Mac mini M1, 2020

The Apple Mac mini "M1" 8-Core (2020) model is powered by a 5-nm 3.2 GHz Apple M1 processor, which integrates 8 cores (4 performance and 4 efficiency), an 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It comes with 8 GB of onboard RAM and, by default, either a 256 GB or 512 GB onboard SSD. Both RAM and SSD could be upgraded at the time of initial purchase, but not afterward.

Connectivity includes 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports (using a USB-C connector), two USB-A ports (up to 5Gb/s), an HDMI 2.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Compared to its predecessor, this model has a similar appearance, except for its silver color. However, it utilizes a completely different internal architecture and no longer permits any internal upgrades after purchase.

All Mac mini systems are sold by default without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but a wide range of Apple and third-party accessories are available.

The 2020 Mac mini with the M1 chip was nothing short of revolutionary, completely resetting expectations for what a compact desktop could achieve. It was praised universally for its staggering performance and efficiency, with the M1 chip running circles around its Intel predecessors in both CPU and GPU tasks, all while remaining virtually silent and cool. Rosetta 2 emulation was so effective that most Intel-based apps ran flawlessly, often faster than on native hardware. It was hailed as the best value in the entire Mac lineup. However, the transition wasn't without compromise. The M1 model featured only two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a downgrade from the four on the Intel model it replaced, and it officially supported only two displays instead of three. The non-upgradable, unified RAM and soldered-on SSD were also significant limitations for future-proofing.