Mac Mini with M4 Chip Is a Real Compact Powerhouse
The new Mac mini with M4 chip shows its strengths in initial tests. More compact, more powerful and more versatile than before, it scores with more ports and new AI functions. But there are also points of criticism. An overview of the advantages and disadvantages discovered so far. Apple
Small powerhouse with great potential
Apple has fundamentally redesigned the Mac mini and equipped it with the new M4 chip. Initial tests show that the compact desktop system impresses with its high performance and many improvements. But there are also some points of criticism. With dimensions of just 12.7 x 12.7 x 5.1 centimeters, the new Mac mini is significantly more compact than its predecessor.
The floor space shrinks by over 50 percent. The performance of the new Mac mini has noticeably increased thanks to the M4 chip. Compared to the M1 model, the CPU works up to 1.8 times faster and the GPU up to 2.2 times faster.
More compact but more powerful
The basic model with M4 chip, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD costs 699 euros. For many users, this equipment should be sufficient. If you need more performance, you can choose the Pro version with M4 Pro chip. It offers up to 14 CPU and 20 GPU cores as well as a maximum of 64 GB of RAM.
New connections
For the first time, Apple is installing ports on the front of the Mac mini: two USB-C ports (USB 3) and a headphone jack. Depending on the model, there are three Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI and Gigabit Ethernet on the back.
The Pro version supports up to three 6K displays at 60 Hz. How are these technical specifications received by the first testers? In the reviews of The Verge,
Ars Technica, Bloomberg, etc. you almost only read positive things. The media reports on new launches have always been very critical and like to compare the pros and cons. The Verge, for example, misses something about the new mini:
I miss the SD card reader you’d find on a Mac Studio or MacBook Pro, but I didn’t even miss the lack of USB-A. Everyone has a different accessory situation, so their absence may hurt more for you, but it’s easy to just plug in a dongle when needed. The Verge
Bloomberg highlights another point: The new M4 Mac mini is real competition to PlayStation, Xbox and Co.
Apple has finally found its ‘gaming console’ in the new Mac Mini. Now Apple has a new chance. The company just released a new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips – and finally a device that could become a respectable gaming machine. Bloomberg
High energy efficiency
In its test, Ars Technica praised the high energy efficiency of the M4 chip. The testers were impressed by the performance in photo and video editing. For demanding video productions, however, they recommend using the Pro version – but that sounds more like a truism.
There is no such thing as external RAM. But that’s just a small criticism of a computer that I have a very positive attitude towards overall. The Mac mini isn’t for everyone, but for those who want a desktop Mac and find the iMac either too expensive or not powerful enough for them, the new mini represents an easy default choice. Ars Technica
Criticism of memory upgrades and power button
A common point of criticism in the tests: Apple’s high surcharges for memory upgrades. The step from 256 GB to 512 GB of SSD storage costs 200 euros – significantly more than usual from PC manufacturers. Since the storage cannot be retrofitted, buyers should carefully consider the capacity required. Apple has moved the power button to the bottom of the case.
The Verge describes this as a “strange quirk” that is hardly a problem in everyday life. However, the position might be impractical for special usage scenarios such as home theater setups.
The bottom line is that the Mac mini impresses us with its compact size without compromising on performance or skimping on the variety of connections. Apple’s smallest computer to date proves to be a flexible and future-proof solution in “personal computing” with enough performance reserves for Apple Intelligence. Whether in the office, home office or creative workshop: the Mac mini becomes a solid basis for modern workplaces. MacLife
Attractive overall package with small weaknesses
Despite some criticisms, the new Mac mini impressed in the first tests. It offers a balanced ratio of performance, compactness and price. The entry-level model with an M4 chip and 16 GB of RAM for 699 euros appears particularly attractive.
Technical data for the Apple Mac Mini 2024 with M4 chip
| Model | Apple M4 | Apple M4 Pro |
| CPU | 10-core SoC with 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores, 10-core GPU, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 16-core Neural Engine, 120 GB/s memory bandwidth | 12 core SoC with 8 performance and 4 efficiency cores, 16-core GPU, hardware accelerated ray tracing, 16-core Neural Engine, 273 GB/s memory bandwidth |
| R.A.M. | 16, 24 or 32 GB shared RAM | 24, 48 or 64 GB shared RAM |
| memory | 256GB to 2TB | 512GB to 8TB |
| output | Simultaneous support for up to three displays | |
| Audio | Integrated speaker, 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI with multichannel audio output | |
| Connections | WLAN AX, Bluetooth 5.3, 3x Thunderbolt4/USB4 ports, 2x USB-C, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, DP | WLAN AX, Bluetooth 5.3, 3x Thunderbolt5/USB4 ports, 2x USB-C, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, DP |
| Mass | 5 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | |
| Weight | 670 grams | 730 grams |
| Price | from 699 euros | from 1649 euros |
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