M1 Mac mini teardown

[Kaida]

Credits to @tagy @mikeboss and itsage from egpu.io forum:

[Teardown] Late 2020 Mac mini: Apple Silicon M1, Thunderbolt...

As soon as the M1 Mac mini arrived, I tore it down to confirm a few things Apple didn't make clear. All M1 Macs come with Thunderbolt 4 ports. I prepa...

egpu.io

 

[Maccotto]

Can we please get an teardown video of this soon? It's still not available for order here and I'm having withdrawal symptoms lol

I think won’t necessary because is the same build of old Mac mini but with 2 difference:
1 all is soldered because M1 have has ram+gpu+coi in the sera e chip
2 the Mac mini m1 has only 2 usb c port

 

[Fishrrman]

An outfit like ifixit.com may do a "teardown" of the m1 Mini, but I doubt they'll find anything that's actually "repairable" or replaceable inside (other than the power supply, perhaps).

It will probably earn their absolute lowest rating for "repairability"...

 

[weaztek]

Not a teardown video but here's a look inside the bottom cover until more substantial teardown videos arrive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326750386691059714

 

[Cookie18]

Not a teardown video but here's a look inside the bottom cover until more substantial teardown videos arrive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326750386691059714

That is almost comically empty lol. I can't wait to see some redesigns of all the Macs on offer.

 

[Kaida]

Not a teardown video but here's a look inside the bottom cover until more substantial teardown videos arrive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1326750386691059714

That almost confirmed ram and ssd upgrades are no longer possible.

 

[CC88]

Not a teardown video but here's a look inside the bottom cover until more substantial teardown videos arrive.

So we can add a second nvme disk in the M1? 🤣

 

[Pressure]

 

[weaztek]

Well, it looks like there is room for more ThunderBolt ports in the next revision.

 

[opeter]

Can we please get an teardown video of this soon? It's still not available for order here and I'm having withdrawal symptoms lol

The repair score will be 0 or maybe 1. Out of 10.

 

[littlefooch]

The 2 'USB-C' ports are actually USB4 ports (vs TB3); with USB4, the architecture allows connection to a hub for multiple TB3 connections

 

[djjeff]

Being the M1 is an SoC this new Mini is comparable to a Raspberry Pi. In fact a Raspberry Pi may be more upgradable.

 

[Kaida]

From the benchmarks, it seems that the scores are pretty good compared with the 2018 Mac minis! Intel will be out of biz soon if Apple Silicon and Ryzen are keeping it up!

 

[Maccotto]

The 2 'USB-C' ports are actually USB4 ports (vs TB3); with USB4, the architecture allows connection to a hub for multiple TB3 connections

Yes but from 4 usb c to 2 usb c mean you can connect 2 less pheripherals .
In my mini 2018 i have attached : docking hub, egpu and mouse/hub (i dont remember now)

With mini 2020 i can use only egpu and hub (attach other hub at hub is a ugly image)

 

[TheRealAlex]

That is almost comically empty lol. I can't wait to see some redesigns of all the Macs on offer.

Mac Mini Desk Lamp.

 

[Kaida]

seems some users on youtube got it already. I think we will get a teardown really soon!

 

[barturas]

seems some users on youtube got it already. I think we will get a teardown really soon!

hey @Klaida, are you an Error?

 

[edk99]

seems some users on youtube got it already. I think we will get a teardown really soon!

Not sure what your expecting to find. There is zero reason to open these things up. Nothing can be added or swapped.

 

[i486dx2-66]

Not sure what your expecting to find. There is zero reason to open these things up. Nothing can be added or swapped.

It's not about what can be serviced on the 2020 M1 Mac Mini.
It's about what the platform enables for the 2021 Mac Mini.

Empty space = flexibility, and small volume PCB+thermal is a jumping-off point for a new form factor.

This M1 Mini is looking to be a phenomenal first go. But the designers knew what to change, and what to leave alone. The second ARM-powered Mini is where they will really refine the entire design and realize its potential.

 

[thingstoponder]

It's not about what can be serviced on the 2020 M1 Mac Mini.
It's about what the platform enables for the 2021 Mac Mini.

Empty space = flexibility, and small volume PCB+thermal is a jumping-off point for a new form factor.

This M1 Mini is looking to be a phenomenal first go. But the designers knew what to change, and what to leave alone. The second ARM-powered Mini is where they will really refine the entire design and realize its potential.

Maybe they’ll use the space for a beefier Mac Mini Pro aka the current Intel space grey version. Then put the current M1 tier in something more like an Apple TV enclosure.

 

[tagy]

Some images here: https://egpu.io/forums/desktop-comp...i-apple-silicon-m1-thunderbolt-4-usb4-pcie-4/

 

[President-Elect Beachball]

Maybe they’ll use the space for a beefier Mac Mini Pro aka the current Intel space grey version. Then put the current M1 tier in something more like an Apple TV enclosure.

Why the urge to make everything so small? The way I see it better thermals = greater longevity

 

[thingstoponder]

Why the urge to make everything so small? The way I see it better thermals = greater longevity

That’s just seems to be what they would do. Smaller box, cheaper shipping, more impressive to consumers, etc. It’s not like Apple to leave empty space in a device.

 

[blackcrayon]

Being the M1 is an SoC this new Mini is comparable to a Raspberry Pi. In fact a Raspberry Pi may be more upgradable.

What makes you think that? The M1 has more PCIe lanes available- so it's more upgradable by far.

 

[blackcrayon]

Yes but from 4 usb c to 2 usb c mean you can connect 2 less pheripherals .
In my mini 2018 i have attached : docking hub, egpu and mouse/hub (i dont remember now)

With mini 2020 i can use only egpu and hub (attach other hub at hub is a ugly image)

1) You can't use your eGPU at all with the 2020 mini (though I guess nothing prevents Apple from adding support, but they don't support it now).
2) It's true you have fewer ports on the machine, but they are still Thunderbolt ports, so they can support quite a few devices downstream from them. I have no problems connecting a hub to a dock It's all behind the monitor anyway.