Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2014)

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iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) compared with Mac mini (Late 2014)

	AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)	AppleMac mini (Late 2014)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2013	October 2014
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core i5-4570R, Intel Core i5-4570S or Intel Core i7-4770S	Intel Core i5-4260U, Intel Core i5-4278U, Intel Core i5-4308U or Intel Core i7-4578U
CPU cores
CPU cores	4	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	4 or 8	4
Graphics
Graphics	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 or NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M (1 GB GDDR5)	Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Intel Iris Graphics 5100
Memory
Memory	8 GB or 16 GB	4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB
Storage
Storage	256 GB to 1 TB	256 GB to 2 TB (better)
CPU
CPU	2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz, or 2.9 GHz quad-core Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz; the upper configuration supports a 3.1 GHz quad-core Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz	1.4 GHz dual-core Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz), 2.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 (up to 3.1 GHz), or 2.8 GHz dual-core Core i5 (up to 3.3 GHz). The two higher models can be configured with a 3.0 GHz dual-core Core i7 (up to 3.5 GHz). Exact processor identities are recorded by Geekbench; Ars Technica tested the Core i5-4278U and Macworld tested the Core i5-4308U.
GPU
GPU	Integrated Intel Iris Pro graphics on the 2.7 GHz configuration; NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 1 GB GDDR5 on the 2.9 GHz and optional Core i7 configurations	Intel HD Graphics 5000 in the 1.4 GHz model; Intel Iris Graphics 5100 in the 2.6 GHz, 2.8 GHz and optional Core i7 models
Memory type
Memory type	1600 MHz DDR3; 8 GB (two 4 GB modules), configurable to 16 GB (two 8 GB modules) at purchase; memory is not user-accessible	1600 MHz LPDDR3 soldered to the logic board; 4 GB configurable to 8 GB or 16 GB on the 1.4 GHz model, and 8 GB configurable to 16 GB on the higher models. Memory cannot be upgraded after purchase (Ars Technica).
Storage type
Storage type	1 TB 5400-rpm hard drive; optional 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB or 512 GB flash storage on either base processor. Apple's launch notice confirms PCIe flash storage.	1.4 GHz model has a 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive or 1 TB Fusion Drive. The 2.6 GHz model has a 1 TB hard drive, 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB SSD. The 2.8 GHz model has a 1 TB Fusion Drive, later 2 TB Fusion Drive option, or 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB SSD. Core i7 configurations retain the storage choices of their original base model; deduplicated configurations combine these supported choices. Macworld reports the 2 TB Fusion Drive option was added after launch; it is included in Apple's current specification.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	21.5″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	1920 × 1080	–
Panel
Panel	IPS LCD	–
Display type
Display type	LED-backlit display with IPS technology and support for millions of colours	–
Display features
Display features	Fully laminated glass and anti-reflective coating; Target Display Mode via a separately sold Thunderbolt cable. Apple does not publish brightness or refresh rate in the model's specification sheet.	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × Thunderbolt 2, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 2 (better)
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11ac	802.11ac
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	4.0	4.0
Camera
Camera	FaceTime HD	–
Back ports
Back ports	Four USB 3 ports, two Thunderbolt ports with Mini DisplayPort output, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone and optical digital audio output; Kensington lock slot. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI need separately sold adapters.	Two Thunderbolt 2 ports up to 20 Gb/s each, four USB 3 ports up to 5 Gb/s, HDMI, SDXC slot, Gigabit Ethernet, separate digital/analogue audio input and headphone/line output; IR receiver
External displays
External displays	Built-in display at native resolution alongside one external display up to 2560 × 1600; extended desktop and video mirroring	Up to two displays at 2560 × 1600; native Mini DisplayPort output over Thunderbolt. HDMI supports 1080p at up to 60 Hz, 3840 × 2160 at 30 Hz or 4096 × 2160 at 24 Hz. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI require the appropriate adapter.
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone	Built-in speaker; HDMI supports multichannel audio; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	–
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; optional Magic Trackpad	Power lead; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separately
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	Compact
Weight
Weight	5.68 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	528 × 175 × 450 mm	197 × 197 × 36 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Dimensions include the stand; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. A built-in VESA mount version was also available.	197 × 197 × 36 mm; 1.19 kg for the 1.4 GHz model, 1.20 kg for the 2.6 GHz model and 1.22 kg for the 2.8 GHz model. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no common weight is assigned.
Power supply
Power supply	100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase	Integrated power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; maximum continuous power 85 W
Noise
Noise	Apple's operator-position sound pressure: 12 dB at idle and during hard-drive access	Apple specifies 12 dBA sound pressure at idle; its acoustic test configuration is the 2.8 GHz Core i5 with 8 GB memory and 1 TB Fusion Drive
Materials
Materials	Recyclable aluminium and glass enclosure; arsenic-free display glass and mercury-free LED backlight	Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free with regional power-lead exceptions
In the box
In the box	iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse and power lead; OS X Mountain Lion and iLife were included at launch	Mac mini and power lead; shipped with OS X Yosemite at launch. The current support sheet's macOS Mojave wording reflects a later software update.