Summary
Buying used is a great way to save some money, but some deals are better than others. Notably, Mac models with early Apple silicon chips are finally hitting bargain basement prices and can represent excellent value for money.
None is more affordable than the Mac mini, Apple’s barebones computer-in-a-box that still represents the best way to dip your toes into the Apple ecosystem.
I Paid $160 for an M1 Mac Mini
Even at full price, the Mac mini is one of the most cost-effective computers you may buy. For $599 you get the bare minimum Mac experience: a silver box with an Apple silicon processor inside that you can plug into almost any monitor. These machines are compatible with just about any mouse and keyboard combination out there and suit a range of uses.
Turn to the used market, and things start to look even better. After keeping one eye on the local market for a few weeks, I spotted a Facebook Marketplace listing for a business that was winding down operations. Nestled among the monitors and hard drives was a selection of M1 and M2 Mac mini models. I managed to grab the very last M1 for a mere AUD$250, which is about $160 in USD.
This is by far the cheapest I’ve seen a Mac mini advertised for, so I leapt at the chance. The machine has seen light office use over a period of about two years, and even includes theall-important RAM upgrade for 16GB total. A quick glance at Facebook reveals 8GB M1 models going for almost double the price, while some sellers are asking more for even older Intel models.
Classified marketplaces like Facebook are full of deals, you just have to be in the right place at the right time (and have a bit of luck on your side). I was able to avoid the major pitfalls of buying a used Mac, which is to say thatthe Mac mini wasn’t locked to an iCloud account nor did it have any Mobile Device Management profiles installed.
The M1 Chip Is Still a Great Buy
Though it’s approaching its fifth birthday, Apple’s revolutionary M1 chip still packs a punch. I knew this already because my partner has an 8GB M1 MacBook Air that they use for light office tasks, a machine that I’ve borrowed from time to time that still feels responsive and pleasant to use.
The M1 runs the latest macOS Sequoia operating system, and is even compatible with Apple Intelligence. In my case, the extra 8GB of RAM will help with AI-powered workflows (though I confess that I’veopted not to set up Apple Intelligenceat this stage). It’s not just that Apple’s AI implementation is underwhelming, but I don’t intend on using this Mac mini as a desktop.
That said, if you are looking for a do-it-all desktop, then you can do far worse than an M1-powered Mac. Though lower RAM allocations may struggle if you have a nasty tab habit, there’s little in terms of “wireless web” that the M1 can’t handle. I’ve even used the aforementioned M1 MacBook Air to edit and render 4K video in iMovie without a hitch.
For office tasks, browsing the web, checking email, studying, and light creative tasks, the M1 is still a formidable force. In fact, it might be overkill for a lot of projects that suit a machine like the M1 Mac mini. You’ll have plenty of overhead if you’re thinking of throwing together a simple file server, smart home hub, or RetroArch emulator machine.
The Mac Mini Is So Versatile
Apple’s bigMac mini refresh of 2024introduced a taller but ultimately smaller form factor, but even the old models can fit just about anywhere. The Mac mini looks surprisingly good with a low-rise aluminum chassis that features a single white LED. It could sit on a bookshelf or entertainment unit without sticking out. If you’re determined, you could easily mount it on the back of a monitor or a TV.
This is part of the reason I decided to pull the trigger. I’ve been toying with the idea of turning an old Mac into a media center front-end, a smart home hub, and some sort of media and file server ever since moving house a few years ago. The M1 system-on-chip can easily handle these tasks, and more. It should get macOS updates for a few years to come (considering even Intel models are still supported), too.
The first thing I did was set up the Mac mini just the way I wanted it. I locked the admin account and created a single “Media” account, which automatically logs in each time the computer starts. On that I added some apps I was thinking of using—Stremio for streaming from various platforms and Kodi for offline media. Jellyfin is also ready to go, though the Mac mini’s paltry 256GB of built-in storage is a problem I’ll need to solve another day.
Future plans include installing Home Assistant on the Mac mini in order to trial-run theopen-source smart home hub, and maybe even throwing RetroArch on there for multiplayer couch fun. The Mac mini is currently sitting under the TV to which it is connected via HDMI. Once I’ve got a VNC server running, I’ll be able to remotely access it from my main Mac should I ever need to.
After figuring outhow to stream my turntable via AirPlay to a HomePod, I’m thinking of relocating the turntable nearby and using the Mac mini as an always-on AirPlay bridge. I’ve spotted a cheap little “keyboard mouse” remote that should let me interact with the Mac mini from the comfort of the sofa, which should be a little more reliable than the remote mouse app I’m using on my iPhone.
The possibilities are endless. I’ve toyed with the idea of finally installingAsahi Linux, a version of Linux designed to work natively on Apple silicon chips. Another potential solution is to use the Mac mini as a Time Machine backup server for all Macs in the household. It could also function as a caching server for more efficient macOS and iOS updates. If you use Android, you could use it toenable iMessage with a BlueBubbles server.
Accessorize Your Way
The reason that a new MacBook Air is almost double the price of a comparable Mac mini is all the extra stuff that you end up paying for. This includes a sharp display, Apple’s big, beautiful trackpad, a decent keyboard, speakers that sound surprisingly good, a webcam, and the form factor.
The Mac mini’s barebones nature is a huge selling point for anyone looking to save money. It will work with almost any keyboard and mouse, whether they were designed for macOS or not. No need to buy overpriced Apple peripherals (unless you want to, of course), you’re free toinvest in or bring your own mechanical keyboardor even a mouse with a 2.4GHz dongle.
The same is true of a monitor, though be aware that the Mac mini has no DisplayPort out and can be fussy in terms of driving a monitor via USB-C. For best results, your display should have an HDMI input. But even this might be a temporary solution, given that many of the Mac mini’s best use cases (like a media or file server) work perfectly fine via a “headless” configuration with no monitor connected.
SATECHI Type-C Stand & Hub for Mac mini M2/M1
Expand the Mac mini’s excellent port selection with Satechi’s USB-C hub. It sits under the Mac mini and contains an M.2 SATA enclosure for Time Machine backups or expanded storage.
Another benefit to Apple’s standardized designs is that it’s easy to find accessories that are purpose-built for specific models of computers. Whatever Mac mini you have, you’re bound to be able to find a decent selection of accessories—notablyhubs that vastly expand the range of portsand even some that allow you to expand the internal storage via internal NVMe drives. There are minor differences between models, so make sure you pay attention when purchasing model-specific accessories.
If you can spare the room, you can also choose the lazy option in terms of storage by connecting hard drives over the fastest USB standard you have available (my M1 Mac mini supports up to 40Gb/s via USB 4, with dedicated USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB-A sockets). Invest in some SATA to USB adapters, or put your plain old unusedUSB hard drivesto use. Throw the entire mess into a cupboard or hide it next to your router and get on with your day!
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Or Buy a Brand New One
The Mac mini is the perfect beginner Mac. The cost of entry is low, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to the other computers in your life, whether that’s a powerful gaming rig or a touch-screen tablet.
Apple Mac Mini (M4)
Powered by an impressive M4 chip, the redesigned Mac Mini starts with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, a 10-core CPU, and a 10-core GPU.
Even brand new, these machines represent a cost-effective way to get into the Apple ecosystem. Check out our fullMac mini M4 review.
