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MacBooks are the most popular MacOS computers in the laptop-dominated landscape of 2020, but anybody who’s in the market for an Apple PC (and who doesn’t explicitly need a laptop) shouldn’t ignore the desktop offerings that fall under this umbrella. After all, the “Mac” branding got its start not on the MacBook but on the classic Macintosh computers, and the line is still going strong today with models like the all-in-one iMac and the oft-overlooked Mac Mini.

If you’re on the hunt for a new MacOS workstation and no MacBook deals caught your eye, maybe we’ve got something here that will suit you better. Below, we’ve gathered up a handful of the best cheap Mac Mini deals available right now, offering you some nice savings on what is easily the most affordable entry point into the MacOS computer ecosystem.

Today’s best Mac Mini deals

• Mac Mini 2014 (Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB SSD, Amazon Renewed) — $409
• Mac Mini 2018 (Core i3 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $720, was $799
• Mac Mini 2020 (Core i3 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $764, was $799
• Mac Mini 2020 (Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049, was $1,099
• Mac Mini 2018 (Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 256B SSD)— $1,230, was $1,299

How to choose a Mac Mini

The aptly named Mac Mini is Apple’s pint-sized desktop computer. Small PCs such as this have been around for a while, but as an Apple device, the Mac Mini runs on MacOS rather than Windows — if you like the idea of a desktop computer but you want something with a small footprint, the Mac Mini is your best option if you favor Apple software.

Unlike the MacBook or the iMac, there is essentially only one model of the Mac Mini, although it is available in several different hardware configurations. Apple has kept this small desktop computer updated nicely over the years as well, so you also have some different model years to choose from (meaning that opting for a last-generation unit is often an easy way to save some cash if you aren’t picky about having the latest hardware).

The Mac Mini saw its most recent refresh this year; before that, it was updated in 2018, so these two model years are the ones you’ll see the most and the ones we recommend you spring for — any older than that and the hardware might feel a bit long in the tooth in 2020 for anything other than basic computing needs.

Despite its pared-down case, the Mac Mini boasts the same modern computer hardware as full-sized desktop towers as well as the same MacOS software that you get with iMacs and MacBooks. It also features very good thermal performance that keeps it running surprisingly cool under load (something that can be a problem with smaller computers).

The most appealing feature of the Mac Mini for many buyers is its price. This tiny computer is far and away the cheapest entry point into the world of MacOS computing, with the latest entry-level 2020 models starting at a retail price of around $800 — Mac Mini deals like the ones above often let you score one for even less, and if you’re willing to opt for slightly older hardware, then the 2019 Mac Mini can be had for cheaper still.

The catch here is that the Mac Mini obviously doesn’t include a display or peripherals (namely a keyboard, a mouse, and speakers), unlike the iMac and MacBook. These add-ons will cost extra, but if you already have peripherals you can use — perhaps you’re just upgrading an old desktop tower — then the Mac Mini offers a lot of value and power in a small footprint. If not, however, then you might want to consider an iMac instead, as it could be a better bargain depending on your needs.

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Editors’ Recommendations

These days — if it ever really was — Apple isn’t an experimental company. It makes great devices, but but they come across as neat, well-designed, and efficient, not innovative in themselves.

Which is why I’m hyped that, at some point, Apple did actually fuck around. Even if only internally.

Okay, so a prototype of Mac Mini with an iPod dock isn’t exactly like finding out Steve Jobs had a division researching a doomsday device, but it is still cool. And yes, I would’ve preferred the planet destroyer story, but we must make do with what we have.

Anyway, have a gander at the Mac Mini with an iPod dock:

This prototype was shared by the Twitter account DongleBookPro and first covered by MacRumors. Part of me wants to scream and curse whatever higher power prevented this from being release, but let’s be honest: it’s pretty clear why this monstrosity never saw the light of day.

Look again:

Yes, that’s an iPod Nano. Specifically, a first generation iPod Nano.

Of all its MP3 players, it was the Nano range that (arguably) underwent the biggest design changes throughout its lifestyle. This means that if this Mac Mini with an iPod dock was ever released, it’d become obsolete fast.

I mean… who even decided to focus on the Nano? Surely the Classic would’ve been a better shout? Or, even better, have a universal dock that’d fit a variety of iPod types.

Whatever though, this isn’t about details, it’s about a different approach, an aesthetic, a vibe.

Part of me hopes that someone at Apple‘s Curpertino HQ is working on weird product mash-ups right now. Someone tinkering with an Apple Watch you can dock an iPhone in. Maybe there’s a MacBook where each key is actual a tiny iPad and inside each one of those there’s an even tinier iPad Mini. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a pair of AirPods that also work as Apple Pencils.

Would I want to buy any of those things? Or even would like to see them sold? Oh god no, they’d be horrible and pointless and a waste of time. But I do like the idea that somewhere, deep inside, Apple still wants to be a company that experiments and creates weird things, no matter how unlikely that is.

Until confirmation of that, I guess we just sit here and wait for the iPhone 12.

For more gear, gadget, and hardware news and reviews, follow Plugged on Twitter and Flipboard.

