Price Comparison: 2018 Msc Mini vs. 2019 21.5" and 27" iMacs

[purduealum91]

Hello everyone,

Here's a cost comparison of the subject 3 machines configured the way I would want them:

To me, the 21.5" iMac offers no benefit over the Mac Mini or the 27" iMac. I still think the Mac Mini comes out ahead of the 27" iMac as I configured them above.

Your thoughts?

 

[crsh1976]

The only main difference is the lack of a discrete GPU on the Mini - you technically should add at least $300-400 for a midrange eGPU to compare it to the iMacs (since you have iMacs with additional RAM and a 256 GB SSD to compare costs).

Essentially, Apple has run these use cases and prices kinda align if you have the same sort of all-'round features regardless if it's modular or an AIO.

 

[purduealum91]

Yes, you are correct. I added a eGPU and these are my updated numbers:

 

[adamk77]

 

 

[harriska2]

What are you using it for that requires a egpu?

 

[Nihilvor]

I have one MacMini and had been considering buying a second. Where the Imac wins out is if I am considering a 21.5" Imac (which is a serious consideration) with the specific features I highlight here. It makes no sense financially for me to put the money into a 27" based on what I could build and my needs for an MacMini. If I end up wanting the bigger screen, I'll probably end up with another MacMini.

However, when it comes to the Mac Mini vs the 21.5" (with the 560x Card), it's interesting how that changes, and the Imac becomes appealing (note that the prices are from the education store and that, instead of having Apple update the memory, I am going with the extra internal space). I also get another mouse and keyboard with the Imac, and I can't complain about that.

 

[smbu2000]

However, when it comes to the Mac Mini vs the 21.5" (with the 560x Card), it's interesting how that changes, and the Imac becomes appealing (note that the prices are from the education store and that, instead of having Apple update the memory, I am going with the extra internal space). I also get another mouse and keyboard with the Imac, and I can't complain about that.

You should note that it is more difficult to upgrade the RAM on the 21” imac. You have to physically cut through the adhesive holding the display on the computer before you can access the internals.
I don’t know if you have to unscrew and remove the logic board of it to access the RAM slots as I haven’t checked out a teardown from the recent 21” models.

On the mini you do have to unscrew to take it apart, but overall it is not too difficult if you have some experience.

The 27” imac is the easiest to upgrade as it has a RAM access door on the back of the machine.

I’m fairly experienced with working with and disassembling macs myself, but on my old late 2013 21” imac I never bothered to upgrade to 16gb of RAM and just used an external SSD with it as cutting through the adhesive is a real hassle and trying to make sure that you don’t screw anything up (a la Linus Tech Tips who dropped and broke their imac pro screen after taking it off the machine).

 

[dimme]

I have one MacMini and had been considering buying a second. Where the Imac wins out is if I am considering a 21.5" Imac (which is a serious consideration) with the specific features I highlight here. It makes no sense financially for me to put the money into a 27" based on what I could build and my needs for an MacMini. If I end up wanting the bigger screen, I'll probably end up with another MacMini.

However, when it comes to the Mac Mini vs the 21.5" (with the 560x Card), it's interesting how that changes, and the Imac becomes appealing (note that the prices are from the education store and that, instead of having Apple update the memory, I am going with the extra internal space). I also get another mouse and keyboard with the Imac, and I can't complain about that.

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I do not think $210 for a 27" monitor is a fair compartment to a iMac display.

 

[russell_314]

The Mac mini is "cheaper" because you're buying less components. You're not buying a GPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. If you want to do a fair comparison price wise you would have to add the Apple keyboard and mouse, GPU of the same type in the iMac, eGPU enclosure, and an equivalent monitor. None of these comparisons seem to do this.

This being said I bought a Mac mini because I had a monitor, keyboard, and mouse so I could save money. I plan to buy an eGPU later. My monitor isn't even close to what's on the iMac but I'll upgrade that later as wel.

 

[Nihilvor]

I do not think $210 for a 27" monitor is a fair compartment to a iMac display.

Certainly, the 21.5 has the superior monitor, but I picked something to keep the cost of the MacMini down in my calculation. It would be better, for the sake of producing a similar unit, to compare a $250 23” monitor, of which there are better examples. I also recognize that, from the other side, I could easily tweak my options to get an affordable, better-quality egpu that would put the 560x to shame.

What I’m seeing is that, if you want something that will cost less than $1,400 pretax, the MacMini is a better deal. Also, if you want something that is pricier, let’s say over $2,000 pretax, the MacMini provides more options and a longer lifecycle. It’s kind with options that put you between $1,500 and $2,000 pretax where the Imac is especially attractive (and probably if you need the 5k monitor of a high end 27”). There was actually a recent youtube video that broke this down and came to very similar conclusions, though I didn’t agree with everything that it mentioned as far as addons and value.

