Apple Mac mini (2024, M4) — Tiny Desktop, Huge Power
Our take: blistering M4 speed, whisper-quiet thermals, front USB-C, and pro-grade media engines in a five-inch footprint.
- M4 chip with 10-core CPU/GPU and 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence
- Front USB-C, rear Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Gigabit/10GbE options
- Quiet under load; powers multiple 4K/6K displays with pro media engines
- Chip
- Apple M4 (10c CPU • 10c GPU)
- Memory
- 16GB unified (opt. 24GB)
- Storage
- 256–512GB SSD
- Ports
- 3×TB4 • HDMI • front USB-C
The newest Mac mini trims the desktop down to a five-by-five-inch square and then packs it with Apple’s latest M4 silicon.
It’s a small block of aluminum that feels dense in the hand yet disappears under a monitor or behind a display stand.
Now with front USB-C and a headphone jack, it finally puts the most-used ports where your fingers actually are.
At the heart of this refresh is the M4: a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and a Media Engine that chews through modern codecs.
The box stays whisper-quiet while pushing multiple 4K and even 6K screens, and it has the thermal headroom to sustain heavy, real-world workloads.
It’s also built for Apple Intelligence features in macOS, leveraging the Neural Engine for on-device assistance without sending your life to the cloud.
Apple didn’t change the minimalist exterior much because it didn’t need to.
The big updates are inside: higher-bandwidth memory, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, AV1 decode, and a front-port quality-of-life fix.
If you’re coming from an Intel-era mini, this leap is not subtle—the whole machine feels instant.
Is the Mac mini (M4) for you?
If you want a silent, compact desktop that flies through everyday tasks, productivity, and most creative work, yes.
Spreadsheets, Lightroom culls, Xcode builds, multi-tab research, and 4K timelines are exactly what this box likes.
It’s also perfect if you live in Apple’s ecosystem.
iPhone Mirroring, AirDrop, Universal Clipboard, and seamless Messages/FaceTime make it feel like your phone and desktop share one brain.
It’s not for tinkerers who need internal expandability, upgradable RAM, or a discrete GPU with swappable drivers.
You’ll add storage externally and you’ll live with unified memory configurations you choose at checkout.
On budget, the Mac mini lines up as a value-minded Apple desktop.
It’s dramatically cheaper than a Mac Studio, yet quick enough for many of the same jobs.
Beginners won’t struggle here.
macOS is straightforward, apps install from the App Store or trusted developers, and Apple’s basics are polished and consistent.
What We Like About the Mac mini (M4)
Performance is the headliner.
The 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU deliver “tap-and-it-happens” responsiveness, even with a few pro apps open and background tasks syncing.
Apple’s Media Engine means HEVC, H.264, and ProRes edits feel like scrubbing still images rather than video.
Thermals and acoustics are stellar.
You can render, export, and preview for long stretches without the fan becoming a character in the room.
The chassis gets warm, not hot, and performance doesn’t nosedive mid-session.
Connectivity is right where it needs to be.
Two front USB-C ports make quick swaps painless, and the rear still gives you Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Gigabit Ethernet.
Multiple-display support is excellent for a machine this small.
The “Apple Intelligence” story adds practical wins.
Summaries, rewrite tools, and on-device context feel more private and more immediate than cloud-dependent assistants.
It’s not a gimmick—you end up using it for everyday writing and organization.
And the size matters more than you think.
It mounts under a desk, on a VESA plate, or behind a monitor, freeing space and reducing cable chaos.
Minimal footprint, max desk.
What We Don’t Like About the Mac mini (M4)
The base internal storage is tight for today’s creative workflows.
256GB fills up fast after apps, caches, and a couple of libraries; plan on external NVMe or a higher-capacity build.
Unified memory is fast but not user-upgradeable.
Pick 16GB only if your work is moderate; heavy multitaskers and media tools benefit noticeably from 24GB.
There’s still no SD card slot.
Photographers and videographers will live on dongles or deskside readers.
If you rely on CUDA or specific Windows-only plug-ins, you’ll need to rethink your stack or lean on virtualization.
The integrated GPU is strong for integrated graphics, but it’s not a drop-in replacement for a high-watt discrete card.
Finally, Apple’s configuration pricing scales quickly.
