Apple Mac mini (2024) review: Small but brilliant in everything

a) The Mac mini has a much smaller footprint—it’s essentially a computer hidden in a box.

b) It offers the flexibility to choose any monitor (I still use my old square Dell monitor), as well as any keyboard and mouse.

c) Since my space is limited and I also use a MacBook Air, I can store the Mac mini and its accessories in a drawer when they’re not needed.

d) It may sound a bit odd (though not really), but I also use the Mac mini paired with my TV, turning it into a streaming box.

The flexibility allows me to use the Mac mini as a computer, a streaming player, and for gaming. No wonder I have taken my Mac mini (I even bought a travel case for it) on several trips, where I paired the device with the hotel’s TV. I know it sounds a bit much, but that’s just how I am.

Clean looks and a much smaller chassis

I am a huge fan of small computers. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

I had been using the Intel Mac mini (a 2014 model) for what felt like an eternity until I switched to the new Mac mini. I skipped the M1 Mac mini, so I’m making a leap from a decade-old Mac mini to the latest model—this time featuring an M-series chip, specifically the fourth generation. The Mac mini hadn’t seen a design makeover in years—in fact, its chassis had remained the same since 2010. However, the new Mac mini has finally received a revamped design. It’s much smaller (though somewhat taller) and ditches the flat look of the previous Mac mini. While it’s not as compact as the Apple TV (review), it still amazes me how Apple managed to create a computer as small as the Mac mini.

Some may argue that the design isn’t groundbreaking—it’s a chunky silver aluminum rounded cuboid, with a form reminiscent of the Mac Studio. At 5 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm, the Mac mini doesn’t take up much desk space; in fact, it’s almost invisible. I’m not sure how Apple could have designed the Mac mini differently. It boasts a premium look—a fully enclosed aluminium box with a black Apple logo on top. The bottom is still made of black plastic, featuring an embossed Mac mini logo and a circular vent to allow the internal fan to circulate air.

The new Mac mini is a great way to test out what Apple Intelligence has to offer. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The only significant change is that the ports on the front and back are now cut directly into the aluminium casing. The extra pair of USB-C ports is a welcome addition, though the lack of a legacy USB-A port is inconvenient (I had to get a dongle just to use a pen drive). The placement of the 3.5mm audio port on the front is an odd choice, but the inclusion of a built-in speaker did surprise me.

I would also like to address the controversial design element: the power button is on the bottom. At first, this seemed strange to me too, but I quickly got used to it. Honestly, how often do you press the power button in a day? Since the computer is small and light, you can simply lift it up when needed. In fact, I think the power button is more accessible than the flush button on the rear of the previous Mac mini.

Putting in all together

There is no equivalent to the Mac mini in the Windows ecosystem. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

The Mac mini arrived in a small box that, much like the computer itself, was slightly taller. Inside, I found the Mac mini and a power cable. Since it’s a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) computer, it doesn’t come with a mouse, keyboard, or monitor. I’m a big fan of BYOD computers—I love how small and lightweight they are. I can use them at home on my desk or easily take them to the office. For the Mac Mini M4, I didn’t purchase any additional accessories or peripherals. Instead, I opted to use my existing Dell monitor, Redragon mechanical mini keyboard, and a Lenovo wireless mouse with the device. For average users like me, the Mac mini (starting at Rs. 59,900 and priced cost-effectively) is the best way to enter the macOS ecosystem.

M4 or M4 Pro—choose wisely

The new Mac mini next to my Intel-Mac mini. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

When I bought a Mac Mini many years ago (and still use it, though not as frequently as I did at one point), I always thought it would last me a long time. That’s how we generally think before getting a new device. And frankly, nobody upgrades their computer every year or two. I absolutely loved the Intel Mac mini—it was my default computer for many years. But, unfortunately, my computing needs have changed. I do a lot more on a computer now, and the aging Mac mini just wasn’t enough to keep up with the changing times. I had to upgrade, and I was also sure it would be a Mac mini (and not iMac – I gave you my reason to prove my point.

With the M4 Mac mini, Apple is offering two configurations: the base M4 and the workstation-grade M4 Pro, I feel both variants need to be compared differently.

