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MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) vs Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023)1Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Air M2 against Mac mini M2 Pro
FigureMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Price£1,3993launch price£1,3994launch price
ChipM2chipM2 Prochip
CPU8-coreCPU10-coreCPU
GPU10-coreGPU16-coreGPU
Memory8GB5unified memory, base16GBunified memory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base512GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to18 hrsvideo playback, claimed Not available6No battery
Released13 June 20237ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 5 June 2023.24 January 20234ReleasedIn Apple Stores; orderable online from 17 January 2023.
Security updatesNot available8Security updatesNot available9Security updates
Price
The MacBook Air M2 is £1,399 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the Mac mini M2 Pro is £1,399 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).
Kind of Mac
The MacBook Air M2 is a laptop; the Mac mini M2 Pro is a desktop. The MacBook Air M2 has a built-in 15.3-inch display, a camera and a battery, whereas the Mac mini M2 Pro has none of them.

True to scale

MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) · 340.4 × 237.6 mm footprintMac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) · 197 × 35.8 mm front

A laptop and a desktop are different shapes, so they stand side by side rather than superposed: the footprint of one and the front face of the other, from Apple’s published dimensions, at one scale. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Dimensions11.5 x 340.4 x 237.6 mm35.8 x 197 x 197 mm
Weight1.51 kg1.28 kg
ColoursSilver, Starlight, Space Grey, MidnightSilver
PortsTwo Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jackFour Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports (up to 5Gb/s), HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet port (configurable to 10Gb Ethernet), 3.5mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports1024
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 4
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.112
HDMINo HDMI port.12HDMI port
SD card slotNo SD card slot.12No SD card slot.13
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeYesNot available14
KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch IDNot available15
Touch IDYesNot available16

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Display size15.3 inNot available17
Resolution2880 x 1864Not available17
Pixel density224 ppiNot available17
Display typeLiquid Retina displayNot available17
Brightness500 nitsNot available17
Wide colour (P3)YesNot available17
Nano-texture optionNo nano-texture display option.12Not available17

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
ChipApple M2 chipApple M2 Pro chip
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores810
Performance cores46
Efficiency cores44
GPU cores1016
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM2 with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPUM2 Pro with 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, or M2 Pro with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU
Memory (base)8GB516GB
Memory (maximum)24GB532GB
Memory options8GB, 16GB or 24GB516GB or 32GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents18No, as Apple documents19
Memory bandwidth100 GB/s200 GB/s
Storage (base)256GB512GB
Storage (maximum)2TB8TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB
Media engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engine

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Battery capacity66.5 WhNot available6
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles20Not available6
Video playback (claimed)18 hNot available6
Wireless web (claimed)15 hNot available6
Included power adapter35 WNot available21
Fast chargingYesNot available6
Maximum continuous powerNot available22185 W

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Wi-FiWi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth5.35.3
EthernetNo Ethernet port.12Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10Gb Ethernet)
External displays (base)13

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Camera1080p FaceTime HD cameraNot available23
SpeakersSix-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofersBuilt-in speaker24
MicrophonesThree-mic array with directional beamformingNot available25

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate26macOS 27 Golden Gate27
Model identifierMac14,1528Mac14,1229
Model year20232023

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) against Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
SpecificationMacBook Air M21Mac mini M2 Pro2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)2,343302,41531
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)9,5803013,80631
Geekbench 7 (Metal)42,6723074,02031

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Air M2 · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — Mac mini (2023) - Tech Specs · Default for Mac mini M2 Pro · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — New 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are available today · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro — more powerful, capable, and versatile than ever · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  5. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  6. Doesn’t apply: no battery

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  7. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the 15-inch MacBook Air · Apple’s figure · read 3 Oct 2026

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  8. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  9. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 30 Sep 2026

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  10. Different Thunderbolt generations. MacBook Air M2: Thunderbolt 3. Mac mini M2 Pro: Thunderbolt 4.

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  11. MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023): No USB-A ports. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 14 Sep 2026

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  12. MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023): No SD card slot. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — Mac mini (2023) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. Doesn’t apply: MagSafe is a notebook charging port

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  15. Doesn’t apply: no built-in keyboard

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  16. Doesn’t apply: no built-in keyboard, and Touch ID is a keyboard feature

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  17. Doesn’t apply: no built-in display

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  18. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  19. Apple Support (UK) — Upgrade or install memory in your Mac mini · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  20. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  21. Doesn’t apply: internal power supply, no power adapter in the box

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  22. Doesn’t apply: a notebook lists its power adapter, not a maximum continuous power

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  23. Doesn’t apply: no built-in camera

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  24. Apple Support (UK) — Mac mini (2023) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  25. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — Mac mini (2023) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your Mac mini model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro — more powerful, capable, and versatile than ever. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  26. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  27. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  28. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model · Apple’s figure · read 14 Sep 2026

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  29. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your Mac mini model · Apple’s figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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  30. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  31. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) — Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) · third-party figure · read 30 Sep 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Air M2. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user, the macOS it shipped with. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Air (15-inch, M2, 2023) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Air model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces the 15-inch MacBook Air; Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers, read 9 Oct 2026.

Mac mini M2 Pro. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: storage upgradeable by user, the macOS it shipped with. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — Mac mini (2023) - Tech Specs; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your Mac mini model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple introduces new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro — more powerful, capable, and versatile than ever, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my MacBook Air M2 (15-inch, 2023)? · Should I upgrade my Mac mini M2 Pro (2023)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.