5 Reasons why Mac mini is a Great Entry-Level Computer in the World of Apple
I use it myself as my daily driver
In recent years, Apple has focused on completely switching from Intel processors to Apple’s Silicon chips in its Macs. This big move began in 2020 with the introduction of Apple’s first three computers with the M1 chip, namely the MacBook Air, the 13″ MacBook Pro, and the Mac mini.
These computers immediately became very popular, as they offered unusually high performance at a low price. In this article, let’s look at five reasons why the Mac mini is still a great entry-level computer in the world of Apple today.
Compact and portable design
As I mentioned on the previous page, the Mac mini is just a box with a hardware load but no accessories. It’s worth noting, however, that this box is indeed small yet extremely handy and powerful. Specifically, the Mac mini’s dimensions are a mere 19.7 x 19.7 x 3.6 centimetres, and its weight is 1.2 kilograms.
This makes it a very compact and portable device, even if it may be pointless for some. Of course, this is not a MacBook, but it’s good to know that you can also take your Mac mini box with you virtually anywhere, albeit without accessories. I think it is much better to own a small box than a huge box in the form of a computer with outgrown components.
M1 chip
The first generation of Apple Silicon computer chips was introduced two years ago. While we’d probably already consider them relatively old for devices with Intel processors, the opposite is true for Macs with Apple Silicon. Even though the Mac mini, along with the MacBook Air M1, is already more than two years old, these are still powerful devices on offer and will suffice for most classic users.
The Mac mini specifically comes with an M1 chip with 8 CPU cores, 8 GPU cores and 8GB of RAM, but you can pay extra for 16GB of RAM. At the base, this machine then offers a 512GB SSD outright, while other entry-level Macs start at 256GB, which is another of the big advantages. And as for Ethernet, you can configure it as either gigabit or 10 gigabits.
Choosing your accessories
Unlike a full iMac, the Mac mini is just a box of hardware that you have to buy your accessories. While this may seem like a disadvantage or complication at first glance, for some users, it is an advantage. You can choose the accessories that suit you 100%. So you can reach for any monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc.
If we consider the price of a basic 24″ iMac, which has everything you need in the package, you have 16 thousand crowns to get your accessories when you buy a Mac mini. I think that amount will be enough for most users.
Great connectivity
Apple made a relatively bold move a few years ago and decided to remove most of the “unnecessary” connectors from the MacBook and then the iMac. It took a long time for users to get used to this, but Apple realised that it might have overdone it, so it brought back some of the connectivity on professional devices.
As for the Mac mini, however, it was virtually unaffected by this “connector revolution” and continues to offer the perfect connectivity that other Apple computers can only dream of. On the back of the Mac mini, you’ll find Ethernet, 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4, HDMI, 2x USB-A and a headphone jack.
The USB-A connector, in particular, was abandoned by Apple on other Macs many years ago, so, notably, it’s still found on the Mac mini.
Price-performance ratio
If we were to look at the popular price-performance ratio parameter, we would find that the Mac mini is one of the best Apple computers you can get in this regard. Currently, it’s the cheapest Mac you can buy — its price starts at $649 if we’re talking new. You can easily get well below 20 thousand crowns if you don't mind a used one.
Moreover, thanks to the powerful Apple Silicon M1 chip, the user can be sure that the Mac mini will last many years without buying a new machine. Moreover, when you consider that the Mac mini is practically half the price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it makes your head spin.
Conclusion
If you read my articles regularly, you will have noticed that this is already several times article about Mac mini. The reason is simple it is a device that makes me happy every day. If I had to name something as my product of the year, it would be the Mac mini I know practically nothing about it as it is quiet, and yet it is a hard worker that keeps up with me.
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