Mac mini costs less by leaving out a screen and battery
The Mac mini costs less than Apple’s laptops largely because it is sold as a desktop without a screen, camera, battery or keyboard and trackpad. Its lower price reflects those omitted parts and simpler design, while portability and compact construction add costs to MacBooks.
The article cites a base Mac mini at $900 with an M6 chip and 256GB of storage, compared with a $1,100 MacBook Air with an M5 chip and 16GB of RAM. The Air may be better value for new Mac users because it includes a display and input devices and works away from a desk; the mini suits people who already own desktop equipment or want to connect it to a television.
- The Mac mini’s lower price comes partly from having no screen or battery.
- MacBooks cost more but include a display, keyboard and trackpad.
- The mini suits people with existing desktop equipment.
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Apple sells two main types of personal computers with different designs. The Mac mini is a desktop computer that must be connected to a separate screen, keyboard and trackpad. A MacBook is a laptop that has all these components built in, making it portable and ready to use immediately.
The Mac mini costs significantly less than a MacBook because it lacks many expensive parts like a screen, keyboard, trackpad, camera and battery. A base Mac mini costs $900, whilst a base MacBook Air costs $1,100.
Different people need different machines. Someone buying their first Apple computer might prefer a MacBook Air because it includes everything needed and can be used away from a desk. However, someone who already has a screen, keyboard and trackpad set up at home, or who wants to connect a computer to their television, would find the Mac mini offers better value for money.
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Originally published by Engadget as “The reason the Mac mini is cheaper than a MacBook”.