MacBook Air vs Mac mini

Which should I buy? MacBook Air or Mac mini?

The MacBook Air and Mac mini are the cheapest Apple computer that has macOS. In fact, if you choose a Mac mini instead of a MacBook Air, you can save up to about € 400. Should I too?

The MacBook Air costs more, but it seems obvious that when you return you will have more mobility to be able to take your computer everywhere, in addition to enjoying being seen on a retina screen, while using a Mac mini you need a screen.

Whether you need one or the other equipment depends on what you need. There are many advantages and disadvantages on both sides, with little difference in the price they present. It is for this reason that we wanted to compare both configurations.

Apple Mac mini (2020)

If you currently find which one offers the right amount of money and which suits your needs, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll take a look at whether Apple fans on a budget should buy a MacBook Air or Mac mini.

In March 2020, Apple renewed both;: Ttanto the MacBook Air, like the Mac mini. Air has undergone major upgrades, with improvements to processor, RAM, graphics and doubling its storage. It also reduced the price on the entry level model.

For its part, the Mac mini has seen its storage capacity more than double, but much less with respect to the other configurations.

The MacBook Air and Mac mini compare

Depending on the services, the Mac mini and MacBook Air have traditionally been on the lower end of what Apple has to offer. However, when the company updated the Mac mini with the MacBook Air in October 2018, the specs became much better.

The March 2020 configuration update has helped emphasize that the MacBook Air has improved on the use of 10-generation chips and improved RAM. As for the Mini, it was refurbished, but only doubled its storage capacity.

Below, we show a table of specifications for the two:

As you can see, the Mac mini, especially the Flagship model, offers excellent, 6-hour range and GHz Turbo Boost speeds. There is also the difference of building a powerful Mac mini.

The MacBook Air has achieved its full performance by the arrival of the 2018 model, and after the restoration of the same 2020 year, things are improving especially for that quad-core core component he he € 1,499 model.

The Mac mini hasn't had any processor upgrades since 2018, so it still uses eight-generation processors, but will still leave the MacBook Air behind with a Core i7 set and six CPU cores.

This does not mean that to perform certain tasks, both models are in the way and depending on the level of the processor selected. There are many differences between the input range and the Core i3 and dual core, and the more powerful Core i7 with six choruses and Turbo Boost.

There are also some features that you may not have noticed at first glance. For example, you can only add RAM for a Mac mini up to 64 GB, a category where the MacBook Air cannot exceed 16 GB. This is undoubtedly the most important factor.

The biggest difference, for suspension purposes, lies in the display section. Both computers have a combined chip, so if you need a discrete or advanced graphic, you'll need to choose another higher Mac, or connect the eGPU.

The Mac mini has Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics compared to Air & # 39; s Iris Plus graphics. Iris Plus graphics are fans of the Intel Iris Graphics 655. Both cards are integrated, but with a Mac mini with more ports available for additional display.

Speaking of which, if you need ports, and especially if you need HDMI connectivity and one or more traditional USB ports, the Mac mini is a great choice, because it has all that and more.

Finally, if you need more space, both the Mac mini and the MacBook Air offer 2TB of storage in the PCIe SSD format. The price is the same for both Macs: € 600 more than the regular price.

If you need space but want to keep the price low, an external hard drive might be a better solution, at least when it comes to your pocket. Here you can find comparisons and and the best Mac drive this year. .

As all mentioned, it seems that the Mac mini is the best option in the performance category, although the fact is that the MacBook Air still has a lot to offer.

Macbook Air or Mac mini for travel

MacBook Air and Mac mini computers are two very different macOS. One laptop is prone to motion, and the other is compact and portable, easy to navigate, but requires a screen to function as desktops.

However, the Mac mini should not be completely disconnected, as its size will allow you to move it to a second residence without much effort to work properly.

It weighs 1,3 kg, heavier than Air & # 39; s 1.25 kg, but with a slight difference. So if you are looking for a Mac that you can use at work and take home with you, a mini Mac can be an option. All you need to do is to monitor both locations.

MacBook Air or Mac mini for a price

In light of everything discussed so far, which models of the Apple MacBook Air 2020 and Mac mini 2018 offer the right amount of money?

The Mac mini is already priced lower than the MacBook Air, starting at € 929 compared to the € 1,199 for the Air, but the extra € 170 for the MacBook Air has reason for its 13-inch Retina display and ability to work anywhere.

That being said, the extra 13-inch ad may not be enough for the work you do, so you'll have to turn to the extra display of your MacBook Air – something you'll need to do to get away with getting your Mac mini.

See our article about and and excellent monitoring and Mac display of 2020.

Speaking of shows, both the Mac mini and the MacBook Air can work with a 5K quality display. This is one of the innovations brought by Apple compared to the previous generation of computers. This support was missing from the 2018 MacBook Air.

MacBook Air possibilities have improved with the 2020 update, but the Mac mini is still the best option in terms of what you can provide for people who need a more powerful computer with high performance and more networking opportunities.

Speaking of quality and price tag, we think the Mac mini beats the MacBook Air's appreciation for the low price and surprising specifications.

The decision

In conclusion, the MacBook Air and Mac mini are similar but also very different. Both are priced lower than any other Apple Mac.

Although the MacBook Air processor looks less attractive compared to that of the Mac mini entry, your customization allows you to scale a lot depending on the requirements you have for performing your task.

There are far more customization options for the Mac mini, than the MacBook Air, where you can convert CPU, RAM and storage.

If you are one of those people who just want to buy a computer with macOS to use for everyday tasks, such as spreadsheets, documents, image editing and web browsing, both the Mac mini version and the MacBook Air are enough.

If you are looking for a desktop computer for your home only, and you already have a track, the Mac mini would be your best choice. If on the other hand, you want a computer to use it everywhere, then the MacBook Air is more convenient to have its own mirror.

If you need a cheap Mac with some functionality, getting out of one of the most advanced Mac mini configurations is incredible.

Now what do we recommend? As much as we love the new Mac mini, we believe that the days of laptop computers are numbered and people are more likely to choose a laptop, unless you already have one.

So our recommendation for the best entry-level Mac to work with is the MacBook Air. You can buy an extra screen later, but investing is exactly what it is. For a Mac mini, you'll need an extra screen, keyboard and mouse.