What is the last fully upgradeable mac mini?

The Point and Shoot Pro · Feb 25, 2022

What year was the last fully upgradeable mac mini. Meaning I could upgrade ram, and SSD space at my convenience? Can it run the latest version of MacOS?

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The Point and Shoot Pro

Tom_N · Feb 25, 2022

The Point and Shoot Pro said:
What year was the last fully upgradeable mac mini. Meaning I could upgrade ram, and SSD space at my convenience? Can it run the latest version of MacOS?

The Late 2012 Minis are the last Minis that are internally upgradable in both respects. They are getting long in the tooth. The maximum RAM is 16 GB. The drive interface is 2.5" SATA (not PCIe). The Thunderbolt port is Thunderbolt 1. They can't run the latest version of macOS – just Catalina, which will likely drop off the "most recent three" list late this year.

The Late 2014 Minis have soldered-in RAM, although it appears that you can get 2.5" SATA drives and PCIe SSD sticks for them. They can run the latest version of macOS.

Apple still sells some Intel-based Mac Minis. These have socketed RAM (maximum 64 GB) and non-upgradable internal PCIe SSDs and date from October 2018. They likely will disappear from the product line once Apple releases Minis based upon the M1 Pro and M1 Max, or similar, SoCs. You can connect external drives using USB-C (TB3) and USB-A (USB 3.0) ports.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+mini+Late+2018+Teardown/115210

whisky · Feb 25, 2022

The Point and Shoot Pro said:
What year was the last fully upgradeable mac mini. Meaning I could upgrade ram, and SSD space at my convenience? Can it run the latest version of MacOS?

Hi, I have a late 2012 MacMini running Catalina. I have had this since new and it has performed well.

Lately I thought that it might be prudent to replace the HDD with a SSD, there already being 128Gb SSD already installed as part of the Fusion drive.

I bought a 2Tb Crucial SSD and had this installed internally in place of the HDD and set up to continue to function as a Fusion drive.

I got this done by my knowledgeable local Mac repair service and it was not expensive to do. I am very happy with the Mini's performance now and see this as a great improvement.

It has an Intel i7 chip and 16Gb memory installed and runs Catalina which is more than enough for me. I believe my repair shop could possibly go to the later OS's? but I do not need that.

I used to have an iMac but went off this style when it developed issues and had to be replaced. It seems better to me to be able to replace a part rather than the whole system.

I run it via an NEC MultiSync PA272w set up with SpectraView II and an x-rite i1 Display sensor. Good enough for me, I don't go overboard on tech performance data and it is quick.

It's your call, best of luck.

Cheers.

The Point and Shoot Pro · Feb 25, 2022

whisky said:
The Point and Shoot Pro said:

What year was the last fully upgradeable mac mini. Meaning I could upgrade ram, and SSD space at my convenience? Can it run the latest version of MacOS?

Click to expand...

Hi, I have a late 2012 MacMini running Catalina. I have had this since new and it has performed well.

Lately I thought that it might be prudent to replace the HDD with a SSD, there already being 128Gb SSD already installed as part of the Fusion drive.

I bought a 2Tb Crucial SSD and had this installed internally in place of the HDD and set up to continue to function as a Fusion drive.

I got this done by my knowledgeable local Mac repair service and it was not expensive to do. I am very happy with the Mini's performance now and see this as a great improvement.

It has an Intel i7 chip and 16Gb memory installed and runs Catalina which is more than enough for me. I believe my repair shop could possibly go to the later OS's? but I do not need that.

I used to have an iMac but went off this style when it developed issues and had to be replaced. It seems better to me to be able to replace a part rather than the whole system.

I run it via an NEC MultiSync PA272w set up with SpectraView II and an x-rite i1 Display sensor. Good enough for me, I don't go overboard on tech performance data and it is quick.

It's your call, best of luck.

Cheers.

Good to know. I want a mini because of the inexpensive up front costs, I can do the upgrades myself, and I have great monitors now. I just want to see if the new MacOS is worth me trying again. I will have to get a 2014 I guess, to get monterey to run. I won't be using this as my main system as I have two very powerful windows systems. it's more of a try for S&G's

Tom_N · Feb 25, 2022

whisky said:
It ["a late 2012 MacMini"] has an Intel i7 chip and 16Gb memory installed and runs Catalina which is more than enough for me. I believe my repair shop could possibly go to the later OS's?

