Mini vs Macbook Air

I desperately need a tech upgrade. But can’t decide between a Mac Mini and a Macbook Air. So writing this down to help me decide:

Requirements:

• At least M1 chip.
• 256GB / 512GB SSD.
• At least 8GB memory.
• 99% usage is at home in my home office. Unlikely to change in next 2-3 years.
• 1% usage is outside, in cafes (rare occasion), or when travelling (even rarer, like once/twice a year).
• 80% of tasks is opening lots of browser windows and working in them, and messaging apps like Telegram and Whatsapp.
• 20% is on apps like VS Code, Terminal (needs to be able to run a local server), TablePlus, Sketch, Figma, Quicktime.
• Rare once or twice a year on video apps like Final Cut Pro or iMovie.
• To save money, planning to buy refurbished Macs.

Selection criteria:

• Performance
• Price
• Portability

Mini

Upsides:

• Waaay cheaper, at least $500 cheaper than a MBA.
• Slightly better performance.
• Compact to have on desk.

Downsides:

• Not portable, but only for 1% or less of the time.
• Having this means I got to sync files if I want to work outside = some infrequent hassle.
• No more dual screens.

Verdict:

• Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Price ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Portability ⭐️
  ——————————
  Score = 10 ⭐️

Macbook Air

Upsides:

• Super portable. The lightest of the Macbooks.
• With M1 chip, performance is great, can even run Final Cut Pro.
• Dual screens set up if I use it at home.

Downsides:

• More expensive, at least $500 more.
• Portability is only useful for 1% of the time.

Verdict:

• Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Price ⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Portability ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  ——————————
  Score = 11 ⭐️

Decision

I think before Apple Silicon came along, the performance gap between the MBA and Mini would be much bigger, and therefore would have been a harder trade-off between portability and performance. But reading the reviews of MBA M1, folks are saying that it can even run FCP without lag or crashing (whereas before it would truly struggle on Intel chips).

In the past, portability would be a non-question because I work outside every day, and occasionally would digital nomad. But now that I prefer to work at home, and hardly travel due to kids, the appeal of portability had diminished significantly. That’s why I’m even considering the Mini – in the past it’s not even an option.

As for price, saving $500 or more buying the Mini definitely sounds like a more practical decision, especially now that finances are tight. That’s why I’m going for refurb. But it’s also about accrued benefits over time? I don’t refresh my tech often. My last upgrade was almost 10 years ago. The convenience of having a 2nd screen, and time-savings from hassle of syncing, definitely feels worth the $500 over the next 10 years.

So Macbook Air it is!