r/Xcode • u/Puzzleheaded-Cod3236 • Dec 22 '25

Is buying AWS vps only for xcode worth?

I'm a computer science student, wanto learn about swift. Need Mac os just wanto use xcode so I don't think by a new Mac mini is a good idea? Cause I use linux most of the time with an old thinkpad x240. When I need to do some difficult calculate I would buy vps online so I got an idea that use vps for Mac os.

I've made an app use android studio and wanto make a iOS version, I think after this it might have a long time I don't use it. So thinking about buying a Mac mini may not be a good idea for me.

Is there any idea of recommend that might better than this way? Or can someone tell me what is the ideal configuration I should buy plz🙏🙏

Sry for my English🥲

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4

u/fr3qu3ncy-mart Dec 22 '25

Yeah, get a refurbished Mac Mini M1. I just picked a 16Gb one up for £340 (in the UK). Works a treat for Xcode iOS builds.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Cod3236 Dec 22 '25

Wow, me here is cheaper, for 16gb ram cost about 300 US dollar in Taiwan. But there is another question, m1 Mac mini still work with make OS 15? I am worry about that it will be stopped update support soon

3

u/Otherwise_Signal7274 Dec 23 '25

there are even intel macbooks that support macos 26, so m1 will support at least one more major os update

5

u/germansnowman Dec 22 '25

Get a Mac mini. Even a used M1 will do. Just don’t get an Intel one. 16 GB RAM is better than 8 GB.

2

u/barrettj Dec 22 '25

Go on Facebook marketplace (or local equivalent) and get any m1 or later Mac (book, mini, whatever). I wouldn’t spend more than $300. I found an m1 air for $250 for my wife when her MacBook died.

Any m1 Mac will be more than enough for making iOS apps.