The sweet spots make sense, but maxing everything can creep toward Mac Studio territory.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Blistering M4 performance in a tiny, silent chassis | Base 256GB storage is cramped |
| Front USB-C and headphone jack; rear Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet | Memory and storage are not user-upgradeable |
| Excellent media engines (H.264/HEVC/ProRes/ProRes RAW) and AV1 decode | No SD card slot |
| Multi-display support including high-refresh 4K and 8K via HDMI | Not for CUDA-bound or heavy discrete-GPU workflows |
| Apple Intelligence on-device with privacy protections | Upgrades get pricey as you scale configs |
| Works seamlessly with iPhone/iPad; macOS stability and app support |
What’s Included?
- Mac mini (M4) desktop computer
- Power cord
- Documentation / Quick start guide
That’s it—no keyboard, mouse, or monitor in the box.
It matches the “bring your own peripherals” philosophy that keeps the entry price down.
We’d love an SD reader or a short HDMI cable, but the essentials are covered and the machine is ready to boot the moment you plug in a display and input devices.
Technical Specifications
Chip & Compute
• Apple M4 with 10-core CPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency)
• 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
• 16-core Neural Engine; 120GB/s memory bandwidth
• Hardware Media Engine: H.264/HEVC/ProRes/ProRes RAW encode/decode; AV1 decode
Memory (Unified)
• 16GB (configurable to 24GB or 32GB)
Storage (internal SSD)
• 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (configs vary by model)
Ports (front)
• 2 × USB-C (USB 3 up to 10Gb/s)
• 3.5mm headphone jack with high-impedance support
Ports (rear)
• 3 × Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, up to 40Gb/s, DisplayPort)
• 1 × HDMI
• 1 × Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10GbE)
• Power inlet
Wireless
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
Display support
• Up to three displays: combinations include dual 6K@60Hz over Thunderbolt plus one up to 5K@60Hz or 4K@60Hz over HDMI
• Up to two displays: one up to 5K@60Hz via Thunderbolt and one up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz via Thunderbolt or HDMI
Audio
• Built-in speaker; 3.5mm jack with advanced high-impedance support; HDMI multichannel audio output
Footprint
• Approx. five inches by five inches; compact aluminum enclosure
These are the practical, day-to-day specs that shape the experience.
Together, they tell a story of a small desktop with big-machine I/O and pro-grade media hardware.
Features
- M4 performance with 10-core CPU/GPU and a fast Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence and accelerated AI-assisted tasks.
- Media Engine that speeds up H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, with AV1 decode for modern streaming efficiency.
- Front USB-C plus rear Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI for flexible desk layouts and quick device swaps.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for stable, low-latency wireless peripherals and fast networking.
- Multi-display flexibility including high-refresh 4K and 8K.
- Carbon-neutral design and durable aluminum enclosure for long service life.
- macOS + Apple ecosystem with iPhone Mirroring, Universal Clipboard, AirDrop, and seamless Messages/FaceTime on desktop.
From a reviewer’s chair, these aren’t just bullet points—they show up in use.
Exports finish early, thumbnails render instantly, and display handshakes are snappy when docking or hot-plugging.
The front ports remove a small daily friction that used to add up over a week.
Real-World Performance & Workflow Impressions
Everyday and office work.
Safari with dozens of tabs, Slack/Teams, Zoom calls, and Microsoft 365 are effortless; the machine idles cool and sips power.
Text rendering is crisp across external displays, and wake-from-sleep is near-instant.
Creative work.
Lightroom imports and 1:1 previews are swift; batch edits feel continuous instead of “do a step, wait, do a step.”
In Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro (Apple silicon version), 4K timelines scrub smoothly—even with graded clips—and background renders keep fans quiet.
Coding and dev.
Xcode builds leverage the big cores well; Node/Python environments feel immediate; Docker runs fine for typical services.
If your work depends on x86-only images or Windows-only toolchains, plan a virtualization strategy or a secondary box.
Media engines in practice.
HEVC and ProRes transcodes are where the mini earns its keep—exports complete earlier and don’t pin the CPU.
That leaves headroom to continue browsing or writing without the system turning sticky.
Thermals and noise.
One of the joys of the mini is forgetting it’s on; even under load it’s library-quiet.
