Mac mini 2020 review

My last Mac mini was an old 2014 version of the compact Apple computer. It was not so bad if it was running the original OS that it came with (Mac OS Yosemite) but I I needed a newer OS to run the latest apps on the Mac so I upgraded to Mojave and then later Monterey which caused the chronic performance issue due to the slow HDD drive. Eventually it took me 2-3 minutes from login to open a single Chrome tab which is forever in modern day computing standard.



Hence why when I sold the old Mac mini and saved some money to buy a new one. I was torn between the cheaper 2018 Intel Mac mini with SSD and the newer but slightly more expensive 2020 M1 Mac mini but after much research, I decided to go with the latter. For only 2,000 ringgit, it proved to be one of the better investments I have made in recent times.





The one that I got comes with an 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Pretty basic but it gets the job done. It has two Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI and one ethernet port. You can connect one display to the Thunderbolt port and another display via the HDMI port at the same time. The Thunderbolt/USB-C port can transfer data up to 40 Gb/s so if you got a Thunderbolt SSD drive connected, it will feel like a local SSD drive.





For one thing, the M1 Mac mini runs blazing fast. It took literally seconds to get from power on to the desktop. Chrome and other apps show up pretty much instantly. I don’t play many games but the one that I regularly play - Football Manager 2020 breezes past the processing time between games. I also rendered a 22 minute 4K video using Davinci Resolve in less than 8 minutes. In a nutshell, the M1 Mac mini is a major improvement compared to the last HDD Mac that I had and I can trust this Mac to last 7-8 years more into the future before showing any signs of decline.

If you’re looking for a future proof, affordable and fully capable Mac desktop computer, look no more than the M1 Mac mini. If you have another 500 ringgit to spare, the newer 2023 M2 Mac mini which is twice as fast than the M1 is now on sale for only 2,499.00 ringgit. I assure you, they’re a worthy investment compared to any compact Windows desktop out there.

Airpods Pro review

My trusty Airpods died on me recently. Well not actually dead but the right side likes to disconnect from the phone after a few minutes of using which is as good as dead. So I bought a moderately affordable Beats Flex earphones, also from Apple, which is sort of a wireless earbuds but with a wire connecting both buds. When I tried it on, the sound was nice. You can hear some of the bass and the right amount of treble just like the old Airpods. The only issue that I have with the Beats Flex is that when I jog with it, I have that old thumping noise in my ears whenever my feet strike the ground. It’s loud and annoying in the long run. Also the fact that there’s wire dangling on your neck makes it feels like it’s not a truly wireless earbuds.

 


After a while, I decided I needed to have another Airpods. But it’s not going to be a standard Airpods. It’s time for an upgrade. When I finally saved enough money, I bought the Airpods Pro (first generation). A second hand unit of course, don’t feel like wasting good money on a brand new one. Design-wise, it has a bigger bud but a shorter stem compared to the original Airpods. The rubber tips are replaceable and it comes in three different sizes in the box. You can use the Airpods Ear Tip Fit test on your iPhone to make sure you use the correct ear tip size for your ears.



Controlling music or sound on the Airpods Pro is slightly different from the predecessor. While you double-tap the buds on the original Airpods, you will need to double-click the stem of the Airpods Pro to skip a track. Press three times if you wanna go back and press once if you want to stop or pause. Just like the original one, the Pro is also powered by the H2 chip which connects and switches seamlessly with all supported Apple devices.



What strikes me the most about these Airpods Pro is the active noise canceling (ANC) feature. Probably because this is my first ANC earbuds ever, the difference that it makes is profound compared to regular earbuds. It almost completely drowns out outside noise making the music and sound you hear in your head really clear, giving you a fully immersive hearing experience. Seriously, if you can’t afford Airpods, try any of those good ANC earbuds. It’s a totally whole new experience.

The ANC feature is good when you’re sitting still on your sofa or in a static position but if you’re outdoors and you need to be aware of traffic, then it could be dangerous if you can’t hear incoming vehicles. That’s where the transparency mode comes in. This mode, which can be turned on by long pressing the stem or changing it on your Control Center, provides a balance between ANC and letting in just enough outside noise to your ears. That way, you can still enjoy much of your music while still hearing loud enough noises from the outside. This is particularly useful when you use the Airpods Pro while running or riding a bike.

You can charge the Airpods pro using the Lightning port or you can use the wireless charging feature which is pretty handy. A single charge could last around a week with moderate use. The Airpods Pro is a major upgrade from the original Airpods and the ANC feature is a gamechanger. I would highly recommend the Airpods Pro if you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem although you could technically connect the Airpods to other Bluetooth enabled devices. Otherwise you might be better off with other, slightly cheaper ANC earbuds/headphones.