Mac mini M1 Ram Upgrade 2020: Why You Should Think Twice

The Mac mini's flexibility is what sets it apart from other desktop computers. Even without considering iPhone apps, the transition to Apple silicon has been impressive, with a price-to-performance ratio that has never been better. However, when you factor in the cost of doubling the default storage to 256GB, the total comes out to $1,099. If you opt for the base model at $699, it's worth upgrading to 16GB of unified memory, which bumps up the price to $899.

The M1 chip is Apple's first Apple Silicon processor, and its potential will only grow when Apple raises the RAM ceiling and reinstates missing USB ports. While it's technically possible to upgrade the RAM and storage on an Apple M1 Mac mini, there are several reasons why it's not a good idea.

One of the major benefits of the Mac mini is its ability to outperform most Intel Macs in benchmarks, run apps reliably, and provide a fantastic day-to-day experience for web browsing, email, creative editing, and professional work. Spending time with the 2020 Mac mini has shown that it's a powerful miniature desktop PC.

However, some users may find themselves confused or disappointed by the lack of compatible iPhone apps. Why would you want to run utility apps like Samsung earbuds or Dunkin' Donuts on your Mac? It would be nice to use favorite guitar tuner app Fender Tune, but it doesn't recognize sound input since there's no internal mic on the mini.

Many developers are holding off until they can polish their mobile apps to behave better on macOS. Some have opted out entirely, meaning you won't find mainstay apps like Gmail, Instagram (although Facebook is listed), Netflix, TikTok, and countless others. Even some verified apps will crash when opened, such as Tumblr. If you head to the 'purchased' area of the Mac App Store, you'll now find a tab for iPhone and iPad apps.

In conclusion, while upgrading RAM on the Mac mini M1 in 2020 may seem like a good idea, it's not necessarily worth the trouble. The price-to-performance ratio is already excellent, and the potential benefits of future upgrades are uncertain.

Mac mini m1 ram upgrade 2020