The Mac product line has changed drastically in the past few years. We've witnessed brand-new Macs powered by refreshed hardware packed with new features and capabilities.

Now that multiple Macs in the product line have changed significantly since the good old Intel days, it begs the question: is a Mac mini still worth it?

What Is the Mac mini?

Apple M1 Mac mini under monitor

 

The Mac mini is Apple's most affordable and portable Mac desktop, starting at $599. And for that price, you get the base model with the standard M2 chip. However, Apple also sells a beefed-up Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip. It packs capable specifications, a compact design, and a solid selection of ports.

Apple introduced the first Mac mini back in 2005, and since then, it has been a great product for people who want to start using a Mac for the first time. For a more in-depth look at the Mac mini, be sure to check our article detailing Apple's tiny desktop computer.

The Pros of Using a Mac mini

The Mac mini offers many benefits to users who want a tiny desktop computer. We'll cover the main positives users enjoy most about the Mac mini.

Small and Compact Design

Mac mini product image
Image Credit: Apple

One of the major selling points of the Mac mini is its size. While it's not as small as it could be like some other PC desktops, it's still Apple's smallest desktop. Thanks to this, the Mac mini doesn't take up much space on your desk and can be tucked away easily.

Connect With Any Peripherals

Since the Mac mini doesn't come with a mouse, keyboard, or display, you can customize the setup to your liking. You can go with Apple's Studio Display, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse, or find possibly better alternatives that can work with the Mac mini.

Also, if you already have your accessories and display, you will only have to spend $599 on the computer.

The M2 and M2 Pro Chips Are Best in Class

It's no surprise to anyone that the M2 chip delivers incredible performance and efficiency. Apple's A-series chips in iPhones are already very impressive, and the M-series chips are no exception.

The Mac mini features the standard M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. You can also configure the machine with up to 24GB of RAM, which is better than it sounds, given that the M2 uses unified memory architecture.

Alternatively, you can choose the M2 Pro chip that features up to a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU and allows for up to 32GB of unified memory for even better performance.

If you don't know how much memory is good enough, be sure to determine how much unified memory you may need before purchasing since you can't upgrade it yourself later on any Apple silicon Mac.

The Cons of Using a Mac mini

Even with the positives mentioned above, this computer has some downsides as it exists in a more crowded Mac line now. Knowing the compromises is essential if you plan to use this machine for creative or professional work.

Using Multiple Displays Is Tricky on the M2 Version

Mac mini and Pro Display XDR
Image Credit: Apple

Using multiple displays with the regular M2 Mac mini can be troublesome. For example, you can't connect two 6K displays simultaneously, according to Apple's support site. You'll need to upgrade to the Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip for that capability.

Flexibility with multiple displays is crucial for many desktop workflows, and using the Mac mini becomes a headache if you want to have consistent resolution across multiple monitors.

You Have to Buy the Peripherals Yourself

This can be a downside, depending on whether you already have some peripherals or if you have a limited budget. But if you don't have any already, you'll have to purchase them separately, effectively driving up the cost to get the complete setup. So, is a Mac mini really worth it at this point?

Furthermore, some of Apple's Macs have incredible displays, especially the high-end MacBook Pro models. You can't get a display like that anywhere else from Apple, even if you spend $5,000 on the Pro Display XDR.

It Still Looks the Same

The Mac mini has featured the same design for a while now. Just like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro when they received Apple silicon for the first time, the Mac mini didn't get a new design. And even with the M2 version, there still was no major redesign.

Therefore, it is still much larger than it needs to be since Apple silicon is much more efficient than Intel. The size of the Mac mini could shrink considerably in volume, similar to how the M1 iMac got dramatically thinner when Apple refreshed it in 2021.

Mac mini vs. the Mac Line: How Does It Stack up?

M1 iMac 24 on desk

Apple offers multiple computers for users to choose from, but several other models in the Mac lineup have received major upgrades compared to others.

The first one to take a look at is the M1 iMac. Comparing the Mac mini to the iMac is important since the iMac is the other entry-level desktop computer for the average consumer. Unlike the Mac mini, the iMac is an all-in-one, which means it comes with a computer, display, mouse, and keyboard for just $1,299.

The M1 iMac starts with the base M1 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, similar to the base model Mac mini, except the mini has the newer M2 chip. While it is more expensive than the Mac mini at first, the M1 iMac is an excellent machine if you want a simple, collected experience.

There's also the M2 MacBook Pro that also comes in at $1,299. While it might seem odd to compare the MacBook Pro and Mac mini, there is a solid argument for it. While the MacBook Pro and Mac mini feature the same chipset, you can enjoy laptop-specific features with the MacBook.

Apple M2 MacBook Air With Liquid Retina Display
Image Credit: Apple

Don't forget that there are other options in the Mac lineup besides the M1 iMac and MacBook Pro if neither piques your interest. For instance, the M2 MacBook Air is ideal for most consumers. And at $1,099, it's less expensive than the M1 iMac and M2 MacBook Pro.

It also packs the same amount of base storage and RAM as the Mac mini. Additionally, since it's a laptop, it has features that the Mac mini doesn't, such as a built-in FaceTime camera and better speakers.

MacBook Air M2 MagSafe and ThunderBolt ports up close

One crucial point to note about the Mac mini compared to other Macs is the port selection. Other entry-level Macs offer limited ports compared to the Mac mini. You mainly get Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack for connectivity on most of those entry-level Macs. In contrast, the Mac mini offers HDMI, Ethernet, Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and USB-A ports.

How important this difference is depends entirely on which ports you often use, but it shouldn't be the main deciding factor on which computer you choose.

So, how does the Mac mini compare in terms of price to other Macs? Well, it's a bit complicated since, with the Mac mini, you can choose between Apple's or other third-party peripherals. But we'll compare the Mac mini with Apple's accessories and a combination of Dell and Logitech ones since those are popular.

Apple Mac mini and Studio Display
Image Credit: Apple

Once you add the Mac mini, a Studio Display, and a black Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID from Apple, you are looking at a price of $2,496 before tax. That's significantly more expensive than the base model M1 iMac.

And even if you don't purchase Apple peripherals and instead buy a Dell UltraSharp 27-inch 4K monitor, a Logitech MX Mechanical keyboard, and a Logitech MX Master 3S, you're still looking at a slightly higher price than the iMac at $1,454.96 before tax.

While purchasing the Mac mini is generally a great deal, the "hidden" cost of purchasing the rest of the peripherals yourself can derail your decision to choose one.

Is the Mac mini Worth it?

The Mac mini is an excellent computer for many people looking to enter the Mac world at the lowest price possible. However, other Macs in the line feature a stellar redesign that only Apple silicon could have allowed. Also, while the entry-level Mac mini is a decent buy for regular users, the M2 Pro version is a much more capable desktop.

Unless you want the base M2 Mac mini for specific reasons like the price, the M2 Pro version is a machine that you should seriously consider since it offers powerful performance for less than the price of a Mac Studio.