Apple Silicon M1 Mac Mini vs. Intel Mac Mini Buyer's Guide

[MacRumors]

In November 2020, Apple updated the Mac mini with the first Apple silicon chip for the Mac, the M1 chip. However, Apple continues to sell its older, Intel-based Mac mini. The Intel Mac mini last received a significant update in 2018, so why is Apple still selling its older Mac mini?

Curiously, rather than making the older model available for a lower price, Apple is presenting the Intel-based Mac mini as a high-end option, starting at $1,099, which is substantially more than the $699 starting price of the Apple silicon-based Mac mini. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two Mac minis is best for you.

Comparing the M1 Mac mini and the Intel Mac mini

The M1 Mac mini and the Intel Mac mini share a large number of important features such as design, storage capability, and USB-A ports. Apple lists these same features of the two devices:

Similarities

• Compact industrial design
• Up to 2TB storage
• Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
• Two USB-A ports
• HDMI 2.0 port
• Gigabit Ethernet or optional 10Gb Ethernet

Although the two Mac minis share a number of features, the two machines have more in contrast than they do in common, including memory capacity, ports, and external display capability.

Differences


M1 Mac mini

• Eight-core Apple M1 chip with eight-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
• Up to 16GB unified memory
• Support for one display up to 6K and one display up to 4K
• Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
• 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
• Silver

Intel Mac mini

• Up to six-core Intel Core i7 processor with Intel UHD Graphics 630
• Up to 64GB memory
• Support for up to three 4K displays or one 5K display and one 4K display
• Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• Space Gray

Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see exactly where Apple's Mac minis differ.

Performance

The key difference between the two Mac minis is their processors. The main Mac mini Apple now sells contains the M1 chip, which is Apple's first custom silicon SoC for the Mac. The M1 has an eight-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, and an eight-core GPU.

Apple also offers the Mac mini with two different Intel processors, a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, and a 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz. Both come with Intel UHD Graphics 630.

In Geekbench 5 averages, the 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 achieves a single-core score of 998, while the more powerful 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 model comes in with a single-core score average of 1,101.

When looking at average multi-core scores, the 3.0GHz model comes in at 4,651 while the 3.2GHz model achieves an average score of 5,474.

Early benchmarks suggest that the M1 in the Apple silicon Mac mini achieves a much higher single-core score of 1,682 and a multi-core score of 7,097, and the M1's extremely impressive performance has been demonstrated in other benchmarks.

Since the M1 is clearly more powerful than either of the Intel offerings in the Mac mini, who should consider the Intel processors? If you need to run Windows via Boot Camp, virtual machine apps that virtualize x86_64 platforms, apps which you are concerned may not run well under Rosetta 2's translation layer, or use eGPUs, the Intel Mac mini offers a more reliable option. If your workflow is dependent on older technologies, it may be better to buy the Intel Mac mini until Apple Silicon becomes more mature.

For the vast majority of users, the M1 offers a major performance increase, but a small segment of "pro" users may be better suited to an Intel-based machine.

Memory

The M1 Mac mini only supports configurations of 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, but the Intel Mac mini can support up to 64GB of memory. While 8GB or 16GB should be sufficient for most users given the efficiency of having everything integrated on one chip, some pro workflows demand much larger amounts of memory. In these cases, the Intel Mac mini, which offers significantly higher 32GB and 64GB RAM configurations, will be a much more viable option.

Connectivity and Ports

Unlike memory, where the Intel Mac mini is clearly more capable, the picture is a bit mixed when it comes to connectivity and ports.

The M1 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt and USB 4 ports, while the Intel Mac mini has four Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3 ports. So, if you need more ports the Intel Mac mini is better, but if you need to connect USB 4 devices at maximum speeds, you will need the M1 Mac mini.

