In our use-case - primarily video editing in Final Cut Pro and Affinity Photo - the apps are already optimised for the M1 processor, so the experience is dreamy. Following years of partnership with Intel, Apple used the expertise it's built up following years of putting powerful ARM-based chipsets in its smartphones and iPads, and applied that to a custom processor for 'proper computers'. M1 powerĪ lot has been said about Apple's M1 processor. Those power users who like three or more screens won't have much luck here, but we suspect those users are few and are already using a Mac Pro. For higher-resolution monitors, you're limited to just one monitor and you have to use one of the Thunderbolt ports as the HDMI maxes out at 4K. Using two screens, you get 4K and 60Hz on both. But you do need to split it between the HDMI port and one Thunderbolt port.
The real thing to note with this Mac is that you can connect up to two monitors. The good thing about this particular monitor is that it also features two USB-A ports on the back, so you can effectively use it as a desktop hub if you need to plug an extra couple of peripherals in, like a USB microphone or a wired keyboard.Īnyway, enough about the monitor. You can plug it either into the HDMI 2.0 port on the back, or use one of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. It's a 4K 27-inch monitor that supports up to 60Hz refresh rates and is pretty much perfect for the Mac mini. The model we paired up is the LG 27UK850. Primarily because it's a monitor with multiple input options, and because for a good chunk of time, the MacBook Pro was our home computer of choice. In this home office there's been a USB-C LG monitor for a good few years. We can't talk ports without talking monitors, which is certainly something to consider before deciding on whether to get a Mac mini or not. Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2, DVI and VGA adapters available.It also expanded our options for additional ports and - just as usefully - gave us a headphone port that we didn't need to reach around the back of a computer to gain access. It's not unusable with this number of ports, of course, but we had to rely on a Thunderbolt 3 desktop dock to get constant access to an SD card and microSD card reader. The same can be said of the MacBook Pro, really. It certainly seems like there's adequate space, though, so we can't fathom why there isn't a card reader on a machine that's otherwise primed and ready for creators. We'd love to see one or two more Thunderbolt ports and an SD card reader in future models though (as much as the latter is highly unlikely). There's also an opening to allow airflow from the fan. You even get an Ethernet connection point, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
For starters, you get two USB-A ports, along with the two USB 4 Type-C/Thunderbolt ports. That minimalism also applies to the port selection on the back, but there's still much wider support here than on either of the M1 MacBooks.
Despite being a bit old now, there's something quite attractive about a sleek metal box sitting on your desk with no seams, joins or screws visible (well, unless you you turn it upside down or look at it from the back).
Still, compare it to a tower PC or any other Mac desktop computer and it takes up a lot less space than most. We'd be surprised if the next-generation model wasn't even smaller for that very reason. That's because the M1 hardware and all that entails fits into a much smaller space than all the previous components. Watch enough teardown videos and you'll see how much space there is inside the new M1-powered Mac mini. Size wise, it's maybe not as 'mini' as it could be though.