New Mac Mini is out. Is (almost) everyone happy now?

[EightyTwenty]

Pros and wannabes may be well pleased with the 2018 Mac Mini. However, the average Joe and Jill looking for a Mac that is modesty priced and modestly specced, with a reasonable amount of storage to do everyday stuff are left out in the cold.

Apple has filled a vociferous niche, but folks the Mac Mini was originally created for are left wanting.

Prior to 2014, the machine started at $599, so this is only a $200 increase on the 2012 model.

Now ask yourself if the 2018 Mini is worth $200 more than the 2012... with quad-core standard (instead of dual-core), SSD standard (instead of a 5400 spinner), 8GB RAM standard (compared to 4GB), twice the CPU performance, over 5 times graphics performance, fully 4k 60hz capable, thunderbolt USB C, etc.

Especially considering 6 years of inflation, the 2018 is a much better value than the 2012. Just did a quick calculation and the 2012 Mini was priced at $655.00 USD in today's dollars, so in real dollars it's only a $144 price difference. The 2018 blows the 2012 clean out of the water on every possible metric. Buy a refurb and it will be nearly the same price in real dollars.

Imagine if you were offered the following upgrades in 2012 for an extra $150.

- Quad-core processor that is over twice as powerful.
- Blazing fast SSD instead of 5400 spinner.
- 8 GB RAM instead of 4GB.

Who wouldn't make that upgrade for only $150?

All of that said, the 4K iMac is still the best value in the Mac ecosystem.

 

[QCassidy352]

$800 for an i3 and 128 GB is disappointing.

 

[EightyTwenty]

$800 for an i3 and 128 GB is disappointing.

Why? This i3 positively OBLITERATES the i5 in the 2014 Mini beyond all recognition.

Terms like "i3", "i5", and "i7" is just branding. It doesn't actually mean anything. The CPU is a massive upgrade from the prior generation.

 

[QCassidy352]

Prior to 2014, the machine started at $599, so this is only a $200 increase on the 2012 model.

Now ask yourself if the 2018 Mini is worth $200 more than the 2012... with quad-core standard (instead of dual-core), SSD standard (instead of a 5400 spinner), 8GB RAM standard (compared to 4GB), twice the CPU performance, over 5 times graphics performance, fully 4k 60hz capable, thunderbolt USB C, etc.

Especially considering 6 years of inflation, the 2018 is a much better value than the 2012. Just did a quick calculation and the 2012 Mini was priced at $655.00 USD in today's dollars, so in real dollars it's only a $144 price difference. The 2018 blows the 2012 clean out of the water on every possible metric. Buy a refurb and it will be nearly the same price in real dollars.

Imagine if you were offered the following upgrades in 2012 for an extra $150.

- Quad-core processor that is over twice as powerful.
- Blazing fast SSD instead of 5400 spinner.
- 8 GB RAM instead of 4GB.

Who wouldn't make that upgrade for only $150?

All of that said, the 4K iMac is still the best value in the Mac ecosystem.

But technology always marches on. I’d expect year over year improvements at the same price point just because that’s how technology works.

Totally agree with you on the 4K iMac, though.
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Why? This i3 positively OBLITERATES the i5 in the 2014 Mini beyond all recognition.

Terms like "i3", "i5", and "i7" is just branding. It doesn't actually mean anything. The CPU is a massive upgrade from the prior generation.

You’re being overly generous to apple here. the prior gen is 4 years old. Any somewhat modern processor is going to obliterate the prior gen because the prior gen is actually 4 generations old in intel terms.

 

[EightyTwenty]

You’re being overly generous to apple here. the prior gen is 4 years old. Any somewhat modern processor is going to obliterate the prior gen because the prior gen is actually 4 generations old in intel terms.

I'm very hard on Apple usually, but I can't find any reason to be hard on them for the 2018 Mini. I think they knocked it out of the park, especially if RAM is easily user upgradeable to 64GB. That is just insane, for Mac standards.

For the average user (a category I place myself into) this could realistically be a computer that lasts me over 10 years (comfortably) before needing an upgrade. I have absolutely no complaints.

 

[harvester32]

highest spec cpu 2012/lowest spec cpu 2018
CPU Mark, 8123 / 8095

So its no real update from my quad core 2012 2.6ghz... meh. Have to go up a bit and its getting really expensive then. Have 16gb Ram as well no we are up to really substantial prices.. and need to add extra external storage etc.

