Below is a comprehensive comparsion between the various 2018 Mac minis and the two Hades Canyon NUCs. The source for most data are linked in the first row, otherwise it is linked in the individual cell.
General buying advice for Mac mini is if you require high CPU performance and do not care about GPU performance, if you need extra TB3 ports, or if you need the lightest and most power efficient computer (per litere). You should get a Hades Canyon NUC if you need any GPU performance, value extendibility, or require many more ports than what the Mac mini has to offer.
| Mac mini i3 | Mac mini i5 | Mac mini i7 | NUC8I7HNK | NUC8I7HVK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | |||||
| SKU | I3-8100B | I5-8500B | I7-8700B | i7-8705G | i7-8809G |
| Cores/Threads | 4/4 | 6/6 | 6/12 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
| Geekbench SC | 4518 | 4973 | 5667 | 4527 | 5044 |
| Geekbench MC | 13252 | 19492 | 24334 | 14942 | 16878 |
| Graphics | |||||
| GPU | Intel UHD 630 | Intel UHD 630 | Intel UHD 630 | AMD Vega M GL | AMD Vega M GH |
| GPU Passmark | 1210 | 1210 | 1210 | 5232 | 7021 |
| Memory | |||||
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 | 8GB DDR4 | 8GB DDR4 | 0GB DDR4* | 0GB DDR4* |
| RAM Connector | 2xSO-DIMM | 2xSO-DIMM | 2xSO-DIMM | 2xSO-DIMM | 2xSO-DIMM |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB | 256GB | 0GB* | 0GB* |
| SSD Connector | Soldered | Soldered | Soldered | M.2 NGFF | M.2 NGFF |
| Connectivity | |||||
| Ethernet | 1x1Gb** | 1x1Gb** | 1x1Gb** | 2x1Gb | 2x1Gb |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac*** | 802.11ac*** |
| Bluetooth | BT5.0 | BT5.0 | BT5.0 | BT4.0*** | BT4.0*** |
| Ports | |||||
| USB-A Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| USB-C Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| TB3 Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| SDXC Port | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Ports | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Mini-DP Ports | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Type-C DP Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Max 4K Displays | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 3.5" Jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio | |||||
| Speaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Microphones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Power | |||||
| Max Power | 150W | 150W | 150W | 230W | 230W |
| Power Brick | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Size | |||||
| Volume | 1.4L | 1.4L | 1.4L | 1.2L | 1.2L |
| Footprint | 19.7x19.7cm | 19.7x19.7cm | 19.7x19.7cm | 22x14cm | 22x14cm |
| Weight | 1.3kg | 1.3kg | 1.3kg | 2.1kg | 2.1kg |
| Price | |||||
| MSRP**** | $799 | $1,099 | $1,299 | $799 | $999 |
*NUC kits typically do not come with RAM/SSD unless as part of some bundle deal.
**Mac mini can be configured for 10Gb Ethernet for $100 extra.
***Requires replacing the wireless card for OSX to work.
****Apple products rarely sell under MSRP while NUCs can often be found on sale for as much as 20% off.