Mac mini (Mid 2011) (2011)
The Mid 2011 Mac mini was announced on July 20, 2011. Apple separated orders that day from announced store arrival on July 21: these are different dates, not an audit of actual sales. Desktop models started at $599 with a 2.3 GHz i5 and $799 with a 2.5 GHz i5, US suggested prices. The $999 quad-core Server stays separate; its 2.0 GHz i7 is not transferred to these models.

© Martin Pettitt · CC BY 2.0 ↗ Resized, no crop or retouching.
Mac mini 2011 2.5 GHz per source title; original, no new edits. Martin Pettitt, CC BY 2.0.
Specs
| Key feature | Macmini5,1; Macmini5,2 (Apple index) |
| Processor | Dual-core i5 2.3/2.5 GHz; optional i7 2.7 on 2.5 |
| Cache | i5: shared 3 MB L3 |
| Memory | 2/4 GB DDR3 1333; Apple up to 8 GB |
| Graphics | 2.3: shared HD 3000; 2.5: Radeon 6630M 256 MB |
| Storage | 500 GB; 750 GB/SSD options by model |
| Optical drive | No internal optical drive |
| Video | Thunderbolt 2560×1600; HDMI 1920×1200 |
| Ports | Thunderbolt; 4 USB 2.0; FW800; SDXC; Gigabit; audio |
| Wireless | 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Size and weight | 19.7×19.7×3.6 cm; 1.22 kg |
| Power | 85 W maximum continuous |
| Software | Lion + iLife |
History and documentation
The Mid 2011 Mac mini was announced on July 20, 2011. Apple separated orders that day from announced store arrival on July 21: these are different dates, not an audit of actual sales. Desktop models started at $599 with a 2.3 GHz i5 and $799 with a 2.5 GHz i5, US suggested prices. The $999 quad-core Server stays separate; its 2.0 GHz i7 is not transferred to these models.
Memory and display
Apple retained the 19.7 × 19.7 × 3.6 cm aluminum enclosure; the specification gives 1.22 kg, varying by configuration. This revision drops the internal optical drive and adds up-to-10 Gbps Thunderbolt in place of the previous Mini DisplayPort. DVD/CD Sharing and an external SuperDrive are separate routes, not an included drive. The box lists Mac mini, HDMI-to-DVI adapter, power cord and documentation, not display, mouse or keyboard.
Storage and connections
The 2.3 GHz dual-core i5 has 2 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 and Intel HD Graphics 3000 with at least 288 MB shared. The 2.5 GHz i5 has 4 GB and Radeon HD 6630M with 256 MB GDDR5; this model offers an optional 2.7 GHz dual-core i7. The i5 chips have 3 MB shared L3. Both start with a 500 GB 5400-rpm disk; Apple offers up to 8 GB RAM and a 750 GB 7200-rpm disk. A 256 GB SSD, alone or with a 750 GB disk, is an option for the 2.5 GHz model, not both.
Software, dimensions and photograph
Thunderbolt supports up to 2560 × 1600 and HDMI up to 1920 × 1200, with dual displays and mirroring. Four USB 2.0, FireWire 800, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 join analog/digital and HDMI audio. Lion and iLife were supplied; 85 W means maximum continuous power, not idle draw. Martin Pettitt's CC BY 2.0 photo is the original Commons upload from 2021, titled 2011 2.5GHz at source. No new edits: that identification is attributed, not an exterior-based verification of internal CPU, RAM or disk.