Key Takeaways
- The M4 Mac Mini gives quick efficiency on the identical low value level of $600.
- The bottom mannequin lastly consists of 16GB of unified reminiscence, however additional upgrades are pricey.
- It is best to take into account sticking to the bottom mannequin attributable to costly upgrades, and probably keep away from shopping for Apple silicon Macs till RAM and storage upgrades turn out to be much less cost-prohibitive.
Earlier than it introduced the M4 Mac Mini final week, Apple hadn’t made materials adjustments to the all-in-one pc’s kind consider over a decade. For years, I could not assist however dream of what a Mac Mini may appear like if Apple actually tried to make it a compact mini PC. I even tore down my M2 Mac Mini once I reviewed it to indicate how a lot wasted area was inside, proving that, sure, the Mac Mini could possibly be smaller. That is why I used to be thrilled once I first laid eyes on the M4 Mac Mini, a five-by-five dice that lastly included 16GB of base storage.
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It is simple to see the place Apple lower corners, nonetheless
After the temporary honeymoon section wore off, I spotted that I may by no means purchase the M4 Mac Mini. By upgrading the base-model Mac Mini to 16GB of unified reminiscence for a similar $600 beginning value, Apple solely addressed a symptom of a bigger drawback. Particular person reminiscence and storage upgrades are far too costly for computer systems which might be practically inconceivable to improve after they have been bought. For that reason alone, I am unable to put my cash towards the M4 Mac Mini — or any new Mac, for that matter — till Apple updates its pricing.
The 8GB vs 16GB debate was all the time the incorrect subject
The price of upgrades is much extra impactful than the quantity of base storage
For at the least the previous 12 months, PC fanatics — and even some macOS customers — have been fixated on the truth that base-model Apple silicon computer systems solely shipped with 8GB of unified reminiscence. It was a legitimate level of criticism, as lots of the best phones featured extra RAM than a few of Apple’s finest computer systems. The truth is, once I tried to make use of an M2 Mac Mini with simply 8GB of RAM for months, it did not go very nicely. There have been reminiscence limitations, particularly ones that solely appeared lengthy after my return window for the pc handed.
The issue was worsened by the truth that you may’t improve the reminiscence of an Apple silicon Mac after it has been bought. It’s good to have some extent of clairvoyance about how a lot RAM you will want; not simply how a lot reminiscence you’ll require in the present day, but in addition three, 5, or ten years sooner or later — relying in your Mac improve cycle. Storage is barely higher in that regard, as a result of tinkerers like iBoff on YouTube have found out methods so as to add aftermarket storage upgrades to Apple silicon Macs.
The actual drawback wasn’t that Mac computer systems shipped with 8GB of base reminiscence and 256GB of base storage. It was that to improve a Mac pc to an inexpensive quantity of RAM and storage, you would be paying an unlimited sum of money past that machine’s MSRP. In some ways, it felt just like the beginning value of latest Apple silicon Macs was barely misleading. A base mannequin Mac may not final you a 12 months or two, not to mention three or 5 or ten.
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Is the beginning quantity of unified reminiscence sufficient on Apple silicon in 2024? We examined it.
You should not purchase something however the base-model M4 Mac Mini
For $600, the base-model Mac Mini is a no brainer
Apple’s redesigned and revamped M4 Mac Mini solves one, and precisely one, a part of this drawback. Now, you get 16GB of unified reminiscence and 256GB of storage with each new Mac throughout all the lineup. The M4 iMac, M4 Mac Mini, and M4 MacBook Professional ushered within the post-8GB RAM period for Apple, nevertheless it applies to units with out the M4 chip, too. Which means we will really advocate base mannequin Apple units. Whereas 256GB of storage is lower than I would need in 2024, it may be sufficient when paired with exterior storage options (just like the Satechi Stand & Hub) or cloud storage providers.
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If you happen to’re searching for a method so as to add expandable storage to your Mac mini or Mac Studio, that is the cleanest strategy to do it.
Nevertheless, the base-model M4 Mac Mini is the solely model of the Mac Mini I am snug recommending. At $600, it is a fairly killer worth. However bumping the RAM by eight gigabytes, from 16GB to 24GB, ends in a $200 improve. Need an M4 Mac Mini with 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage? (A comparatively modest configuration lately.) That’ll be a whopping $1,200, precisely double the value of the base-model M4 Mac Mini. You should purchase one other complete pc for the value you will pay for Apple to present you simply 16GB extra reminiscence and 256GB extra storage.
I do not know if you happen to’ve been following the costs of the best RAM sticks or the best SSDs, however the above costs are outlandish in comparison with the choices within the PC world. You are paying the so-called “Apple tax” for RAM and storage configurations above the bottom quantities, and at an excessive stage. I am able to say sufficient is sufficient — I will not pay the Apple tax for RAM and storage upgrades this time round. If you may get by with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage, positive, the M4 Mac Mini will likely be a steal at $600. For everybody else, the worth of Apple silicon Macs begins to rapidly taper off the second it’s worthwhile to select a customized configuration.
Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024)
At $600, the M4 Mac Mini provides you quick efficiency in a tiny kind issue. It is a killer worth, and I am assured of that even earlier than it formally releases. Nevertheless, the second that it’s worthwhile to make upgrades to your M4 Mac Mini’s configuration, it turns into a harder promote.
