Chapter 1: My First Mac Experience

After years of using PCs, I finally decided to dive into the world of Macs with my first purchase of the M1 Mac Mini. This marks my inaugural article, as I've never shared my thoughts in writing before. The M1 Mac Mini has been my longest-held tech companion since launching my YouTube channel, yet I hadn’t taken the time to review it until now.

From the moment I unboxed it, I considered crafting a review, but I hesitated because of the plethora of content already available on popular tech items. I often find myself holding back on sharing thoughts about my iPhone 13 Pro and AirPods Pro for similar reasons.

During the Apple keynote in November 2020, when Tim Cook and his team introduced the M1 lineup, I felt compelled to finally embrace the Mac lifestyle. My past experience with macOS was limited to a brief encounter with an iMac while at university, which left a lasting impression on me.

However, like many potential switchers, the price was a significant factor. I had always desired a MacBook but found Windows PCs and laptops to be more budget-friendly. At that time, I was sharing a laptop with my fiancée, who was hesitant to grant me admin rights due to my tendency to experiment with various installations.

Ultimately, I decided to purchase the M1 Mac Mini through a monthly payment plan, currently costing me £20 a month. For those considering a similar investment, I suggest looking into a payment option if an upfront payment isn’t feasible.

I chose the M1 Mac Mini over a MacBook because I missed the desktop experience, and typing on a laptop didn’t appeal to me. I selected the base model with an 8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB of storage.

As with any significant tech investment, I immersed myself in countless review videos to validate my choice. Despite some reviewers cautioning against buying Apple’s initial foray into custom silicon, I felt confident in my decision, and I still do today.

Chapter 2: 18 Months Later – Is It Worth It?

Now, 18 months post-purchase, I can confidently say I have no regrets. The M1 Mac Mini has elevated my YouTube channel significantly. Before acquiring it, I recorded all my videos using my iPhone and transferred them to my 64GB iPad Pro, which posed a storage challenge as my video-making skills improved. With 256GB of internal storage and an additional 2TB external hard drive, my storage woes are a thing of the past.

My primary uses for the Mac Mini fall into three categories: web browsing, word processing, and video/photo editing. Most users likely engage in at least the first two activities on their computers. Web browsing includes everything from casual surfing to streaming videos, while word processing involves apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The third category—video and photo editing—demands more from the Mac Mini. Every creative project for my YouTube channel is executed on this device. I primarily use DaVinci Resolve for video editing and Affinity Photo for photo edits and thumbnails.

While the Mac Mini performs well in photo editing, I do notice some limitations when it comes to video editing, particularly with the base M1 chip. This doesn't significantly hinder my work, as I still regard it as the most efficient machine I've used. However, someone with higher demands or experience with advanced chips like the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra would likely observe a notable difference, especially in rendering times.

In DaVinci Resolve, basic footage from my Sony ZV-E10 or iPhone 13 Pro plays smoothly, but adding effects can lead to dropped frames. Lowering the timeline resolution often mitigates these issues and makes for a more manageable editing experience.

This base M1 Mac Mini has empowered me to work from home effectively—an essential capability during lockdown—and allowed me to pursue my passion for creating weekly YouTube content. While some might argue that I've become entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, I’m content with that trajectory and see no reason to depart from it.

If you're interested in a more detailed 18-month review of the M1 Mac Mini, check out my video below.

The first video title is "I bought the Cheapest M1 Mac Mini and it Changed my life - Review 18 Months Later." This video details the profound impact of the M1 Mac Mini on productivity and creative endeavors after a year and a half of use.

The second video title is "M1 Mac Mini One Year Later... Buy NOW or WAIT?" In this video, the creator discusses whether now is the right time to invest in the M1 Mac Mini or to hold out for future models, weighing the pros and cons.