Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Beelink and Apple sites.
2026 verdict
The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) wins on ratings, memory type and storage over the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB), and the performance gap between a 10-core M2 Pro and a Ryzen 3 3200U is vast.
Both carry 16 GB of memory, but Apple's is unified LPDDR5 rather than DDR4-2400, and the Mac adds a 512 GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, a built-in power supply and macOS. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) wins on price and warranty, with 3 years of coverage against Apple's 1, plus a 500 GB SSD, dual HDMI, gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Pro and memory and storage you can upgrade yourself. Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) for professional macOS performance, and the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) for a cheap, serviceable Windows desktop with a long warranty.
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| Feature | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) | Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 | $1273.46 | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 | Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) |
| Memory Type | DDR4 | LPDDR5 | Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) |
| Storage Capacity | 500 GB | 512 GB | Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) |
| CPU Model | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | M2 Pro (10-core CPU) | Different strengths |
| Memory Configuration | Dual-slot | Unified Memory | Different strengths |
| GPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | 16-core GPU | Different strengths |
| Memory Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB | Tie |
10% OFF
$269.00
$299.00
- + Price: $269.00
- + Warranty: 3 years
- - Rating: 4.4 vs 4.6
- - Memory Type: DDR4 vs LPDDR5
Winner
$1273.46
- + Rating: 4.6
- + Memory Type: LPDDR5
- + Storage Capacity: 512 GB
- - Price: $1273.46 vs $269.00
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 3 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) or Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?
The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) wins overall on performance, unified LPDDR5 memory, a 512 GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 and macOS. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) costs far less and comes with a 3-year warranty against Apple's 1 year.
What is the biggest difference between the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) and the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?
The platform and the silicon. The Mac Mini runs macOS on a 10-core M2 Pro with unified memory and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the SER3 is a Windows 11 Pro box on a Ryzen 3 3200U with DDR4-2400.
Which one can be upgraded later?
Only the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB), which uses SODIMM memory in two slots, up to 32 GB, and an M.2 SSD. The Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) has soldered memory and storage, so its configuration is fixed at purchase.
Who should buy the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)?
Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB) if you want macOS with professional-grade performance for video, audio or development, with 16-core graphics, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E and a built-in power supply.
Who should buy the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB)?
Buy the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) if you want an affordable Windows 11 Pro machine with 16 GB of memory, 500 GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6, dual HDMI, a 3-year warranty and the freedom to upgrade RAM and SSD yourself.
Full comparison table
Compare all 68 Mini PCs side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Mini PCs in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 68 Mini PCs
- 41 specs compared
- 38 filters
MINISFORUMX1 Lite-255 (32GB + 1TB)
$699.90
AsusNUC 15 Pro+ (Ultra 9 32GB + 1TB)
$1902.44
MINISFORUMMS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX 96GB + 2TB)
$2099.00
AsusNUC 13 Pro Slim (i7 16GB + 512GB)
$949.99
AsusROG GR70 (RTX 5070 32GB + 2TB)
$2599.00
BeelinkMini S12 Pro (N100 16GB + 500GB)
$339.00
AsusNUC 15 Pro Slim (Core 5 16GB + 512GB)
$1101.00
GeekomIT13 2026 Edition (Ultra 7 32GB + 1TB)
$1399.00
BeelinkSER8 (32GB + 1TB)
$939.00
BeelinkSER9 Pro (24GB + 1TB)
$689.00
AppleMac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)
$979.99
AppleMac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
$1569.00
AppleMac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
$1273.46
BeelinkSER5 Pro (16GB + 480GB)
$389.00
GMKtecNucBox M7 Ultra (32GB + 512GB)
$599.99
GeekomGT1 Mega Ultra 9
10% OFF$949.00$854.10
BeelinkMini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB)
$289.00
MINISFORUMMS-S1 Max (128GB + 2TB)
$3799.00
GeekomA9 Mega (128GB + 2TB)
5% OFF$3999.00$3799.04
GMKtecNucBox G3 Pro (16GB + 512GB)
28% OFF$459.99$329.99
Mini PCsBeelinkEQi 304 (24GB + 512GB)
4.3(702)$629.00
Mini PCsBeelinkGTi14 (32GB + 1TB)
4.0(30)$1049.00
Mini PCsBeelinkGTi15 Ultra (64GB + 1TB)
4.3(33)$1499.00
Mini PCsBeelinkGTi15 Ultra (96GB + 2TB)
4.3(218)$1949.00
Mini PCsBeelinkGTR9 Pro (128GB + 2TB)
3.0(17)$3639.00- Mini PCsBeelink
Mini S12 (N95 8GB + 480GB)
4.5(262)$289.00 - Mini PCsBeelink
Mini S12 Pro (N100 16GB + 500GB)
5.0(2)$339.00 
Mini PCsBeelinkMini S13 (N150 16GB + 500GB)
4.2(33)$349.00
Mini PCsBeelinkSEi14 (32GB + 1TB)
4.3(33)$829.00
Mini PCsBeelinkSER10 Max (32GB + 1TB)
5% OFF$1299.00$1229.00- Mini PCsBeelink
SER3 (16GB + 500GB)
4.4(480)10% OFF$299.00$269.00 - Mini PCsBeelink
SER5 Pro (16GB + 480GB)
4.6(37)$389.00 - Mini PCsBeelink
SER8 (32GB + 1TB)
4.8(8)$939.00 
Mini PCsBeelinkSER9 Max (64GB + 1TB)
$1149.00- Mini PCsBeelink
SER9 Pro (24GB + 1TB)
4.8(7)$689.00
- Mini PCsApple
Mac Mini (M2 Pro 16GB + 512GB)
4.6(206)$1273.46 - Mini PCsApple
Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)
4.7(405)$979.99 - Mini PCsApple
Mac Mini (M4 Pro 24GB + 512GB)
4.7(250)$1569.00 
Mini PCsAppleMac Mini (M4 Pro 48GB + 1TB)
4.4(13)$2199.00
SpeakersAppleHomePod (2nd gen)
4.5(54)$369.99
SpeakersAppleHomePod mini
$99.00
Voice AssistantsAppleHomePod (2nd gen)
4.5(54)$369.99
Voice AssistantsAppleHomePod mini
$99.00