122 facts in comparison

Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) vs Intel NUC 12 Pro X

Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)
Intel NUC 12 Pro X

Why is Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) better than Intel NUC 12 Pro X?

  • 6000GB higher SSD storage capacity
    ?

    8000GBvs2000GB
  • 2 more USB 4 40Gbps ports
    ?

    4vs2
  • 2 more Thunderbolt 4 ports
    ?

    4vs2
  • 160 mm thinner
    ?

    197 mmvs357 mm
  • 154 mm shorter
    ?

    35 mmvs189 mm
  • 83.22% less body volume
    ?

    1358.32 cm³vs8096.76 cm³
  • 22 MB bigger L2 cache
    ?

    36 MBvs14 MB
  • 123.2 GB/s more memory bandwidth
    ?

    200 GB/svs76.8 GB/s

Why is Intel NUC 12 Pro X better than Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)?

  • 32GB more RAM memory
    ?

    64GBvs32GB
  • 77 mm narrower
    ?

    120 mmvs197 mm
  • 12 threads more CPU threads
    ?

    24 threadsvs12 threads
  • Uses multithreading
    ?
  • 1 more displays supported
    ?

    4vs3
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ?

    2vs0
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)
    ?

    2vs0
  • 1 more HDMI ports
    ?

    2vs1

Price comparison

Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)

Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 5...Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Gigabit Ethernet. Works with iPhone/iPad
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2023 Apple Mac Mini with Apple M2 Pro Chip with 10-core CPU (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed...2023 Apple Mac Mini with Apple M2 Pro Chip with 10-core CPU (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed)
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Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 12-Core CPU and 19-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Earl...Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 12-Core CPU and 19-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Early 2023
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Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Earl...Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Early 2023
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Intel NUC 12 Pro X

Intel NUC 12 Pro Mini PC Kit NUC12WSHi7 (12-Core i7-1260P 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Iris XE Graphics) Windows 11 P...Intel NUC 12 Pro Mini PC Kit NUC12WSHi7 (12-Core i7-1260P 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Iris XE Graphics) Windows 11 Pro Latest Desktop Computer Mini PC,2 x Thunderbolt 4, Intel nuc Wi-Fi 6E AX211 Wireless
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Intel NUC 12 NUC12WSHi5 Wall Street Canyon Mini Computer 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P, 12 Cores(4P+8E), 1...Intel NUC 12 NUC12WSHi5 Wall Street Canyon Mini Computer 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P, 12 Cores(4P+8E), 16 Threads, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, Intel Iris Xe Graphics,16GB RAM,512GB PCIe SSD, Win 11 Pro
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Intel NUC 12 Pro, Newest 12th Gen Core i5-1240P (12 Cores & 4.4GHz) Low Power, 16GB DDR4 RAM & 512GB NVMe...Intel NUC 12 Pro, Newest 12th Gen Core i5-1240P (12 Cores & 4.4GHz) Low Power, 16GB DDR4 RAM & 512GB NVMe, Intel Iris Xe Graphics 8K, WiFi 6E, Vesa Mounting Bracket, Built-in Windows 11 Pro
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Intel NUC 12 Pro Wall Street Canyon NUC12WSHi5 Mini PC, 12TH GEN Intel Core i5-1240P, 12-Cores, 12MB Inte...Intel NUC 12 Pro Wall Street Canyon NUC12WSHi5 Mini PC, 12TH GEN Intel Core i5-1240P, 12-Cores, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, Upto 4.4 GHz Turbo, 28W Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Win 11 Pro
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General info

The amount of internal storage available on the Solid State Drive (SSD). SSDs use flash memory, which typically has better performance than HDD memory.
HDD storage capacity

Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro): Not applicable

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The amount of internal storage available on the Hard Disk Drive (HDD). HDDs use magnetic recording to store and read data.
form factor

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The form factor of the motherboard.
NVMe version

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The version of NVMe that the SSD is using.
Is an NVMe SSD
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
NVMe SSDs use the PCIe interface, which has a higher bandwidth than the SATA interface. This results in much faster read/write speeds compared to SSDs which use the SATA interface.
thickness

197 mm

357 mm

The thickness (or depth) of the product.
height

35 mm

189 mm

The height represents the vertical dimension of the product.
width

197 mm

120 mm

The width represents the horizontal dimension of the product.
weight

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.

CPU

Thermal Design Power (TDP)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

The thermal design power (TDP) is the maximum amount of power the cooling system needs to dissipate. A lower TDP typically means that it consumes less power.
CPU speed

8 x 3.7 GHz & 4 x 3.4 GHz (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
turbo clock speed

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
Has integrated graphics
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X (Intel Core i9-12900)
With integrated graphics you don’t need to buy a separate graphics card.
uses multithreading
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X (Intel Core i9-12900)
Multithreading technology (such as Intel's Hyperthreading or AMD's Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor's physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads. This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
L3 cache

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.

Graphics card

VRAM

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

VRAM (video RAM) is the dedicated memory of a graphics card. More VRAM generally allows you to run games at higher settings, especially for things like texture resolution.
floating-point performance

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

Floating-point performance is a measurement of the raw processing power of the GPU.
effective memory speed

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The effective memory clock speed is calculated from the size and data rate of the memory. Higher clock speeds can give increased performance in games and other apps.
GPU clock speed

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

The clock speed of the graphics processing unit (GPU).
GPU memory speed

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The memory clock speed is one aspect that determines the memory bandwidth.
GPU turbo

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

When the GPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
texture rate

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The number of textured pixels that can be rendered to the screen every second.
pixel rate

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

The number of pixels that can be rendered to the screen every second.
supports ray tracing
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
Ray tracing is an advanced light rendering technique that provides more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in games.

