini instead.
MACS IN THIS VIDEO
M5 Max Mac Studio:
M5 Pro Mac mini:
M6 Mac mini:
M5 Ultra Mac Studio:
My favorite Thunderbolt SSD:
Satechi Thunderbolt dock:
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Free personalized Mac buying advice:
MY GEAR & OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
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00:00 The $800 question
00:19 Four spec lines that matter
00:43 CPU and GPU core counts
01:19 Memory capacity and bandwidth
02:04 Who actually feels the difference
02:30 Ports and external displays
03:27 Why 10 gigabit ethernet matters later
03:46 Get the M5 Pro Mac mini if
04:31 Get the M5 Max Mac Studio if
04:48 Video encode engines and export speed
05:41 What the Pro chip does just as well
06:02 Price history and whether it’s worth it
06:31 The M6 Mac mini case
07:06 Storage and memory upgrade math
07:47 Reviews coming to the channel
source
🖥 The Macs in This Video:
– M5 Max Mac Studio: https://geni.us/lTEhw
– M5 Pro Mac mini: https://geni.us/buqF8h
– M6 Mac mini: https://geni.us/BYRyoG
– M5 Ultra Mac Studio: https://geni.us/CLRoJR
🔌 Gear in this video:
– My favorite Thunderbolt SSD: https://geni.us/Wq6oax
– Satechi Thunderbolt Dock: https://geni.us/satechicubedock
Yeah, that $800 gap between the mini and the Studio looks smaller than it is once you stop looking at core counts, the real differences are GPU cores, memory capacity, memory bandwidth, and the media engines. And honestly, there's a real case for skipping both and just grabbing the M6 mini instead. Which spec actually decides it for you, GPU, memory, or bandwidth 👇
Oh my god that little finder dude is so cool
Hey Man! Great content as always.
I know you do music as well (as I do) and video is a strong part of your work (it's starting to be like that for me, not so much editing but exporting and sending to editors screen record + camera footage), currently have a M2 Macbook Air and when recording Logic / Pro Tools + Camera, computer starts suffering.
I'm thinking of keeping the M2 Air for travel and getting a Mac Mini M5 Pro or Mac Studio M5 Max for the studio, which one would you feel is better or ultimately just going with a new MacBookPro and selling the Air?
Thanks for the amazing content all the time.
Be safe
For fun, what would the fully spec’d Mac mini compare to a similarly spec’d Mac Studio? How would they differ in performance and price?
Thumbnail was confusing. What is that double decker thing on the right?
I ordered the base Mac Studio. It’ll be more than I need but the base 32GB RAM and additional ports help justify the cost. Plus work is paying for it 🙂
consider your use case carefully ….. if your applications are primarily CPU intensive and not so much the GPU, get a Mini. … if more graphics intensive, the Studio
also, remember the RAM – erring on side of more than you need currently probably wise, to a point
It would be really cool if you can do a LogicPro stress test.
Apple needs money for investment into AI, and this investments make RAM more expensive. Basically we sponsoring Apple AI investments. I put on hold any updates of Apple hardware.
$5000? Apple really isnt the best option. Its only good with the 128GB shared memory and low energy requirements. But at that cost AMD or NVDA spark are better choices.
You covered Video usage but not cover which one of these would be good for Music or Music producers using DAW.
Still all U experts don't say what one needs. Tell us what is needed to accomplish differant
cpmputing tasks like Editing Video with DaVinci.Premiere, or FPC/Imovie.
Although it's always betterto buy more than you need because you will grow into more need sooner than later.
Mac Mini Max Pro Max Max Studio Max Max Pro… I am so confused 😂😂 . JK. Great video.
Neither. I am waiting for M7 Pro. M5 and M6 series are stop gaps.
I'm quite a different user from what mostly is described with mac's these days. I Mainly will be using it for Blender and Fusio 360, therefore I went with the M5 Pro Mac Mini with 64 gb of ram, I expect this would be more that enough. Internal storage of 512 GB, But i'll be using an external hub in the future to add more storage if needed, since that is cheaper than what Apple asks for storage.
One thing you don't touch on is sustained performance for high load applications. The MacStudio has way better thermal management so can maintain max clock speeds for prolonged periods where the mac mini will reach thermal saturation and begin to throttle CPU and GPU cores to manage heat.
Hello. Is there any difference in the internal SSD speed between the M5 Pro and the M5 Max ?
hey Adam, just stumbled onto your channel. Great video. Look forward to your reviews of these new machines.
I want to get one of the new Mac’s for a home recording studio using Logic Pro X. I don’t really need lots of GPU power but I want enough hardware for music production. Trying to decide between the M6 and M5 Pro. Any Suggestions?
For someone like me running Cubase 15 and other music production titles, the M6 in the mini will likely be perfect. Memory is super important for those running huge virtual instrument libraries, but most other tasks hit the chipset. So I will be trading in my M1 Max equipped (beloved) Mac Studio for a Mac Mini M6 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD.
If you are considering the mac mini over the studio it probably about price. Dont get into debt becuase you can not wait 10 extra minutes on a render. All M's m1 m2 m3 can do a lot similar to m4 and m5 m6 – Yes those do it quite a lot faster. The question is IF you had a paying client you would immediatly upgrade to the M5 or M6. That's my hot take on it.
