MAC MINI REVIEW PORTABLE

But the question is whether the extra space inside the Mac Mini compared to these portable laptops can keep the chip cooler and afford it some extra performance headroom.

MAC MINI REVIEW PRO

We have previously seen how well AppleвЂ™s M1 chip performs in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, so we already have an inkling of what to expect: This is one incredibly performant processor. What all this jargon means is that everything should, in theory, run a lot snappier - something third-party developers have already told us. WhatвЂ™s more, it uses something Apple calls a вЂњunified memory architectureвЂќ (UMA), which lets the CPU and GPU draw from a single pool of memory, reducing overhead for both. Even on paper, though, the Apple M1 looks to be a significant step up: Not only does it have double the number of CPU cores as the old entry-level Intel-based Mac Mini, but it also packs an eight-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine onto the same system on a chip (SoC). The previous modelвЂ™s base version came with a four-core Intel Core i3-8100H running at 3.0GHz, and it ran pretty well. This is the first time the Mac Mini has come with one of AppleвЂ™s own M1 processors. If you do not, you will need to factor them in when you make your purchase. If you already have those, then the starting price of $699 feels all the more attractive.

MAC MINI REVIEW PLUS

You will need to provide all of those yourself, plus a monitor to connect the Mac Mini to. What you will not get is a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or any other kind of peripheral. That is all identical to the Intel Mac Mini. An adapter or dongle might be required.Д®lsewhere, the M1 Mac Mini comes with an Ethernet jack, two Thunderbolt 3/ USB 4 ports running at 40Gbps, an HDMI 2.0 slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, plus the power button and slot for the power cable. But it is worth noting if you are still reliant on USB-A in your day-to-day tasks. This is more likely a limitation of the M1 rather than a plan by Apple to phase out USB-A ports on the Mac Mini, and I would not be surprised to see a return to four ports when more powerful Apple Silicon chips come out. But while the Intel Mac Mini came with four USB-A ports, the M1 version has only two (both running at 5Gbps). Apple has long since dropped USB-A ports on its MacBooks, but its desktop Macs - including the Mac Mini - have held out. The Intel Mac Mini is also slightly heavier, weighing in at 2.9 pounds, compared to the M1 Mac MiniвЂ™s 2.6 pounds.ДЄ more significant difference lies around the back. The most obvious is the paint job, with the M1 model coming in silver and the Intel version in the darker space gray. There are a few differences between the M1 and Intel models, though. It feels like a device that could take a few knocks and still come up smiling - not that you would want that to happen.

The entire device is weighty and solid, with no flexing or bending to be found anywhere. It is a Jony Ive fever dream, perhaps the ultimate expression of AppleвЂ™s obsessive design mores.ДЄs we have come to expect with Apple hardware, the build quality is excellent. There is no other branding and no other labeling, just a tiny white light on the front that lights up when you power the device on. Almost the entire surface of the device is covered in matte aluminum, with just a large Apple logo on top to break up the uniformity. It is also one of AppleвЂ™s most minimalist devices. It is identical in footprint to the previous Intel-based Mac Mini. Measuring 7.7 inches wide and 1.4 inches tall from top to bottom, this is a device that can easily fit on your desk or slide under a monitor.

The Mac Mini is by far AppleвЂ™s most compact desktop Mac. It is still niche, but it is bashing hard against the walls of that descriptor, ready to burst out. Although it may look like the previous-generation Mac Mini from the outside, on the inside it is nothing less than a revolution.ДЇar from an afterthought, the Mac Mini is now a serious contender for your cash - provided you want a desktop machine and already have all the required peripherals. Fitbit Versa 3Д«ut now that it has been outfitted with AppleвЂ™s M1 chip, ignoring it is the last thing you want to do.

Mac mini review