Why wouldn’t you need the brand new Mac Mini? Over the final a number of days of testing Apple’s redesigned desktop Mac, I’ve been impressed by all the ability and potential crammed into this very compact machine. For a beginning worth of $599 and with 16GB of RAM now commonplace, the M4 Mac Mini has instantly change into the perfect worth in Apple’s complete Mac lineup. It’s greater than succesful for many computing duties right this moment, and if my M1 MacGuide Air is something to go by, the Mini received’t really feel sluggish (or something near it) for not less than the subsequent 4 or 5 years.
Apple supplied me with two very completely different Mac Mini models. This first evaluation is concentrated on the usual M4 mannequin, which incorporates a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and the default 16GB of reminiscence. My machine has 512GB of storage, which bumps its worth to $799, however, regular efficiency must be identical to that of the bottom 256GB configuration. I’ve additionally received a kitted-out M4 Pro mannequin, which raises the value to a stratospheric $2,199. I’d rattling properly count on the M4 Pro Mini to be a powerhouse for that cash.
But most individuals won’t have to spend anywhere near that amount. The common M4 version offers a lot in its own right and could be my suggestion for anybody who needs a reliable desktop Mac—particularly if you’ve already settled on a monitor and/or keyboard that you just love.
As at all times with the Mac Mini, Apple offers the pc; you carry your personal show, keyboard, and mouse. Apple is very happy to promote you its personal Studio Display and peripherals, however with the Mini now capable of run as much as three shows without delay (up from two on the M2 mannequin), you’ve received a ton of runway for inventive, versatile desk setups. If you’ve perfected your work-from-home workplace, you possibly can simply add the Mini to no matter’s already there with out having to rearrange all the things.
And the machine itself will barely take up any of that area. Measuring 5 inches vast, 5 inches deep, and a couple of inches tall, the 2024 Mac Mini’s footprint is lower than half that of the earlier enclosure, which was designed across the Intel platform. (Just take a look at how much unused space there was after the Apple Silicon transition.) It’s not fairly as tiny as an Apple TV 4K, however to me, it’s probably the most placing instance but of what Apple can obtain with {hardware} that’s purpose-built for its M-series chips. Another welcome change is that the brand new Mini places some ports proper on the entrance, whereas its predecessors made me blindly plug all the things into the again — or flip the entire thing round so I might really see what I used to be doing.
Now you’ve received a pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports (USB 3) and a headphone jack up entrance. Around again are three Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports, HDMI, and a gigabit ethernet jack that’s upgradable to 10-gigabit speeds. I do miss the SD card slot you’d discover on a Mac Studio or MacGuide Pro, however I haven’t as soon as felt disillusioned concerning the lack of USB-A. Everyone has a completely different accent state of affairs, so its absence may sting extra for you, nevertheless it’s straightforward to only plug in a dongle if mandatory. The M4 Pro Mac Mini has even sooner, brand-new Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, with theoretical information switch speeds of as much as 120Gb/s (thrice sooner than Thunderbolt 4). But that’s largely focused at inventive professionals and intensive video work. Despite its dramatically lowered dimensions, the Mini nonetheless retains an inner energy provide, so there’s no cumbersome brick to fret about.
Like the Mac Studio, the Mac Mini lastly has some ports on the entrance.
Notice that I haven’t talked about a energy button but. That’s as a result of Apple made the curious determination to maneuver it to the underside of the machine close to the rear left nook. Do I want the button had been someplace else? Sure. Pressing it requires reaching over the Mini and lifting the unit up barely. It’s foolish however hasn’t negatively affected my expertise in any materials manner. If you’ve received an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, you’ll be reminded of its awkward location proper throughout setup, once you’ve received to double-press the ability button to make a safe hyperlink between the fingerprint sensor and Mac. The Mini is utilized in a vast mixture of environments together with house theater techniques and stay occasion manufacturing. I might see the button’s place changing into a trouble in a few of these situations, however in the event you’re utilizing it on a desk, it’s extra of a unusual quirk than an annoyance. And there are always workarounds.
This isn’t the best location for a energy button, nevertheless it’s workable.
Apple’s revamped thermal system for the Mini retains the M4 mannequin working quietly. Even once I’m deep in a Lightroom photograph enhancing session, I don’t hear the fan. I’m sure the M4 Pro’s additional GPU cores would make these RAW edits even sooner, however the common M4 is as much as the duty for many photograph work. Elsewhere, the machine has not often missed a step, it doesn’t matter what I throw at it. I’m no videographer, so I can’t communicate as to if critical enhancing work would expose the M4’s limits. If there’s one use case that warrants stepping as much as the M4 Pro, it’s possible that.
Everywhere else, the M4 Mini simply hums alongside. As you possibly can see in our benchmarks, it’s proper in line with the M4 iMac and MacGuide Pro. I’ve barely sampled any of the Apple Intelligence options in macOS Sequoia — I don’t discover them significantly compelling —however, I’m already a huge fan of iPhone Mirroring and the built-in window tiling that has allowed me to lastly bid farewell to Moom. MacOS feels preferable; it’s in an excellent spot lately.
You’ll discover Ethernet, HDMI, and three Thunderbolt ports on the back.
With the Mini now being so charmingly small, it’s straightforward to dream up all kinds of {hardware} and software program prospects. Why not give folks an alternative of colours like the iMac? As for the software program, this factor appears to be more like an Apple TV than ever earlier, so what if it generally behaved like one too? Imagine a TV-optimized leisure interface—ssure, like a fashionable Front Row—tthat will kick in at any time when a TV display is related over HDMI. The M4 is greater than successful sufficient to juggle each macOS and a tvOS-like expertise.
As I stated earlier, the $599 Mini is the perfect worth round in the event you haven’t but joined the Mac aspect of Apple’s ecosystem. Even the $799 configuration I examined, with 16GB of reminiscence and a 512GB SSD, appears affordable. But when you transcend that in RAM or storage, Apple’s pricing smacks of greed and padding the corporate’s backside line. That’s true throughout the road; nevertheless, it’s felt extra acutely on a machine that begins at solely $599. Stepping as much as 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM brings the value to $1,399. Yikes.
For most, the Mini will likely be a stationary PC, and the presence of three Thunderbolt ports means you possibly can connect a speedy exterior SSD without caving to Apple’s fiscal charges. Given that, the different $799 configuration, with 24GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, might be extra worthwhile. Neither may be upgraded later, so it’s essential to get the specs proper when shopping for.
You can use Apple’s show and equipment… or get as inventive as you need with third-party choices.
Every time I look over on the new Mac Mini on my desk, it feels just like the Mini’s supreme kind. The redesigned enclosure makes probably the most of Apple Silicon’s small footprint, and with Apple’s M4 chip and an ample choice of ports, the 2024 Mini ought to stay a zippy, dependable PC for years to come. It’s by no means been extra mighty. Apart from the much pricier M4 Pro model. Stay tuned for extra on that quickly.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge
Shot with the Nikon Z6 III and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.