What is best for recording a full ban album?
true. the double prores codecs, and double the gpus makes the Studio Max the choice for $500 more.
cries on MacBook Pro 2019 16” with intel i9 😢😭🥲
For me it is the M5 Ultra
My M4 mini is doing just great…so why am I salivating???
the one very annoying downside to the base M4 and M5 Max chips is that they are limited to 36 GB of ram. Apple will not allow the ram to be upgraded. You have to bump up to the full 40 core GPU version of the Max chip to customize the ram.
Thats a very annoying limitation to the Max chip right now. Wit the Pro one can at least go past 36 GB and get up to 64 GB. With the Max bumping up raw costs a lot more because it forces one to the full unbanned Max chip which also costs more. It still works out at 64 GB to be a $800 difference but now the ram is the same amount per machine and the only difference is the CPU, GPU and memory bandwidth.
I love my base M4 Max Mac Studio at 36 GB but I do wish I could have got a bit more. I didn't need more GPU cores for the full M4 Max chip. Having more ram however could have been nice for some tasks.
Its odd to me Apple allows binned standard and Pro chips to use whatever ram they want but the Max is stuck at one option only at 36 GB.
The other issue is what Apple and other retailers sell in stores. Walking in to buy one or not have to wait to have a custom order built means our options are very limited in terms of ram.
Get the Mac Studio—it’s perfect for creating videos where you talk about how the Mac Studio is perfect for creating videos. The circle is complete.
Will all of the docking stations for m4 minis work with the m6/m5 pro?
I love the videos!! Your videos have helped me make decisions many times.
I’ll be going from a Mac Mini M1 with 512gb storage and 8GB of Ram to a M6 with 512 and 24. I’m editing 8K footage from my DJI Avata 360 drone. This should be a massive leap. Lol! My M1 has been amazing though, and still does just about everything else I need perfectly, except the editing.
Dude, get some sleep and stop stressing over these videos. Your eye bags are serious, and you kept rambling on. You could have edited out a lot of this repetitive stuff. Get some rest and think about what you’re doing. You have 45K subscribers, and you could grow if you got some sleep. You look completely worn out.
Doesn’t the Studio also have active cooling, which should result in less throttling due to heat? I am looking forward to real world tests. Appreciate your video!
Quite a few people in the last have stated that they will do their editing during the day and then batch export overnight, where the slower export time not a problem.
If the actual editing is about the same then the Pro may be a more cost effective.
I bought a Mac Studio base back in 2022 over a mini simply because the M1 mini had no pro chip and the base M1 had no ProRes hardware encode/decode.
I expect when I do replace the Studio then likely will be the Pro Mini.
Not bit above 16gb Memory usage yet.
I was thinking of getting the base m5 Max Mac Studio but wondering if the extra chip and memory boost (to 48) would be worth it for future proofing and productivity. I feel like the max studio is already a beast. Wdyt?
M5 pro mini best chip with 48 gb ram or Studio M5 max with 36 gb of ram? (its the same price where im from)
I do occasional 4k raw video editing, light gaming, music production, and i want a computer that lasts for 6+ years. I have a nice dock, so ports is not a huge problem. I always run dual screen and have a lot of storage (52 tb HDD).
Great video
Great question .. not sure about the answer but i think the Max studio worth the extra money
I dont't think the base M5 Pro Macs any sense with 15 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores.
Better to get the 24GB/512GB model M6 Mac Mini for 400 dollars less as it delivers comparable CPU/GPU performance and more up to date tech.
Only downside is 40% lower memory bandwidth.
256gb of SSD in 2026 is so insulting.
EXCELLENT!!! Totally real-world assessment which is extremely helpful. Thankyou.
I am a retired-but-hardwired professional art director and graphic designer and was born in Macdom many decades ago with the first iMac. I shoot about 2,000 RAW image files nearly every week (mostly sports action) and after culling I edit in ON1 RAW. I don't do any video work whatsoever. Currently I have a Mac mini M4 Pro 12/16 Cores, 48GB, 2TB and as ON1 is continually developing its onboard AI processing user-options (is 'Agentic' the right term?), I am considering a Mac mini M5 Pro 18/20 Cores, 48GB, 2TB which should handle and speed up my intensive workflow and be more future proof.
So for my personal use, I am retired and no longer a commercial business, the Mac mini M5 Pro is more suitable than the M5 Max Mac Studio and your video has really helped my decision. I am not someone who dives into bench tests and so am happy to pre-order. Thankyou again, I am now Subscribed. Robin.
It's called the m6
For this money, vote with your wallet and buy a PC instead, especially if you feel familiar swimming in both pools. I own and like so many Mac products but if price hikes so much, I'd consider moving one day.
I had this same dilemma with the M4 chips, and ultimately went for the M4 Pro Mac Mini over the Studio 18 months ago thinking, I don't need that much power really.
Now at the same point this time, M5 Pro Mac Mini or M5 Max Mac Studio? With discounts, it's a £720 difference for me.
I probably still don't need all the power of the Mac Studio, but given I didn't upgrade my MacBook Pro 15" 2016 until I bought the MacBook Air M4 13" at a good discount 18 months ago, whichever machine I get will be with me for a long time.
Meanwhile I am using "productivity" apps on my first gen M1 Macbook pro with 16GB in RAM without hickups.
IMO the sweet spot is the M5 Max, 40 core 128gb. Every other combination either puts you at an awkward performance point or above that diminishing returns for $$ spent. I am talking specifically for AI. If you want bigger models other build solutions become good value propositions outside of the mac ecosystem. But the 128G studio sits in a very nice value position.