Mac mini M5 Pro

The Mac mini M5 Pro can handle serious creative work. But how much power do you actually need—and when does upgrading it start making less sense than buying a Mac Studio? I’ve been using it with Photoshop, Lightroom and DaVinci Resolve, including a real video project shot on the Nikon ZR. In this hands-on review, I look at editing performance, H.264 and ProRes export times, Blender rendering and AI image generation to see where this small desktop holds its own—and where more powerful Macs save you time. I also share my advice on choosing a configuration, balancing memory and storage, and deciding whether the Mac mini’s portability matters for your workflow. Would you choose a Mac mini or a Mac Studio for your work? Let me know what you create and which apps you use in the comments. CHAPTERS 00:00 A workstation you can put in a backpack 00:27 My Mac mini M5 Pro configuration 01:10 Who actually needs the Pro? 02:03 Photoshop, Lightroom and Resolve impressions 02:46 Geekbench: everyday speed vs multicore power 03:40 Cinebench and GPU performance 04:14 Real-world video editing and export tests 06:56 Blender rendering comparison 07:28 When upgrading puts you in Mac Studio territory 08:52 AI image generation with Draw Things 09:31 Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5 09:57 Which Mac mini should you buy?