The Mac mini M4 is a giant step up from its predecessor with a sooner chip, extra reminiscence and loads of ports on each the back and front of the machine. Its smaller measurement and new design are essentially the most obvious variations at first look, but it surely’s the ability of the M4 chip beneath its hood and the truth that the bottom mannequin comes geared up with extra RAM that actually makes a distinction.
Just like the Mac mini M1 again in 2020, this new mannequin revolutionizes Apple’s smallest Mac but. There’s quite a bit to love in regards to the Mac mini M4 however like all merchandise, its not with out its flaws. The most important of which is Apple’s determination to place the ability button beneath the machine versus on the rear like on earlier fashions. Should you flip your laptop off each evening, this can take some getting used to however having used the Mac mini M4 as my each day driver, I used to be capable of regulate to placing it to sleep as an alternative of shutting it down.
I feel that is the best mini PC for most individuals that favor macOS over Home windows, and my Mac mini M4 evaluation will allow you to resolve if it’s best for you— or if it’s value paying barely over two instances as a lot for the extra highly effective M4 Professional mannequin.
Mac mini M4: Cheat Sheet
- What’s it? Apple’s smallest desktop laptop but.
- Who’s it for? Individuals who need their first Mac or to improve to a brand new one with out paying further for a laptop computer they solely plan on utilizing at their desk.
- What does it price? The Mac mini M4 starts at $599 whereas the Mac mini M4 Pro starts at $1,399 and each methods will be upgraded with further RAM, storage and 10 gigabit Ethernet.
- What will we like? The smaller design, the three Thunderbolt 4 port on the rear, the USB-C ports and headphone jack on the entrance and the way the bottom mannequin now comes with 16GB of RAM.
- What don’t we like? The awkwardly positioned energy button on the underside of the machine, that it ships with a 256GB SSD as an alternative of one thing greater and the way upgrading its RAM and storage continues to be fairly costly.
Mac mini M4: Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Mac mini M4 (as examined) | Mac mini M4 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | $599, £599, AU$999 | $1,399, £1,399, AU$2,199 |
| CPU | M4 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | M4 Professional (12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, upgradeable to 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU) |
| RAM | 16GB (16-32GB) | 48GB (24-64GB) |
| Storage | 512GB (256GB-2TB) | 1TB (512GB-8TB) |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack (entrance), 3 x Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, 1 x HDMI, 1 x gigabit Ethernet (again) | 2 x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack (entrance), 3 x Thunderbolt 5/ USB 4, 1 x HDMI, 1 x gigabit Ethernet (again) |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet (upgradeable to 10 gigabit), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Gigabit Ethernet (upgradeable to 10 gigabit), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimension | 5 x 5 x 2 inches | 5 x 5 x 2 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 kilos | 1.5 kilos |
Mac mini M4: The ups
The Mac mini M4 improves upon what was already an ideal mini PC with wonderful efficiency, further ports on each the back and front and a way more succesful base mannequin. Its smaller measurement additionally makes it a extra compelling improve that takes up much less area in your desk.
A really tiny Mac
At simply 5 x 5 x 2 inches, the Mac mini M4 is completely tiny and it simply matches in your hand. Whereas the Mac mini M2 was wider and shorter at 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches, this utterly redesigned mannequin takes up even much less area in your desk than earlier than. Likewise, it nonetheless has a built-in energy provide, so that you don’t want to fret about lugging round a cumbersome energy adapter such as you do with the Acemagic F2A and virtually each different Home windows-based mini PC.
Apart from its smaller measurement and barely taller profile, which make it look extra just like the Mac Studio, the brand new Mac mini ships with Apple’s M4 chips. The bottom mannequin has an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence and different AI-related duties whereas the upgraded model ships with an M4 Professional chip. The most important improve although, is that 16GB of reminiscence is the brand new normal for the Mac mini M4 despite the fact that it retains the identical 256GB SSD for storage.
I just lately spent a week with the Mac mini M2 forward of the launch of this new mannequin and I instantly seen the distinction transferring from 8GB to 16GB of RAM. As a substitute of continually worrying that I had too many browser tabs or apps opened concurrently, the Mac mini M4 was simply capable of maintain as much as my workflow, which principally entails writing in Chrome and modifying images in GIMP.
