The best part of the M1 Mac mini is that it’s a naked, robotic core. So, if we want an affordable, “upgradeable” Mac, we’re left with the Mac mini. There’s almost certainly a new iMac design coming in 2021, but I wouldn’t bet on it having any kind of user-replaceable parts. Those are all Intel-powered machines though, and the Mac Pro costs $6K minimum, before tax. If you want ultimate upgradability in a Mac, such as it exists, you should get a 2020 27-inch iMac ( easy user-replaceable RAM, difficult-but-possible SSD replacements), the Mac Pro (removable case, plentiful expansion slots), or the 2018 Mac Mini. Read on if you’re considering a similar move, whether you’re hopelessly locked into, or just enamored with, Apple’s ecosystem. It’s how I’m making the transition from my tried and trusted 2010 iMac into the brave new M1 world. It’s far from ideal, but if you play it right, the mini is the cheapest, maybe even the greenest, M1 machine in Apple’s lineup. It’s the least repairable, least upgradeable desktop computer Apple makes, but it’s the best M1-powered device for your wallet and the planet, all things considered.īecause it lacks a screen, keyboard, or other built-in extras, the mini can sit at the heart of a semi-modular system. The M1 Mac mini is a 2018 box with 2020 innards, a tiny system-on-a-chip (SOC) that bundles processors, RAM, and SSD into one near-impossible-to-fix unit. While existing M1 Mac mini users might not see much point in upgrading to the M2 Mac mini, those looking for a more powerful mini PC can consider switching to the M2 Pro model.Hear me out. However, the M2 Pro Mac mini starts at a more expensive price tag of $1,299 as a result of its more powerful chipset and additional RAM and storage. Based on these factors, it is no surprise that Apple has already discontinued the M1 Mac mini.

It starts at $599 ( students can get it for just $499), compared to the M1 model which had a launch price of $699. The M2 Mac mini is not only more powerful than the M1 Mac mini, but it has also been launched for an even cheaper price. With the newer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 technology of the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models, users should experience better connectivity than the M1 Mac mini which has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Users can also connect a single display with an 8K resolution at 60Hz, a first for the Mac, or even 4K at 240Hz. For the M2 Pro model, there is support for up to three displays. The M1 Mac mini also supports up to two displays, but the second display peaks at 4K 60Hz and must be connected over HDMI. With the new M2 Mac mini, users will be able to connect up to two displays – one display with up to a 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and a second display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution over HDMI.

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