Apple does not publish a power figure for nonstop YouTube playback on the M2 Mac mini, so there is no authoritative single wattage for that workload. Apple’s current support table lists 7 W at Finder-only idle and 50 W at CPU maximum for its specified 2023 M2 Mac mini configuration; neither figure measures playlist streaming. To get your actual electricity use, measure the Mac mini at the wall while it runs your playlist, then convert the accumulated energy to cost using your local electricity rate.
What Apple’s M2 Mac mini figures do—and don’t—tell you
Apple Support’s current power table identifies its M2 example as a 2023 Mac mini with an Apple M2 chip, 24 GB of unified memory and a 2 TB SSD. It reports 7 W idle and 50 W CPU maximum, measured at the wall, including system and power-supply losses. Apple defines idle as having only Finder open with default power-management settings. CPU maximum is a compute-intensive test intended to maximize processor use and power consumption. Neither is a YouTube playback test. Apple Support: Mac mini power consumption and thermal output.
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Those figures can provide context, but they should not be used as a claimed streaming draw: playback involves a different workload, and the actual result depends on the Mac’s configuration and how it is set up.
Why Apple’s other idle figure is different
Apple’s 2023 M2-era Product Environmental Report lists 3.92 W at 100 V, 3.96 W at 115 V and 4.01 W at 230 V for “Idle—Display on.” These are measurements under that report’s specified conditions, not an alternative YouTube benchmark or a direct replacement for the 7 W Support figure. The report defines this state as macOS loaded and connected to Ethernet. Its idle definition and test conditions differ from Support’s Finder-only idle description. Apple, Mac mini M2 Product Environmental Report (2023).
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The same report lists sleep at 0.55 W, 0.50 W and 0.51 W, and off at 0.08 W, 0.10 W and 0.11 W at 100 V, 115 V and 230 V respectively. These are distinct power states, not expected values for a Mac actively playing a playlist. The report describes sleep as the low-power state with Wake for network access enabled and Ethernet connected, and off as the lowest power mode after shutdown, also called standby.
Measure your playlist setup at the wall
A plug-in electricity usage meter is the most direct way to establish what your own Mac mini draws during playback. Measure at the wall so the result includes the computer’s power supply and system losses, matching the boundary Apple describes for its published figures. If you want the Mac mini’s consumption alone, do not include a display or other devices in the measurement; if you want the whole setup’s use, measure those devices too.
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- Connect the meter between the wall outlet and the Mac mini’s power plug. Check the meter’s instructions for how it reports watts and accumulated kilowatt-hours.
- Run the playlist under the conditions you want to estimate. Keep the browser, video resolution, networking method and playback behavior representative of normal use.
- Record the accumulated kWh over a meaningful period. Note whether the display, speakers or other peripherals are included, as well as the browser, resolution and whether the Mac uses Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
- To calculate electricity cost, multiply the measured kWh by your local electricity tariff. Tariffs vary, so there is no single universal cost to apply.
If your meter reports average watts rather than accumulated energy, use average watts ÷ 1,000 × hours = kWh. For example, a hypothetical continuous draw of 10 W would use 0.010 kW × 24 hours = 0.24 kWh per day. That is arithmetic only—not a measured M2 Mac mini streaming result.
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Use idle power only as a clearly labeled baseline
For a simple illustration, holding Apple’s 7 W Finder-only idle figure constant for 24 hours gives 0.168 kWh per day; over 30 days, that would be 5.04 kWh. This is not a forecast of playlist consumption, because Apple’s 7 W figure is not a playback measurement. For a defensible estimate, use the meter reading from your own playback workload.
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What can change the result
A useful comparison needs to match more than the computer model. A screen, speakers and other peripherals add their own consumption; the network connection and playback setup also matter. Record the workload or power state, whether the reading is at the wall or device-only, display and peripheral inclusion, input voltage, browser, resolution, network connection and measurement duration or averaging method. Apple’s published M2 figures do not establish controlled power comparisons across YouTube resolutions or browsers.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is keeping a YouTube channel live with a prerecorded playlist, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving a Mac mini running: upload your video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month.
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