Apple 2023 Mac mini desktop computer with Apple M2 chip with 8‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD storage, Gigabit Ethernet. Works with iPhone/iPad

Bearing in mind that I am aware that I bought an 8GB RAM 256 GB SSD version of the M2 mac mini, I'm aware of the capacity limitations. But as a cheap option to get friends and family on and into the mac ecosystem, this is an excellent jumping-on point. If you need more storage space, attach and use a bigger external SSD and getting mac os installed and booted from that is easy! Cheaper than apple prices. Things to keep in mind, you will need to get yourself an apple compatible keyboard and a mouse. Oh, and a monitor; however this is far cheaper than buying an iMac or mac laptop. If you can afford it and ONLY if you can afford it, consider getting the 16GB - now this is not necessary and the 8GB will be fine, I'm not a youtube or social media poster, so I don't need to be producing high-end videos every 3 minutes for my fan base. This thing can knock day-to-day stuff right out of the park, and if you want to do some video editing it really can do it without issue. I think if you're making feature films, you might want to consider 16GB and more space. Tie yourself into the cloud and your files will be offloaded and ready for use and use little space on your internal drive. Me, I use it for office-based stuff, word, excel, finance, website building, photos, emails and the web. and it can do so much more. Apple Motion is a dream on it too. The only reason I say get the 16 GB if you can afford it, is that you are future-proofing your mac mini for a few more additional years; my last one lasted 12 years!! I only upgraded as I wanted to use the new mac OS features. You really don't need 16 GB; KSP and some other games I occasionally play run very well on high detail on this 8 GB mac mini M2. 8 GB will suit you fine, 16 GB is NOT necessary for day-to-day and occasional play. The fan is quiet, I never hear it. Fast booting and a delight to look at and use :-)

The M2 Mac Mini is a seriously cool little computer that packs a punch. It's perfect for everyday stuff like web browsing, writing up your latest novel, or just general faffing around. The 8GB of memory is more than enough to keep things running smoothly for most hobbyists, but if you're into video editing or running a bunch of apps at once, you might want to consider upgrading to 16GB. One of the coolest things about the M2 Mac Mini is that it's so darn quiet. It's almost magical how you can barely hear it chugging away, even when you're working on something intensive. It's definitely a big plus if you're someone who gets easily distracted or just wants a bit of peace and quiet. Despite its small size, the M2 chip is seriously fast and can handle even the most demanding applications with ease. Plus, it's compact design means that it doesn't take up much space on your desk - which is great if you're like me and have a cluttered workspace. Overall, if you're after a reliable and seriously impressive computer that won't break the bank or take up too much space, the M2 Mac Mini is definitely worth checking out.

Brilliant little computer. I bought this as it is at such a discount relative to the 16GB RAM or 512GB storage models. I was worried that it might not be good enough for Lightroom as 16GB RAM is recommended. Bear in mind that I am an amateur user and have stuck with jpgs mostly (see Ken Rockwell's blog) but if that is you, don't bother paying extra for the 16GB RAM. I have started using raw files too but it is too early to tell whether the extra file size will prove to be a problem. I did buy a Sandisk Extreme 1TB external drive for my photos to sit on and this works really well. I can just about forget that it is external. Photoshop also seems to work well too, though I have not pushed that too far. So far so very good. Update after a couple of months .... I am now using RAW files and JPGs and find no problem processing them. I can have LrC and PS open plus a load of other apps and see no problems in performance. Uploading 340 photos (mix of JPGs and RAW files; total 5GB) from my camera (attached via USB A port) to my Sandisk Extreme external drive (on a USB C port) took 4minutes. I can live with that.

This is easily the best value Mac currently available, and it's a fantastically fast little machine. While it could actually be smaller (in rather un-Apple style, there's a lot of empty space inside), it's still quite compact, and feels typically solid. After deciding to finally replace my mid-2011 iMac, which I haven't been able to update the OS on for a number of years, I had long considered getting one of these so I could get a separate monitor to connect my Windows laptop to too. Setup was nice and easy, as was connecting my old keyboard and mouse from the iMac (I used wired ones to set it up, as it seems you can't connect Bluetooth devices at that stage). I only wish Apple weren't so stingy when it comes to upgrade prices - £200 for an additional 8GB RAM and the same again for 512GB SSD is frankly ludicrous, but thankfully I can make do with the default amounts. It's also worth noting that all you get is the device and power cable, so you will need to get an HDMI cable (or USB C, if you wish to go that route).

If you want a Mac without paying a ridiculous price for it then this is what you need. Fast, easy to use interface, portable and everything you want in a Mac but at a good price. Negative as usual are the ports, all at the rear so if you have stuff to plug in some form of adaptor is required. Aesthetics over function again by Apple. Other than that, brilliant machine. Whack it into a monitor and you are away. One more thing. The speaker - Ha! So bad it’s funny. I’m sure another two mm of thickness in the unit to have a speaker with some form of bass wouldn’t have been a bad thing.