Expert review Apple Mac Mini (2018)
Apple Mac Mini (2018) 3.6Ghz i3 8GB/128GB
The Thunderbolt 3 ports let you transfer large files fast as lightning with a speed of up to 40Gbps. Thanks to its compact size, you can easily place the Mac Mini somewhere. With the HDMI port and USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, you can quickly and easily connect your own monitor.
From the box
The first thing I notice when I unbox the Apple Mac Mini is the new color. Personally, I really find the dark Space Gray an improvement. The Mac Mini weighs 1.3 kilograms and feel sturdy thanks to the aluminum casing. I also noticed the included accessories, or rather, the lack of it. The only other things I find in the box are a manual and a power cable. Thankfully, I have everything I need to connect the Mac Mini.
Accessories
Of course, I want the Mac Mini to look good on my desk. Now that the Mac Mini is available in the Space Gray color, I think it's by far the best to connect the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Magic Mouse 2 in the same color to the Mac Mini. Of course, this is personal preference, but it forms a nice whole. You won't receive these accessories with the Mac Mini. You need to purchase them separately.
Connecting and connectors
I connect the Mac Mini to my screen via one of the 4 Thunderbolt 3 connectors or via the HDMI port. In addition to these connectors, there's a connector for an internet cable, a 3.5mm port for headphones, and I can simply connect my mouse and keyboard via the standard USB-A ports. I start the Mac Mini via the on/off button on the back.
SSD and RAM
Thanks to the fast PCIe SSD, the Mac Mini boots in just a few seconds. The model I'm testing has 128GB. This PCIe SSD is up to 4 times faster than a traditional SSD. In addition, I can easily work in multiple programs at the same time thanks to the 8GB 2666MHz RAM. If I need more RAM, I can expand it. The Mac Mini is available with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB RAM and a storage capacity up to 2TB.
Processor
With the Quad-Core i3 processor in the Mac Mini, I can easily work in multiple tabs and programs at the same time. I can make a presentation in Keynote, listen to Apple Music, and open multiple tabs in Safari without the Mac Mini slowing down. The Mac Mini also doesn't make any noise while I work. If you want to edit videos or make demanding photo editing, I recommend a stronger processor. The Mac Mini is available with a Hexa-Core i5 or i7 processor for the more demanding tasks.
Conclusion
I've really enjoyed using the Mac Mini. If you have a monitor and all accessories at home and you're a fan of MacOS like I am, I definitely recommend the Mac Mini. It's silent, fast, and looks stylish as well. It's also nice I can choose from various options. Do you edit photos and videos? Or just want to use the internet? Do you develop apps? There's always a Mac Mini suitable for your needs.