They can't. Apple's site says that to run Monterey or Big Sur , you need a more recent Mac Mini.

The Point and Shoot Pro · Feb 25, 2022

Tom_N said:
whisky said:

It ["a late 2012 MacMini"] has an Intel i7 chip and 16Gb memory installed and runs Catalina which is more than enough for me. I believe my repair shop could possibly go to the later OS's?

Click to expand...

They can't. Apple's site says that to run Monterey or Big Sur , you need a more recent Mac Mini.

Oh, they can. it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence. It's been known for years that you can side step their software block if you want. It's beyond what I want to do considering it's a playtoy for me. I will just get a newer model built like I want.

Tom_N · Feb 25, 2022

The Point and Shoot Pro said:
it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence.

Give me a break. The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

The Late 2012 Mac Mini runs everything from Mountain Lion (10.8) to Catalina (10.15). That's eight major versions of the OS – with all of the upgrades being free.

Yes, technology moves on, and sometimes leaves older machines behind. But if Apple was as big on planned obsolescence as you claim, they wouldn't offer so many macOS upgrades to people with existing hardware – much less make those upgrades free!

CAcreeks · Feb 25, 2022

Tom_N said:
The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

I did not know that Apple used to charge for MacOS.

Apple Just Ended the Era of Paid Operating Systems

By giving away OS X Mavericks for free, Apple confirms a sea change in the tech industry: The operating system, once at the vanguard of profitability, is now worthless, except as a loss leader.

www.wired.com

I paid at least $70 (OEM price) for W10 Home on an HP laptop, even though I ran Linux 100% of the time. It's rare to find Linux as a laptop option.

gpb11 · Feb 25, 2022

CAcreeks said:
I did not know that Apple used to charge for MacOS.

https://www.wired.com/2013/10/apple-ends-paid-oses/

I paid at least $70 (OEM price) for W10 Home on an HP laptop, even though I ran Linux 100% of the time. It's rare to find Linux as a laptop option.

Yep, it was ~$129 until the release of Snow Leopard in 2009 when the price became $29. Later the price went to zero upon the release of Mavericks in 2013.

Also note that prior to Mavericks, major version releases weren't annual.

lightandaprayer · Feb 25, 2022

gpb11 said:
gpb11 wrote: Also note that prior to Mavericks, major version releases weren't annual.

IMO Apple should go back to releasing major OS upgrades when they are actually ready for Prime Time. . . ;-)

gpb11 · Feb 25, 2022

lightandaprayer said:
lightandaprayer said:

gpb11 wrote: Also note that prior to Mavericks, major version releases weren't annual.

Click to expand...

IMO Apple should go back to releasing major OS upgrades when they are actually ready for Prime Time. . . ;-)

Perhaps, though I can see having a regular release schedule coinciding with a regular WWDC schedule.

Personally I usually wait for the x.1.1 or x.2.1 release before upgrading.

--
Images are about emotion. Technical perfection is nice, but does not stand by itself.

JasonTheBirder · Feb 25, 2022

Tom_N said:
The Point and Shoot Pro said:

it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence.

Click to expand...

Give me a break. The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

The Late 2012 Mac Mini runs everything from Mountain Lion (10.8) to Catalina (10.15). That's eight major versions of the OS – with all of the upgrades being free.

Yes, technology moves on, and sometimes leaves older machines behind. But if Apple was as big on planned obsolescence as you claim, they wouldn't offer so many macOS upgrades to people with existing hardware – much less make those upgrades free!

Yeah exactly. Planned obsolescence is the domain of Android phone manufacturers...

JPAlbert · Feb 25, 2022

The 2012 Mini was the last "fully upgradeable" version. Both the drive(s) and RAM can be upgraded.

I have one, was using it today.
BUT...
You don't want to be buying one now. It's a nearly 10-year-old design.

If you want a Mac in the Mini form factor, then wait about 4-6 more weeks.
Apple is set to announce their m1pro Mini, and I sense that it's going to be very nice.