If you are thinking of buying the base variant of the Mac mini, it comes with a 10-core chip—4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores, and 10 GPU cores. This configuration is standard across the three SKUs of the base variant, with 16GB of RAM included as standard. However, the cheapest variant only comes with 256GB of storage. While the most affordable model costs Rs 59,900 and is a steal in my opinion, the only catch is the 256GB storage, which is a bit too little. I would recommend getting the model with a 512GB SSD, but the cost quickly escalates, and you end up paying Rs 79,900. If you can afford it, get this model (16GB RAM + 512GB storage), as it is still future-proof and would last you for a long time. There is also a third model with 24GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, but I would not recommend it. Instead, spending a bit extra and going for the base model of the Mac mini M4 Pro makes more sense—at least you get a faster M4 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU.

Then there is a souped-up, spec-heavy variant, the M4 Pro, which I got for review. It starts at Rs 149,900 and the price keeps getting higher depending on the configuration, with 12 CPU cores, 16 GPU cores, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage being the base variant.

The Mac mini is a standalone desktop computer which means its BYO keyboard, mouse and monitor. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Both the M4 and M4 Pro, compared to the M2 and M3 generations, are faster and deliver a significant improvement in performance across the entire lineup. The M4 Mac mini, in particular, is easily the fastest and most capable Mac at this price point, and it doesn’t feel like a compromise, even if you opt for the base variant. It’s not only faster than the Intel Mac mini, but I also found the M4 Mac mini to be even faster than previous-generation M-series Macs. There’s plenty of RAM, storage, and built-in Apple Intelligence, and because it runs macOS, everything feels fast, buttery smooth, and just how a computer should be.

The M4 Pro, on the other hand, is a powerhouse. Most people don’t need this level of power, honestly, except for professionals who require high-demand tasks such as AI development and pro-level content production. Many reviewers compare the performance of the M2 Mac mini with the M4 Mac mini and conclude that the latter is faster. However, I believe the M4 Pro should truly be compared to either the M3 Pro or the M2 Pro, because the audience for the higher-tier Mac mini differs from those purchasing the base Mac mini. Even a slight performance upgrade makes a huge difference when editing videos or doing intense work.

Even though both the M4 Mac mini and the M4 Pro Mac mini may look similar from the outside, they are different and cater to completely different audiences. I’m not a content creator, but if I were, I would choose the M4 Pro over the M4 Mac mini. As a pro-consumer, you can fully utilise the high-power

performance mode in the M4 Pro Mac mini (a feature that was previously reserved for the Max chips), allowing the chip to run at elevated speeds and temperatures for extended periods of time.

Gaming is another area where Apple has made some progress with its silicon, though Mac compatibility was never great, even when Apple used Intel chips. The M4 Pro Mac mini comes close to the Xbox Series S in terms of hardware, although there are fewer AAA games available on macOS. I can’t call macOS a gaming platform yet, but the situation is a lot better now, and it keeps getting better.

 

What is so special about the Mac mini?

The mini family in Apple’s lineup includes the Mac mini, iPad mini, HomePod mini, and iPhone 13 mini.(Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

There is really only one answer to this question, and that is the form factor. The fact that the Mac mini is so tiny and small, completely silent, yet delivers the performance of a high-end computer—whether you choose the M4 Mac mini or the top-end M4 Pro Mac mini. So, what really determines which device is best for you? It boils down to your planned uses for that device. If you are an average user—browsing the web, working on presentations, using Google Docs—the base M4 Mac mini is for you. But if you are into content creation or app development, I would urge you to look at the M4 Pro Mac mini. It’s designed for intense computing tasks, and the M4 Pro chip is clearly made for video, photo, and audio work.

Apple Mac mini (2024)
Pros	Cons
Much smaller design	Storage and RAM upgrades are expensive
Plenty of ports	No USB-A port
M4 chip is fast and power-efficient; M4 Pro chip is noticeably quicker than the M2 Pro version and can hold the ground against the far more expensive M3 Max MacBook Pro.	No SD card slot
Silent
Support for three external displays on both models
With 16GB RAM and Apple Intelligence, the base M4 Mac mini is an easy recommendation who want an entry-level Mac

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