Published August 24, 2020 — 12:19 UTC

Apple was considering releasing a version of the Mac mini with a built-in dock for an iPod nano, photographs of an unreleased prototype reveal, one that could have enabled synchronization of music and other content with the portable music device without relying on a separate cable or dock.

If you’re in the market for a mini computer, the discounted Mac Mini could just be what you need.

Today, the Apple device drops to just $699.99 which equates to a whopping $100 discount via in-cart savings. It’s the lowest the Mac mini has ever been, and one you shouldn’t sleep on.

Apple Mac Mini

The term ‘mini’ is a bit misleading considering the amount of firepower it has. You get an 8th gen Intel i3 processor, 8GB of generous RAM, an Ultrafast SSD and the UHD 630 graphics chip. It also has a number of useful additions, such as USB 3, HDMI 2.0 and four Thunderbolt 3 ports.

In terms of speed and productivity the Mac mini doesn’t disappoint. Simply connect to an external display, attach a USB for wireless keyboard and mice and you have yourself a workstation. It should be able to handle everyday tasks such as emails, spreadsheets and the occasional photo editing.

Get yourself a Mac mini now while the price is still low!

The hidden Apple deal features a $30 discount that stacks with $100 bonus in-cart savings at Amazon, bringing the Mac mini price down to $669.99 and total savings to $130 off MSRP.

New lowest Mac mini price

Apple hardware deals

Amazon offers Apple’s latest Mac mini 3GHz/8GB/512GB for $926.25 shipped. Final price reflected at checkout. Regularly $1,099, today’s deal is $73 less than our previous mention and the second-best offer we’ve tracked at Amazon.

The latest Mac mini sports an eighth-generation quad-core Intel Core i3 processor, along with speedy SSD storage and a wide range of I/O including four Thunderbolt 3 ports. You’ll also find Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, and USB 3.0 connectivity here. 

Put your Mac mini out of sight with this nifty VESA mount for under $16. It uses the existing patterns on your monitor to easily hide your Mac, delivering a streamlined look in the process. You can also use it as a traditional wall mount if needed. Head over to our step-by-step guide for more.

Make sure you also jump over to our Apple guide for all of the best deals on iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, and more.

Apple Mac mini features:

Apple has re-engineered the Mac mini (Early 2020) with 8th Generation Intel Core processors, giving it even more power for industrial-grade tasks, such as home automation, giant render farms, running a live concert sound engine, or testing your latest iOS or iPadOS app. Along with improved system and graphics performance, an all-new thermal architecture includes all-flash storage, a bigger fan, expanded vents, and a redesigned power supply, and Apple’s T2 security chip. This Mac mini is powered by 3.6 GHz Intel Core i3 Quad-Core processor, while 8GB of 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM helps to ensure smooth multitasking and also allows the computer to quickly access frequently used files and programs.

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With bonus savings available at checkout, Amazon is offering shoppers the best Mac mini deal on the 2020 model with a 6-core processor and 512GB of storage. Pick it up for just $926.25.

Save on accessories too

Additional Apple deals

Fresh benchmarks have leaked for Apple’s Mac mini Developer Transition Kit based on Apple’s own ARM-based chips, hinting at the performance to come. 

The new Geekbench 5 benchmarks were discovered by 9to5Mac and show an A12Z Bionic chip, which powers the Developer Transition Kit, deliver a multi-core score of 4,555 and a single-core score of 1,098. 

Unsurprisingly that’s on par with the iPad Pro 2020, which also uses the same chip. And Geekbench 5 even records the result as one from an iPad Pro. But the mention of 16GB of memory show us that it’s actually a result for the Mac mini test kit; the latest iPad Pro has 6GB of memory. 

While the benchmarks are on-par with the iPad Pro, they are the first out of the blocks to show what performance can be delivered when Geekbench 5 is applied natively to the Developer Transition Kit. Previous leaked results were delivered using virtualization via Apple’s Rosetta 2 emulator, which can damage overall performance results. 

Running Geekbench 5 natively on Apple’s ARM-based chips delivers more impressive results and give us an idea of the type of performance we can expect from macOS running on Apple Silicon — the initiative used by Cupertino to transition its Mac machines over from Intel processors to its own custom chips. 

Compared to a 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i5 chip, which puts in a Geekbench 5 score of 4,296 in the multi-core test and 1,107 in the single-core results, the ARM-based Mac mini achieves a competitive result. 

And it’s worth noting that the Developer Transition Kit is merely a tool to help developers port their apps over from x86 architecture to ARM’s RISC architecture, which is why it’s using a standard A12Z Bionic system-on-a-chip. When Mac machines with the first true Apple Silicon chips arrive, we’re expecting to see more powerful chips that can make use of the greater power draw and space of a MacBok Pro, for example.

The first Mac machines with Apple Silicon are expected to have 12 cores, eight of which will be for performance while four take care of powering less demanding apps, as well as a custom GPU on the chip. If developers can ensure their apps will run effectively on ARM architecture, then we could be looking at powerful MacBooks and iMacs that no longer rely on Intel chips to deliver impressive performance. 

The first Apple Silicon machines are expected this year, likely in the form of a new MacBook Pro. And a lot more are expected in 2021. Apple’s iPhone 12 might be an exciting phone, but Apple Silicon could prove to be the biggest thing to come out of Cupertino this year.