Introduction and design
First launched in 2005, Apple's Mac mini has never received the same design plaudits as the MacBook Air, but it has been almost as influential upon the competition. The titular computer's square shape, minimal appearance and compact nature can be seen in devices such as Intel's NUC, Samsung's Chromebox and, more recently, Sky's Now TV box.
Even so, it's fair to say that the Mac mini probably hasn't received as much love as Apple's other products over the years. It's a safe bet; consistent and dependable, evolving quietly in the background without requiring headline-grabbing specs - like the iMac 5K's dazzling display, or the iPad Air 2's impossibly thin dimensions - to stand out from the crowd.
It comes as little surprise, then, to find that Apple's new Mac mini is indistinguishable from its predecessor, the Late 2012 Mac mini. They may look the same on the outside, but under the hood, the changes are numerous, with the most significant being the switch from Intel's Ivy Bridge chip to Haswell.
The Mac mini has traditionally been the cheapest way to own a Mac as it comes without a keyboard, mouse or monitor. The computer is internet-ready out of the box, and if you already have Apple or third-party peripherals you can be up and running within minutes. The latest Mac mini models come pre-loaded with OS X 10.10 Yosemite, which features a closer symmetry with iOS 8 and arrives with a slick new design.
There are three new Mac mini systems in Apple's refreshed line-up. The entry-level Mac mini now costs £399 ($499), making it one of the company's most affordable computing devices ever. It comes with an Intel Core-i5 CPU clocked to 1.4GHz (Turbo Boost to 2.7GHz), 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Next along, the mid-range model comes in at £569 ($699) and houses a 2.6GHz Core-i5 CPU (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz) backed up by 8GB of RAM.
Those seeking more computing power without having to buy an iMac or a MacBook should consider the top-end Mac mini, the machine featured in our review, which costs £799 ($999) and comes with a 2.8GHz Intel Core-i5 CPU (Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz), a 1TB Fusion Drive and Intel Iris Graphics. It's also configurable with a dual-core Intel Core-i7 CPU clocked at 3.0GHz (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz) for maximum grunt at extra cost.
The higher-end Mac mini is still £100 ($157) cheaper than the entry-level 21.5-inch iMac, which comes with a 1.4GHz Intel Core-i5 CPU (Turbo Boost to 2.7GHz), 8GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD and Intel's integrated HD Graphics 5000. There are some crucial differences between the two in terms of upgradability and processing power, which we will detail in this review.
Specifications
As mentioned, the Mac mini now comes with Intel's Haswell processor. The machine has had to wait patiently in line for an upgrade to Intel's fourth-generation chip, which already features in Apple's MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac systems.
The Mac mini has always been popular as an office machine for not just its compact size, but also its low power usage. According to Apple, the new Mac mini consumes just 6 watts of power when in idle mode, making it one of the most economic, energy-sipping computers around - something reflected in the machine's near-silent operation.
A 1TB Fusion Drive is issued as standard on the high-end model. Essentially a Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD), it combines the capacious capacity of a hard disk with the fast speeds of a flash drive, allowing you to store plenty of apps and files without sacrificing speed.
Unfortunately the Mac mini hasn't made the leap from integrated to dedicated graphics in any of the new models, instead relying on Intel's integrated Iris graphics solution. It's also a shame that the Mac mini isn't available in a quad-core configuration, as its predecessor was - dual-core is the only option, something that may push high-end video editors and design professionals toward the mid-range 21.5-inch iMac, which comes with a quad-core Intel Core-i5 CPU clocked at 2.7GHz for £1,049.
Ports and connectivity
In terms of connectivity options, there are four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt 2.0 ports on the rear, allowing you to hook up a growing number of compatible peripherals - from external storage drives to monitors.
If you are planning on hooking up a 4K monitor, be sure to read the section of this review titled Performance, as there is a major drawback to doing so using the latest Mac mini.
The Late 2012 Mac mini's Firewire port has been replaced with a second Thunderbolt 2.0 port, adding to an already cramped array of ports around the back. Although the Mac mini's compact design is one of its more attractive traits, it would have been useful for Apple to move the SD card reader or another port to the front to create some breathing space.
On the left of the Thunderbolt 2 port is an HDMI connection for hooking up to an external display. If using particularly chunky cables, you may find that there isn't enough room to have both a Thunderbolt 2 and HDMI port connected at the same time.
The Mac mini no longer comes with an HDMI to DVI adapter, which isn't a huge problem as they can be picked up for a few pounds (or dollars) from online retailers.
