The new Mac mini M1 has a huge advantage — and it's not just speed

The new Mac mini M1 has a huge advantage — and it'southward not just speed

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

When the Apple M1 chip (aka Apple tree Silicon) was first introduced at the visitor'south November 10 issue, it was clear that the new fleck would be energy efficient. Apple tree talked at length nigh the improvement to both battery life and operation —two things that don't usually go hand in mitt —but we're only now appreciating exactly how power efficient the chip is.

Apple has published data on how the M1 powered Mac mini fares against previous computers, and at that place's no competition both in terms of ability draw and thermal output.

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As you can see from the section of the data republished below, Apple's data goes all the manner back to 2005'southward original PowerPC G4 packing model, and the M1 powered 2020 version improves on its predecessors in every measured efficiency metric.

Model	Power consumption (idle)	Power consumption (load)	Waste product heat (idle)	Waste heat (load)
Mac mini (M1, 2020)	6.8W	39W	23.two BTU/h	133 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core i7, 2018)	19.9W	122W	68 BTU/h	417 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core i5, 2014)	6W	85W	twenty BTU/h	290 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core i5, 2012)	11W	85W	38 BTU/h	290 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Cadre i5, 2011)	14W	85W	38 BTU/h	290 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2010)	10W	85W	34 BTU/h	290 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core two Duo, 2009)	14W	110W	48 BTU/h	376 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2007)	23W	110W	79 BTU/h	376 BTU/h
Mac mini (Intel Core Duo, 2006)	23W	110W	79 BTU/h	376 BTU/h
Mac mini (PowerPC G4, 2005)	32W	85W	110 BTU/h	290 BTU/h

To emphasize exactly how far we've come, it's fascinating to note that the original Mac mini — with its one.25GHz processor and 256MB (yes, MB) RAM — expended nearly the same corporeality of energy when idle as the current model uses nether load. We truly have come a long way.

Of course, while virtually of the information is (in dwelling computing terms) ancient history, it's the new Mac mini'due south stats relative to the 2018 half dozen-core Intel Core i7 model that really shows you lot the improvement. The new Mac mini consumes ~13W less power when idle and a whopping 83W less nether load. That ways that while the 2018 Mac would waste 68 BTU/h when idle and 417 BTU/h under load, the newer model expends just 23 BTU/h and 133 BTU/h in the same states.

Of course, this isn't an entirely fair comparison, because the 2018 Mac mini used a desktop-course processor and the new Mac mini packs the same bit as found in both the new MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro M1. But given that the Apple M1 powered Mac mini outperforms the 2018 model by over 50% in criterion tests, that feels like a moot point.

As nosotros wrote in our Mac mini with M1 review, it'due south "cheaper, faster, and keeps everything we loved about the Mac mini while changing up both the internals and where Apple sits in the larger industry." And so it's probably a positive that the rumor is that Apple will give the 2021 iMac the M1 treatment adjacent.

Those who demand wider software support will be relieved to hear that the Apple tree is apparently also plotting an Intel version of the 2021 iMac for those who aren't quite ready to make the transition. Judging by what we've seen, those shoppers volition have to settle for higher electricity bills.

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine as well. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his always-growing games excess. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.