Mac · Retina & Beyond · 2014
Mac mini (2014)
Cheaper but controversial: Apple soldered the memory and dropped the quad-core option, then left the mini untouched for four long years.
Mac mini (2014): key facts
When was the Mac mini (2014) released?
The Mac mini (2014) was released in October 2014. Apple discontinued it in October 2018.
How much did the Mac mini (2014) cost?
The Mac mini (2014) launched at $499 in 2014 — about $675 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the Mac mini (2014)’s specs?
The Mac mini (2014) used a Intel Core i5 running at 1.40 GHz, with 4 GB of memory and 488.3 GB of storage. It ran OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
Why does the Mac mini (2014) matter?
Dropped to $499 — but soldered the RAM, sparking owner backlash.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i5 · 1.40 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 488.3 GB |
| Display | External |
| GPU | Intel HD 5000 |
| Ports | USB 3, Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, Ethernet |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 19.7×19.7×3.6 cm |
| Operating system | OS X 10.10 Yosemite |
| Released | October 2014 |
| Discontinued | October 2018 |
| Launch price | $499 |
How the Mac mini (2014) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.40 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.3× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 125,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $499 in 2014 — about $675 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
Upgraders were so annoyed it became a cautionary tale about soldered RAM.
Related Mac models
Open the Mac mini (2014) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25