![compare mac mini 2012 vs 2014 compare mac mini 2012 vs 2014](https://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/xlarge_wm_brw/public/field/image/2019/03/mac-mini-2012-inside-3.jpg)
Perhaps such a powerful 2012 Mac Mini was hurting Mac Pro and iMac sales, and I guess the decision was made to relegate the Mini to be a cheap “web and email machine”. Buyers like me would opt instead for the $200 cheaper model with an empty hard drive slot, ready for aftermarket goodies. Notice that the current line-up of Mac Mini’s no longer includes a Server model, probably because nobody ever bought it. It was a blessing for professionals: You could buy 4 such machines for the same money as a single Mac Pro which is less than twice as fast.Īpple aren’t stupid. The Mac Mini 2012 lineup wasn’t bad at allįor many buyers the Mac Mini was a cheaper alternative to the overpriced Mac Pro: get the medium model, increase the RAM, replace the 1TB drive with an SSD, and for about $1000 you’ve got a super small desktop with more processing power than most people know what to do with. The 2012 models featured Quad Core i7’s at 2.3GHz, something I had really looked forward to.
![compare mac mini 2012 vs 2014 compare mac mini 2012 vs 2014](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/O0IAAOSwhBFdqyVy/s-l1200.jpg)
And in terms of processing power, all we can get now are Dual Core i5 models which are slower than my current 3yr old laptop. Granted, the graphics card is better, the IO ports are faster – but the Firewire 800 port has been removed – which is not such good news for video editors. When the refreshed 2014 Mac Mini line was introduced this week I couldn’t quite believe my eyes: Appe have made the little guy much slower than his predecessors! The Mac Mini would streamline my desk and add some more power to those 3D apps I’m using. I’m currently using my high-spec MacBook Pro 2.8GHz Dual Core i7 on a 27′ Thunderbolt Display, but it’s awkward to unplug every time I want to use it as a laptop. Over the last few months I was considering buying a Mac Mini.