Neither the RAM nor the drive is (or ever will be) upgradeable on the m-series Macs.
But... consider one anyway.
Get it properly equipped, and you'll be fine for a long time.
Either 16 or 32gb of RAM ought to do for pic processing.
Drive can be whatever size you need.

lightandaprayer · Feb 25, 2022

JPAlbert said:
The 2012 Mini was the last "fully upgradeable" version. Both the drive(s) and RAM can be upgraded.

I have one, was using it today.
BUT...
You don't want to be buying one now. It's a nearly 10-year-old design.

If you want a Mac in the Mini form factor, then wait about 4-6 more weeks.
Apple is set to announce their m1pro Mini, and I sense that it's going to be very nice.

Neither the RAM nor the drive is (or ever will be) upgradeable on the m-series Macs.
But... consider one anyway.
Get it properly equipped, and you'll be fine for a long time.
Either 16 or 32gb of RAM ought to do for pic processing.
Drive can be whatever size you need.

Yes. . . But if a 2012 Mac Mini does what you need/ want, it costs much less than an M1/M2 Mac Mini. Coincidentally, this afternoon I stumbled upon a YouTube channel where the fellow had recently purchased an i7 2012 Mini for $75.

Tom_N · Feb 25, 2022

JPAlbert said:
If you want a Mac in the Mini form factor, then wait about 4-6 more weeks.
Apple is set to announce their m1pro Mini, and I sense that it's going to be very nice.

If they put M1 Pro and M1 Max SoCs inside of a Mini box, the 14" and 16" MBPs give us a good idea of what to expect:

More RAM – 16 GB as the minimum, with options for 32 GB and 64 GB
Faster GPUs
Faster multi-core performance – up to twice as many "performance" cores
More USB4 (Thunderbolt) ports. The 14" and 16" MBPs only have three (each of which reportedly is on its own Thunderbolt bus), but MacRumors seems to think that the new Mini will have four.
Support for at least two USB-C (DP) or Thunderbolt displays

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/2022-mac-mini/

Depending on what Apple puts into the 27" Apple-Silicon-based iMac, these new Minis may essentially be headless 27" Apple Silicon iMacs.

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/2022-imac-pro/

Mbruinsma · Feb 25, 2022

Tom_N said:
The Point and Shoot Pro said:

it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence.

Click to expand...

Give me a break. The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

The Late 2012 Mac Mini runs everything from Mountain Lion (10.8) to Catalina (10.15). That's eight major versions of the OS – with all of the upgrades being free.

Yes, technology moves on, and sometimes leaves older machines behind. But if Apple was as big on planned obsolescence as you claim, they wouldn't offer so many macOS upgrades to people with existing hardware – much less make those upgrades free!

Ok, planned obsolescence is a stretch, but Big Sur an Monterey do seem to run on 2012 machines with a patcher. Though maybe not with all the functionality.

Eight versions (years) of the supported OS seems reasonable, but - for instance - the MacBook Pro Mid 2012 has been sold until 2016; those customers don’t receive eight versions of a supported OS! And Apple does not give you the choice either if you want Monterey with some limitations.

So, maybe it is not black and white, but there are some dark shades of grey.

-Mark-

Tom_N · Feb 25, 2022

Mbruinsma said:
Eight versions (years) of the supported OS seems reasonable, but - for instance - the MacBook Pro Mid 2012 has been sold until 2016

If I'm not mistaken, that was the final 13" non-Retina model.

It, and the contemporary 15" model discontinued in 2013, were the last MBPs without Retina screens, the last MBPs to have 2.5" SATA drive bays, and the last MBPs to have internal optical drives.

The 13" one remained in the product line for an unusually long time, but even in late 2013, it was clear that it did not represent where the MacBook Pro was going.

When Apple discontinued the 13" Mid 2012 MBPs in June 2016, the current 13" Retina MBPs were the Early 2015 models. Those shipped with macOS 10.10 (Yosetime), and can run anything up through Monterey, for a total of eight major OS versions to date.

Mbruinsma · Feb 26, 2022

Tom_N said:
Mbruinsma said:

Eight versions (years) of the supported OS seems reasonable, but - for instance - the MacBook Pro Mid 2012 has been sold until 2016

Click to expand...

