It means that it runs cooler and quieter as well – essential for a small form-factor PC. The move to a PCIe solid state drive (SSD) for storage doesn’t just make the Mac mini faster. Apple also asserts that the new Mac mini is made of 60% post-consumer plastic, mostly in the base, with the chassis made from 100% recycled aluminum.

Within the same dimensions, the Mac mini affords a more powerful hardware than ever before, thanks to a redesigned thermal architecture that features a bigger fan, expanded vents and an overhauled power supply.Īpple has made some small changes to the Mac mini’s design – it now comes in the same Space Grey as the iMac Pro, though it’s the only color option this time around. If you plan on utilizing your Mac for creative applications, the new Mac mini is a more affordable route, compared to something like the iMac Pro, which sets you back a whopping $4,999 (£4,899, AU$7,299) for the base model – though if you do have a lot of cash to shell out and you require a ton of power for things like video edting, we'd wait until the new Mac Pro 2019 rolls out in Fall 2019 starting at $5,999.įans of the compact, no-nonsense designs of previous Mac minis will be happy to learn that the new Mac mini inherits the same small, square-ish metal design that measures 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches (19.7 x 19.7 x 3.6cm) and weighs slightly heavier than the last Mac Mini at 2.9 pounds (1.3kg), compared to the older Mac mini’s weight of 2.6 pounds (1.19kg). If you switch any of the components, the price also change, which gives you some flexibility when it comes to balancing power with budget. Size: 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches (19.7 x 19.7 x 3.6cm W x D x H) Price and availability Ports: 4x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x USB 3, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit EthernetĬonnectivity: 802.11ac Wi-F, Bluetooth 5.0 Here is the Apple Mac mini configuration sent to TechRadar for review:ĬPU: 3.6GHz Intel Core i3-8100 (quad-core, 4 threads, 6MB cache)

Mac mini review 2017