This little box is positively amazing. I don't know what else to say about it. It's fast, it's responsive (kinda the same thing as fast, but whatevs), and, man, it just plain works. And it works well. I got this mostly as a companion device for my significantly pricier A2141 MacBook Pro, which I absolutely adore.. (I'm a grown Millenial, recently returned to college in Spring 2020, right around the time the proverbial you-know-what hit the sociological fan with coronavirus). I won't lie, I watch a lot of tech YouTubers, and seeing them gushing over the M1 chip did induce just -tinge- of jealously in me, especially after I forked over $2200 for the aforementioned A2141 model less than 2 weeks before Apple Silicon was announced. Don't get me wrong, though, my 16" MBP is still nicest computer in current repertoire (until I graduate and start raking in that good healthcare money, that is), HOWEVER, this little $699 box - I don't know what to say.. It almost has to be seen to be believed. It's as fast and responsive as anyone would expect, and it can handle dang near anything you throw at it. Believe it or not, this little puppy can GAME. Nothing that's gonna make the PS5 or Series X start sweating, btw, but it will run some modern titles at settings that are easy on the eyes with minimal slowdown. Emulation is fast and excellent, native MacOS games that normally require a half decent dedicated GPU look nice and run at more than acceptable screen res and frame rates. I got this mostly because I wanted a competent little emulator box to stay stationary while I've got my MacBook Pro for traveling and heavy-lifting computing tasks, but its performance astounds me at every corner. I've long been a Galaxy fan when it comes to smartphones, I just like that you don't have to effectively jailbreak your device to side load software that isn't officially sanctioned on those devices. With my latest phone, the Galaxy Note 20, I started to realize that these modern ARM chips really do pack a punch, and that further piqued my interest concerning M1. Now that I've got one, however, the M1 Mac Mini doesn't so much pack a punch underneath its tiny hood as it does at TKO!! This little box is serious business. $700 is a steal for the all-around versatility you get in this attractive little box. I highly doubt anyone will read to the end of this gushing rant about how excellent I find this product, but if you do, there's some photos below, showing how for just under $1000, I turned a bedroom dresser/chest of drawers into a miniature workstation using the diminutive powerhouse in question, a magic keyboard w/ numpad, a Magic Mouse 2 borrowed from my A2141. Overall - love it. A must buy.

The Mac Mini M1 has transformed my creative process with its lightning-fast performance and outstanding value. Switching from Intel models, the M1 chip delivers a significant speed boost, reducing rendering times for videos and streamlining photo editing tasks. What sets the Mac Mini M1 apart is its remarkable value. Apple has managed to offer a high-performance machine at a price that won't break the bank, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious professionals. Editing videos and photos is a breeze, thanks to the M1 chip's seamless integration with software. Multitasking is a joy, with smooth transitions between resource-intensive applications, enhancing overall workflow efficiency.

If you're trying to get into the Mac desktop world, then this is the perfect entry level product. Hands down the best desktop you can buy for less than $1,000.00. Add a keyboard and mouse and use your existing monitor or your HDTV. The M1 chip is incredible. I use this for watching movies on the big screen and writing and reviewing computer coding. Work or play, this Mac mini is a monster!

Absolutely love the sleek design! Fits perfectly and doesn't take up too much space! Using it with tv as monitor since I need to have several screens open at once. No lag or delays with speed. Would definitely purchase again!

Although I do wish I would have waited for the 16GB version to be in stock, I am still rating this m1 mac mini a 4 stars because it is really a beast of a desk top computer. I originally purchased to use as a standalone photo editing pc and this is where I wish I had gotten the 16GB. Although this 8GB version works just great, its not as snappy and that is no fault of the device, more so my impatient self. it works great for surfing the web, editing smaller photo projects on lightroom classic and photoshop. This isn't to say that it cant handle large 45-70GB import sessions but it will slow down. I would recommend the 8GB version to people who expect to have light use software wise and for schooling.