Both models come with Gigabit Ethernet as standard, with 10Gb Ethernet available on both as a $100 upgrade. On the other hand, the M1 Mac mini supports 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, while the older Intel Mac mini only supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

As a result, neither of the ‌Mac mini‌ models is clearly better. Choosing between the two models will depend on what specific connectivity requirements you have. Generally, pro users may be better off getting the Intel model for now due... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Apple Silicon M1 Mac Mini vs. Intel Mac Mini Buyer's Guide

 

[MacFather]

Same 10-year old design and footprint as the Core 2 Duo version from 2010.

 

[Mcsnee]

I've never really considered a Mac Mini until now, but the M1 version seems like a great machine.

 

[JPack]

It comes down to: do you use unique commercial applications for your day to day work?

If so, stick with Intel. No matter how fast M1 is, it's irrelevant if your app doesn't work.

Otherwise, if you are a simple user that uses the Mac App Store, choose the M1.

 

[mortenb]

Main drawback for the new Mac mini is the fact it has only 2 TB ports. If you have multiple monitors and external SSD's 2 ports is just not enough. Of course you can use HDMI for one monitor but then there's no USB pass-through to the monitor.

Perhaps - I hope - this first Mac mini is just a low-end start model and a better spec version will be available later.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Current Mac Mini is late 2012 so I'll be getting either the 2020 M1 16GB or the 2018 i7 64GB.
If the Mac Mini M1 lives up to the hype and is at least the same as the 2018 i7 64GB, I'll be ordering one.
Waiting for someone to load up a "busy" Logic project and do a comparison.

And I LOVE that they stayed with same form factor for Mini M1 and kept all the legacy ports (HDMI, Headphone, USB). No dongles or adapters needed!!!

 

[RFolk]

That 16 Gb RAM limit, such a bummer.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

Weird that the M1 outperforms the Intel on benchmark tests but the Intel is marketed as a higher-end machine...

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Keep in mind that this eight core version of the M1 that is used in these new macs is a complete SOP.
The CPU, GPU, SSD, I/O controller, Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, and ram are all in one package.
this could explain why on all of these Macs, you can only go up to 2TB of storage, 16 GB of RAM, and 2 thunderbolt ports.
once Apple diversifies their processor lineup, I guarantee you that we will have more configurations.
for example, my guess is that the higher end 13 inch MacBook Pro‘s, and a 16 inch MacBook Pro will most likely have dedicated CPU, ram, GPU, and SSD. this would allow for things like up to 8 TB of storage, 64 GB of RAM, and a 16 core GPU with four thunderbolt ports.
and I’m sure that sometime next year, they will introduce higher end models of the Mac mini that have four thunderbolt ports, up to 8 TB of storage, and options for 10 Gb ethernet.
as for the iMac, I wouldn’t be surprised to see different processor options. Maybe this rumored 24 inch will have the regular eight core M1, with higher end options able to upgrade to a 12 core.

 

[Return Zero]

I am definitely tempted by the base mini (maybe bump to 16GB). I will wait as long as it takes for actual hardware redesigns on the laptops & iMac, but with the mini: you're out less cash, you get the fan for sustained power (vs. the MBA which is likewise tempting at $899), and the hardware design doesn't really matter since it just sits there.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

From what I understand, these processors are in limited quantities. That’s why Apple is using the exact same configurations for the higher end MacBook Air, MacBook pros, and the Mac mini.
even the lower end MacBook Air is most likely the exact same processor, just with the one GPU core disabled.
but that’s why none of these go past 16 GB of RAM, and none of these go past 2 TB of storage. It also explains why higher end options that used to be available for the Mac mini are not for this version, like 10 Gb ethernet.
I guarantee you as time goes by, we will see these options slowly added. I wouldn’t be surprised if in February or March of next year, options for 4 thunderbolt ports, more ram, higher SSD’s, and 10 Gb ethernet are added to the Mac mini with a silent website refresh.

 

[Laptopdog78]

Weird that the M1 outperforms the Intel on benchmark tests but the Intel is marketed as a higher-end machine...

