2018 Mac mini Teardown: User-Upgradeable RAM, But Soldered Down CPU and Storage

[magbarn]

The $120-$130 1TB SSD is a SATA SSD and is much slower than the SSD in the new Mac mini. It's not really comparable.

The upgrade price is steep and in line with what Apple charges across the line up.

There were 1TB NVME drives that are almost as fast as Apple's NVME that went for $135 shipped on BF. Even now, Samsung 970 EVO NVME is going for $225. That's a far cry from the $800 Apple charges you to go from the worthless 128gb to the 1TB option on the base model.

 

[gcortesi]

This is so sad. I wish that with the high prices of upgrading the SSD storage at least exist a path for it. Now, again, I must reconsider my options and look at a hackintosh or compromise my needs...

You may want to consider using an external SSD unit. I am using a tiny Samsung T5 device that plugs directly into the USB-C port. I offload files such as dropbox and music to it and it works well at over 500 MB/second transfer rate. https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/product/portable/t5/. I reserve the internal SSD drive for system use only. It is crazy fast. I wish Apple provided more and upgradable internal storage but the external option is pretty good if you use the USB-C ports.

One note – if you want to format the Samsung device to APFS, follow this procedure. That works well as well - http://www.colejoplin.com/2018/05/13/formatting-a-samsung-t5-ssd-to-apfs/. Be sure to at least reformat it from the default format. Though it is possible to make it bootable I wouldn’t do that since the performance is good though not as great as the internal storage.

 

[Riverdragon]

Apple sticking with the Jobs idea of closing machines off versus Woz's idea of slots and the ability to upgrade and customize machines is my biggest issue with Apple. I own a 2017 Macbook Pro but it is likely to be my last. I'll probably get a Mac Mini next just to keep something for IOS development and because I can at least upgrade the RAM now(I thank Apple for that small favor), but my main computer will probably be a Windows laptop that allows me to upgrade both my storage and RAM when I need to. My second biggest issue is the keyboard. I have tried to get used to this low travel keyboard, but I find myself using my older HP laptop with a much better keyboard when my work doesn't require Mac OS, or I use an external keyboard, which isn't good for travelling. It's sad that Apple has frozen out the more technical people with their decisions like this. We don't get choices except at the time of purchase, so you had better buy a big SSD and all the RAM you think you'll need for the life of the product.

 

[stblr]

Not a fan of awfully low internal storage, but that's where just about everyone is going to, pushing non-gaming users toward cloud storage, and in line with Apple's attempt to pivot from hardware to services. Fortunately, I've got a hard drive dock already with a 4 TB external drive, and I (hopefully) still have the 16GB RAM from my previous gaming laptop to stick in. I think the four Thunderbolt/USB-C ports are the selling point for this.
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This is so sad. I wish that with the high prices of upgrading the SSD storage at least exist a path for it. Now, again, I must reconsider my options and look at a hackintosh or compromise my needs...

Even the latest gaming laptops use a 128GB or 256GB SSD for the system and a second larger HDD for everything else, so no surprises here, and Microsoft expects that you're going to use OneDrive for online storage. Plus, last I checked a Mac can be booted from an external drive and my experience has been that external drives tend to be faster than any internal hard disk I've used on one. The big sell here is the set of Thunderbolt ports.

 

[Googlyhead]

Not a fan of awfully low internal storage, but that's where just about everyone is going to, pushing non-gaming users toward cloud storage, and in line with Apple's attempt to pivot from hardware to services. Fortunately, I've got a hard drive dock already with a 4 TB external drive, and I (hopefully) still have the 16GB RAM from my previous gaming laptop to stick in. I think the four Thunderbolt/USB-C ports are the selling point for this.
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Even the latest gaming laptops use a 128GB or 256GB SSD for the system and a second larger HDD for everything else, so no surprises here, and Microsoft expects that you're going to use OneDrive for online storage. Plus, last I checked a Mac can be booted from an external drive and my experience has been that external drives tend to be faster than any internal hard disk I've used on one. The big sell here is the set of Thunderbolt ports.

