Flagship Mac mini configuration will set you back $4,199

Apple’s new Mac mini packs a lot of punch for its base price of $799, but configuring the computer with additional RAM, faster chips and more storage quickly escalates the price.

Apple’s most affordable Mac starts at $799 and is available in two flavors.

The baseline $799 configuration includes Intel’s 3.6GHz quad-core Core i3 processor, 128GB of all-flash storage, 8 gigs of 2666MHz DDR4 memory and integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630.

The pricier configuration at $1,099 gives you twice the flash storage (256GB) and swaps the Intel processor for a faster Intel Core i5 chip clocked at 3.0GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz and featuring six processing cores instead of four.

Apple’s online store offers the following upgrades for the $1,099 model:

  • CPU
    • +$200: 3.2GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz)
  • RAM
    • +$200: 16GB 2666MHz DDR4
    • +$600: 32GB 2666MHz DDR4
    • +$1,400: 64GB 2666MHz DDR4
  • SSD
    • +$200: 512GB SSD storage
    • +$600: 1TB SSD storage
    • +$1,400: 2TB SSD storage
  • Ethernet
    • +$100: 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Maxing out the CPU, RAM and flash storage gets you a Mac mini with a faster 3.2GHz 6‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz, 64 gigs of RAM, a crazy two terabytes of all-flash storage and an Nbase-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for fast networking with support for 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb and 10Gb Ethernet using the RJ‑45 connector.

That’s a whopping $4,199 in total.

The price goes further up if you’d like to have your mini delivered with pre-installed Apple apps—Final Cut Pro X ($300) and Logic Pro X ($200)—resulting in a $4,700 system.

Of course, you’d be foolish to buy RAM from Apple and prices of SSD storage still haven’t dropped enough to justify burning $600 on a 1TB SSD disk (assuming third-party SSD and CPU upgrades are possible in the first place). If anything, the relatively high price of build-to-order options reflects the fact that Apple is putting no-compromise parts in the new minis, not the mobile chips, poor graphics and traditional hard drives found in older models.

Like before, the new Mac mini is a BYOKDM purchase, meaning you’ll need to bring your own keyboard, display and mouse in order to use the computer out of the box.

Pre-order your 2018 Mac mini today ahead of November 7 launch.

Thoughts on the flagship model price?

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