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Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini Q&A
Update Published December 14, 2020
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Who designed the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini?
Apple's industrial design for the last several years has been performed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group, led by Jonathan Ive.
Where can I buy an Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini?
In the US, you always can purchase an Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini directly from Apple, but you often can get a better deal by purchasing your new Mac mini from an Apple Authorized Reseller like site sponsor Adorama. Adorama commonly has deep discounts on recently discontinued models, too. Other World Computing sells used and refurb Mac mini models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used Mac mini models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
What are the custom configuration options for the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models?
EveryMac.com provides both the default configuration and lists many custom configuration options on the individual specs pages for each Mac mini.
However, the primary custom configuration upgrade options (rather than the stock configurations) at the time of purchase -- processor, RAM, and storage for each of the past and present Aluminum Mac mini models -- when applicable -- also are listed below:
Mac mini |
Subfamily |
Processor |
RAM |
Storage |
Mid-2010 |
2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo (P8800) |
4 GB |
500 GB HD |
|
Mid-2010 |
N/A |
8 GB |
N/A |
|
Mid-2011 |
N/A |
4 GB |
750 GB HD |
|
Mid-2011 |
2.7 GHz Core i7 (2620M) |
4 GB |
750 GB HD |
|
Mid-2011 |
N/A |
8 GB |
750 GB HD |
|
Late 2012 |
N/A |
8 GB |
N/A |
|
Late 2012 |
2.6 GHz Core i7 (3720QM) |
8 GB |
256 GB SSD |
|
Late 2012 |
2.6 GHz Core i7 (3720QM) |
8 GB |
256 GB SSD |
|
Late 2014 |
N/A |
8 GB |
1 TB Fusion |
|
Late 2014 |
3.0 GHz Core i7 (4578U) |
16 GB* |
256 GB SSD |
|
Late 2014 |
3.0 GHz Core i7 (4578U) |
16 GB* |
256 GB SSD |
|
Late 2018 |
3.2 GHz Core i7 (I7-8700B) |
16 GB |
256 GB SSD |
|
Late 2018 |
3.2 GHz Core i7 (I7-8700B) |
16 GB |
512 GB SSD |
|
Late 2018 |
N/A |
16 GB |
512 GB SSD |
If you are interested in a faster processor, it should be configured at the time of purchase as it is not possible to upgrade it later.
For models released before the "Late 2014" series, it is possible to both upgrade the RAM and upgrade the storage after the inital purchase of the system. It's even easy to upgrade the RAM.
* For the "Late 2014" models it is possible to upgrade the storage after purchase, but the RAM is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded later. For the "Late 2018" models, it is the reverse, and it is possible to upgrade the RAM, but the storage is onboard and cannot be upgraded later.
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells Mac mini memory and storage upgrades at affordable prices.
In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells Mac mini compatible memory, hard drives, and SSDs with free shipping. The company provides flat rate shipping to France, Germany, and Switzerland and inexpensive shipping for all of Europe, too.
In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells quality memory for all Mac mini models with affordable delivery country-wide and in person pick up and professional installation service available in Munich.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the "Mid-2010" Aluminum Mac mini models?
- What are all the differences between the "Mid-2011" Aluminum Mac mini models?
- What are all the differences between the "Late 2012" Aluminum Mac mini models?
- What are all the differences between the "Late 2014" Aluminum Mac mini models?
- What are all the differences between the "Late 2018" Aluminum Mac mini models? Which is best for me?
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