Mac mini

 Now with Apple's M1 chip with up to 3x faster CPU, up to 6x faster graphics, and up to 15x faster machine learning.

The Glance

• The Mac mini was updated in November 2020 with the new Apple M1 chip on low-end and mid-tier models, shifting away from Intel processors and graphics options. The Mac mini now starts at a lower $699 price point and includes the M1 chip with an 8-core CPU, a 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning. At the high end, the Mac mini continues to be equipped with 8th-generation Intel processors and has not been significantly updated since October 2018.

The M1 Mac mini

Apple in November 2020 updated the Mac mini to introduce new low-end and mid-tier models equipped with the M1 chip, which is the first Apple-designed Arm-based chip for Mac that Apple has introduced.

This is the first significant update Apple has made to the Mac mini since October 2018, and the new M1 models are sold alongside a higher-end model with a 6-core Intel Core i5 chip.

The M1 chip in the Mac mini is Apple's first System on a Chip for Mac, integrating GPU, CPU, RAM, and other components for improved performance and efficiency. The M1 in the Mac mini has an 8-core CPU with four high-efficiency cores and four high-performance cores along with an integrated GPU that has 8 cores.

In the Mac mini, the M1 chip's CPU offers 3x faster performance than the previous-generation entry-level model and the GPU offers 6x better graphics performance. Machine learning workloads are up to 15x faster thanks to the 16-core Neural Engine, and the Mac mini is 5x faster than the best-selling Windows desktop in its price range.

There are no design changes to the Mac mini, and it continues to feature a flat, square-shaped 1.4-inch thick, 7.7-inch wide aluminum unibody enclosure. The M1 Mac mini is available in Silver, while the Intel Mac mini is available in Space Gray.

Apple says the M1 Mac mini's advanced thermal design sustains performance while the machine remains cool and quiet. It is configurable with up to 16GB RAM, while the Intel model can support up to 64GB. Both models can be upgraded to up to 2TB storage space.

The M1 Mac mini supports a single display in full 6K resolution and one 4K display over HDMI, while the prior-generation models support up to two 5K displays. Other features include WiFi 6 support for faster WiFi speeds, and a Secure Enclave for improved security. The M1 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and Ethernet.

Pricing on the M1 Mac mini starts at $699 for 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD, while a model with a 512GB SSD is available for $899, The Intel model with 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 chip and UHD graphics 630 is available starting at $1,099.

At this time, buyers should hold off on the 2018 and early 2020 Intel-based Mac mini until the performance differences between the Intel chips and the new Apple M1 chips become clearer.