For communication, there's 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which allows for much faster transfer speeds compared to 802.11g/b/n if used with a compatible AC router. There's also Gigabit Ethernet for hooking up to a LAN, which sits alongside an SD card reader and headphone jack.
Access denied
Previous Mac mini systems have been user-upgradable, but unfortunately Apple's latest model is not, which is one of the biggest downsides compared to the Late 2012 version.
Before, the machine's circular base would rotate and come away, providing access to the RAM slots once a few other components had been moved out of the way. Although it still has the same circular design, the new Mac mini's base plate doesn't budge, meaning there's no way inside.
Apple's own RAM has never come cheap, but there was nothing to stop you fitting more affordable sticks from third-party suppliers. The lack of upgradable RAM is less of a problem on the high-end Mac mini, which comes with 8GB of main memory, than it is on the entry-level version that comes with 4GB, but that will be of little consolation for those wanting the most powerful configuration possible.
Performance and benchmarks
Benchmarks
- Xbench 1.3: 326.07
- Cinebench 15 (multi-core) 291cb
- Cinebench 15 (OpenGL): 26.17cb
- Novabench (Overall): 106
- Novabench (Graphics): 46
- Sky Diver: 1,312
- Fire Storm: 350
- Ice Storm: 24,849
The high-end Mac mini is no slouch thanks to a fast Intel Core-i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a nippy Fusion Drive. Boot times are fast - around 15 seconds - and opening and closing apps is mostly instantaneous.
Compared to the Late 2012 Mac mini, graphics have received a healthy boost thanks to the inclusion of Intel's Iris solution. Even so, gaming performance is a mixed bag depending on the title.
Graphically demanding game Dead Island ran with choppy frame rates of around 20FPS on a low 1,024 x 768 resolution setting. On the other hand, Valve's Team Fortress 2 which is based on a less-intensive graphical engine achieved a consistent 50 to 60FPS while set to 1,920 x 1080.
Performance-wise, one big drawback to the Mac mini is that it's unable to drive a 4K monitor at 60Hz. Because of a limitation of the Intel CPU inside, its refresh rate is limited to 30Hz, which makes for an unpleasantly laggy experience. Whether you're using Thunderbolt 2 or HDMI, you'll still encounter choppy performance that makes performing productive tasks awkward and time consuming.
Verdict
The Mac mini continues to impress thanks to its attractive design, quiet and energy efficient operation and improved graphics capabilities. However, the features offered up at the high-end likely won't be enough to satisfy those hungry for computing power in the absence of upgradable RAM or a quad-core configuration.
We liked
The Mac mini comes with some truly useful upgrades: the addition of 802.11ac Wi-Fi will be a boon for those who prefer to work wire-free, and the addition of a second Thunderbolt 2 port opens up a world of possibilities where peripherals are concerned. Gaming may not be top-notch just yet on the Mac mini, but you'll certainly be able to play more games than you could with the Late 2012 model's older HD 4000.
It may feel like ages since the Mac mini received a design update, but you could argue that it doesn't need one. It's still small, light and compact enough to sit discretely at the corner of a desk or even slip into a bag if you need to connect it to another monitor.
Although pure SSD configurations are the best bet for storage, they're expensive, and the Mac mini's Fusion Drive feels like the right balance between capacity and performance. Combined with its Intel Core-i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM, we very rarely had to wait for apps or websites to load.
We disliked
The major caveat spoiling the party this time around has to be the lack of user-upgradable RAM. Those forking out nearly a grand on the top-end model will be disappointed to max out at 8GB, which stifles the longevity of machine.
The fact that there's no quad-core option will be similarly off-putting to professionals looking for the most bang, whatever the buck. In a world where even Intel's NUC PC is capable of displaying 4K video at 60Hz, the Mac mini's maximum 30Hz feels like a let down and renders it practically useless for image editing at the super-high resolution.
Final verdict
Even at the higher end the Mac mini struggles to challenge the cheapest iMac: it can't be upgraded and isn't available with a quad-core processor, meaning you'll have to think twice before upgrading from the Late 2012 Mac mini, which doesn't suffer from either of those drawbacks. If you're looking for that bit more power and ability to upgrade over time, spending a bit more on the mid-range iMac would be the better option - plus you get a display and peripherals thrown in.
On the other hand, if you're happy with the specs offered in the high-end model and accept its limitations, you can bag yourself what is in many ways the best Mac mini yet. It comes with superior wireless speeds, lets you hook up multiple Thunderbolt 2 peripherals and comes pre-loaded with the best version of OS X yet. A discrete option that you can even chuck into a backpack, it's a very fast mini desktop PC with tons of storage and heaps of style.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1zUizFV
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