The Mac Mini is a small desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. As of 2022, it's one of the four current Macintosh desktop computers, positioned between the consumer-grade all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Studio and Mac Pro. It's the company's only consumer desktop computer since 2005 without a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The machine was originally named "BYODKM" (comes with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse) as a strategic propaganda to encourage users to switch from pCs to running operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Linux.
In January 2005, the original Mac Mini introduced the PowerPC G4 CPU. In February 2006, Apple announced its second-generation lineup. It has more advanced components and internal software updates and switches the CPU to Intel Core Solo. The third generation, launched in June 2010, features a thinner, one-piece aluminum casing and HDMI port that is easier positioned as an alternative to home theater equipment and Apple TVs.
The 2018 fourth-generation Mac Mini models come with Thunderbolt, Intel Core i5, or i7 CPUs, and also change the case's default silver to space gray. This model also features solid-state storage and replaces most data ports with USB-C sockets.
The fifth-generation lineup featuring Apple Silicon was launched in November 2020 in an original silver style. At the same time, the fourth-generation model is still available. The server version of the Mac Mini, bundled with the server version of the OS X operating system, was available from 2009 to 2014.
Mac Minis received widespread tepid reviews, with the exception of the fifth-generation model, which was praised for its compatibility, performance, processor, price, and energy efficiency, though it occasionally received some criticism for its ports, speakers, integrated graphics, non-user-upgradeable RAM and storage, and the expensive cost of buying related accessories and displays.