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2018 MBP vs 2020 mini

dotzero123

dotzero123

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 3, 2018
554
529
Philadelphia Suburbs
I have a 2018 MPB that I'm consider trading in to pick up my first mini. Apart from portability, would I be sacrificing anything? It wouldn't cost much at all to make the change and my new device would be covered by Apple. I've never had an apple desktop and am curious if anyone sees advantages/disadvantages to doing this. (my laptop lives in clamshell mode w/ keyboard, mouse and monitor).
 
That will depend a lot on how you use it, and a little bit on what model specifically your current MBP is.


Personally I wouldn't jump head first into an Arm (i.e M1) Mac without an existing one around to use in case something doesn't work. This isn't like just switching from your laptop to a desktop. I'm sure Apple have done great work to support apps built for Intel Macs on them, but until you try it, the best anyone can say is "yes <insert app here> should work fine".


Also keep in mind that if you use a lot of external devices, the M1 mini has only two TB3/USB-C ports. This is probably not a deal breaker for many/most, but some of us have lots of external devices.
 
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Same though I got 2020 mini. You'll be fine. Handy to have a USB keyboard for rare time needed. Monitor may need a new USBC type cable, HDMI seems to be mentioned as an issue in other threads.

I'd spend $200 on 16GB. I got $250 for my 2015 MacBook so you'll get much more.
 
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Thank you! I wish they were available in store but might order anyway. I love the idea of some new tech and really don't do much with my laptop - I figure the trade in will just go down so might take the plunge.
 
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IowaLynn said:
Handy to have a USB keyboard for rare time needed.
Click to expand...

This is why i really like the Apple wireless keyboard. Plug it in via the lightning charge cable (with the other end connected to the Mac/a hub plugged into the Mac) and it will behave as a regular USB keyboard. Perfect for boot sequences, or when diagnosing BT problems.
 
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Stephen.R said:
This is why i really like the Apple wireless keyboard. Plug it in via the lightning charge cable (with the other end connected to the Mac/a hub plugged into the Mac) and it will behave as a regular USB keyboard. Perfect for boot sequences, or when diagnosing BT problems.
Click to expand...
I didn't know that, handy!
 
Hello, you did not clarify what you currently use the MBP for or what you would use the Mac Mini for.
If you use it professionally for development (xCode), audio or video editing (FinalCut, LogicPro) or something like that, I would be a little careful since new things can always lead to incompatibilities.
If it's for personal use, go ahead and be one of the first in this transition to Apple's M1 chips :)
I am a user of a Mac Mini 2018 (Intel) and I also have a Macbook Air and Pro, and you will not lose anything, in fact the Mac Mini is much more powerful (and I suppose the M1 too) than most Macbooks.
 
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My computing needs are currently light. I appreciate your feedback, though! I enjoy my laptop and thought it would be fun to have a more robust and up to date mini for a time.
 
dotzero123 said:
My computing needs are currently light. I appreciate your feedback, though! I enjoy my laptop and thought it would be fun to have a more robust and up to date mini for a time.
Click to expand...
I am confused as to what benefit you would obtain by moving to the Mini. It appears your usage is light and the MBP is easily meeting those needs. If you were to replace it with the M1 Mini what would you gain? If it's just having some new tech then by all means go for it. Otherwise I'm not sure there's any benefit.

One thing that would help us is if you could provide additional information on your current MBP configuration.
 
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djjeff said:
I am confused as to what benefit you would obtain by moving to the Mini. It appears your usage is light and the MBP is easily meeting those needs. If you were to replace it with the M1 Mini what would you gain? If it's just having some new tech then by all means go for it. Otherwise I'm not sure there's any benefit.

One thing that would help us is if you could provide additional information on your current MBP configuration.
Click to expand...
Base model '18 MBP - I'm not having any issues with it but enjoy trying new tech. I also am considering as the trade in value seemed pretty good right now and assumed that the newer M1 processor and 8 core CPU would be an upgrade of sorts. I can also extend apple care warranty another 2 years.
 
dotzero123 said:
Base model '18 MBP - I'm not having any issues with it but enjoy trying new tech. I also am considering as the trade in value seemed pretty good right now and assumed that the newer M1 processor and 8 core CPU would be an upgrade of sorts. I can also extend apple care warranty another 2 years.
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This said the only upside I can see for your doing this is to try the new tech.
 
I guess that I just assumed that a newer processor would be more future proof. Not sure, though. I don't know as much as I should re: what the practical differences (if any) would be in having more cores and a faster processor.
 
dotzero123 said:
I guess that I just assumed that a newer processor would be more future proof. Not sure, though. I don't know as much as I should re: what the practical differences (if any) would be in having more cores and a faster processor.
Click to expand...
It doesn't appear your workload requires a more future proof system. It sounds as if your current system easily meets your needs for now and into the future. Should that change you can evaluate your needs at that time. If you want to get the new Mini due to the new technology then by all means do so, nothing wrong with getting a want versus a need. Just understand that's what it is :)

That said I am not so sure the just released M1 systems are more future proof than current Intel based systems. I say that not because of any inherent limitation of the M1 systems compared to Intel but rather Apple's arbitrary (at least to the public) decisions to end support for first generation systems. I haven't done any actual analysis to support this comment so take it with a grain of salt but it seems to me the first generation Apple systems lose support sooner than I (and I would say the public) think they should.
 
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Your use of monitor already along with kb and mouse means you not on battery which makes mini a good choice. Quiet small. If you don't have 16GB I would. I find Photos, multiple browsers along with Office were too much for my 8GB MacBook to handle.
 
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Thank you both so much for your advice! I think that I’ll wait just a little longer before purchasing to make sure I make the right choice. The memory upgrade to 16GB will likely bring the price up a bit but also makes sense. Should be in stores soon and I’ll research a bit further before jumping in headlong. I agree that Apple should provide clarity regarding support for older generations of its product, but this uncertainty gets folks like me to feel more vulnerable as their systems age and considering newer tech. (I will add that Apple support has been exceptional as compared to the industry at by large IMO).
 
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