Photo: Gerd Fahrenhorst / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
The first Apple silicon desktop, at $699.
Overview
The M1 Mac mini was one of the first three Macs with Apple silicon, announced in November 2020. The M1 chip combined four performance cores and four efficiency cores, an 8-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine on one die, with 8 or 16 GB of unified memory.
Apple claimed three times the CPU and six times the graphics performance of the previous Intel base model. Storage began at 256 GB, with up to 2 TB available. Ports included two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4, two USB-A, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (with a 10 Gigabit option) and a headphone jack, and it supported Wi-Fi 6.
The price dropped $100 to $699 from the Intel version. The chassis was unchanged, a decision that let Apple use its original quiet cooling design with room to spare.
Why it mattered
It showed the Apple silicon transition at its most dramatic: more speed for less money in the same case.
At a glance
- Announced
- November 10, 2020
- Released
- November 17, 2020
- Launch price
- $699
- Chip / processor
- Apple M1
- Storage
- 256 GB to 2 TB
- Status
- Available
Highlights
- Apple M1 with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
- 16-core Neural Engine
- Starts at $699
- Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt / USB 4
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Apple M1
- CPU cores
- 8 (4 performance + 4 efficiency)
- GPU cores
- 8
- Neural Engine
- 16-core
- Process node
- 5-nanometer
Memory
- RAM
- 8 GB or 16 GB unified memory
- Storage options
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB SSD
- Memory bandwidth
- 68.25 GB/s
Ports
- Ports
- 2 Thunderbolt / USB 4, 2 USB-A, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (10 Gigabit option), headphone jack
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
Design
- Dimensions
- 3.6 x 19.7 x 19.7 cm (1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7 in)
- Weight
- 1.2 kg (2.6 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- macOS Big Sur 11
Display support
- External displays
- One 6K display via Thunderbolt and one 4K display via HDMI
Availability
- Announced
- November 10, 2020
- Released
- November 17, 2020
- Launch price
- $699
Colors
- Finishes
- Silver
How it compares
More in the Mac mini family
Mac mini (G4)
The cheapest Mac ever: bring your own keyboard, mouse and display.
Mac mini (Early 2006)
The first Intel Mac mini, with a Core Solo or Core Duo inside.
Mac mini (Mid 2007)
Core 2 Duo power in the same small white box.
Mac mini (Early 2009)
Nvidia graphics, FireWire 800 and five USB ports.
Mac mini (Mid 2010)
A unibody aluminum redesign with HDMI and a built-in power supply.
Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Thunderbolt and Core i5 come to the Mac mini.
Mac mini (Late 2012)
USB 3.0 and Ivy Bridge arrive in the small aluminum box.
Mac mini (Late 2014)
Cheaper but with soldered memory and no quad-core option.
Mac mini (2018)
Space Gray, six cores and four Thunderbolt 3 ports for pros.
Mac mini (M2, 2023)
M2 for $599, or M2 Pro for serious work.
Mac mini (M4, 2024)
Half the footprint: a 5-inch aluminum cube with M4 and M4 Pro.
Mac mini (M6, 2026)
M6 and M5 Pro, Wi-Fi 7 and faster storage in the 5-inch cube.