Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Thunderbolt and Core i5 come to the Mac mini.
Overview
In July 2011 the Mac mini adopted Intel's Sandy Bridge chips, with a 2.3 GHz dual-core Core i5 as the base and a 2.0 GHz quad-core Core i7 on the server model. Integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 handled the display on the base unit, with an AMD Radeon HD 6630M on the upgraded one.
A Thunderbolt port and HDMI on the back could drive two displays, and the SD slot became SDXC. Four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet remained, with 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
The optical drive had gone in 2010, and Apple now built the Mac mini Server with two hard disks instead of a DVD unit.
Why it mattered
It made the Mac mini a quad-core option for the first time and brought Thunderbolt to the line.
At a glance
- Announced
- July 20, 2011
- Released
- July 20, 2011
- Discontinued
- October 23, 2012
- Launch price
- $599
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i5 dual-core, 2.3 GHz
- Storage
- 500 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Thunderbolt port added
- Core i5 dual-core and Core i7 quad-core options
- Bluetooth 4.0
- AMD Radeon HD 6630M option
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i5 2.3 GHz dual-core (Core i7 options up to quad-core 2.0 GHz)
- CPU cores
- 2 or 4
Memory
- RAM
- 2 or 4 GB DDR3, expandable to 8 GB
- Storage options
- 500 GB hard disk; 750 GB or 256 GB SSD options
Graphics
- GPU
- Intel HD Graphics 3000 or AMD Radeon HD 6630M
Ports
- Ports
- 4 USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Thunderbolt, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11n
- Bluetooth
- 4.0
Design
- Dimensions
- 3.6 x 19.7 x 19.7 cm (1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7 in)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
Availability
- Announced
- July 20, 2011
- Released
- July 20, 2011
- Discontinued
- October 23, 2012
- Launch price
- $599
Colors
- Finishes
- Aluminum
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 (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 (M1, 2020)
The first Apple silicon desktop, at $699.
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.