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Mini PCs · Head to head

Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) vs Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Beelink and Apple sites.
2026 verdict
There is no contest on performance: the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) is the more capable computer of these two by a wide margin, winning on rating, memory type, memory speed, memory capacity and storage capacity.
Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
Winner
Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)

Last recorded priceOct 6, 2026$1499.00

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
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Its 12-core M4 Pro chip, 16-core GPU and 24GB of unified LPDDR5X-8533 outclass the six-core Ryzen 5 and 16GB of DDR4-3200 in the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB), and its three Thunderbolt 5 ports and near-silent aluminium body suit professional and creative work. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) counters with the lower price, a three-year warranty, a built-in power supply and two memory slots that upgrade to 64GB, none of which the Mac can match. Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) for video, code, AI models or any demanding workload, and the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) for a cheap quiet desktop, a home server, or anyone who needs Windows.
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FeatureBeelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)Winner
Rating4.34.8Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
Warranty3 years1 yearBeelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
Memory TypeDDR4LPDDR5XApple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
Memory Speed3200 MT/s8533 MT/sApple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
Memory Capacity16 GB24 GBApple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
Storage Capacity480 GB512 GBApple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
CPU ModelAMD Ryzen 5 5500UM4 Pro (12-core)Different strengths
Memory ConfigurationDual-slotUnified MemoryDifferent strengths
GPU ModelAMD Radeon Graphics (7 CUs)16-core GPUDifferent strengths

What the differences mean

Chip and graphics

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) runs a 12-core M4 Pro with a 16-core GPU, while the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) runs a six-core Ryzen 5 5500U with Radeon graphics. The Mac is in a different performance class for editing, compilation and AI work.

Memory

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) has 24GB of unified LPDDR5X at 8533 MT/s, soldered and final, where the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) has 16GB of DDR4-3200 in two slots that take it to 64GB. One gives you speed, the other gives you a growth path.

Connectivity

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) offers three Thunderbolt 5 ports plus HDMI and front USB-C, and the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) offers two HDMI outputs, six USB ports and dual Gigabit Ethernet. The Mac's ports are faster and more versatile.

Operating system and warranty

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) runs macOS with a one-year warranty, while the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) runs Windows 11 Pro with a three-year warranty. The platform you need may decide this before the hardware does.

Size and power

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) is a 730g aluminium square with an internal 155W supply, and the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is a small plastic box with a built-in 85W supply. Both keep the desk clear of a power brick.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of the two machines report very different relationships with them. Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) owners talk about effortless performance and silence, describing heavy video timelines, large code builds and local AI models running on a machine small enough for a corner of the desk, and their main caution is that nothing inside can be upgraded later. Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) owners are a budget audience and know it: they praise the value, the quiet operation, the built-in power supply and the memory and storage they added themselves, and they run desktops or home servers on it, while their recurring complaints are hard-to-find BIOS updates, older integrated graphics and Gigabit-only networking.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)
  • Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) or Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) is far more powerful and better reviewed. The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) is the value pick, with Windows, a built-in power supply, a three-year warranty and memory you can expand.

What is the biggest difference between the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) and the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?

The silicon and the memory. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) pairs a 12-core M4 Pro and 16-core GPU with soldered LPDDR5X, while the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB) pairs a Ryzen 5 5500U with upgradeable DDR4.

Can you upgrade the memory in the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) or the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?

Only the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB), which has two SODIMM slots up to 64GB. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) has soldered memory, so its 24GB is final.

Which one should someone who needs Windows buy?

The Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB), which ships with Windows 11 Pro. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB) runs macOS and cannot use native Windows applications.

Who should buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)?

Creative and professional buyers who already own a display and input devices and want quiet, sustained performance for editing, code and local AI.

Who should buy the Beelink EQR5 (5500U 16GB + 480GB)?

Buyers who want an inexpensive, quiet Windows desktop or home server with a built-in power supply, upgradeable memory and a three-year warranty.

Full comparison table

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