iMac is Apple’s flagship home computer, featuring a colorful appearance that includes everything you need, but it is not the best choice for everyone, especially given the promising future of the Mac Mini. If you are considering a purchase but are unsure which one to choose, this article is a must-read.
Mac Mini is Apple’s most valuable computer
Perhaps the best reason to consider the Mac Mini over the iMac is the price. The Mac Mini starts at 4,499 yuan, which is more than half cheaper than the same-spec iMac starting at 10,999 yuan. Of course, there are some caveats. The iMac comes equipped with everything you need, including the monitor and peripherals, while the Mac Mini is just a computer; what you get after purchase is the computer host and power cord, nothing more. Whether the iMac has such high added value is a very controversial topic, and the answer varies depending on who you ask.
This indicates that the Mac Mini is very suitable for anyone who has everything needed to start, and it is a perfect choice for those who want to try switching to macOS without buying an expensive all-in-one machine. If you expand your search to the second-hand market, you have even more options. Apple’s M4 Mac Mini offers excellent value for money, but if you are willing to buy an older machine, you can choose the M2 or M1 Mac Mini and save hundreds of dollars. You will gain all the advantages of Apple chips, such as power consumption and thermal efficiency, compatibility with the latest version of macOS, and the M1 or higher version can even use Apple Intelligence.
If needed, it can provide higher performance
The 2024 iMac comes with an M4 processor, and the high-end version offers up to 10 CPU and GPU cores. While this is sufficient for ordinary users, the Mac Mini can increase its performance through its M4 Pro option (but undoubtedly at a higher cost).
For the M4 Pro, the Mac Mini offers 12 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, or you can upgrade at checkout for more with 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores. These higher-spec M4 Pro models also come with 24GB RAM, far exceeding the base M4’s 16GB. Not to mention another significant upgrade of the M4 Pro Mac Mini compared to the iMac: Thunderbolt 5.
Additionally, the Mac Mini also has more upgrade options for storage and RAM. You can choose to upgrade the Mac Mini to a maximum of 8TB capacity (the iMac’s limit is 2TB) and 64GB RAM (the iMac’s limit is 32GB). If you think you need more performance for heavier tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, data analysis, or running AI models locally, these upgrades are perfect. If your budget allows, more storage space is always good, although it remains competitive compared to the entire product line.
The enhanced Mac Mini offers better performance than the iMac while avoiding the related costs of choosing a Mac Studio or MacBook Pro, and most importantly, even if you push everything to the max, the form factor remains small.
Flexible Mac setup
Compared to the iMac or MacBook series, the Mac Mini offers great flexibility. For some, the lack of a monitor or Apple peripherals may be seen as a disadvantage, but for others, it is an opportunity to save money or expand personalization space. Most importantly, it is perfect for those who want to pair a new computer with existing monitors or keyboards and mice. Unfortunately, Apple does not make a low-cost monitor suitable for the Mac Mini; if you want an Apple monitor, the best choice is the Apple Studio Display.
The good news is that whether you are using HDMI 2.1 output, USB-C’s DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt, your old monitor should work well with the Mac Mini. Please note that macOS is designed for a Retina pixel density of 218 PPI or higher, so display scaling may negatively affect monitors that do not meet this target.
You will also need a mouse and keyboard. You can choose other brands that suit your needs better; for example, promotional materials for the Apple M4 Mac Mini include images of products with mechanical keyboards, which is quite telling. There are many high-end keyboards designed to attract Mac users, such as NuPhy Air 75v2 and LoFree Flow, which are excellent remedies if you are looking for something with a better feel.
The beauty of this is that you are not bound by anything Apple offers. When all you need is the brain of the operation, you don’t have to spend extra money on a computer with a monitor (like the iMac). If you are satisfied with your existing setup, you also won’t waste money on Apple accessories that you will never use.
Mac Mini has a longer lifespan
The lifespan of the Mac Mini is not necessarily longer than that of the iMac, as the hardware will age at the same rate. Years later, when 16GB RAM and the M4 chip start to feel slow and outdated, you will still want to upgrade, perhaps Apple will introduce some revolutionary new features that your Mac cannot use, or your macOS support will soon end. However, compared to the iMac, the Mac Mini has greater potential as a modification machine, as the iMac is a giant monitor that houses the computer, meaning it must be installed somewhere easily accessible.
The Mac Mini can happily serve as a file server after retirement, stream media at home, or run local smart home setups with Home Assistant. You can keep it connected to the router in your office or hide it in a cabinet for easy relocation when maintenance is needed.
If you are looking for a media center computer running XBMC or similar software, the Mac Mini is also a good choice. With an Apple Arcade subscription or Steam’s Big Picture mode, you can even use it to run modern games. Better yet, even outdated Mac Minis have enough capabilities to act as gaming machines (Bluetooth means wireless support for Xbox, PlayStation, 8BitDo, and more controllers).
You may also find that the second-hand market for old Mac Minis is more popular because they are widely used small computers and are favored for all the reasons mentioned above. When it’s time to part ways, you may not have to wait long before cash is in your pocket for your next upgrade.
In conclusion, both the Mac Mini and iMac have their uses. For simple home setups equipped with everything you need, the value of the iMac is surprisingly high. But for those who want to push beyond Apple’s boundaries or save some money using existing equipment, the Mac Mini is unbeatable.
