Finding both the best Mac mini deals and the lowest Mac mini prices can be a challenge as it's rare Apple products see considerable discounts from the tech giant itself. Luckily, there are plenty of other retailers out there that frequently slash the prices of the most popular products. The Mac mini is Apple's answer to a small desktop computer that features powerful technology for all your creative and working needs. The last generation of Mac minis were released back in 2020 which means we're seeing some good Mac mini deals across both the original M1 model as well as the Intel-chipped configuration.
The most recent iteration of the Mac mini is the November 2020 model, which comes with Apple's own M1 chip. That starts at $699/£699 for an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. If you want to take that up to 16GB RAM or to expand the storage to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB, each upgrade costs around $200 more.
Then there's the Intel Core Mac mini. Despite Apple having since released a Mac mini with its own M1 chip, it still sells the earlier Intel Core model. Largely unchanged since 2018, this carries a steeper price tag starting at $1,099/£1,099 for 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core Processor with Intel UHD Graphics 630, 8GB RAM and 512GB Storage. It can be configured up to 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage – at a price. If you want some further information about the Mac mini, scroll down to the bottom of this article to find some answers to the most frequently asked questions about this powerful little device.
Those prices are the starter for the Mac Mini, and our below live widgets will track the best Mac mini deals across the web wherever you're based whilst directing you straight to our top retailers. It's important to remember that you'll need to pair up the Mac mini with a screen display, so why not check out the best Apple Studio Display prices or the best 4K monitors? If you fancy a package from Apple that has both the desktop and monitor, then we've also got you covered with the best iMac prices.
The best Mac mini deals today
The best Mac mini deals can make this compact but powerful little computer the best Mac for those who want a versatile device they can combine with their monitor of choosing. We found that Apple's M1 chip changes the game when it comes to performance, making this a very mighty mini package, while the classic Mac mini design remains in place.
With three times faster CPU performance and six times faster graphical performance compared to the previous model (see below), we found we could play AAA games, zip through detailed video editing software at 8K, and run iOS apps as you wish. And the good news is that since it's now two years old, we're stating to see some decent Mac mini deals.
Retailing at $699/£699 for the entry level model, we've seen reductions take that down as low as $629/£599 on some of the big retail events, such as Black Friday or Memorial Day. But even at the retail price, this is a fantastic amount of cutting edge tech for your buck.
We wait for meaningful updates to the Mac mini for ages, then two come along at once! The classic Intel Mac mini model also got a refresh in 2020, with the main difference being Apple gave this iteration more options for extended storage and RAM. Of course, those options can make the device very expensive, but you might find a good Mac mini deal on the base configuration.
Other elements – from the design to the processor – are similar if not the same to the 2018 iteration, but that's not a criticism. The majority of people getting a Mac mini are after a handy PC for remote working that won't take much space, and can be easily moved location with you with no fuss, and this model still does that just fine.
With the base M1 Mac mini model breathing down its neck at $699/£699 or less, you'll definitely want to find a great Mac mini deal to justify not going for the Apple-chipped version – unless you really need the extra RAM on offer with the higher configurations of this one. You might also want to look out for pre-2020 models, which may reduce the price considerably. We've seen some renewed models come up for as little as $199/£199, which are the best Mac mini prices you're likely to find. The best Mac mini deals we've seen on brand new Intel models have been $543.99 for an i3 core 256GB SSD model.
What is a Mac mini?
The Mac mini is a small desktop computer produced by Apple. Much like other traditional desktop computers, it doesn't come with features like a monitor, mouse or keyboard so you will need to purchase those separately. This makes the Mac mini a great product for those that want to customise their visual and technological accessories in their set up whilst still having that Apple power.
How should I choose the best Mac mini deals?
As we've seen above, buying a Mac mini today is really a choice between two models that both came out in 2020. There's the Mac mini with Apple's own M1 chip and the previous Intel-powered version. For most people, the M1 Mac mini will probably be the best deal since it offers great performance at quite a good price. The Intel version will only really be of interest to those who want to expand the RAM up to a higher configuration (all the way up to 64GB) or for those considering saving money by looking for a Mac mini deal on an older renewed model.
Related articles: