Macbook Air vs. Mac Mini: what's the best value for your money this holiday season?
With Christmas only a little more than a week away, amazing deals are in full swing for the latest Mac products, including two of the latest devices announced this year: the 2014 MacBook Air, and the revamped 2014 Mac Mini.
These two products have more in common that meets the eye, as both feature:
- dual core i5 1.4Ghz processor
- 4GB of pre installed (soldered-in) DDR3 1600Mhz SDRAM
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
- Intel HD Graphics 5000
- Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
The basic internal differences, are mostly the type of storage that comes out of the box, being 128GB Flash for the Macbook Air, and 500GB HD storage for the Mac Mini, although the price difference of customizing storage in one way or the other would still yield similar value in both products.
Obviously, the Macbook Air would be a more complete product, as it needs no external monitor, and it’s portable.
While the Mac Mini is a desktop device, and may not as portable as a laptop, its form factor allows for greater mobility than a conventional desktop PC, which makes up for its lack of a monitor. Also, where the Mac Mini lacks in mobility, it more than makes up for in terms of connectivity and expansion, compared to the Macbook Air, which features:
- Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
- Thunderbolt port
- MagSafe 2 power port
In comparison, the 2014 Mac Mini has received quite the beefy upgrade:
- Two Thunderbolt port (up to 20 Gbps)
- Four USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
- HDMI port
- SDXC card slot
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- Audio in/out
- IR receiver
In terms of specs, both the Mac Mini and the Macbook Air are very much on a similar level, which makes it for a hard choice, especially for a Holiday gift, when everyone’s budget is put to the test. It really depends on the type of user these devices are meant for. For instance, students may go for a Macbook Air, as they need a device they can carry and use on the go, while moving between classes. Home, or office life, on the other hand presents a different scenario, where a Mac Mini makes more sense, especially when used in concert with iOS devices through AirPlay or Handoff.