Mac Mini or iMac - a comparison
The technical features of the Apple iMac and a Mac Mini are very similar. Read in our practical tip whether the large iMac or the mini model is better suited to your needs.
Mac Mini and iMac in comparison
- Both the iMac and the Mac Mini have an all-aluminum housing.
- The Mac Mini and the smaller iMac both come with an Intel Dual Core with 1.4 GHz. The large iMac can be upgraded with its quad core up to 3.5 GHz. The new iMac with 5K Retina display even up to 4 GHz. However, such an upgrade can quickly double the price of the iMacs because the additional features of the iMacs are significantly more expensive than the Mac Mini.
- Both can be purchased with a hard drive or with a FusionDrive and do not differ in memory. Only the smaller 21-inch iMac has a slower hard drive than any other.
- Mac Mini and the smaller iMac both come with an Intel HD graphic from the 5000 series or an Intel Iris graphic. With the 27-inch iMac and the iMac with Retina Display, on the other hand, you can select significantly higher graphics chips. The iMac has two NVIDIA GeForce chips to choose from, while the iMac with Retina display has an AMD Radeon R9 M290X or an AMD Radeon R9 M295X with 2 or 4 GB memory.
- Neither Mac Mini nor the iMacs differ from each other with the connections or the supplied apps. All have USB 3.0 Thunderbold, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet or are supplied with OS X Yosemite.
- The smallest iMac is equipped with a full HD display, its big brother with 2560 x 1440 pixels and the iMac with 5K retina display even has a resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels.
- The Mac Mini is available from around 470 euros at 1.4 GHz. You can get the cheapest iMac for around 950 euros in the version with 21.5 inches and 1.4 GHz.
Conclusion: iMac and Mac Mini
With the Mac Mini and the smaller iMacs, you can work very well, especially in everyday office work and as a home PC. On the other hand, if you would like to work professionally with videos, pictures and animations without long computing times, one of the two large iMacs is recommended. However, the large iMac and the iMac with Retina Display quickly become expensive due to the high purchase costs, especially for upgrades such as a better processor. Compare all models in our price comparison and get the cheapest offer.
If you have problems with your Mac, you will find a suitable solution in our practical tip section MacOS. Tip: You can also find Apple products cheaply at Mactrade. Save money on your next purchase with our vouchers.