The fourth-generation 2018 revision model offers Thunderbolt, Intel Core i5, i7 processor, when it had also change the default silver to a much darker space gray color. The third-generation, unveiled in June 2010, brought forth a thinner unibody aluminum case and an HDMI port, more readily positioning it as a home theater device alternative to the Apple TV. Announced in February 2006, the second-generation lineup features employments to further-advanced components and numerous internal software updates. The original Mac Mini was introduced in January 2005 as a base model to PowerPC G4 architecture, of which it was codenamed upon.

The machine was initially branded it as BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse), as a deliberate strategic process to pitch users to switch from PC running other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Linux. It was the company's only consumer desktop computer since 2005 to ship without a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. The Mac Mini (stylized as Mac mini) is a small form-factor desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc, positioned between the consumer all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Pro as one of the three current Macintosh desktop computers.