No this is brilliant from Apple....... if they market this as the high end then it would get absolutely slated in reviews, but because they say that this is our first chip for the lower end, and it is actually smashing the high end intel says “look at what we have started with, and look forward to what we are capable of in the future”.......

 

[123]

That 16 Gb RAM limit, such a bummer.

Well that memory on a chip is a quick win for the benchmarks, and a really terrible idea.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

That 16 Gb RAM limit, such a bummer.

My guess is that more configurations will become available early next year. Kind of like how Apple added more graphics options to the 16 inch MacBook Pro earlier this year.
but they promised to release the first Apple silicon powered max by the end of this year, no matter how limited the quantity of processors, and that’s exactly what they did.

 

[chewbaka]

Same 10-year old design and footprint as the Core 2 Duo version from 2010.

So what? Why does a desktop computer's external design or footprint need to be anything more than practical?

 

[Mizouse]

I upgraded my 2012 i7 model last month to a 2018 i7 Mini. I honestly was not expecting an updated mini based off the rumors posted on MR. I probably could have waited.

That said, the 2018 does everything I need and will last me for years to come until ASi is more mature.
I also upgraded mine to 64GB RAM for $190, with the ASi Mini, that would only get me 16GB.
Did I need 64GB? No, but it was "only" $190.

 

[guzhogi]

Same 10-year old design and footprint as the Core 2 Duo version from 2010.

Honest question: do you have any specific changes that you'd like to see, or do you just want change for the sake of change?

My main gripe with the M1 Mini is why go from 4 USB-A & 4 TB3 ports to just 2 of each? If it's a limit on the M1, why not wait until you can put 4 of each before releasing an AS Mini?

 

[Freeangel1]

benchmark the i9 processor.
The i7 is so old and outdated.
most people have the i9 in iMacs and MacBook pro's

 

[guzhogi]

So what? Why does a desktop computer's external design or footprint need to be anything more than practical?

I agree. Saying "It's the same design!" without giving suggestions on changes is a pet peeve of mine.

 

[canadianreader]

Lack of egpu support makes it useless to many budget Pros despite the gains in cpu power not to mention the laughable 16gb ram limit

 

[MVMNT]

So little focus on the lack of eGPU support in that article. It was a game changer for the Mac mini, often making it a BYODKM powerhouse with.

I think it's a huge loss with this generation of Mac mini.

There's something definitely going on with GPU support outside of the M1 architecture, hence the only Pro laptop they could release was the 13 that always carried integrated graphics.

 

[dr_lha]

It comes down to: do you use unique commercial applications for your day to day work?

If so, stick with Intel. No matter how fast M1 is, it's irrelevant if your app doesn't work.

Otherwise, if you are a simple user that uses the Mac App Store, choose the M1.

How many apps "won't work" with Rosetta 2 though? Is it many? I remember the PPC transistion, it took MS a long time to port Office to Intel, I continued to use it for a long time under Rosetta. However, they already have a beta of Office for M1. I expect most pro apps to port over quickly, as the reason for the PPC conversion being so slow as due to the fact that many pro apps were written using third party PPC-only dev systems. Most Mac apps have moved over to XCode now, so recompiling for ARM architecture should be trivial.

 

[chewbaka]

Lack of egpu support makes it useless to many budget Pros despite the gains in cpu power not to mention the laughable 16gb ram limit

Enough with the 16GB RAM limit. We know this is not a pro machine. It wasn't intended to replace your 32GB RAM machine. That's why the Intel still exists. Wait for the M1X or M2 or whatever it will be called next year.

 

[PsykX]

I've never really considered a Mac Mini until now, but the M1 version seems like a great machine.

Same thoughts. I can't wait for a computer in life, I just can't. Mac Minis have always been underpowered.

But THIS? Take my money!

 

[FasterQuieter]

I am replacing my 2018 Mini with this. I can live with the reduced I/O. Losing the space grey though? That hurts.