Memory

RAM

32GB

64GB

Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of memory used to store working data and machine code. Having more RAM is particularly useful for multitasking, allowing you to run more programs at once or have more tabs open in your browser.
RAM speed

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

3200 MHz

It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
memory slots

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

More memory slots (also known as DIMM slots) allow you to add more RAM to your computer. It is also useful when upgrading, as you can add RAM to an empty slot instead of replacing an existing memory module.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)

The Wi-Fi versions supported by the device.
supports Wi-Fi
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
The device can connect to Wi-Fi.
Has Bluetooth
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to easily transfer data between different devices, such as smartphones, tablets and computers.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
More USB 2.0 ports allow you to connect more devices to your computer that support USB 2.0.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 supports speeds of up to 10Gbps. It was formerly known as USB 3.1 Gen 2. These ports use the older USB-A connector.
USB 3.2 Gen 1 supports speeds of up to 5Gbps. It was formerly known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.0. These ports use the older USB-A connector.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 supports speeds of up to 10Gbps. It was formerly known as USB 3.1 Gen 2. These ports use the USB-C connector.
This version of USB 4 supports very high speeds of up to 40Gbps. Unlike USB 3.2, USB 4 can dynamically allocate bandwidth to video and data. These ports use the USB-C connector.

Benchmarks

This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Geekbench 5 result (single)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2024)
Geekbench 5 result (multi)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2024)
Geekbench 6 result (multi)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2024)
Geekbench 6 result (single)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2024)
PassMark result (overclocked)

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU when it is overclocked.
PassMark (G3D) result

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

This benchmark measures the graphics performance of a video card. Source: PassMark.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro))

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel NUC 12 Pro X)

This benchmark measures the general purpose computational power of a graphics card. Source: PassMark.

Miscellaneous

The market that the CPU is designed for.
Supports ECC memory
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X (Intel Core i9-12900)
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
Has NX bit
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X (Intel Core i9-12900)
NX bit helps protect the computer from malicious attacks.
Has TrustZone
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
front-end width

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.

The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Uses HMP
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
Heterogeneous Multi-Processing (HMP) is a more advanced version of big.LITTLE technology. In this setup, a processor can utilize all cores at the same time, or just a single core for low-intensity tasks. This can provide powerful performance or increased battery life respectively.
Uses big.LITTLE technology
Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro) (Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU))
Intel NUC 12 Pro X
Using big.LITTLE technology, a chip can switch between two sets of processor cores to maximize performance and battery life. For example, when playing a game the more powerful cores will be used to increase performance, whereas checking email will use the less powerful cores to maximize battery life.
warranty period

1 years

Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.

When covered under the manufacturer’s warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Note: This may vary by region.

Price comparison

Apple Mac Mini 2023 (M2 Pro)

Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 5...Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Gigabit Ethernet. Works with iPhone/iPad
amazon logo
2023 Apple Mac Mini with Apple M2 Pro Chip with 10-core CPU (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed...2023 Apple Mac Mini with Apple M2 Pro Chip with 10-core CPU (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) Silver (Renewed)
amazon logo
Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 12-Core CPU and 19-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Earl...Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 12-Core CPU and 19-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Early 2023
amazon logo
Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Earl...Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer, M2 Pro Chip with 10-Core CPU and 16-Core GPU, 32GB Memory, 1TB SSD, Early 2023
amazon logo

Intel NUC 12 Pro X

Intel NUC 12 Pro Mini PC Kit NUC12WSHi7 (12-Core i7-1260P 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Iris XE Graphics) Windows 11 P...Intel NUC 12 Pro Mini PC Kit NUC12WSHi7 (12-Core i7-1260P 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Iris XE Graphics) Windows 11 Pro Latest Desktop Computer Mini PC,2 x Thunderbolt 4, Intel nuc Wi-Fi 6E AX211 Wireless
amazon logo
Intel NUC 12 NUC12WSHi5 Wall Street Canyon Mini Computer 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P, 12 Cores(4P+8E), 1...Intel NUC 12 NUC12WSHi5 Wall Street Canyon Mini Computer 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P, 12 Cores(4P+8E), 16 Threads, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, Intel Iris Xe Graphics,16GB RAM,512GB PCIe SSD, Win 11 Pro
amazon logo
Intel NUC 12 Pro, Newest 12th Gen Core i5-1240P (12 Cores & 4.4GHz) Low Power, 16GB DDR4 RAM & 512GB NVMe...Intel NUC 12 Pro, Newest 12th Gen Core i5-1240P (12 Cores & 4.4GHz) Low Power, 16GB DDR4 RAM & 512GB NVMe, Intel Iris Xe Graphics 8K, WiFi 6E, Vesa Mounting Bracket, Built-in Windows 11 Pro
amazon logo
Intel NUC 12 Pro Wall Street Canyon NUC12WSHi5 Mini PC, 12TH GEN Intel Core i5-1240P, 12-Cores, 12MB Inte...Intel NUC 12 Pro Wall Street Canyon NUC12WSHi5 Mini PC, 12TH GEN Intel Core i5-1240P, 12-Cores, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, Upto 4.4 GHz Turbo, 28W Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Win 11 Pro
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