Mac mini (Late 2014)
Cheaper but with soldered memory and no quad-core option.
Overview
The Late 2014 Mac mini was a puzzling update. The price dropped $100 to $499 and Haswell processors, dual Thunderbolt 2 ports and faster Wi-Fi arrived, yet the memory was soldered to the logic board and the quad-core Core i7 option and Server version disappeared.
The base model carried a 1.4 GHz dual-core Core i5 with Intel HD Graphics 5000, 4 GB of memory and a 500 GB hard disk, with higher variants reaching 3.0 GHz Core i7 and Iris graphics. Four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and an SDXC slot remained, though FireWire was removed.
It sat unchanged for four years, becoming a symbol of Apple's neglect of the line until the 2018 refresh.
Why it mattered
Its long unchanged run set the stage for the much more powerful 2018 Mac mini.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 16, 2014
- Released
- October 16, 2014
- Discontinued
- October 30, 2018
- Launch price
- $499
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i5 dual-core, 1.4 GHz
- Storage
- 500 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Entry price lowered to $499
- Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Soldered memory
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i5 1.4 GHz dual-core (options to Core i7 3.0 GHz)
- CPU cores
- 2
Memory
- RAM
- 4 GB LPDDR3 soldered (options to 16 GB)
- Storage options
- 500 GB hard disk; 1 TB Fusion Drive and 256 GB SSD options
Graphics
- GPU
- Intel HD Graphics 5000 (Iris Graphics 5100 on higher models)
Ports
- Ports
- 4 USB 3.0, 2 Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, audio in and out
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ac
- 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 10.10 Yosemite
Availability
- Announced
- October 16, 2014
- Released
- October 16, 2014
- Discontinued
- October 30, 2018
- Launch price
- $499
Colors
- Finishes
- Aluminum
How it compares
More in the Mac mini family
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The cheapest Mac ever: bring your own keyboard, mouse and display.
Mac mini (Early 2006)
The first Intel Mac mini, with a Core Solo or Core Duo inside.
Mac mini (Mid 2007)
Core 2 Duo power in the same small white box.
Mac mini (Early 2009)
Nvidia graphics, FireWire 800 and five USB ports.
Mac mini (Mid 2010)
A unibody aluminum redesign with HDMI and a built-in power supply.
Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Thunderbolt and Core i5 come to the Mac mini.
Mac mini (Late 2012)
USB 3.0 and Ivy Bridge arrive in the small aluminum box.
Mac mini (2018)
Space Gray, six cores and four Thunderbolt 3 ports for pros.
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
The first Apple silicon desktop, at $699.
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M2 for $599, or M2 Pro for serious work.
Mac mini (M4, 2024)
Half the footprint: a 5-inch aluminum cube with M4 and M4 Pro.
Mac mini (M6, 2026)
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