The Mac mini is the gateway for the macOS ecosystem. The most affordable Mac is now one of the most powerful Apple computers. Here’s everything you need to know about it

History

The Mac mini is one of the oldest products sold by Apple and it’s currently in its fifth generation, feeling as new as ever.

First introduced in 2005, the original Mac mini was equipped with the PowerPC G4 processors. This computer was Apple’s attempt to enter the BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse) market. This is the only Mac that Apple sells without any accessories. The Mac Pro, for example, doesn’t come with a display, but it ships with the Magic Mouse 2 and the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad.

One year later, in 2006, Apple introduced the second generation with the same design, but with Intel Core processors, as well as support to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The third-generation Mac mini released in June 2010 brought a thinner unibody aluminum case and an HDMI port. Later revisions of this Mac added a Thunderbolt port and Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.

The fourth generation introduced in October 2018 is still being sold today and is the last one with an Intel processor. This generation includes a darker Space Gray finish, features SSD as standard, and replaces most data ports with USB-C. This is the first Mac mini made with 100% recycled aluminum.

In November 2020, Apple introduced the fifth-generation model based on the Apple Silicon processor with a silver finish of earlier models. This Mac was preceded by the A12Z-based Developer Transition Kit, a prototype used by developers to test what was going to be the first M1 Apple Silicon chip. It came with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and two USB-C ports.

Mac mini specs: Apple Silicon and Intel models

Apple sells two different Mac minis: one with its newer Apple Silicon chip and a high-spec model with the 8th generation Intel chip.

Apple Silicon Mac mini

The M1 Apple Silicon Mac mini comes with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural engine. It starts with 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage, and it can go up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. This Mac has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports with HDMI 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

In April 2021, Apple silently updated the M1 model with an optional 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, which was previously only available on the Intel version.

This Mac is also made of 100% recycled aluminum.

Intel Mac mini

The Intel Mac mini comes with the 8th-generation Intel Core i5, with 8GB of RAM, Intel UHD Graphics 630, and 512GB SSD storage and can go up to the 3.2GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7, 64GB of RAM, up to 2TB of SSD storage, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet support.

macOS Big Sur

The M1 Mac mini comes with macOS 11 Big Sur, which introduced a new design to the Mac software and proper optimization for the new processor.

macOS Big Sur also brought the Control Center to the macOS for the first time with quick access to brightness and other quick toggles. The Notification Center in macOS, for example, is now up-to-date with the iOS version, featuring grouping and rich interface styles.

The iOS 14 widget system is also available on macOS and the Messages app for Mac has also been revamped with an inline photo picker and Memoji. The Apple Maps app has also been modernized, now as a  Catalyst app so it shares the same codebase with iOS.

Recently, Apple released macOS Big Sur 11.4 with expanded GPU support, zero-day security fix, more. With this update, the company brought:

• Apple Podcasts subscriptions are available for purchase via monthly and annual subscriptions
• Channels group together collections of shows from podcast creators

This release also fixed the following issues:

• Bookmarks in Safari may get reordered or moved into a folder that can appear hidden
• Certain websites may not display correctly after your Mac wakes from sleep
• Keywords may not be included when exporting a photo from the Photos app
• Preview may become unresponsive when searching PDF documents
• 16-inch MacBook may become unresponsive when playing Civilization VI.

With macOS Big Sur 11.5 Apple brought:

• Podcasts Library tab allows you to choose to see all shows or only followed shows
• Music may not update play count and last played date in your library
• Smart cards may not work when logging into Mac computers with the M1 chip

macOS Monterey

During WWDC21, Apple previewed macOS 12 Monterey. On October 25, Apple released Monterey for Mac users. Here are some of its most important features:

• Shortcuts app now on the Mac;
• Revamped FaceTime feature;
• Redesigned Safari.

You can read more about macOS 12 Monterey here.

In the future, Apple will add some features that were postponed like SharePlay, which is already available with iOS 15.1, and Universal Control, which will let users move the mouse and use the keyboard across Macs and iPad seamlessly.

Pricing

The M1 Apple Silicon Mac mini starts at $699 and can go up to $1,699. The Intel model starts at $1,099 and can go up to $2,999.

Apple Silicon

• 8GB RAM, 256GB storage: $699
• 8GB RAM, 512GB storage: $899
• 8GB RAM, 1TB storage: $1,099
• 8GB RAM, 2TB storage: $1,499

For the model with 16GB of RAM, adds $200 in every configuration. You can also get 10 Gigabit Ethernet for $100 more.

Intel

• i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage: $1,099
• i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage: $1,299
• i5, 32GB RAM, 512GB storage: $1,699
• i5, 64GB RAM, 512GB storage: $2,099

For the model with Intel Core i7, adds $200. If you want more storage, add $200 for 1TB and $600 for the 2TB option. The 10 Gigabit Ethernet feature is $100 more.

Lower prices may be available from Apple’s official Amazon store.

Mac mini review

In our M1 Mac mini diary video, we believe that this is a solid buy, even being a first-generation product since it has Apple’s proprietary chip:

Is the M1 Mac mini worth it? Absolutely, as long as you consider the fact that this is the first iteration of the Mac with Apple Silicon, and forthcoming versions will feature more powerful chips, more robust configuration options, and more I/O. But even in its current form, this Mac is the most versatile of any of the machines in Apple’s M1 lineup, and it also happens to be the least expensive. When paired with the right peripherals, the Mac mini shines as one of the best Macs that we’ve seen in quite some time. The more I use it, the more I come to appreciate just how good it is.

Here’s what our video review says about the Intel model:

The 2019 Mac Pro might be the best Mac desktop ever by a long shot, but the Mac mini is the best value desktop Mac, and it remains my favorite desktop Mac to this day. Although I look forward to an eventual CPU upgrade, the 2018 Mac mini, when properly specced, makes for a good workhorse machine for tasks like video editing with Final Cut Pro X.

Deals

Over at 9to5Toys, you can find the best deals on the Mac mini and other Apple products. Download the 9to5Toys iPhone app to receive push notifications for new deals as well.

Mac mini rumors

There are some rumors about a new Mac mini. According to a Bloomberg report in May 2021, the new Mac mini will feature a next-generation Apple Silicon chip with 8 high-performance cores and 2 efficiency cores. It will also support up to 64 GB RAM and feature more Thunderbolt lanes which support the expanded IO ports. This chip is also expected to appear in the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh.

YouTuber Jon Prosser, for example, claims that the upcoming M1X-powered Mac mini will also introduce a new generation of industrial design for Apple’s standalone Mac. This model is expected to replace the higher-end space grey Intel Mac mini in the lineup, with the M1 Mac mini sticking around as the entry-level machine. 

According to Prosser, the new Mac mini will feature a new external chassis with a “plexiglass-like” reflective surface on the top, in an otherwise aluminum enclosure.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believed the new Mac mini would launch in 2021. By the end of December, the journalist said Apple is still readying a new model but for 2022.

It’s also important to note that the M1X processor could probably be the already announced M1 Pro and M1 Max chips or the yet-to-be-unveiled M2 processor.