On the similar time, I didn’t discover any slowdown when opening apps or folders or altering settings due to Apple’s extra highly effective M4 chip, although macOS Sequoia probably helped right here too. All the things simply works and works properly, which is the form of expertise one expects from a Mac.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Mac mini M4 | Mac mini M4 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6.3 single-core | 3838 | 3880 |
| Geekbench 6.3 multi-core | 14838 | 22661 |
| BlackMagic Disk Velocity (learn) | 3437.8 | 6351.8 |
| BlackMagic Disk Velocity (write) | 3017.3 | 5133.8 |
| Handbrake (Minutes:Secs) | 4:42 | 2:47 |
Ports the place you want them
I believed Apple would possibly do one thing much like the Mac mini M2 with this new mannequin when it got here to ports. Nonetheless, each the Mac mini M4 and the Mac mini M4 Professional have the identical variety of ports. The massive distinction is that the bottom mannequin comes geared up with Thunderbolt 4 ports whereas the professional mannequin has Thunderbolt 5 ports.
Whereas earlier iterations of the Mac mini didn’t have any entrance ports in any way, the Mac mini M4 now has two USB-C ports and a headphone jack the place you possibly can simply attain them. There isn’t an SD card reader like on the entrance of the Mac Studio, however the Mac mini is extra of a normal use laptop in spite of everything.
On the again of the Mac mini M4, there isn’t a single USB-A port to be discovered. As a substitute, you get three Thunderbolt 4 ports together with an HDMI port and a gigabit Ethernet port (which will be upgraded to 10 gigabit). This extra streamlined strategy to ports is a welcome change since all of Apple’s gadgets now use the identical connector. I’d have appreciated one or two USB-A ports for third-party equipment however I’m a little bit of an outlier right here.
A multitasker’s delight
Similar to with the port choice, Apple has standardized what number of exterior shows you need to use with the Mac mini M4 and Mac mini M4 Professional. Each machines assist as much as three exterior shows, however the resolutions you possibly can run them at are totally different — extra on that in a bit.
In my very own testing, I had the Mac mini M4 related over Thunderbolt 4 to the Studio Display that Apple despatched over with it. Since I favor a multi-monitor setup, I added a portable monitor with a touchscreen beneath it which actually helped when multitasking. To see what the Mac mini M4 was actually able to although, I added a dual-screen portable monitor subsequent to it. I did must obtain a DisplayLink driver to get each of its screens working however once I did, I had 4 shows at my disposal as an alternative of the usual three. Each of those moveable displays had been additionally powered by the Mac mini M4 and I didn’t have to plug them into an exterior energy adapter.
With the Mac mini M4, you possibly can run two 6K shows at a 60Hz refresh fee utilizing Thunderbolt and a 3rd 4k show at 60Hz over HDMI. You can even run a twin monitor setup with one 5K show and one 8K show at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or swap one out for a 4k show with a better 240Hz refresh fee. In the meantime, the Mac mini M4 Professional can run three 6K shows at 60Hz or one 6K show with both an 8K show at 60Hz or a 4K show at 240Hz in a twin monitor setup. Professionals with larger decision displays will admire all of those choices, however they’re extra prone to go together with the Mac Studio or Mac Pro over the Mac mini in any case.
Clearing your gaming backlog (principally)
If you wish to play the newest video games at nice framerates, you’re nonetheless higher off shopping for one of many best gaming PCs over the Mac mini M4 or one other extra highly effective Mac. Nonetheless although, Apple has made a whole lot of headway relating to gaming on a Mac in recent times.
When you actually gained’t be capable to play every part, various older video games carried out fairly properly in our check lab. As an illustration, Shadow of the Tomb Raider ran at 40 fps whereas Civilization VI almost reached 60 fps on the bottom Mac mini in our checks. Efficiency was even higher on the Mac mini M4 Professional with each of those video games operating at over 80 fps.
As I usually check out gaming-focused mini PCs just like the Asus ROG NUC 970 and the AtomMan G7 PT for work, I’ve a big library of the best PC games on Steam. After downloading Steam onto the Mac mini M4, I opened my library to seek out that the majority of my video games that do work on Mac are a bit older.
