

You’ll need to supply your own display, with the Mac mini supporting one 6K display (60Hz) and one 4K display (60Hz) simultaneously via HDMI or USB-C. A base model Mac mini comes with 8GB of unified RAM and a 256GB SSD, though these can be upgraded to 16GB and up to 2TB, respectively.įor $699 you get a computer and a power cord.

Its M1 chip has 8 CPU and 8 CPU cores, with adequate cooling to sustain the chip at load in a way that the fanless MacBook Air cannot. The 2020 Mac mini was the first desktop Mac to make the transition to Apple Silicon.
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It delivers 500 nits of brightness, full P3 wide-gamut color coverage, and a pixel density of 218 PPI. One of the main reasons to opt for the iMac is its display. As the name suggests, this version also has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two standard USB 3 Type-C ports. That additional fan should make it possible for this model to operate at higher speeds for longer before thermal throttling sets in. We’re recommending the four-port variant here, which ships with a slightly more powerful version of the M1 processor with an 8-core GPU (up from 7 cores on the two-port model) and two fans instead of one.

The iMac can be purchased in six vibrant colors (blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, and purple), as well as a more traditional silver version is also available. In the box, you’ll find an iMac with a beautiful 4.5K display, an Apple Magic Keyboard, a Magic Mouse, and a power brick with a color-matched braided cord. RELATED: How “Unified Memory” Speeds Up Apple’s M1 ARM Macs A base model M1 delivers similar performance to an entry-level MacBook Air with its 8GB of unified RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. The 24-inch 2021 iMac is the first of Apple’s all-in-ones to receive the Apple Silicon treatment. The iMac is Apple’s all-in-one desktop Mac, providing everything you need to get started. ✗ White bezels and protruding “chin” not to everyone’s tastes.✗ Might not be the best value choice if you already have a display and peripherals.Best Desktop Mac Overall: 24-inch iMac M1 (Four ports, 2021) Apple If neither of these is powerful enough, your only real choice is to wait for more powerful Apple Silicon chips or buy a Mac Pro. The main question you should be asking when shopping for a desktop Mac is whether you need an all-in-one, like the iMac, or just the computer like a Mac mini. If you need a powerful Mac, it may well be worth waiting to see what Apple comes up with. High-end Macs have yet to receive the ARM treatment but will see more powerful Apple Silicon systems-on-chip before long, with more cores and RAM. Apple’s first ARM-based chip, the M1, has wowed early adopters and reviewers alike with its high performance, energy efficiency, and relatively affordable price point.Īpple has committed to moving its entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon by the end of 2022. With around half of the company’s lineup already using Apple Silicon, it’s hard to recommend the older Intel models in all but a few niche circumstances.
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New Macs with Apple Silicon can emulate most software written for Intel chips, running at around two-thirds of the native speed. Intel chips will be supported for years to come, but at some point, new Mac software will no longer be compatible with them, and they will be left behind. Since Intel processors use a different processor architecture, software developers must account for both Intel and Apple Silicon when building their apps at this moment in time. What to Look for With a Desktop Mac in 2021Īpple’s Mac lineup is currently in flux as the company transitions away from Intel chips in favor of ARM-based Apple Silicon. Why you should trust us: Our trusted experts use a lifetime of experience to pick the best products. But which should you pick up? Here are some recommendations. If you don’t need the portability of a laptop, picking a desktop Mac over an Apple MacBook could save you money and net you much more screen real estate.
