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Apple Silicon Mac mini Q&A
Update Published February 7, 2023
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What are all the differences between the "2020 M1" Mac mini and the "2018" Mac mini it replaced? Is there any reason to still buy an older model?
Please note that the "2018" and "2021 M1" Mac mini models both have been discontinued. However, this Q&A is up-to-date and can be quite helpful to anyone buying or selling one of these models on the used market.
As classified by EveryMac.com, there is a single "2020 M1" Mac mini -- the Mac mini "M1" 8-Core 3.2 (2020) -- which replaced the standard entry-level "Late 2018" Mac mini -- the Mac mini "Core i3" 3.6. Even after introducing the "2020 M1" Mac mini, Apple continued to sell the higher-end standard "Late 2018" Mac mini -- the Mac mini "Core i5" 3.0 -- as new.
This Q&A compares the "2020 M1" Mac mini to both of the "Late 2018" Mac mini models, all of which now have been discontinued.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Mac mini: Late 2018, Left; 2020 M1, Right)
When the "Late 2018" and "2020 M1" Mac mini are side-by-side, it is easy to tell them apart, but there are plenty of earlier and later nearly identical looking Mac mini models. There also are many external and internal differences that are much more important than color.
External Differences
The "Late 2018" and "2020 M1" Mac mini models both use the same general compact "cuboid" aluminum case design that is 7.7 inches across and deep and 1.4 inches tall.
On the underside, both have a black plastic cap that conceals a metal panel, but as confirmed by a teardown from site sponsor OWC, there is little reason to open the "2020 M1" Mac mini because the processor, graphics processor, RAM, and storage are not upgradable. For all practical purposes, the "2020 M1" Mac mini is disposable.
By contrast, the "Late 2018" Mac mini has upgradable RAM up to 64 GB, which likely will substantially increase the useful life of the computer. Unfortunately, its other components -- like internal storage -- are not upgradable.
Connectivity Differences
Connectivity is another major point of differentiation between the "Late 2018" and "2020 M1" Mac mini models.
Both lines have two "traditional" USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, default Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.0. Both lines support at least dual displays with a 4K (4096x2160) display via HDMI, but the "Late 2018" Mac mini supports an external 5K (5120x2880) display via Thunderbolt whereas the "2020 M1" supports a larger 6K (6016x3384) display.
The earlier "Late 2018" Mac mini has better wired connectivity, with four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports compared to only two "Thunderbolt / USB 4" (USB-C) ports that support Thunderbolt 3 on the later model. The "Late 2018" Mac mini also has the configure-to-order option of faster NbaseT/10 Gigabit Ethernet at the time of purchase, whereas the later model originally did not. However, on April 20, 2021, Apple added 10-Gigabit Ethernet as a custom configuration option for the "2020 M1" Mac mini, also.
On the other hand, the "2020 M1" Mac mini does have faster wireless capability -- 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) -- compared to the earlier 802.11ac standard for its predecessor.
Identification Differences
As diligently hand documented by EveryMac.com, the "Late 2018" Mac mini and "2020 M1" Mac mini have different Model Numbers and EMC Numbers externally on the underside.
These identifiers are unique to both lines and suitable for specific identification, but the Model Identifier in software also is a reliable way to differentiate between these systems for the long-term:
| Mac mini | Model No. | EMC No. | Model ID |
| Late 2018 | A1993 | 3213 | Macmini8,1 |
| 2020 M1 | A2348 | 3569 | Macmini9,1 |
Additionally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify all of these Mac mini models by their serial numbers.
More information about specific identifiers is provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
Internal Differences
Internally, the "Late 2018" and "2020 M1" Mac mini models are quite different. They use different architectures, graphics, and memory. Unfortunately, both lines have storage that is onboard and that cannot be upgraded after initial system purchase.
The "Late 2018" Mac mini uses Intel's eighth-generation "Coffee Lake" architecture with four or six core processors and Intel UHD Graphics 630 as well as two upgradable 2666 MHz PC4-21300 DDR4 SO-DIMM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory.
The "2020 M1" Mac mini models, by contrast, use Apple's own M1 architecture with an 8-core processor and a "unified" 8-core graphics processor and memory. The "2020 M1" Mac mini could have its RAM upgraded to 16 GB at the time of purchase for an extra US$200, but it cannot be upgraded as substantially as its predecessor or at all after initial system purchase.
