The SSD can only be configured at purchase, as it’s not an upgradeable component on this desktop. More frugal shoppers can choose a lower capacity SSD to save money and add an external SSD or hard drive later. On the six-core Core i5 model, upgrading from a 256GB drive to 2TB quickly bumps the $1,099 price to $1,899.Īs a desktop, most users will want at least 256GB capacity. Storage starts at 128GB for the base quad-core model or 256GB on the six-core configuration. Storage Julian Chokkattu/Digital TrendsĪpple did away with hard disk storage this year, and all Mac mini models now standardize on PCIe-based solid-state drives. Instead, you’ll have to rely on Intel’s UHD Graphics 630, though if you demand more graphics performance, you can connect the Blackmagic eGPU to any one of the four Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports on the rear of the device. None of the upgrades will give you the option to add a discrete graphics card, which isn’t surprising given the Mac mini’s compact 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4-inch frame. The jump from quad-core to six-core processors will provide the most noticeable performance improvement, so if you’re looking for the best value, the Core i5 is a good choice. The entry-level Mac mini starts with a quad-core 3.6GHz Coffee Lake Core i3 processor, though you can opt for a more powerful 3.2GHz six-core Core i7 processor or go for the 3.0GHz six-core Core i5 model instead. Thankfully, after years of being saddled with an aging processor, the Mac mini comes with Intel’s 8th-gen processor. Processor Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends If you’re set on picking up a new Mac mini, here’s what you need to know heading into the configuration process. With a starting price of $799, the Mac mini’s higher price this year is creeping into the iMac’s $1,100 territory, even though Apple’s compact desktop doesn’t ship with its own display. Fitbit Versa 3Īll this power, however, comes at a cost, and the latest model costs a pretty penny more than the older model that it replaces.