The Mac mini (2018) is Apple's compact desktop with a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 processor, a 1 GB Ethernet port, up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 3 displays. The closest Thinvent match is the Thinvent Aero Mini PC with Intel Core i5-1240P, which also has 12 cores, up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM and dual band Wi-Fi.
Mac mini (2018) vs Thinvent Aero Mini PC
| Mac mini (2018) | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Core i5-1240P | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Core i5-1335U | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo up to 4.1GHz) | Intel Core i5-1240P (12 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) | Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, up to 4.6 GHz) |
| Cores/Threads | 6 cores | 12 cores | 10 cores |
| RAM | 8GB, configurable up to 64GB | Up to 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) | Up to 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) |
| Storage | 128GB to 512GB PCIe SSD, configurable up to 2TB | 128 GB SSD, configurable up to 2 TB | 128 GB SSD, configurable up to 2 TB |
| Form Factor | Mini PC | Mini PC | Mini PC |
| Operating System | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual band | No Wi-Fi |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet, configurable to 10Gb | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps |
| Displays | Up to 3 | HDMI 1, VGA 1 | HDMI 1, VGA 1 |
Note: the Thinvent Aero Mini PC series is listed with Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux Embedded Linux, Without OS and DOS as operating system choices.
Key differences
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The Thinvent Aero with Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores against the Mac mini's 6, and both can be configured to 64 GB of RAM.
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The Thinvent Aero with Intel Core i5-1240P has dual band Wi-Fi 5 built in. The Thinvent Aero with Intel Core i5-1335U is also available without Wi-Fi.
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The Mac mini (2018) supports up to 3 displays, including Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI 2.0 outputs. The Thinvent Aero has one HDMI port and one VGA port.
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The Mac mini (2018) has four Thunderbolt 3 ports and configurable 10Gb Ethernet. The Thinvent Aero has two USB 3.2 ports and 1000 Mbps Ethernet.
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The Mac mini (2018) runs macOS. The Thinvent Aero runs Windows 11 Pro or can be ordered with Ubuntu Linux, Thinux Embedded Linux or without an operating system.
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The Mac mini (2018) is powered with Apple's 1.5 Amp mains input. The Thinvent Aero uses a 12V DC adapter with 100–275 V AC input.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Mac mini (2018) if you work in the macOS ecosystem and need Thunderbolt 3 ports for multiple displays. Choose the Thinvent Aero Mini PC if you need Windows 11 Pro or Linux, a 12-core Intel processor, and up to 64 GB of RAM in a compact, steel-housed unit with an option for dual band Wi-Fi.
