If you’re shopping for a new Mac, two names will keep popping up: the iMac and the Mac mini. But which one is better?
The simple answer is: it depends on your needs. The iMac is an all-in-one solution that doesn’t need extra accessories. The Mac mini assumes you already have those accessories, which is why it’s more affordable.
But even if you follow this logic, the Mac mini vs iMac debate doesn’t end there. See, both of these products come in two types. You have the Intel-based Mac mini and iMac, as well as the newer M1-based versions.
So, which of these four devices is right for you? Let’s find out by diving into what they offer under the hood!
Design and Portability
The Mac mini looks much like it looked for years. It’s only 7.7 inches wide and 1.4 inches tall, so it’s small enough to put wherever you want. The M1 version comes in silver color, whereas the Intel Mac mini is space grey.
Both Mac mini versions offer two USB Type-A ports, a headphone jack, an HDMI 2.0 port, and Gigabit Ethernet. The Intel Mac mini has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, with the M1 version offering two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The iMac comes in two sizes. The M1 version has a 24-inch screen that’s just 0.45 inches thick and comes in seven colors. It’s limited on ports, though, with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack.
The Intel-based iMac comes with a 27-inch screen and silver color. Other than offering a higher resolution, it matches the M1 iMac for specs in every other way. It also has much more connectivity, including four USB-A ports.
Performance
To make the comparison simpler, we’ll focus on the four main spec areas. These include processing power, RAM, graphics, and storage.
Processing Power
With its six-core processor, the Intel Mac mini is the weakest of the bunch. By comparison, the M1 Mac mini and the 24-inch iMac both have an M1 eight-core chip. This chip is very fast, matching Intel’s eight-core chip.
The 27-inch iMac offers six-core, eight-core, and 10-core options. The 10-chip version is superior to the M1 chip, but you’ll have to pay a lot for this upgrade. The M1-based Mac mini and iMac are the best value for money.
RAM
As much as it helps with processing, the M1 chip is a RAM bottleneck. Both the M1 Mac mini and 24-inch iMac come with 8GB RAM. You can customize them with 16 GB, but that’s it for future-proofing.
The Intel Mac mini also comes with 8GB RAM, but you can opt for 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The 27-inch iMac can go one step further, up to 128GB. This machine is also the only one to support future upgrades.
Graphics
When it comes to graphics, the Intel Mac mini performs the worst due to its integrated GPU. The M1 Mac mini and 24-inch iMac also have integrated GPUs, but they work faster since they share processor memory.
Again, the 27-inch iMac is on another level. Even its cheapest version comes with a Radeon Pro 5300, which is miles better than integrated graphics. If need be, you can opt for an even more powerful card, up to 16 GB VRAM.
Storage
Storage-wise, there’s not much to talk about. All devices use very fast flash storage. The only difference is that the 27-inch iMac supports an additional 8TB of storage, with the other options only allowing up to 2TB.
Software Compatibility
As any iMac guide will tell you, all Mac software will work on Intel Macs. The new M1 machines are more limited in this regard. If an app isn’t recompiled to work on M1, you may see compatibility issues.
To Apple’s credit, Mac-first apps work perfectly on M1. Many third-party companies, such as Adobe, are also trying to make their apps compatible. Still, some apps remain unavailable on M1—at least by default.
One solution to this is to use Rosetta 2 to “translate” your apps. That will make all apps run on M1, but with a performance penalty that may lead to overheating. Click here to learn how to stop Mac overheating.
Not sure which tools you’ll need to make apps work on M1 Macs? If so, you’re better off opting for the Intel Mac mini or 27-inch iMac. As far as iMac tips go, keeping things simple is pretty high on the list.
Other Features
Is external display support a key factor for you? If so, you’ll want to know that the 24-inch iMac supports one additional screen of up to 6K resolution. The 27-inch iMac supports either two additional 4K screens or one 6K screen.
The M1 Mac mini supports up to two displays. One can go up to 6K via Thunderbolt, and the other one goes up to 4K via HDMI. The Intel Mac mini supports three displays via Thunderbolt and HDMI.
Both iMacs have a built-in 1080p webcam. The 24-inch iMac’s webcam is slightly better thanks to the M1 chip’s image processing. This iMac model also has better speakers, designed around six drivers.
The Mac minis have speakers, but they’re barely worth mentioning. As seen in a Mac mini guide, they also come with no peripherals of any kind. The iMacs come with a keyboard and either a mouse or trackpad.
Pricing
The M1-based Mac minis start at $699. That gets you a solid eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can increase the RAM to 16GB and the storage up to 2TB.
The Intel Mac mini starts at $1099, with a 3.0 GHz six-core i5 CPU, UHD graphics, 8GB RAM, and 512GB of storage. You can upgrade all specifications except the graphics card, with the i7 CPU being particularly useful.
As for iMacs, the cheapest 24-inch model starts at $1,299. That’s good enough for an M1 eight-core CPU, seven-core GPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 8-core GPU model will set you back $1,499.
The 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799 and can go up to $2,299. These come with either an i5 or i7 CPU and a Radeon Pro 5300 or 5700 XT GPU.
Mac Mini vs iMac: Final Verdict
As you can see, both the Mac mini and iMac are solid choices. If you’re looking for top performance, the 27-inch iMac is your best bet. The Mac minis work better as value picks, as does the 24-inch iMac.
Want to learn even more about the Mac mini vs iMac debate? Keep reading our Mac-related content!