If I'm not mistaken, that was the final 13" non-Retina model.

Yes.

Tom_N said:
It, and the contemporary 15" model discontinued in 2013, were the last MBPs without Retina screens, the last MBPs to have 2.5" SATA drive bays, and the last MBPs to have internal optical drives.

The 13" one remained in the product line for an unusually long time, but even in late 2013, it was clear that it did not represent where the MacBook Pro was going.

Correct.

Tom_N said:
When Apple discontinued the 13" Mid 2012 MBPs in June 2016, the current 13" Retina MBPs were the Early 2015 models. Those shipped with macOS 10.10 (Yosetime), and can run anything up through Monterey, for a total of eight major OS versions to date.

Yes, eight years of support seems what Apple thinks should be enough. But then it’s just cut off, even when there are no hardware limitations (yet) for supporting the machine any longer. It’s just their policy. But then again they don’t mind selling "obsolete" machines for a couple of years more. How convenient. (Just those shady greys.)

I’m an Apple user for almost 14 years by now, but I don’t take everything they throw at me happily. I like to be a critical, mild enthusiast of Apple products.

Anyway my info to the OP is:

- The Late 2012 Mac Mini’s are fully upgradeable only. (hard drive + RAM) Last supported OS: Catalina.

- With the Late 2014 Mac Mini’s, the SSD can be exchanged only. (RAM is soldered) Last OS: Monterey.

- With the Late 2018 Mac Mini’s it’s the other way around: RAM can be upgraded, not the SSD. Be aware of some T2 chip consequences. Last OS: Monterey.

Now when you are stuck with a fix hard drive (HDD or SSD), you can boot up from a bigger external drive as well. Well… only up to OS Catalina; with Big Sur and Monterey it’s on the way of being impossible. (Source: Mike Bombich of Carbon Copy Cloner )

-Mark-

The Point and Shoot Pro · Feb 26, 2022

Tom_N said:
The Point and Shoot Pro said:

it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence.

Click to expand...

Give me a break. The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

The Late 2012 Mac Mini runs everything from Mountain Lion (10.8) to Catalina (10.15). That's eight major versions of the OS – with all of the upgrades being free.

Yes, technology moves on, and sometimes leaves older machines behind. But if Apple was as big on planned obsolescence as you claim, they wouldn't offer so many macOS upgrades to people with existing hardware – much less make those upgrades free!

Sorry, but it's true. I have a 2007 acer notebook running on the latest version of windows 10. Current build. My 2007 macbook I owned could not go to a version that actually had iMessage. So, yes....planned obsolescence. Microsoft is doing the same thing now with 11. Just how it is.

The Point and Shoot Pro · Feb 26, 2022

Mbruinsma said:
Tom_N said:

The Point and Shoot Pro said:

it's just that apple doesn't allow it because it cuts in on their sales because of planned obsolescence.

Click to expand...

Give me a break. The Late 2009 iMac that I'm typing this reply on runs everything from Snow Leopard (10.6) to High Sierra (10.13). That's eight major versions of the OS – and all but two were free upgrades. (The other two were very cheap.)

The Late 2012 Mac Mini runs everything from Mountain Lion (10.8) to Catalina (10.15). That's eight major versions of the OS – with all of the upgrades being free.

Yes, technology moves on, and sometimes leaves older machines behind. But if Apple was as big on planned obsolescence as you claim, they wouldn't offer so many macOS upgrades to people with existing hardware – much less make those upgrades free!

Click to expand...

Ok, planned obsolescence is a stretch, but Big Sur an Monterey do seem to run on 2012 machines with a patcher. Though maybe not with all the functionality.

Eight versions (years) of the supported OS seems reasonable, but - for instance - the MacBook Pro Mid 2012 has been sold until 2016; those customers don’t receive eight versions of a supported OS! And Apple does not give you the choice either if you want Monterey with some limitations.

So, maybe it is not black and white, but there are some dark shades of grey.

-Mark-

Yes, I am aware of the patcher. But you hit the nail on the head, you lose some functionality. I want to have no limitations on the OS.

As long as it's not 50 shades...ha ha.

What is the last fully upgradeable mac mini?

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