Apple Destroyed my Expectations. - M1 Mac Mini Review
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The first 100 people to go to blinkist.com are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership. Save 10% and Free Worldwide Shipping at Ridge Wallets by using offer code LINUS at ridge.com We finally got our hands on Apple Silicon and put it through its paces to answer the question on everyone’s mind: Can it really replace Intel and provide a smooth desktop experience? Buy Apple Mac Mini M1 On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Best Buy (PAID LINK): geni.us On B&H (PAID LINK): geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ►GET MERCH: lttstore.com ►SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com ►LTX EXPO: ltxexpo.com AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- ►Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg ►Private Internet Access VPN: lmg.gg ►Our Official Charging Partner Anker: lmg.gg ►MK Keyboards: lmg.gg ►Nerd or Die Stream Overlays: lmg.gg ►NEEDforSEAT Gaming Chairs: lmg.gg ►Displate Metal Prints: lmg.gg ►Official Game Store: nexus.gg ►Epic Games Store (LINUSMEDIAGROUP): lmg.gg ►Amazon Prime: lmg.gg ►Audible Free Trial: lmg.gg ►Streamlabs Prime: geni.us ►Our Gear on Amazon: geni.us FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS --------------------------------------------------- Techquickie: lmg.gg TechLinked: lmg.gg ShortCircuit: lmg.gg LMG Clips: lmg.gg Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg Carpool Critics: lmg.gg MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us
The video opens with Linus explaining that his initial skepticism about Apple Silicon was rooted in Apple’s broad performance claims, which were vague and optimistic. He acknowledges that his hands-on experience with the M1 Mac Mini has shifted his view, emphasizing that the Mac Mini is not only the most affordable entry into Apple Silicon but also remarkably capable given its small form factor and cooling. He notes the external appearance remains familiar, but the new Mac Mini uses USB4/Thunderbolt 3 ports and has limited onboard expandability, which impacts how users might set up multi-monitor or high-speed storage configurations. He discusses the lack of PCIe expansion inside the chassis and the implications for power users who rely on multiple peripherals, while also praising the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi Fi 6 for wireless productivity. The segment closes with a practical assessment: for many typical users, the Mac Mini’s limited I/O will be acceptable, but it will be a bottleneck for those who want dense external expansion right out of the box.
Topics · technology · consumer_electronics · hardware_reviews
Questions answered
- Does the M1 Mac Mini replace Intel for desktop use in everyday tasks?
- For many typical users, yes, the M1 Mac Mini delivers strong everyday performance and efficiency that can replace an Intel-based desktop for most tasks.
- What are the main expansion limitations of the M1 Mac Mini?
- The Mac Mini provides limited onboard expansion with only a couple of USB4/Thunderbolt ports and gigabit ethernet, making high-speed, multi-device setups require hubs or wireless solutions.
- How does Rosetta 2 performance compare to native Intel apps on Apple Silicon?
- Rosetta 2 generally runs Intel apps at a solid fraction of native speed, delivering practical performance with some overhead but maintaining usability for many workloads.
- Can the M1 Mac Mini handle gaming well?
- Gaming is viable but limited by the absence of native ARM ports for many titles; emulation via Rosetta 2 provides playable experiences in some games with varying frame rates.
- Is Apple’s marketing accuracy a concern according to the reviewer?
- The reviewer argues that Apple’s marketing was overly optimistic and not fully transparent about concrete performance figures, though the hardware itself is compelling.