Mac mini (Late 2012)
USB 3.0 and Ivy Bridge arrive in the small aluminum box.
Overview
The Late 2012 refresh brought Ivy Bridge processors: a 2.5 GHz dual-core Core i5 in the base model and a 2.3 GHz quad-core Core i7 as the quad-core server and high-end option. Intel HD Graphics 4000 handled the display.
USB 3.0 replaced USB 2.0 on all four ports, Thunderbolt and HDMI remained for displays, and there was a Fusion Drive option that blended a hard disk and SSD for speed. Memory went up to 16 GB with SO-DIMMs.
FireWire 800 and the SDXC slot were still present, and the dual-hard-disk Mac mini Server model remained for the business market. The design was unchanged from the 2010 unibody.
Why it mattered
It was the fastest and most upgradeable of the unibody minis and a favorite for home servers.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 23, 2012
- Released
- October 23, 2012
- Discontinued
- October 16, 2014
- Launch price
- $599
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i5 dual-core, 2.5 GHz
- Storage
- 500 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Ivy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors
- Four USB 3.0 ports
- Fusion Drive option
- Memory expandable to 16 GB
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz dual-core, or Core i7 2.3 GHz quad-core
- CPU cores
- 2 or 4
Memory
- RAM
- 4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz, expandable to 16 GB
- Storage options
- 500 GB hard disk; Fusion Drive and SSD options
Graphics
- GPU
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
Ports
- Ports
- 4 USB 3.0, FireWire 800, Thunderbolt, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, audio in and out
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11n
- Bluetooth
- 4.0
Design
- Dimensions
- 3.6 x 19.7 x 19.7 cm (1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7 in)
Software
- Launch OS
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Availability
- Announced
- October 23, 2012
- Released
- October 23, 2012
- Discontinued
- October 16, 2014
- Launch price
- $599
Colors
- Finishes
- Aluminum
How it compares
More in the Mac mini family
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