Which Mac Mini?

[yeahtyeaht]

Hey guys, I just started to learn Swift with Swift Playgrounds in my iPad Pro. Now I`m thinking about buying a Mac Mini to develop my coding skills with Swift. I read that a Mac Mini is an "cheap" entry to macOS. Now I`m asking myself which one to buy. 2012, 2014 or 2018? Budget would be 1300€ but I dont know if it`s worth buying a Mac Mini 2018 for me. I also have an Windows PC which is quite good.

 

[09872738]

Best option imo is the i7 version from 2012. You can upgrade both RAM and HD/SSD on that one.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

Is the processor good enough? The device is 7 years old and I dont know if is releasing the next macOS Update for the Mac Mini 2012. I´m not sure but I think it`s important to has the newest macOS for coding and developing iOS apps

 

[09872738]

Is the processor good enough? The device is 7 years old and I dont know if is releasing the next macOS Update for the Mac Mini 2012. I´m not sure but I think it`s important to has the newest macOS for coding and developing iOS apps

You got a point there. To be honest I'd at this point would not buy a Mini: 2014 models are non-upgradeable. The same is true for the actual model; while you could upgrade the RAM yourself (with some difficulty and uncertain warranty status) SSD is non-upgradeable.

Pricing is off the scale imo, in particular SSD upgrades.

If I'd buy a Mac right now, it'd be the 2015 Macbook Pro. Get one off eBay (128 GB Models score btwn 650-750 Euros), make sure it's the model with 8 GB and upgrade the SSD as convenient using a Sintech adapter. Did this for a friend recently. Costs around 800 (500 GB SSD + Adapter included); the device is in pristine condition.

 

[ixxx69]

Hey guys, I just started to learn Swift with Swift Playgrounds in my iPad Pro. Now I`m thinking about buying a Mac Mini to develop my coding skills with Swift. I read that a Mac Mini is an "cheap" entry to macOS. Now I`m asking myself which one to buy. 2012, 2014 or 2018? Budget would be 1300€ but I dont know if it`s worth buying a Mac Mini 2018 for me. I also have an Windows PC which is quite good.

I don't know what 1300€ buys you where you are, but I'd be inclined to go 2018 as first choice and 2012 as last choice (mostly due to its age and probably won't support newer OS's for too much longer).

Performance-wise, they're all fine for what you want to do, i.e. developing your coding skills with swift. But if you want to use a 4K display with your mini or need TB3 ports, then 2018 is definitely the way to go.

If you're just looking for a budget box and something you play with, a good deal on a used 2014 isn't a bad way to go. However, the only feature I think is essential no matter your usage or needs is an SSD.

To be honest I'd at this point would not buy a Mini...

I'd understand asking the OP if the ability to upgrade components is important to them... but I don't understand this mentality of hanging out in the mini forum and telling everyone they shouldn't buy mini's because YOU think the upgradeability of a computer trumps all else and YOU think the pricing is out of line.

 

[09872738]

I'd understand asking the OP if the ability to upgrade components is important to them... but I don't understand this mentality of hanging out in the mini forum and telling everyone they shouldn't buy mini's because YOU think the upgradeability of a computer trumps all else and YOU think the pricing is out of line.

I don't understand the mentality of people ignoring issues that are clearly there and kinda insult people for pointing this out.
I won't hold back my opinion just because YOU don't like it.

There are numerous threads on that matter, so I do not see the point in ignoring them in particular since the OP asked:

(...) I dont know if it`s worth buying a Mac Mini 2018 for me. (...).

 

[Boyd01]

Is the processor good enough?

FWIW, the 2012 quad core i7 2.6ghz mini has the same Geekbench score as the entry level 2018 i3 Mini. I have one of these 2012 quads that I use exclusively for video/audio editing and am still happy with it. However, I don't think I'd buy one today, 7 years is getting old and the 2018 Mini has better graphics, better ports, faster wifi, faster SSD, faster ethernet, greater RAM capacity and a warranty. Just seems like a better investment in 2019, especially since your budget seems more than adequate (a 2012 quad might be a good choice for someone on a tight budget).

Now, as to whether the Mini is the right machine for your needs.... no idea, I don't do Swift coding.

 

[ixxx69]

Now, as to whether the Mini is the right machine for your needs.... no idea, I don't do Swift coding.

If the OP chimes in, they can speak for themselves, but the way I interpreted his question was before he spends his whole budget on a 2018 mini, would a 2014 or 2012 be a worthwhile consideration instead? Without further info, yeah, I think we've mostly covered it.

I would add to my previous post that I think 8GB RAM should be a minimum, which is particularly important when considering a 2014, which was sold in non-upgradeable 4GB configs.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

If the OP chimes in, they can speak for themselves, but the way I interpreted his question was before he spends his whole budget on a 2018 mini, would a 2014 or 2012 be a worthwhile consideration instead? Without further info, yeah, I think we've mostly covered it.

Yes, that’s what I meaned. If I would mean Mac Mini I would write Mac Mini but I wrote Mac Mini 2018