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After the MacBook Air, Apple also refreshed the Mac mini which was long due for an update. The last Mac mini we saw was four years ago, so was the wait worth it? Well, it depends on who you are asking. The concept is pretty awesome, a PC that was small, quiet and could easily be used for multiple purposes. The new refresh comes in with updated internals, better cooling, better connectivity, and more storage options. So, let’s look at what the new Apple Mac mini 2018 has in store for us.

Internals

The new Mac mini starts at $799 for which you get an 8th gen i3 processor, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel UHD 630 graphics, and a Gigabit Ethernet. You can also bump it all the way up to a $4,199 configuration. For that price, you get an 8th Gen i7 processor, 64GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 2TB SSD, Intel UHD 630 graphics and 10 Gigabit Ethernet port. You also get an option to opt in for Final Cut Pro X for $299.99 extra as always.

Performance Boost

There were a few huge claims made by the company on the topic of improvements. Apple claims the newer system is 5x faster in system performance and up to 60% faster in graphical processing. The cooling has also been improved resulting in up to 70% maximum sustained power. That’s the result of the increased airflow inside the system by almost 2 times. The T2 chip has also been integrated into the system.

Connectivity

Apple has paid a lot of attention to its connectivity options. You get an optional 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, four thunderbolts 3 ports, one HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3 and a headphone jack. The HDMI port allows you to connect up to two 4k monitors or one 5k monitor. While the Thunderbolt 3 port is capable of data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.

Also read: Apple launches the new 2018 MacBook Air

Specifications of Apple Mac Mini 2018:

• Up to an Intel Core i7 8th Gen 6 core processor
• Up to 64GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM
• Intel UHD 630 graphics with support for eGPU though Thunderbolt 3
• Configurable up to 2TB SSD
• Configurable up to 10-gigabit ethernet

Conclusion

The Mac mini comes in the same familiar enclosure, made from 100% recyclable aluminum, and in a new space gray finish. On the software side, the Mac mini gets the latest macOS Mojave. The Mac mini will be available for purchase starting the 7th of November this year. As for all the gamers out there, yes the Mac mini also supports the Blackmagic’s Mac-friendly eGPU for added graphical oomph.

Many will argue that the Apple MacBook Air was the turning point in the history of laptops. A heavy statement, but true nonetheless. It was the first ultrathin laptop with an amazing build and a great performer too. Then came “just Macbook” with it’s even thinner, lightweight fanless design with just one USB C port. That’s when all hopes were lost for another MacBook Air refresh, up until yesterday. And in this article, I will be discussing all the best features inside the new Apple MacBook Air 2018.

The new MacBook Air brings everything to the table. Starting with a 13.3″ 2560 x 1600 Retina Display that cuts the screen bezels by over 50% (compared to its predecessor). The laptop looks a lot better now with glass covering the whole screen up to the edges. Apple even claims it can show up to 48% more colors compared to its previous generation.

Also Read: Apple launches two iPad Pros with all new looks

Apple gave up on the TouchID for its smartphones and tablets but seems like it’s a new feature for the MacBook Air. You can also use it for Apple Pay, secure your laptop logins and even secure password protected documents. It also comes with the second generation of Apple’s T2 security chip.

MacBooks always had great keyboards, apart from a few generations in between. For this one, Apple is pretty sure that the new generation of the butterfly mechanism keyboard is better, and by a lot. They provide four times more key stability along with more comfort and responsiveness. The keys are individually backlit and come with an ambient light sensor to help with low-light typing.

The Force Touch Trackpad is now 20% larger, much more precise and a lot more pressure sensitive. There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports for data transfers, charging, plug in an external display or even an external GPU. The speakers deliver twice as much bass and 25% more volume. Then there is the new HD webcam with three microphones which should result in much better Facetime sessions.

The new MacBook Air comes with Intel’s 8th Gen Core i5 processor which can go up to 3.6GHz. The laptop is configurable of up to 16GB of RAM and 1.5TB of storage, although that will also bump up the price to $2,599. The base version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage comes in at $1,199. There are no dedicated graphics solutions and all variants only come with the Intel UHD 617 integrated graphics.

The laptop weighs in at just 1.25kgs with a thickness of 0.61″. The frame itself is built from 100% recycled aluminum which emits 47% less carbon emission in the manufacturing process. The 6000 series of aluminum used should also provide an ample amount of strength and durability. Even with those levels of thinness, however, Apple still claims up to 12 hours of wireless web browsing and 13 hours of iTunes movie playback (50.3Whr).

But most people who will be buying this laptop won’t buy it for the above reasons. The main reason they will is the macOS operating system. The new macOS Mojave is the latest version of OS from Apple for Macs. There is a huge selection of features and improvements, not to mention all the new built-in apps, redesigned Mac App Store, Dark Mode, dynamic desktop, stacks, and a bunch of other features on top of the much loved operating system.

In the box, you get the MacBook Air itself, a 2-meter USB-C charger and a 30W power adapter. There are three color options that include Gold, Silver, and Space Gray. We did hear a lot of rumors about a cheaper MacBook Air, but all that was put into rest when the pricing of the base model was revealed at $1,199. It’s a bit overpriced if you ask us, especially for just 128GB of storage. But we will let you guys decide if this one is a value for money productivity system or just an over expensive glorified web browsing machine.