The new Mac mini M4 has just been tested by the biggest American tech media, and the verdict is unanimous: Apple has succeeded in creating its best version to date. This major overhaul, the first in more than 10 years, brings its share of surprises and innovations which deserve our attention. On the eve of the release of the new Mac mini M4, testers are rave about this iteration.
A compact design that is unanimously appreciated
The new Mac mini design impresses testers with its exceptional compactness. Chris Welch of The Verge points out that “the footprint is reduced by more than half compared to the previous case.” The dimensions are now 12.7 x 12.7 x 5 cm and weigh only 680 grams, making it the most compact desktop computer Apple has ever designed. He also points out that this drastic reduction is “the most striking example of what Apple can achieve with hardware designed specifically for its M chips.”
The connectivity has been completely redesigned with a more practical approach:
- Front: two USB-C ports (10 Gbps) and a headphone jack
- Rear: three Thunderbolt 4 ports (or Thunderbolt 5 on the Pro version), HDMI 2.1 and Ethernet
- Native support for three external displays (compared to two on the M2 model)
The only critical point noted by the testers: the positioning of the power button under the device, a design choice which is not very ergonomic on a daily basis but which is counterbalanced by its infrequent use for the majority of users.
Performance that impresses
Benchmarks carried out by The Verge show remarkable performance for the base model equipped with the M4:
- Geekbench 6 Single-core score: 3889
- Geekbench 6 Multi-core score: 14915
- Metal GPU Score: 57416
The revised cooling system allows for near-silent operation, even during intensive tasks such as photo editing on Lightroom for example. The standard version with its 10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores is sufficient for the majority of uses, including professional ones.
Unbeatable value for money
Priced from €699, this new Mac mini represents “the best value in the entire Mac range” according to Chris Welch. The basic configuration now includes 16 GB of RAM (compared to 8 GB previously), a significant change which considerably improves the user experience. The only downside raised by testers: the prohibitive prices for additional storage and RAM options. For example, upgrading to 1 TB of storage and 32 GB of RAM increases the bill to €1,619, a price deemed “excessive” by The Verge.
For the first time, Apple is also offering a more powerful M4 Pro version, intended for demanding professionals, including Thunderbolt 5 technology allowing transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s. This new iteration of the Mac mini marks a turning point in the he story of the product, offering a perfect balance between power, compactness and accessibility. It stands out as the ideal entry point into the Mac ecosystem for new users, while satisfying the needs of professionals with its Pro version. The testers still recommend the classic M4 version which will satisfy the vast majority of users.
Testers’ opinions
The opinion of The Verge which focuses on pricing positioning:
As I said previously, the $599 Mini represents the best value if you haven’t yet joined Apple’s Mac ecosystem. Even the $799 configuration I tested, with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, seems reasonable. But once you go beyond that in terms of RAM or storage, Apple’s pricing seems to be a matter of greed and inflating the company’s profits. This is true for the entire range, but it’s felt most keenly on a machine that only costs $599 to start with. Upgrading to 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM bumps the price to $1,399. Ouch.
Every time I glance at the new Mac Mini on my desk, I feel like it’s the ideal form of the Mini. The redesigned case makes the most of Apple Silicon’s small footprint, and with Apple’s M4 chip and an ample selection of ports, the Mini 2024 should remain a fast and reliable computer for years to come. He has never been so powerful. Finally, not counting the much more expensive M4 Pro version.
The opinion of TechCrunch who appreciates the format while wondering about the Mac range:
The new Mac Mini is an example of a (generally) well-designed machine without a clearly defined market segment. Its strong suit lies with those who already own one or more displays and are simply looking to upgrade their system with the latest entry-level Mac. I would also include those who want to choose their own display, but don’t want to invest in the Studio and aren’t particularly interested in the freedom that a laptop offers. Or maybe the Platonic ideal would be someone who wants a fast, easy, and (relatively) cheap desktop computer to complement it – without the inherent limitations of an all-in-one iMac.
If any of the above cases speak to you, don’t hesitate to opt for the small format. There’s not much inherently bad about this machine (the power button is more annoying than actually bad), but its place in Apple’s desktop lineup isn’t entirely clear, with the Studio and the iMac that flank it on either side. I can’t tell you for sure how big this market segment is currently, but I suspect this system is the most purchased by businesses. It’s easy to imagine companies buying them in large quantities. For consumers who are hesitant, consider whether a MacBook or an iMac would not be better suited to your configuration and your budget.
The opinion of Wired who appreciates the power and responsiveness of the Mac mini M4:
I’ve been using the Mac Mini as my primary computer for the past week to send emails, participate in video calls, and write articles in our content management system via the Chrome browser – all while apps like Slack , Messages and Telegram were running simultaneously in the background. I never felt like the M4 struggled to handle all of this, even with multiple tabs and windows open. Performance remained fast and smooth at all times.
I can’t say I noticed much difference compared to the Mac Mini with M2. Apple claims the M4 delivers 1.8x faster CPU performance, while GPU performance is 2.2x faster than the M1. But all this only matters if you constantly feel like your Mac Mini is too slow for the tasks you want to accomplish. If so, you may need to upgrade to a more powerful chip (like the M4 Pro if you have an M1 or M2).
No matter which configuration you choose, the Mac Mini maintains its reputation as a great small desktop computer, especially for people who are more demanding of their peripherals. The same problem persists: there is no way to upgrade the hardware in the future. Unlike traditional desktop PCs, you can’t just replace the CPU or add more RAM when you need it. You’re probably going to keep this Mac Mini for a while, so equip it accordingly.
Buy the Mac mini M4
Mac mini M4 unboxing and testing videos
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