To check out its gaming efficiency, I downloaded a couple of video games and after experiencing points with a number of of the best PC game controllers, I made a decision to make use of my trackball mouse and a keyboard to play by the remastered model of 2007’s Bioshock. It ran properly on the Mac mini M4 and if, like me, you’ve gotten a giant backlog of PC video games, you’ll probably be capable to play by lots of them on the bottom Mac mini. Don’t overlook that Xbox GamePass and different cloud gaming companies work on Mac too although.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Mac mini M4 | Mac mini M4 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Borderlands 3 | 25.10 | 44.62 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 40 | 83 |
| Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm | 52.48 | 89.310 |
| Complete Conflict: Warhammer III | 24.6 | 46.1 |
Mac mini M4: The downs
The Mac mini M4 is actually an enchancment over its predecessor but it surely’s not with out its downsides. Particularly, its oddly positioned energy button and the truth that non-compulsory RAM and storage upgrades nonetheless price considerably extra in comparison with the competitors.
Onerous pressed for energy
Should you not often shut off your laptop, then the Mac mini M4 may very well be the right improve over the Mac mini M2. You see, not like with its predecessor the place the ability button was on the again proper facet, Apple determined to place the ability button on the underside of this new Mac mini.
Each are lower than ultimate however a minimum of with the Mac mini M2, its placement was justified because the energy button is out of the best way — but nonetheless reachable — and fewer prone to be pressed by chance.
With the Mac mini M4 although, you run into a unique downside totally as its energy button is totally unreachable with out lifting the pc up off your desk. There’s a cooling vent beneath the pc that lifts its aluminum unibody case up barely. Nonetheless, the hole between it and your desk is just too small to stay a finger beneath to press the ability button.
Happily, the 3D printing group is already creating workarounds for the ability button’s awkward placement and I can virtually assure that Mac mini accent makers will devise their very own intelligent methods to unravel this downside.
It’s a disgrace although as a result of if the Mac mini M4’s cooling vent was simply barely taller, reaching the ability button wouldn’t be a problem in any respect. The M4 chip that powers the machine is designed to make use of much less energy although, particularly in sleep mode, so leaving your Mac mini on on a regular basis shouldn’t use that a lot power. It simply takes some getting used to.
Upgrades don’t come straightforward
Though the Mac mini M4 now comes geared up with 16GB of RAM by default, Apple hasn’t modified the way it costs RAM and storage upgrades in any respect. It nonetheless prices an additional $200 (£200, AU$300) to maneuver as much as the subsequent tier with both.
When you improve the Mac mini M4 with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, you are a $999 (£999, AU$1,599) buy. At that time, you would possibly as properly spend a bit further and go together with the bottom mannequin of the Mac mini M4 Professional at $1,399 (£1,399, AU$2,199) which will get you these upgrades in addition to the sooner M4 Professional chip with a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU.
Like with most different Apple merchandise as of late, you possibly can’t improve them by yourself or after you’ve bought them. This implies you’re caught with what you obtain initially. Fortunately, the Mac mini M4 comes with sufficient RAM that except you’re doing a whole lot of video or picture modifying or operating advanced AI fashions domestically, you gained’t have to improve to a better tier or go together with the Mac mini M4 Professional.
Mac mini M4: Verdict
The Mac mini M4 is a superbly designed mini PC and its smaller measurement will probably be a welcome addition on most desks. Not solely do you now get ports within the entrance in addition to within the again, all of them use the identical connector. The bottom mannequin of the Mac mini M4 additionally now comes with 16GB of RAM, which is greater than sufficient for many customers.
Having an influence button on the again of the machine as an alternative of the underside would have made much more sense. Nonetheless, I’ve been utilizing the Mac mini M4 as my each day driver for nearly per week now and as somebody who turns off their desktop laptop each evening, I’ve managed to acclimate to this modification. Cheaper RAM and storage upgrades would have been good too, however Apple redesigned the Mac mini, not the way it costs upgrades.
The Mac mini M4 is a wonderful mini PC and apart from being the smallest, it’s additionally essentially the most highly effective one Apple has launched but. Now I’m wanting ahead to seeing what the corporate does with the subsequent model of the Mac Studio.
