The Mac mini "Core i7" 2.6 (Late 2012/Aluminum Unibody) technically is a "configure-to-order" configuration of the MD388LL/A Mac mini "Core i7" 2.3 (Late 2012/Aluminum Unibody), but also is documented as a separate model for reader convenience. Other than processor, these two models are identical.

The Apple Mac mini "Core i7" 2.6 (Late 2012/Aluminum Unibody) features a 22-nm Quad Core "Ivy Bridge" 2.6 GHz Intel "Core i7" (3720QM) processor with four independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-12800) memory, a 1 TB hard drive, and Intel HD Graphics 4000 which shares system memory. It does not have an internal optical drive, although an external one was offered for US$79.

Connectivity includes a Firewire "800" port, four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Thunderbolt, combined "audio line in (digital/analog)" and combined "audio line out/headphone (digital/analog)" minijacks, a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and an SDXC card slot.

Compared to its predecessor, this model looks identical, but it has a faster internal architecture with a faster processor and faster RAM, albeit slower graphics, as well as USB 3.0 ports.

All Mac mini systems are configured by default without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but numerous Apple and third-party options are available.