Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Beelink and Apple sites.
2026 verdict
The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) wins on ratings, memory type and storage against the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB), and the M4 chip is in a completely different performance class from the Ryzen 3 3200U.
Both offer 16 GB of memory, but Apple's is unified LPDDR5X rather than DDR4-2400, and the Mac adds a 512 GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, a built-in power supply and macOS in a 670g aluminium cube. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) wins on price and on its 3-year warranty against Apple's 1 year, and it lets you upgrade memory to 32 GB and swap the SSD, which the Mac does not. Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) for current Apple silicon and macOS, and the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) for a cheap, upgradable Windows desktop with long coverage.
Price alerts
Mini PC prices change while you decide
We check the price of every Mini PC in the catalog daily and email you the drops, whichever one you pick.
| Feature | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) | Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 | $979.99 | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.7 | Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) |
| Memory Type | DDR4 | LPDDR5X | Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) |
| Storage Capacity | 500 GB | 512 GB | Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) |
| CPU Model | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | M4 | Different strengths |
| Memory Configuration | Dual-slot | Unified Memory | Different strengths |
| GPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | 10-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 4.7
- - Memory Type: DDR4 vs LPDDR5X
Winner
$979.99
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Memory Type: LPDDR5X
- + Storage Capacity: 512 GB
- - Price: $979.99 vs $269.00
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 3 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) or Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)?
The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) wins overall, with an M4 chip, unified LPDDR5X memory, a 512 GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 and macOS. The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) is far cheaper, upgradable and backed by a 3-year warranty.
What is the biggest difference between the Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB) and the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)?
Performance and platform. The Mac Mini runs macOS on current Apple silicon with unified memory and Thunderbolt 4, while the SER3 is a Windows 11 Pro machine on an older Ryzen 3 3200U with DDR4-2400.
Which one has the longer warranty?
The Beelink SER3 (16GB + 500GB), at 3 years against 1 year for the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB). Apple's coverage can be extended separately, but out of the box the Beelink offers three times the protection.
Who should buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)?
Buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) if you want macOS with modern Apple silicon for creative or development work, in a small 670g aluminium body with three 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 a cheap Windows 11 Pro desktop with 16 GB of memory, a 500 GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, dual HDMI, a 3-year warranty and the option to add RAM and storage 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