Comparison Chart
The specific differences between processors, architectures, configurations, connectivity, upgrades, identifiers, and prices for the standard "Late 2018" and "2020 M1" Mac mini models are summarized below:
 "Late 2018" Mac mini |
 "2020 M1" Mac mini |
|
|---|---|---|
| Std. Processors: | 3.6 GHz Core i3 (8100B)* 3.0 GHz Core i5 (8500B) |
3.2 GHz Apple M1 |
| Processor Cores: | 4*, 6 | 8 |
| Architecture: | Intel Coffee Lake | Apple M1 |
| Generation: | 8th Gen | 1st Gen |
| Std. RAM: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Max. RAM: | 64 GB† | 16 GB♦ |
| RAM Type: | PC4-21300 DDR4† | Unified |
| RAM Upgrades: | Yes (Easy) | No (Unified)♦ |
| Std. Storage: | 256*, 512 GB | 256, 512 GB |
| Graphics Processor: | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Unified (8-core) |
| Dual Displays: | 4K & 5K | 4K & 6K |
| eGPU Support: | Yes | No |
| Security Chip: | T2 | Unified |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11ac | 802.11ax |
| Thunderbolt 3: | 4 | 2 |
| Gigabit Ethernet: | Yes (NbaseT/10 Opt) | Yes (10 Gigabit Opt) |
| Case Color: | Space Gray | Silver |
| Order Number: | MRTR2LL/A MRTT2LL/A |
MGNR3LL/A MGNT3LL/A |
| EMC Number: | 3213 | 3569 |
| Model Identifier: | Macmini8,1 | Macmini9,1 |
| Intro Price* (US): | US$799, US$1099 | US$699, US$899 |
| Intro Price* (UK): | £799, £1099 | £699, £899 |
| Intro Price* (CA): | C$999, C$1399 | C$899, C$1149 |
| Intro Price* (AU): | A$1249, A$1699 | A$1099, A$1399 |
| Intro Price* (SG): | S$1179, S$1619 | S$979, S$1279 |
† The RAM in the "Late 2018" models can be upgraded up to 64 GB of RAM at any time courtesy of PC4-21300 DDR4 SO-DIMM modules.
♦ The RAM in the "2020 M1" Mac mini models could be upgraded to 16 GB at the time of purchase for an extra US$200. It cannot be upgraded later at all.
* On November 10, 2020, Apple discontinued the entry-level "Late 2018" Mac mini with a 4-core 3.6 GHz Core i3 (8100B) and a 256 GB SSD but continued to sell the higher-end option at its original price until January 17, 2023.
For pricing information in dozens of other countries, refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.
So, is the "Late 2018" Mac mini or "2020 M1" Mac mini best? Is there any reason to still buy an older model?
Ignoring newer models and only comparing these two options, in many respects, the "2020 M1" Mac mini represents a "one step forward, one step backwards" kind of upgrade. The "2020 M1" Mac mini is (1) as much as 66% faster, (2) originally cheaper, (3) has faster Wi-Fi (802.11ax), and (4) supports a larger 6K display. Faster and cheaper alone are clear advantages. Although newer options also are available now, at the time it was new, most users, who do not care about buying an essentially disposable product, likely would have been best served by the "2020 M1" Mac mini.
However, the older "Late 2018" Mac mini remains well worth considering. Although the value proposition has changed on the used market, when it was new, it was a bit of a bitter pill being asked to pay more for slower performance, but it does provide (1) a well-tested architecture, (2) upgradable RAM with vastly higher maximum capacity, (3) two more Thunderbolt ports, (4) eGPU support, and (5) the ability to boot Windows. For some users, one or more of these advantages were well worth the extra US$200. Originally, (6) only the "Late 2018" Mac mini models could be configured with 10-Gigabit Ethernet, but Apple added this option to the "2020 M1" Mac mini on April 20, 2021, as well.
New & Used Mac mini Purchase Options
There are an abundance of places to buy a used or new Mac mini. However, purchasing from a quality business with a solid track record in the Mac market will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new Mac mini models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb Mac mini models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell a Mac mini, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac will buy your older Mac mini with an instant quote and prompt payment.
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.
Please refer to EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any Mac mini model to any other Mac.
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