Best idea is to simply treat it as a zero storage device:
Configure with the smallest (128GB) drive, minimal RAM (drop in your own), and max the rest.
Then turn off the internal entirely (for longlivity and reliability) and run everything off an external SSD (and large spinner).

 

[steve roche]

I am writing in to say that the 2018 Mac Mini that I bought last year has just died; the Apple repair dealer tells me that the motherboard/logic board is fried, and because it is soldered to the SSD (i did not know this until now), both things have to come out as one... and so the SSD is also "toast" and no data can be rerieved from it (!). I cannot tell you how angry I am with Apple for this design flaw. The shop said that basically it's a brick now unless I want to spend $700 (plus the $99 I paid them for the estimate). It's a few months out of warranty.

I am writng this from my old computer (a 2011 Mac Mini which has never had any repair issues). I won't buy another Mac Mini-- this fried logic board/motherboard problem is beginning to show up on the internet here and there... maybe the Catalina update caused it, maybe it overheated...
it's too new of a problem and I don't think it's been solved yet.
I expected at least 5 good years from this machine, not 16 months.

 

[twistedpixel8]

I am writing in to say that the 2018 Mac Mini that I bought last year has just died; the Apple repair dealer tells me that the motherboard/logic board is fried, and because it is soldered to the SSD (i did not know this until now), both things have to come out as one... and so the SSD is also "toast" and no data can be rerieved from it (!). I cannot tell you how angry I am with Apple for this design flaw. The shop said that basically it's a brick now unless I want to spend $700 (plus the $99 I paid them for the estimate). It's a few months out of warranty.

I am writng this from my old computer (a 2011 Mac Mini which has never had any repair issues). I won't buy another Mac Mini-- this fried logic board/motherboard problem is beginning to show up on the internet here and there... maybe the Catalina update caused it, maybe it overheated...
it's too new of a problem and I don't think it's been solved yet.
I expected at least 5 good years from this machine, not 16 months.

Apple’s 1 year warranty is an absolute disgrace. It only goes to show that they know their machines are not as good as they want you to think. If they thought they were built to last they’d give you a decent warranty. I’d take it to small claims or whatever the North American equivalent is.

 

[JoeInMilwaukee]

I am writing in to say that the 2018 Mac Mini that I bought last year has just died; the Apple repair dealer tells me that the motherboard/logic board is fried, and because it is soldered to the SSD (i did not know this until now), both things have to come out as one.

Just curious, which CPU is in your 2018 Mac mini (i3, i5, or i7)?

 

[Kabeyun]

Apple’s 1 year warranty is an absolute disgrace. It only goes to show that they know their machines are not as good as they want you to think. If they thought they were built to last they’d give you a decent warranty. I’d take it to small claims or whatever the North American equivalent is.

For reference:

So they’re pretty much all absolute disgraces, or is there something else about Apple that has got you in a twist? Maybe contain your outrage a wee bit for a sec?

My 2¢ is that Steve should’ve ponied up for AppleCare (3 years, full service) and had a smart backup plan, and this would’ve been a minor inconvenience.

 

[magbarn]

For reference:

So they’re pretty much all absolute disgraces, or is there something else about Apple that has got you in a twist? Maybe contain your outrage a wee bit for a sec?

My 2¢ is that Steve should’ve ponied up for AppleCare (3 years, full service) and had a smart backup plan, and this would’ve been a minor inconvenience.

Especially because Mac mini AppleCare is so much cheaper than MacBook Pro AppleCare.

 

[steve roche]

Just curious, which CPU is in your 2018 Mac mini (i3, i5, or i7)?

2018 Mac Mini SSD, 3.6Hz Intel i3
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Especially because Mac mini AppleCare is so much cheaper than MacBook Pro AppleCare.