Sustained jobs behave predictably—no mid-export slowdowns or thermal cliffs.
Display & Audio Experience
The HDMI port’s support for high-refresh 4K and up to 8K@60 lets you pair it with modern TVs or high-end monitors.
Thunderbolt 4 handles ultra-sharp 5K and 6K panels, and you can mix standards without babysitting adapters.
Audio output through HDMI supports multichannel setups.
The headphone jack’s high-impedance support is a welcome nod to creators who use serious cans at their desks.
Connectivity, Expansion & Desk Setup
On the front, two USB-C ports are perfect for quick SSD swaps, camera tethers, microphones, or charging.
On the rear, Thunderbolt 4 lanes and HDMI anchor permanent gear: displays, docks, capture cards, and storage arrays.
If you need more storage, an external NVMe enclosure over Thunderbolt turns into project space that’s both fast and affordable.
For networks, the standard Gigabit Ethernet is fine for home and small studio; 10GbE is worth it if you pull from a NAS all day.
Software & Apple Intelligence
macOS continues to be stable, clean, and well-integrated with iPhone and iPad.
AirDrop, Continuity Camera, and Universal Control smooth out multi-device work that used to feel clunky across platforms.
Apple Intelligence adds small but constant accelerations—rewriting emails, summarizing notes, and suggesting actions in context.
Because it leans on on-device processing, it feels quick and private rather than like a remote service with lag.
Sustainability & Longevity
The Mac mini is Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac, and the aluminum enclosure is built to last.
macOS updates tend to run for many years on Apple silicon, so this box should remain viable well beyond a typical upgrade cycle.
Which Configuration Should You Buy?
16GB / 256GB (List price $599).
This is the entry point.
If you live in productivity apps, browse heavily, and do light photo/video work, it’s fast enough—just plan on an external SSD for libraries.
16GB / 512GB (List price $799).
This is the best balance for most users.
Twice the storage absorbs your apps and active projects without daily housekeeping, and 16GB is ample for multi-app workflows.
24GB / 512GB (List price $999).
Choose this if you run big RAW catalogs, large codebases, heavier timelines, or many pro apps at once.
The extra unified memory gives more caching headroom and reduces swap, letting the M4 stretch out.
If you’re routinely pushing huge footage or VMs, consider the Mac Studio.
But many independent creators and small offices will be happier with the mini’s price, silence, and footprint.
Buyer’s Checklist & Setup Tips
- Add a fast external NVMe SSD (Thunderbolt) for project files and scratch.
- Use a quality USB-C hub or Thunderbolt dock to keep cabling tidy and add front-facing SD if you need it.
- Calibrate displays or at least pick a color profile to match your camera workflow.
- Turn on Time Machine to an external drive or NAS on day one.
- If you handle sensitive work, enable FileVault and use a hardware key for accounts where possible.
Who Should Skip It?
3D artists who need top-tier discrete GPUs, engineers tied to CUDA toolchains, or anyone who demands internal PCIe expansion won’t be satisfied.
If you require Windows-only apps that don’t play nicely with Apple silicon, the hassle may outweigh the benefits.
The Competition
Windows mini PCs have become surprisingly capable and sometimes cheaper on paper.
They can be great general desktops, especially if you need specific Windows software or upgradeable RAM.
But when you factor macOS stability, the Media Engine, ecosystem integrations, and acoustics under load, the Mac mini’s value case strengthens.
Against a Mac Studio, the mini is slower at the absolute edge, yet plenty for most editors, developers, and photographers.
Final Breakdown
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Apple 2024 Mac mini Desktop Computer with M4 chip with 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU: Built for... |
$999.00
$869.00 |
View on Amazon |
9.2 / 10
The 2024 Mac mini is the definition of a right-sized desktop: tiny on the desk, huge on capability.
It’s a desktop you can recommend broadly because it fits so many lives—office, studio, classroom, or spare-room command center.
Go with the 16/512GB configuration for the “set it and forget it” experience.
Step up to 24GB memory if you live in pro apps all day.
Either way, you get a machine that is quiet, cool, shockingly fast, and friction-free to own.
If you’re hunting for internal expandability or CUDA-centric workflows, look elsewhere.
For nearly everyone else, this is the most sensible Mac you can buy—and a desktop that will quietly serve for years.
