What Should I Consider Before Buying a Mac Mini?

Question

I am fascinated by the Mac Mini, however what factors should be taken into account bearing in mind the factor when it comes to purchasing?

Answer 1

When deciding whether to purchase a Mac Mini, consider what peripherals are available in the house. In case there is none, the Mac Mini already does have a keyboard, mouse and monitor to assist with the computer so any money saved can be made. However, if these need to be bought, there is the possibility which the total cost will equal or be greater than purchasing a MacBook. In addition, portable devices such as laptops should be contemplated if users really need portability or if a desktop computer will suffice depending on their daily activities.

Comments

One aspect I dislike about my MacBook pro is that if the screen encounters an issue, I must take the entire system to Apple for repair, unlike my Mac mini, where I can simply replace peripherals without needing to send the entire device for service. As of right now I'm experiencing some sort of pixel issue with my m1 Pro macbook pro. I treated this laptop like a baby and only started to notice this issue in less than 2 years of owning it. It's such BS for me, my older 2012 macbook pro never had an issue with its screen display, it's built like a tank.

---

A major feature of laptops is that they have a battery built in.  What do you support as a uninterruptible power supply for a mac mini?  I have never had a UPS last for more than five years, over the last few decades each time I find out my UPS has failed is during a power outage.  I just use laptops now, and have not lost any data since this switch.

---

I use the Mac Mini together with my MacBook Air. With Synergy I can seamlessly work from the Macbook Air's screen to the screens connected to the Mac mini. The Mini is a file server for me and my wife. It makes Time Machine backups. It does the downloading via VPN. It does Plex and two camera systems can record to it as well so it is also a NAS.

The nice thing with this setup is that I don't have cables in my MacBook Air and still be able to use big screens (2x 40" Philips TV's 4k).

---

I've been using my 2014 Mac Book Pro in clambshell mode for almost 9 years. Currently looking under seat cushions for the $ to upgrade to M2 Pro Mac Mini w 32GB RAM. God Willing.

---

I tried the M2 MBA and this was not for me. My 2020 IPad Pro was much better for my usage (web browsing, streaming)  and sufficient for the go. I’m planing to buy the base Mac mini for the rare cases when a computer is better. I just bought yesterday a LG Ultrafine 4K monitor for it and my ps5 just for 160 € thanks to a promo with my company and I already have a Magic Keyboard. Thanks to my compagny gift for Christmas and The Apple Store education price, I can have this Mac Mini for 460 € ! It’s an incredible price. Can’t wait to receive it !

---

I'm a Mac Mini M2 convert from 15+ years of buying MacBook Pros. I have no regrets. I love using my KeyChron keyboard and my awesomely big monitor. I also switch to using a Lenovo Chromebook Flex tor travel.

---

I have been wrestling over whether to buy a MacBook Pro or the mini. I'm still using a 27" iMac from 2012, but can't even update the OS anymore! What configuration would you advise for editing on the mini? I don't want to buy more than I need :) Thx!

---

I think my next Mac will be an M2 Pro Mac mini although I own a 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro. Why?

I would like to put in a shelf in the wooden stand of my electric piano and put a Mac mini in there as a stationary solution for music production (and put the keyboard on the music stand beside my Komplete Kontrol M32. I am blind, and since Mac mini nowadays can run without a display with just Apple's own, built-in  screenreader VoiceOver speaking, I don't even have to bother with an external screen.

At the moment, I put my MacBook Pro on a laptop tripod behind the piano; but I am worried that my 2-year-old daughter might become too curious one day and pull the thing down.

the Mac mini has always been a great desktop computer and the new M2 line-up is just pretty awesome.

Keep up the good work with your content! Greetings from Germany.

---

I generally travel between 3 locations, home and two field offices. I have an LG monitor/keyboard/trackpad at each location, so my MBPro lives 95% of its operational life in clamshell mode. The one big thing keeping me from using a mini instead of the MBP is that the MBP effectively has a built-in uninterruptible power supply.  So I never have to worry about a power drop with the laptop option. Otherwise I would have to purchase  and maintain a UPS at each of my primary locations.

