The Mac mini, once the neglected stepchild of Apple’s Mac lineup, has finally shed its outdated design and emerged as a powerhouse in its latest M4 iteration. This tiny desktop PC is a testament to Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance, delivering an experience that’s both powerful and compact. But before diving into the impressive specs and performance, let’s address the elephant in the room – the power button placement. Located on the bottom of the device, it requires a bit of a contortionist act to reach, which feels unintuitive and clunky, especially for a device meant to be user-friendly.
While the design might be a source of debate, the M4 Mac mini shines with its impressive performance gains. The base model, starting at $599, offers an incredible value proposition. You get a minimum of 16GB of RAM, which is a significant upgrade from the previous generation, and a performance leap thanks to the M4 chip. This makes the Mac mini the most affordable Mac in Apple’s lineup, a tempting option for budget-conscious users.
The M4 Pro model, starting at $1,399, takes things to a whole new level. It boasts a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, making it a powerhouse for demanding tasks like video editing, graphic design, and even gaming. The M4 Pro configuration I reviewed, with 48GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, delivered exceptional performance in benchmarks, exceeding even the M2 Ultra Mac Studio and M3 Max MacBook Pro in certain areas.
The M4 Pro’s graphics performance is particularly impressive. While not a full-fledged gaming PC, it can handle demanding games like Baldur’s Gate 3 with ease. The GPU performance rivals that of the desktop RTX 4060, making it a viable option for casual gamers who value the compact size and Apple ecosystem.
The Mac mini’s port selection has also been revamped. Two USB-C ports up front offer easy access, while the rear boasts HDMI 2.1, a 10Gb Ethernet jack, and Thunderbolt 5 ports (for the M4 Pro). While the loss of USB-A ports might be a slight inconvenience for some, the overall port arrangement is well-thought-out and convenient.
The Mac mini M4 Pro is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The performance gains are substantial, the design is sleek and compact, and the audio is surprisingly good. However, the placement of the power button on the bottom of the device remains a perplexing design choice. Overall, if you’re looking for a powerful and compact desktop computer, the Mac mini M4 Pro is a fantastic option. Just be prepared to adapt to the unconventional power button location. The base model, starting at $599, is a steal for anyone seeking a budget-friendly and versatile Mac. However, if you want to utilize the full potential of the M4 Pro, be prepared to invest in a configuration that can handle your demanding workloads.
