Apple Mac mini (M1, Late 2020): Most Polished, Potent Tiny Desktop

The Mac mini doesn’t get upgraded often, but when it does, it makes an impact well out of proportion to its trim dimensions. The 2018 Mac mini was a PCMag Editors’ Choice pick for its pep, connectivity, build quality, and limited upgradability. A slight variation on the same sheet music, played with little fanfare earlier this year, pumped up the two base models’ SSD capacity. The real update of this iconic little desktop is this one, and it’s a big-band extravaganza. Apple’s own highly integrated system-on-a-chip (SoC), the M1 brings the Mac mini to new performance highs, and while a few fundamentals have changed, the peppy performance, the reasonable mix of connectivity, and a new lower $699 starting price combine to make it one of the best values in compact computers, period. It easily earns our Editors’ Choice nod.

- JOHN BUREK

DESIGN: A FAMILIAR FACE, AN AMPED-UP CORE

The Mac mini remains the only true “small” Mac desktop. Sure, you can still select between 21- and 27inch iMac models (which we’d expect to gain the M1 CPU before too long, as well). But if you want a compact, macOS-based system that’s not a laptop to attach to a TV, a spare monitor, or even just a public informational display, the Mac mini has long been the Apple alpha and omega.

That said, the fact that the Mac mini is equipped to work as anything from an everyday productivity churner, a home theater system, a little music- and video-editing dynamo, or even just a digital-display pusher is testament to this design’s enduring flexibility. It doesn’t take up much space, and it looks good wherever you stash it.

The out-of-box experience is as straightforward as can be. The 1.4-by-7.7-by-7.7-inch chassis comes in a plastic wrapper. Under it, a two-socket power cable is coiled with care in an elaborate paper carrier. That trim cord is all the power gear there is; the Mac mini’s power supply is internal.

Apple Mac mini (M1, Late 2020)

PROS

New, lower starting price. Much improved overall performance from 2018 model. Especially promising bench results with native “Universal” apps. Surprisingly quiet and cool operation under load.

CONS

Boosting RAM and SSD capacity at purchase time is pricey. Fewer Thunderbolt ports than previous Mac mini. Memory no longer upgradable post-purchase.

BOTTOM LINE

With a new lower starting price and Apple’s straining-at-the-leash M1 CPU, the Mac mini is far and away the most polished, potent tiny desktop in its class.