Well that's only a portion of it. You're right that the CPU speed is on par with the fastest version in 2012 and the base model in 2018, however it does not take into consideration memory speed, bus speed changes, IO speed enhancements (TB3, Heck, Wireless AC that wasn't even mentioned as the 2012 has wireless N, 10GB ethernet, USB C, etc.). All that together means the base model will deliver FAR more than the souped up 2012. I have a 2012 i7 and I too am on the fence, but I think my 2012 has lasted so long BECAUSE i bought future proofing and upgraded to the best spec. But for the casual user, the 2018 base will blow the doors off the 2012 in any config.

 

[fhturner]

Price sounds spot on (Next Computer in 2024?)

Uh, no.

It’ll push dual 4K displays so I’ll have some time for those displays to go down in price.

Will actually do three 4K displays (TB3 x 2 + HDMI), or a 5K and a 4K.

The 2018 blows the 2012 clean out of the water on every possible metric.

It's supposed to blow the 2012 clean out of the water— it's SIX YEARS newer! If we expected to pay substantially more for each iteration of improved performance for our tech, nobody would be able to buy them these days, compared to the days of the original Mac or Apple II even.

$800 for an i3 and 128 GB is disappointing.

Why? This i3 positively OBLITERATES the i5 in the 2014 Mini beyond all recognition.

As above, this isn't 2014 or 2012, this is 2018. And $800 for a non-HT, quad-core i3 and only 128GB of SSD storage (when 250GB of NVMe can be had for under $100) most definitely IS a crap deal.

All of this is a shame because I do feel they made a nice machine. Just horrendously overpriced.

 

[QCassidy352]

I'm very hard on Apple usually, but I can't find any reason to be hard on them for the 2018 Mini. I think they knocked it out of the park, especially if RAM is easily user upgradeable to 64GB. That is just insane, for Mac standards.

For the average user (a category I place myself into) this could realistically be a computer that lasts me over 10 years (comfortably) before needing an upgrade. I have absolutely no complaints.

I think it's a good machine with all the upgrades we wanted, but the price is high.

If apple had been updating the mini annually with modern processors (as they damn well should have), this would be a total nothing spec bump over 2017. They're getting more credit just because they let it languish for 4 years, so of course this upgrade looks good (anything would!).

Betcha a coke we don't see user upgradable RAM... I guess we'll see soon when ifixit or someone like that does a teardown.

 

[beer barrel]

Well that's only a portion of it. You're right that the CPU speed is on par with the fastest version in 2012 and the base model in 2018, however it does not take into consideration memory speed, bus speed changes, IO speed enhancements (TB3, Heck, Wireless AC that wasn't even mentioned as the 2012 has wireless N, 10GB ethernet, USB C, etc.). All that together means the base model will deliver FAR more than the souped up 2012. I have a 2012 i7 and I too am on the fence, but I think my 2012 has lasted so long BECAUSE i bought future proofing and upgraded to the best spec. But for the casual user, the 2018 base will blow the doors off the 2012 in any config.

Ain't that the truth. I've got the base 2012 model - original HDD still inside but unused - my SSD is mounted on an external STAE129 which has been performing flawlessly with a Crucial MX something half-terabyte drive - thunderbolt threaded through to my second monitor because, for some reason, MacOS won't let you daisy chain through the monitors themselves. (Windows works ...).

Still does a fine job - SSD is really where it's all at ...

 

[Kung gu]

Uh, no.

uh, yes

 

[Hater]

Contacted Apple support about this. They said that the ram is not considered user upgradable and unauthorised modifications will void the warranty. Which basically means it’s technically possible but don’t let them catch you. Kind of sucks as a policy. Would be much better if they said ram is user upgradable but any damage caused during upgrade is not covered.
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See my answer above.

That is nothing new, it goes with all of their machines.

I have had the display in my home-upgraded 21.5" iMac replaced due to backlight failure, it had non-Apple RAM, non Apple HDD + SSD and a non-Apple CPU in it.

Anecdotal though, so as always YMMV.

 

[legato01]

The new Mac Mini is really well spec'd for what it is. I'm leaning towards the i5 model with 8GB RAM(I'll upgrade to 32GB myself.) and 512GB SSD.

Consider the processor bump to i7 before memory or SSD.

For $200 more, this gives you twice the CPU capacity, i.e. only i7 has Hyperthreading. i5 does not.

 

[Totally]

Solid update in my opinion. Unfortunately, I think it's too expensive for what you get. It's $2000+++ to get an i7 with a 512GB SSD and at least 16GB ram. Can build that in a PC for a little more than half the price, including a mediocre GPU. Nice update to aging hardware, a little too expensive though.

