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New Mac as a third computer

skaertus

skaertus

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 23, 2009
4,281
1,443
Brazil
I am thinking of buying a new Mac to have it as my third computer. I have recently bought a Dell XPS desktop (i7-14700, 32 GB, RTX 4070) and a Galaxy Book4 Pro laptop (Ultra 7 155h, 16 GB), but I am also considering a Mac to go alongside them.

The Mac would be mainly connected to an external 27-inch 5K Samsung Viewfinity S9 monitor via a Thunderbolt connection. For this reason, I am torn between a 13-inch MacBook Air and a Mac mini. The advantage of the MacBook Air is that I would need only the Thunderbolt cable to connect it to the monitor and to power it up (and also it can serve as a laptop as well). The Mac Mini obviously is cheaper.

I have two types of questions. First, which would be the advantages and disadvantages of the form factors, mainly:
  • Can the Mac Mini be powered via the Thunderbolt connection as well or does it need the power cord?
  • Are the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini equally responsive to wake up from sleep when I move the mouse or touch the keyboard? I ask this because Windows PCs are notably different in this respect (while a desktop PC will wake up immediately, a laptop may not and may require the lid to be opened, which is annoying).
  • Is there any perceived difference in performance between a MacBook and a Mac Mini with the same configuration (due to less throttling, for instance)? Or is this mainly theoretical?
Second, I would like to know about the configuration I should get. As this is a third computer, I do not need anything particularly powerful. I would basically browse the Internet, use Microsoft Office apps, read PDFs, index and search files, but not edit videos or anything much more demanding. Also, as I have already bought two other devices, I would like to spend as little as possible in this third one. And, as I live in Brazil, Mac prices are beyond the roof. Said that:
  • Which processor would be most recommended? An M3 or M4 would be sure bets, but would an M1 still be good at this point?
  • How much RAM would be fine? Would 8 GB suffice? Or is 16 GB highly recommended?
  • How much storage should I get? Would 256 GB be enough to install the required apps, or 512 GB would be a necessity?
Basically these are the options I can get here (lowest prices I can find, all in grey market, Apple prices are way more expensive):
  • M1 MacBook Air, 8 GB, 256 GB: $880
  • M2 MacBook Air, 8 GB, 256 GB: $1,080
  • M3 MacBook Air, 8 GB, 256 GB: $1,325
  • M3 MacBook Air, 8 GB, 512 GB: 1,465
  • M3 MacBook Air, 16 GB, 512 GB: $1,860
  • M2 Mac Mini, 8 GB, 256 GB: $745
  • M2 Mac Mini, 8 GB, 512 GB: $980
  • M4 Mac Mini, 16 GB, 256 GB: $980 (arrives in Feb/2025)
  • M4 Mac Mini, 16 GB, 512 GB: $1,200 (arrives in Feb/2025)
  • M4 Mac Mini, 16 Gb, 256 GB: $1,315 (available now)
  • M4 Mac Mini, 16 GB, 512 GB: $1,930 (available now)
Which one would be more suitable for my needs?

Thanks for the help.
 
your needs are pretty light so if you want the mac as a novelty device (you're not doing anything with it you can't already do on your two computers) then why not get the cheapest option? Especially since you said this is a consideration. I would rock a mini personally any day. I have quite a few of them actually!
 
I recommend a Base Mac Mini M4 for your needs. They are amazing little machines!
 
skaertus said:
I have two types of questions. First, which would be the advantages and disadvantages of the form factors, mainly:
  • Can the Mac Mini be powered via the Thunderbolt connection as well or does it need the power cord?
Click to expand...
No and yes.
skaertus said:
  • Are the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini equally responsive to wake up from sleep when I move the mouse or touch the keyboard? I ask this because Windows PCs are notably different in this respect (while a desktop PC will wake up immediately, a laptop may not and may require the lid to be opened, which is annoying).
Click to expand...
There is less difference in Mac hardware between laptops and desktops. The external screen might be slower in waking up.
skaertus said:
  • Is there any perceived difference in performance between a MacBook and a Mac Mini with the same configuration (due to less throttling, for instance)? Or is this mainly theoretical?
Click to expand...
Nothing relevant to your use case.
skaertus said:
Which one would be more suitable for my needs?
Click to expand...
Since you have two very capable computers and you just want to "try out?" a Mac with some basic tasks, my recommendation is a used M1 Mac mini.
 
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nathan_reilly said:
your needs are pretty light so if you want the mac as a novelty device (you're not doing anything with it you can't already do on your two computers) then why not get the cheapest option? Especially since you said this is a consideration. I would rock a mini personally any day. I have quite a few of them actually!
Click to expand...
You mean the M2 or the M4 Mac mini?
 
Basic75 said:
No and yes.

There is less difference in Mac hardware between laptops and desktops. The external screen might be slower in waking up.

Nothing relevant to your use case.

Since you have two very capable computers and you just want to "try out?" a Mac with some basic tasks, my recommendation is a used M1 Mac mini.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

Well, I already had four Macs, but all of them were powered by Intel. So it is not that I am "trying out", as I am pretty used to macOs. But it would be my first M-powered Mac.
 
Thanks for all the help. I just ordered the Mac mini M4 with 16 GB and 256 GB storage, which I found for $980 arriving next week (the cheapest I could find here). Hopefully it is enough!
 
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Nguyen Duc Hieu said:
I just wonder why it is so expensive to buy Apple computers in your country? Import duty?
Click to expand...
Yes.

The import duty is 60% over price + freight, there is a sales tax of 18% over the final price, and additional taxes apply as well. Total taxation is over 100%.

Some people bring products from abroad and sell them in a "grey market", but they charge a hefty premium for the risk of being caught, as this is illegal and the current government is hungry for taxes.

The result is that we have the most expensive electronics in the world.

P.S.: if you think Apple products are expensive here, you haven't seen the price of cars. A Toyota Corolla is almost a luxury item, and aimed at the upper middle class.
 
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