The Mac mini (2018) is Apple's compact desktop, offered with Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, up to 64 GB of memory and up to 2 TB of SSD storage, depending on configuration. The closest Thinvent alternative is the Thinvent Aero Mini PC, which is available with Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD storage, and the Thinvent Treo Mini PC, which adds AMD Ryzen 5 options.
Mac mini (2018) vs Thinvent Aero Mini PC and Thinvent Treo Mini PC
| Mac mini (2018) | Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Intel Core i3 to i7 | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Core i5-1240P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3 (4-core, 3.6 GHz) to Intel Core i7 (6-core, up to 4.6 GHz) | Intel Core i3-1215U to i7-1255U | Intel Core i5-1240P (12 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) |
| Cores/Threads | 4 to 6 cores | 6 to 10 cores | 12 cores |
| RAM | 8 GB, configurable up to 64 GB | 4 GB to 64 GB | 4 GB to 64 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD (PCIe) | 32 GB to 2 TB SSD | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Mini desktop | Mini PC | Mini PC |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Not stated | Not stated |
| Wireless | 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual band, or No WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual band, or No WiFi |
| Operating system | macOS | DOS | DOS |
Key differences
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Thinvent Aero Mini PC offers up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD, matching the Mac mini's maximum memory and storage while offering a wider choice of processor classes.
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Thinvent Treo Mini PC with Intel Core i5-1240P provides 12 cores, compared with 4 to 6 cores on the Mac mini (2018).
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Thinvent Treo and Aero Mini PCs are also available with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and 7530U processors, which the Mac mini (2018) does not offer.
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The Mac mini (2018) runs macOS, while the Thinvent Mini PCs listed here ship with DOS.
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Thinvent Aero Mini PCs can be ordered without Wi-Fi, which is useful for wired-only networks.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Mac mini (2018) if you need macOS and the Apple software ecosystem. Choose a Thinvent Aero or Treo Mini PC if you want a compact PC with a higher core count, AMD processor options, or a DOS-based system for business and productivity use.
