READ NEXT: M1 MacBook Air review M1 Mac mini review: Software compatibility

It is, of course, possible to add fast storage via the Thunderbolt 4 drive if you need to, however. It is possible to pop off the lid and get at the machine’s innards by undoing six Torx TR6 security screws, but the RAM and SSD are soldered to the motherboard and cannot be replaced. The big difference compared with previous Mac minis is there’s no way to upgrade. If you don’t mind being a guinea pig for Apple, however, or you’ll never venture outside the safe boundaries of Apple’s own software stack or other native applications, then the M1 Mac mini is a great choice for a minimalist desktop setup. However, with not all software shifted to the new architecture just yet, you should know that you may need to run some of your favourite applications under emulation at first, and that some of your favourite Mac apps might not run perfectly – or at all. If you need a fast, compact PC for working from home, then there’s a lot here that’s good. Just like Apple’s M1 MacBooks, the M1 Mac mini is very impressive, delivering a huge amount of performance per pound. READ NEXT: M1 MacBook Air review Apple Mac mini review: What you need to know From the outside, the M1 Mac mini looks exactly like the previous model, but it’s on the inside where all the fireworks are happening. Aside from the radical architecture revamp, Apple has otherwise made few changes to its much-loved compact PC. Think of this more as a glimpse of what might be coming rather than something you'll want to try right away.The Mac mini is the third of the first wave of M1-based Apple products we have reviewed since they were announced last year, joining the M1 MacBook Air and the M1 MacBook Pro at the vanguard of Apple’s move away from Intel. It also wouldn't be shocking if future Macs (particularly desktops) with newer CPUs offer easier upgrade paths, even if they're still unofficial.

This does show that the M1 is more flexible than it appears, though. You'd also need to track down RAM and SSD chips that are at least as fast as Apple's picks if you want to avoid bogging your Mac down. You're removing soldered-on chips and replacing them with components you aren't about to find in a store - this is a difficult procedure guaranteed to void your warranty.

MacOS recognizes the upgrades as if it they were official.Īs you might imagine, though, the process is fraught with peril. You could theoretically upgrade to 16GB of RAM if the base 8GB isn't cutting it, for example. MacRumors has learned that technicians in Guangzhou, China have found a way to detach the RAM and SSD chips to replace them with higher-capacity parts. Apple riled do-it-yourself upgraders when it launched M1-based Macs with seemingly non-upgradable memory and storage, but there's apparently a way to improve your system- if you're willing to throw caution to the wind.

Mac mini 2020 m1 ram upgrade