Mac mini finally gets an update
New processors, more memory, faster storage and Thunderbolt 3
The Mac mini has felt like a neglected product for some time, given that its
last update arrived in 2014. An awful lot has changed in the tech world since then, leaving the pint-sized Mac feeling the strain.
That changed at Apple’s October special event, when the Mac mini finally got some time in the limelight. It has received changes across the board, both inside and out.
The processors have been boosted to the latest eighth-generation Intel chips; the baseline option has four cores, and there’s a six-core option too. Apple says the processors perform five times faster than those in the last Mac mini. Memory starts at 8GB, can be expanded up to 64GB and even upgraded post-purchase by removing the base. Hard drives have been eliminated from the line-up; the new all-SSD storage options range from 128GB to 2TB, and are up to four times faster than before.
There’s just one graphics processor option available: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (see below).
Connectivity options have been modernised as well. Every Mac mini has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet port that can be upped to 10Gb Ethernet for £90.
Apple has also added its T2 security chip – a first for the Mac mini – alongside a new thermal cooling system that provides improved airflow. The mini now comes in a space grey colourway, just like the iMac Pro and all three kinds of MacBook. The diminutive computer starts at £799 with 128GB of storage.