---

I'm very close to buying the M2 mac mini as I badly need an upgrade from a MacBook pro 2013. Ive heard you can't fix mac mini's, is that true? surely they are fixable?

---

But what budget display do you buy for the mini? I was looking at the LG UP850 4k display.

---

New Samsung M8 monitor + Mac mini = Best Budget Setup

---

Hi Greg, thank you for this very informative content. I think buying a Mac mini M2 Pro is an excellent idea for myself. 16 gigs of ram, and 512 gigs of memory, However, I was wondering if I can connect it to an existing iMac 2019 to use as my main screen and from my 2019 iMac I would use the Luna Display dongle to extend my screen to an iMac 2013.

As of now I use the iMac 2019 and use the Luna Display to extend to my iMac 2013 as my second screen. But since my 2019 is getting tired I’m thinking about switching over to the Mac mini.

I think that the pro version of the Mac mini would be the best option for me since I need a lot of ports and I do a lot of multitasking. I am also on zoom or teams all day teaching and I have a lot of applications open at the same time. However, I was also wondering if I should go with the lower version of the Mac mini and buy a dock instead for the extra ports. I don’t know if that would be a better option price wise.

---

I have an Alienware desktop PC with two screens and one of the two screens has a free HDMI port I'm wondering if I should get the M2 Mac Mini which is $1,099 or $1,449 here in New Zealand and add it to my setup plugged into the free HDMI port but I would also need a keyboard for the Mac Mini what would you recommend in this situation??

---

Curious, do folks think the Mini will jump in price after the spring event? I was hoping to wait until their student promo in the summer.

---

My 11 year old son wants to get into video editing and also music editing. I am considering a Mac mini, but unsure if I should get him a M2 pro or M2. It would be a shared family computer and I am a graphic design student with an M1 MacBook Pro. Any advice?

---

Thanks for this, I want to buy an M2 Mac Mini, help me to choose a configuration please. I will be learning software development - coding, photo/video editing and some after effects on 1080p only.
Mac Mini M2 8GB -  256GB
Mac Mini M2 16GB - 256GB
 If I buy the 8GB variant I can upgrade after 2-4 years and then I can buy the latest 16GB RAM variant, but if I buy the 16GB variant, I will not be able to and keep the device for at least 6 years.

---

I do most of my work in my home office on 2014 Mac Mini. I use my iPad Pro with the keyboard case for work away. I’ve been waiting for a new Mac Mini as I already have the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and trackpad. I’m trying to figure out which one. The Pro seems to be more than I will need although I’m still thinking about it, since I tend to keep my machines for a long time.

---

Problem is the monitor you attach to the Mini. The only true "retina" is the studio display (aside the old LG ultrafine) and the price will skyrocket. Any recommendations on the monitor to pair with the Mini?

---

You did not explain the option for those who want to upgrade the MacBookPro, the M2 MacMini can be run using screen share via the existing MacBookPro while giving you all the advantages of the new M2 MacMini.
A Step by step demonstrated setup procedure would assist many potential users who have not contemplated this option and are not quite up to the different setup process.

---

I highly recommend getting a Mac mini with dual 27" 4k monitors for desk productivity and a MacBook Air for working around the house (good if you are a parent) or out away from home. It's the perfect setup.

---

I have a Mac mini with 16 GB of Ram and  only a 256 GB of SSD storage...BIG AND HUGE MISTAKE ON THE STORAGE.  I am now forced to trading my MacMini M1 for a Mac mini M2 that has more storage.  Here is the problem:  When Apple upgrades their OS, I have no room for the upgrade.  Even using only system apps, there is no room.  I constantly have to move files around and worry about if my Mac mini will shut down apps because I went over on storage.  Do yourself a favor, get the 512 or 1TB...you won't regret it.