 

[Cape Dave]

I'm very hard on Apple usually, but I can't find any reason to be hard on them for the 2018 Mini. I think they knocked it out of the park, especially if RAM is easily user upgradeable to 64GB. That is just insane, for Mac standards.

For the average user (a category I place myself into) this could realistically be a computer that lasts me over 10 years (comfortably) before needing an upgrade. I have absolutely no complaints.

I agree. It is a fair and decent upgrade. It is enough for me to consider buying one and I really do not need a computer. I have always loved the mac mini. Great form factor. Classy looking. And good performer (I had the late 2012). Also, and this is most important... quiet. This remains to be heard on the new mini
[doublepost=1540960763][/doublepost]To the OP. Did you forget what forum you are on? You would be way lucky if 30% were happy LOL! Me, I am happy. A bit late, but a fair and decent upgrade.

 

[Altis]

Consider the processor bump to i7 before memory or SSD.

For $200 more, this gives you twice the CPU capacity, i.e. only i7 has Hyperthreading. i5 does not.

Isn't that only true for desktop CPUs?

The Mini uses laptop CPUs, which I believe have HT on the i5. I know the one in my ThinkPad has it and it's an i5.

Anyways, new Mini is good news, but crikey the price. Starts at CAD $1000 here, which is a pile of money to pay for what's effectively a bog standard headless laptop.

 

[Naimfan]

Soldered and expensive storage is absurd. As is the overall pricing, but that's what Apple does.

That said, I'd buy one if storage were user-upgradable.

 

[tpivette89]

Isn't that only true for desktop CPUs?

The Mini uses laptop CPUs, which I believe have HT on the i5. I know the one in my ThinkPad has it and it's an i5.

Anyways, new Mini is good news, but crikey the price. Starts at CAD $1000 here, which is a pile of money to pay for what's effectively a bog standard headless laptop.

The outgoing mini used laptop CPUs, but the just announced mini uses desktop CPUs

 

[TheGenerous]

$799 is actually better than I expected. Older Mac mini with 128 GB was about the same price, but with non-upgradable RAM.

It's quite expensive for me. My Mac Mini (late 2012) had 500 GB and even after upgrading it myself with dual storage HD and SSD (128 GB) and 16 GB Ram still cheaper

 

[Chatran]

People here should be happy. Apple really did what they mostly said... They want upgradable RAM, no mechanical harddisk, desktop CPUs, etc

It would amaze me if they still complain about it.

 

[WilliamG]

People here should be happy. Apple really did what they mostly said... They want upgradable RAM, no mechanical harddisk, desktop CPUs, etc

It would amaze me if they still complain about it.

Base price-to-spec ratio is just mediocre/passable. When you do any upgrades it becomes a joke. I know this is standard Apple practice but with something as comparatively simple as a Mac mini it just feels like a punch in the teeth.

 

[Kung gu]

Base price-to-spec ratio is just mediocre/passable. When you do any upgrades it becomes a joke. I know this is standard Apple practice but with something as comparatively simple as a Mac mini it just feels like a punch in the teeth.

thats why base line i5 256gb 8gb ram is the way to go. Upgrade ram yourself.

 

[WilliamG]

thats why base line i5 256gb 8gb ram is the way to go. Upgrade ram yourself.

The i7, though, is a lot faster with hyperthreading. And that’s even more money, disproportionately so. The upgrade price is more than the processor purchase itself. It’s just madness.

 

[legato01]

thats why base line i5 256gb 8gb ram is the way to go. Upgrade ram yourself.

Whoever priced the new 2018 Mac Mini is an (evil) genius.

Issue with the base model i3 is the 128GB SSD capacity, so you should at least get the i3 256GB model.

But if you choose the i3 with 256GB SSD ($999), might as well add $100 more for the i5 which gets you 6 cores.

Nothing wrong with the i5, it's just that for $200 more, you get 2x (!!!) the CPU capacity with 6 cores and Hyperthreading.

 

[WilliamG]

Whoever priced the new 2018 Mac Mini is an (evil) genius.

Issue with the base model i3 is the 128GB SSD capacity, so you should at least get the i3 256GB model.

But if you choose the i3 with 256GB SSD ($999), might as well add $100 more for the i5 which gets you 6 cores.

Nothing wrong with the i5, it's just that for $200 more, you get 2x (!!!) the CPU capacity with 6 cores and Hyperthreading.

And that’s exactly the issue. And it’s expensive for that config. And then to add RAM, Applecare etc. Sigh.

 

[revmacian]

I'm definitely happy! I'll probably be buying the new Mac mini sometime around Christmas.