The Mac Mini has always been Apple’s quiet powerhouse—compact, versatile, and surprisingly capable. Unlike the iMac, MacBook, or Mac Pro, it offers modularity, allowing users to bring their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This flexibility has made it a favorite among professionals, home users, and even developers.
A More Compact and Practical Design
The 2024 Mac Mini, powered by Apple’s M4 chip, introduces a major redesign. It now measures just 5-by-5 inches and stands two inches tall, making it smaller than most desktop speakers. This size allows for more placement options, whether under a monitor, behind a TV, or even in a backpack for easy transport.
Apple has also improved usability by adding front-facing USB-C ports and a headphone jack—something users have wanted for years. Meanwhile, the back retains HDMI, Ethernet, and Thunderbolt 4 (or Thunderbolt 5 on the M4 Pro), ensuring solid connectivity. While the new placement of the power button underneath is unusual, it’s a minor issue for most users.
Impressive Performance for the Price
At the heart of the new Mac Mini is Apple’s M4 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. With 16GB of unified memory now standard, it delivers performance comparable to high-end Macs at a much lower price.
Benchmark tests show the M4 chip achieving Geekbench 6 single-core scores above 3,800, even surpassing the M2 Ultra in some tasks. This is remarkable for a machine that starts at just $599.
For users needing more power, the M4 Pro version offers up to a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. It supports Thunderbolt 5, up to 64GB of memory, and delivers improved performance for tasks like 3D rendering and video editing.
Gaming and AI Potential
Gaming on Mac has long been a challenge, but the M4 chip makes progress in this area. With hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Metal 3 support, games like Resident Evil 4 can now run at 60fps in 1080p. While not a gaming PC replacement, the improvements are promising.
The Mac Mini is also built for AI. The M4’s Neural Engine supports Apple Intelligence, macOS Sequoia’s new AI-powered features. Tasks like image enhancement, voice transcription, and content generation will run efficiently without cloud dependency.
Unmatched Value in Apple’s Lineup
At $599, the Mac Mini M4 is Apple’s most affordable desktop, yet it offers the same performance as much more expensive Macs. Though Apple’s upgrade prices for RAM and storage are high, external storage solutions provide a more cost-effective expansion option.
With its small size, strong performance, and flexible design, the Mac Mini remains one of the best-value computers Apple has ever made. Whether for work, creative tasks, or media use, it’s a compact powerhouse that delivers beyond its size.
