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The Mac mini continues to impress thanks to its attractive design, quiet and energy efficient operation, improved communication capabilities and upgraded graphics. However, even the high-end model may not satisfy those hungry for maximum computing power in the absence of upgradable RAM or a quad-core configuration.
We liked
Apple introduced some very welcome changes for the new Mac mini that make it a better buy for some people over the late 2012 model. The addition of 802.11ac Wi-Fi is a boon for those who prefer to work wire-free at longer distances, and the addition of a second Thunderbolt 2 port provides compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. Gaming is a mixed bag, but you can be confident that it will handle most Steam games and lesser-demanding titles with ease.
The Mac mini still looks great: it's small, light and tough. Sure it hasn't received a design update in ages, but at this moment, it doesn't feel like it needs one. It still sits discretely in the corner of a desk and can even slip into a bag if you need to transport it and hook it up to another monitor.
Although pure SSD configurations are the best bet for storage, it's an expensive way to go, 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
You just can't ignore the Mac mini's biggest issue: upgradabilty. If you're spending this much on Apple's high-end system, you're likely somebody who's looking for maximum performance in as small package as possible. Limited to a dual-core processor and 8GB of RAM, its lack of potential horsepower and reduced longevity means that even the most powerful of the new Mac mini models may not be for you.
In a world where even Intel's NUC PC is capable of displaying 4K video at 60Hz, the fact that the Mac mini can only run it at a maximum of 30Hz feels like a let down and renders it practically useless for image editing at the super-high resolution.
Final verdict
Whether you will want to plump for Apple's new high-end Mac mini will depend on what you want to use it for, and even then the Mac mini finds itself in something of an odd position. If you're looking for the cheapest and smallest desktop PC that runs OS X, this certainly isn't it. The low-end Mac mini is one of Apple's cheapest computer ever, and while it might not offer the processing power of its high-end sibling, it's far more affordable.
The high-end Mac mini is Apple's most powerful compact computer. It's more energy efficient, much more compact and cheaper than Apple's low-end 21.5-inch iMac, but you can't pick it up with a quad-core processor or upgrade it to 16GB of RAM as you can with Apple's All-in-One. It's a compromise, and those aiming to decide between the two should consider factors such as the display, portability, processing power and, ultimately, upgradability.
If you're content 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 may not possess quad-core power but is still a fast mini desktop PC with tons of storage and heaps of style.
