


memory) can be more important than the processor in a Mac. RAM limits (and upgradeable internals)įor many users, RAM (a.k.a. So if power is important to you, then the 2020 edition is the better option. However, anything more than that and the difference will start to show. The 2018 Mac mini is still powerful enough for the average user’s needs you won’t have any trouble writing, browsing, or streaming with it. As you might expect, this means that the new Mac mini far outperforms the old one. The Intel Mac mini, on the other hand, only has a 6-core chip and is three years older than the current chip. The new M1 chip has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU. Apple announced earlier this year that it would be shifting away from Intel chips to make its own, so this new Mac mini represents a big moment in Apple’s history. the M1 chipĪs mentioned, the biggest difference between these Macs is the chip, or processor. Here’s a deeper breakdown of these differences. This means that the 2020 M1 Mac mini will probably be best for most people, but some users might find that they are better off sticking with the more upgradeable 2018 Mac mini. This has lots of implications, but primarily it makes this device much faster.Īdditionally, some of the other 2020 internals have been updated, the price is lower, and the port situation is a bit different. In short, the 2020 Mac mini now comes with the M1 chip, which is made by Apple instead of Intel. In case you don’t know, however, you can read all about the new M1 chip here.

Considering how much fuss Apple has made about its new M1 chip, you probably already know that these Macs are running on very different processors. The 2018 Mac mini vs the 2020 Mac mini: What’s the difference? So, with this niche in mind, let’s look at the differences between the newest Mac mini and the previous generation. It’s still plenty powerful and you can couple it with Apple peripherals if you like, but you have plenty of other options as well. These factors make the Mac mini the closest thing Apple has to a flexible, low-end device. The Mac mini has also been upgradeable after purchase in the past (more on that in a moment), which is another unique quality when compared to the rest of the Mac lineup. This lowers the price and also makes it more modular. Purchasers will need to supply their own screen, keyboard, and mouse. Unlike the vast majority of Macs, the Mac mini isn’t an all-in-one product. As such, it might seem like an odd product at first glance. This means that there’s a good chance you’ve never owned a Mac mini before. The 2018 Mac mini vs the 2020 Mac mini: What’s the difference?Īpple noted during its One More Thing keynote that the majority of Mac buyers are first-time buyers.