In that mid-range, the costs equalize, and you end up weighing what’s personally most important, a better screen, upgradability, etc.

 

[russell_314]

Certainly, the 21.5 has the superior monitor, but I picked something to keep the cost of the MacMini down in my calculation. It would be better, for the sake of producing a similar unit, to compare a $250 23” monitor, of which there are better examples. I also recognize that, from the other side, I could easily tweak my options to get an affordable, better-quality egpu that would put the 560x to shame.

What I’m seeing is that, if you want something that will cost less than $1,400 pretax, the MacMini is a better deal. Also, if you want something that is pricier, let’s say over $2,000 pretax, the MacMini provides more options and a longer lifecycle. It’s kind with options that put you between $1,500 and $2,000 pretax where the Imac is especially attractive (and probably if you need the 5k monitor of a high end 27”). There was actually a recent youtube video that broke this down and came to very similar conclusions, though I didn’t agree with everything that it mentioned as far as addons and value.

In that mid-range, the costs equalize, and you end up weighing what’s personally most important, a better screen, upgradability, etc.

I think what you're saying is the Mac mini allows you to use cheaper alternatives to Apple components thus keeping the price lower. It also allows more flexibility for the GPU. I agree with this and it's part of the reason I bought a mini over an iMac. I don't agree that for a fair price comparison it's correct but it's an "alternative"

 

[Nihilvor]

You should note that it is more difficult to upgrade the RAM on the 21” imac. You have to physically cut through the adhesive holding the display on the computer before you can access the internals.

I agree, I calculated having Apple put the 16gb into the Imac build (to make it clearer, I should have removed those lines from the spreadsheet where I didn't include a price). With the MacMini, I would be installing the 16gb myself, since it's worth the $115 savings for me to do so. It's really not difficult to do the upgrade. However, I wouldn't want to mess with detaching the Imac screen unless there was a compelling reason that I had to.
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I don't agree that for a fair price comparison it's correct but it's an "alternative"

Yes, in the real world most of us aren't starting from scratch. I had an extra Mac keyboard and mouse to give to my wife for her 2018 MacMini. I'll have a similar situation if I buy another MacMini. On the other hand, the keyboard and mouse from the Imac could be sold if I didn't want them.

If you want the base configurations, the MacMini gives you a lot of freedom and doesn't cost as much. If you want a slightly better graphics card (egpu vs 560x), both options look attractive and the prices are similar. If you want a Vega card, the MacMini seems a better option when comparing benefits to the expense. If you need 32gb (and not the 16gb that fit my needs), then having that installed into an Imac isn't cost efficient.

I personally don't care as much about a high quality monitor. However, if that's what someone wants, the 27"s are pretty. it seems that there are also options in the 27"+ range that stack up pretty well against the higher end Imacs, especially if you have the need for a Vega 64 enclosure for your unit.

 

[KarelBos]

Hey Purduealum, did you make your decision already? I'm in the exact same boat, so very interested in your decision making proces. Thanks,

 

[G3Blue]

The Mac mini is "cheaper" because you're buying less components. You're not buying a GPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. If you want to do a fair comparison price wise you would have to add the Apple keyboard and mouse, GPU of the same type in the iMac, eGPU enclosure, and an equivalent monitor. None of these comparisons seem to do this.

This being said I bought a Mac mini because I had a monitor, keyboard, and mouse so I could save money. I plan to buy an eGPU later. My monitor isn't even close to what's on the iMac but I'll upgrade that later as wel.

I didn’t want an AIO mac. I think it’s so much better being able to decide on your own screen and graphics card. Also I don’t want the hassle of carrying a 27” iMac to an apple store if I ever required support...

 

[LeeW]

I didn’t want an AIO mac. I think it’s so much better being able to decide on your own screen and graphics card. Also I don’t want the hassle of carrying a 27” iMac to an apple store if I ever required support...

Yup, same here. And in addition, I still have a PC and use Windows. My eGPU that can be switched between Mac and PC, saves on a GPU update per machine as well as other benefits.

 

[russell_314]

I didn’t want an AIO mac. I think it’s so much better being able to decide on your own screen and graphics card. Also I don’t want the hassle of carrying a 27” iMac to an apple store if I ever required support...

Agreed that's the reason many people prefer the mini over the iMac. I was just pointing out that the mini is only cheaper because you're buying fewer components. TBH I don't think an iMac would have been in my budget, at least not a decent spec'ed one so I'm happy that I could buy mini with high specs and upgrade other components like the GPU and monitor later. It gets your foot in the Mac ecosystem for less upfront cash.