Apple Mac mini review: A pint-sized powerhouse for the rest of us

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Apple’s Mac mini has finally gotten some respect, with a major update that makes it a pint-sized powerhouse of a desktop.
Apple’s Mac mini has finally gotten some respect, with a major update that makes it a pint-sized powerhouse of a desktop.

To say Apple’s (AAPL) Mac mini has been neglected over the years is an understatement. The last time the company updated its pint-sized desktop computer was back in 2014. In the years since it became so painfully underpowered compared to more modern desktops that there wasn’t much reason to even consider buying it.

But that’s all in the past now. Apple has finally given the Mac mini the upgrade it so desperately needed. The new Mac mini, available November 7 at a starting price of $799, is a fully redesigned desktop that packs more power, more capability, and more functionality than any mini before. And for desktop users it’s certainly worth considering.

What’s old is new

The Mac mini has a fully redesigned body. It still looks a good deal like its predecessor, but this time around the mini’s shell is made of 100% recycled aluminum. Combined with the recycled plastic used for the mini’s base, Apple says the desktop’s overall carbon footprint is 50% of the previous mini.

While the new mini’s styling is largely the same as the version that came out in 2014, Apple did give its latest model a new space-gray paint job. Around back, the Mac mini features a wide array of connectivity ports.

The mini packs 4 USB C Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can be used to connect an external graphics card if you’re doing heavy video editing work; an HDMI 2.0 port; 2 USB 3 ports and a gigabit ethernet port. You can also update that to a 10GB port if you’re looking for some seriously high-speed connectivity. Oh, and the mini has a headphone jack, unlike, you know, the iPhone.

Apple has loaded up the mini with a slew of connection ports that will let you do everything from connect an external graphics card to run several minis as a server.
Apple has loaded up the mini with a slew of connection ports that will let you do everything from connect an external graphics card to run several minis as a server.

To ensure that the mini’s more powerful processors don’t cause the little desktop to overheat, Apple added in an improved cooling system, which is why the exhaust port on the mini’s rear is so much larger this time around.

Bring on the power

The big news for the mac Mini, of course, is its drastically upgraded power. Apple says its top-of-the-line model is five times faster than the last generation best-in-class mini. But considering that mini is four years old, that’s to be expected.

The base model gets you an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, Intel integrated graphics and a 128GB solid-state drive for $799. Not a bad price. Of course, you’ll need a display, keyboard and mouse, since the mini doesn’t come with any of those.

The mini’s processor isn’t some low-power laptop version of Intel’s Core i3, either. It’s a quad-core desktop-class chip, which means it’ll be able to handle your daily tasks with ease. My review unit came packed with the Core i3 and 8GB of RAM, and took care of everything I threw at it without issue. Granted, this isn’t a machine that’s meant to play graphics intensive games, but it can take care of your video and photo editing needs.