I may have been misinformed, but I was under the impression that Apple Care was about $350, which is quite a substantial amount for this unit (which ranges from $900-$1200). Mine was about $850.

What bothers me is that you can upgrade to Apple Care within the first year (meaning you do not have to buy it at the point of sale). You can wait all the way to the 11th month after you get your computer.. but Apple does not make this known. (even if you bought the unit pre-owned and it still had a few months of regular warranty left on it... source: Forbes.com)
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For reference:

So they’re pretty much all absolute disgraces, or is there something else about Apple that has got you in a twist? Maybe contain your outrage a wee bit for a sec?

My 2¢ is that Steve should’ve ponied up for AppleCare (3 years, full service) and had a smart backup plan, and this would’ve been a minor inconvenience.

No disrespect intended, but my guess is that a lot of people end up here because they didn't have a smart backup plan. But we figure out how to fix what's wrong and get on with things. I've been fixing hand-me-down Macs since 2001, for myself and friends, and they have always been completely "fixable." I see now, this is no longer the case. My smart backup plan now is to put this thing away for a year or two, until more aftermarket logic board/SSD units are available for sale (you can only get one from Apple right now).
Then I will order one from iFixit, open up the Mac Mini and put it in. And I will have a working unit to use or to sell.

Unless the silly new "T-2" security chip bricks it, as is the case right now with people trying to work on their new Macs without taking it to Authorized Repair.. so I have read. Please correct me if I am wrong, and save me the trouble!

 

[harriska2]

My 2018 i5 1TB mac mini apple care cost $89. I got it because of the internal drive goes belly up your machine, for the most part, does, too. Plus it extended it to 2 or 3 years (can’t remember which).

 

[steve roche]

I was incorrect about the $350 price tag of Apple Care (it must have been for a fancier machine), sorry. Also I cited Forbes.com when I said you have a Year to buy Apple Care after your purchase. The Apple repair technician said no, it's only 60 days. Sorry again; I will try not to repeat things I heard without confirming them. Forbes.com is NOT a credible source for much of anything.
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Apple sticking with the Jobs idea of closing machines off versus Woz's idea of slots and the ability to upgrade and customize machines is my biggest issue with Apple. I own a 2017 Macbook Pro but it is likely to be my last. I'll probably get a Mac Mini next just to keep something for IOS development and because I can at least upgrade the RAM now(I thank Apple for that small favor), but my main computer will probably be a Windows laptop that allows me to upgrade both my storage and RAM when I need to. My second biggest issue is the keyboard. I have tried to get used to this low travel keyboard, but I find myself using my older HP laptop with a much better keyboard when my work doesn't require Mac OS, or I use an external keyboard, which isn't good for travelling. It's sad that Apple has frozen out the more technical people with their decisions like this. We don't get choices except at the time of purchase, so you had better buy a big SSD and all the RAM you think you'll need for the life of the product.

One thing I WAS told today when I went to pick up my "bricked" 2018 Mac Mini from repair is that yes, it has the "T-2 Security Chip" and this means that I cannot open it up myself and replace the logic board/SSD, only a certified Apple repair can do this because they will have the 'magic code' or whatever. Otherwise-- my repair won't work and possibly the expensive new logic board will be damaged (it will self-sabotoge). My orignal plan was to put it away in a closet for a year or two until 'mac mini' logic-board/SSD units become more available online (and cheaper), and then just order one. Not so sure now....

So, they advised that I just "discard" (or recycle?) the 2018 Mac Mini because spending $800 to replace the logic board/SSD it is more than the cost of a new one (plus Apple Care, LOL). So I've thrown away my original $850. Yay!
I'm afraid more Apple products will come with a "do not repair" sticker, or something. I am not liking this "T-2" security chip. If I want to fix this myself, why shouldn't I be able to?

I think I will just get a used mini or imac from a trusted 3rd party, rather than giving Apple any more money for now.