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Deals: 2018 Mac Mini Discounted by Up to $250 Following Launch of 2020 Models

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B&H Photo and Amazon have begun discounting Apple's Mac mini from 2018, following the recent launch of a refreshed model this week. The only change in the 2020 Mac mini is that the new models come with double the storage capacity for the standard configurations.

macmini2018.jpg
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At both B&H Photo and Amazon you can get the 128GB Mac mini (3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i3) for $679.00, down from $799.00 ($120 off). This is $10 away from being the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model of the Mac mini, and the best deal currently available among the major Apple resellers online.

At B&H Photo, you can get the 256GB Mac mini (3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5) for $849.00, down from $1,099.00 ($250 off). This is the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model, and beating prices seen at rival retailers like Best Buy by $50.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Article Link: Deals: 2018 Mac Mini Discounted by Up to $250 Following Launch of 2020 Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/03/20/deals-2018-mac-mini/
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MacRumors said:
B&H Photo and Amazon have begun discounting Apple's Mac mini from 2018, following the recent launch of a refreshed model this week. The only change in the 2020 Mac mini is that the new models come with double the storage capacity for the standard configurations.

Article Link: Deals: 2018 Mac Mini Discounted by Up to $250 Following Launch of 2020 Models
Click to expand...

If the only difference is a dropping of the 128 GB SSD and a price change, how can it be called a "2020 Model"??
 
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I've had this model since release and it's been great! Not sure I'd go with 128GB though. Also, with the $170 jump to 256GB, I'd consider a external 1TB NVMe drive over USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt instead.

Or just buy a new 2020 Mini.
 
I can see myself picking up a Mini once my Macbook Air pops. It's going on 10 years and still kicking though. I just don't really need a portable Mac anymore.

Thanks for attending my TED Talk.
 
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I bought one of these 2018's refurbed as soon as they started becoming available, I want to say I paid around $950 for the 256GB model with the i5. It runs software that manages 16 HD cameras and all of my home automation scripts and web servers (and content caching). With the hardware HEVC support, it sits under 10% CPU. Crazy good machine for the money now that they have NVMe SSD memory. They run super hot though, but it seems to be normal behavior.
 
With school out, I have two kids wanting to use my Mac while I'm working. So on Monday I ordered the Mac mini (i5 256GB 8GB) from B&H for $949. That was already a decent deal from the $1,099 price elsewhere (found on AppleInsider's price guide.)

When Apple doubled the storage on Wednesday, B&H dropped the price to $899. I opened a chat and they refunded me $50 in less than a minute.

After seeing on MacRumors that the price was now $849, I opened another chat and B&H refunded another $50. Good customer service!
 
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BGPL said:
I bought one of these 2018's refurbed as soon as they started becoming available, I want to say I paid around $950 for the 256GB model with the i5. It runs software that manages 16 HD cameras and all of my home automation scripts and web servers (and content caching). With the hardware HEVC support, it sits under 10% CPU. Crazy good machine for the money now that they have NVMe SSD memory. They run super hot though, but it seems to be normal behavior.
Click to expand...

I did the same and bought a 500gb one on refurb. The SSD makes such a difference compared to the old 5400rpm spinner.
 
Well, at least I don't feel bad buying my refurbished Mac Mini last February
 
jamiemcd said:
With school out, I have two kids wanting to use my Mac while I'm working. So on Monday I ordered the Mac mini (i5 256GB 8GB) from B&H for $949. That was already a decent deal from the $1,099 price elsewhere (found on AppleInsider's price guide.)

When Apple doubled the storage on Wednesday, B&H dropped the price to $899. I opened a chat and they refunded me $50 in less than a minute.

After seeing on MacRumors that the price was now $849, I opened another chat and B&H refunded another $50. Good customer service!
Click to expand...

B&H have always had excellent customer service. Going back years. It’s great they did that for you with zero hassle.
 
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kubaw said:
Strange, that there is no support for 6K thought, since new Air is getting it.
Click to expand...

It actually isn't, since the 2020 Mac Mini is using the same systemboard as the 2018 Mac Mini which means it is also still using the Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt controller which cannot drive a Pro Display XDR at native 6K resolution.

Once Intel releases a CPU upgrade option for the Mac Mini, Apple will design a new systemboard for it and move to Titan Ridge for the TB controller and that can drive a Pro Display XDR at 6K. All the recent Mac model refreshes that have added Pro Display 6K support have received new systemboards due to Intel releasing CPU upgrade options and all have moved from Alpine Ridge to Titan Ridge as part of that process.

Next rumored systemboard and CPU upgrade is the 2020 iMac Pro so that will get TR and 6K support.
 
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Apple seem to have a tick/tock upgrade scheme for the macmini. Except it's tick/take where you get one good tick upgrade and then one take the pis upgrade like this and the 2014 upgrade. The 2012 and 2018 were the good ones obviously. I'll wait for tick time thanks.
 
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B&H i5 option showed 879 and i bailed.

However shortly thereafter found a refurb i5 on apple's site for $749. score!
 
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CWallace said:
It actually isn't, since the 2020 Mac Mini is using the same systemboard as the 2018 Mac Mini which means it is also still using the Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt controller which cannot drive a Pro Display XDR at native 6K resolution.

Once Intel releases a CPU upgrade option for the Mac Mini, Apple will design a new systemboard for it and move to Titan Ridge for the TB controller and that can drive a Pro Display XDR at 6K. All the recent Mac model refreshes that have added Pro Display 6K support have received new systemboards due to Intel releasing CPU upgrade options and all have moved from Alpine Ridge to Titan Ridge as part of that process.

Next rumored systemboard and CPU upgrade is the 2020 iMac Pro so that will get TR and 6K support.
Click to expand...

Are we guessing this happens fall 2020 or this time in 2021?
 
StangGT909 said:
Are we guessing this (new CPU and TB controller) happens fall 2020 or this time in 2021?
Click to expand...

It will depend on if and when Intel releases a B-Series of the 65W Comet Lake-S chips. Intel skipped the 9th Generation (hence why the Mac Mini is still on the 8th Generation), but I like to think that they will release a 10th Generation as it would have more cores so there is a tangible benefit to OEMs and their customers to buy a PC with those CPUs).
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