Mini PCs · Head to head

Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) vs Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from the official Beelink and Apple sites.
2026 verdict
Creative editing, not a container host, is where the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) pulls ahead.
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
Winner
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
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A 10-core M2 Pro, a 16-core GPU, 16 GB of unified memory and four Thunderbolt 4 ports are a different class of computer from a four-core Intel N95. The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) is the lower priced always-on box, and it is the one people actually leave running Proxmox, cameras and small servers. Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) for macOS creative work, and the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) when Windows, low draw and a tiny bill matter more than the chip.
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FeatureBeelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB)Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)Winner
Rating4.54.6Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
Memory TypeDDR4LPDDR5Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
Memory Capacity8 GB16 GBApple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
Storage Capacity480 GB512 GBApple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
CPU ModelIntel N95M2 Pro (10-core CPU)Different strengths
Memory ConfigurationSingle-channelUnified MemoryDifferent strengths
GPU ModelIntel UHD Graphics (16 EUs)16-core GPUDifferent strengths

What the differences mean

What the chip is for

The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) pairs a 10-core M2 Pro with a 16-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, which is aimed at video, photos, audio and compiling. The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) uses a four-core Intel N95 with Intel UHD graphics. One is a creative desktop. The other is a low-power appliance that happens to run Windows 11 Pro.

Memory and storage

The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) has 16 GB of soldered unified LPDDR5, with 32 GB as the order-time ceiling, and a 512 GB SSD that cannot be swapped later. The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) has 8 GB of single-channel DDR4, a 16 GB maximum, and 480 GB with a second M.2 slot owners actually use. More memory on day one favors the Mac. Changing it later favors the Beelink.

Ports

The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports and HDMI that the spec sheet takes to 8K, all on the rear, and it drives three displays at once. The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) has four USB 3.0 Type-A ports and two HDMI outputs, with no DisplayPort and no Thunderbolt. Frequent plugging is easier on the Beelink only if you stay with USB-A.

Size, power and price class

The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) measures about 115 x 102 x 39 mm and is the lower priced of the two by a wide margin. The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) is a 197 mm aluminium square, 36 mm tall and 1280 g, with the power supply inside and a 185 W supply rating. The Mac also has a speaker. The Beelink does not. Warranty length for the Beelink is not published.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) rarely talk about it as a normal desktop. It shows up as a Proxmox host with a handful of containers, a Home Assistant install, a camera recorder, a small game server, a ham radio logger or a backup PC in an RV. Praise gathers around how little power it draws, a fan they have to lean in to hear, a second M.2 drive fitted with a few screws, and a VESA bracket that hangs behind a monitor, with Windows 11 Pro already licensed. They also name the ceiling themselves: the processor handles browsing and a few containers and is not a powerhouse. Linux users add that the onboard Wi-Fi needed a recent kernel, and some buyers say the listing did not match the unit that arrived.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) or the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?

The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) as a computer, and the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) as a cheap always-on box. The Mac has a 10-core M2 Pro, a 16-core GPU, 16 GB and four Thunderbolt 4 ports. The Beelink has an Intel N95, 8 GB and a much lower price, which is why owners use it for containers rather than creative work.

What is the biggest difference between the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) and the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?

Class of silicon, then the operating system. The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) is a macOS workstation with a 10-core M2 Pro. The Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) is a Windows 11 Pro appliance on a four-core N95. Memory, ports and what you can upgrade all follow from that.

Is the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) good against a Mac mini for a home server?

For that job, yes. Owners run Proxmox, Home Assistant, cameras and small game servers on the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) and cite low power draw and a second M.2 slot. The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) is built for creative macOS work, with soldered memory and storage and a much larger case.

How many displays can the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB) and the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) run?

Two HDMI displays on the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB). Three at once on the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB), from four Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI, including an HDMI output specified up to 8K.

Who should buy the Beelink Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB)?

Someone who wants a small Windows 11 Pro machine for browsing, streaming, containers or a backup PC, with upgradeable storage, a VESA mount and a low purchase price, and who does not need Thunderbolt or a strong processor.

Who should buy the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?

Someone doing video, photo, audio or code on macOS who wants four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 16-core GPU and an internal power supply, and who will order enough unified memory at purchase because it cannot be added later.

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