With the new Mac mini, Apple is presenting the competition with a big problem. Because even in the simplest version it is a powerful piece; similarly powerful mini PCs are usually significantly more expensive. However, this especially applies to the cheapest variant, because Apple adds a lot of extras.
Mini PCs are popular and are now powerful enough to replace large desktop computers or notebooks for more demanding tasks. Previously, Windows models were significantly more compact than Apple's Mac mini and the most powerful ones were almost as powerful. But now Apple has upped the ante and shrunk its small computer into a real mini. Nevertheless, even the simplest version with the new M4 chip and 16 gigabytes (GB) of RAM is not only usually superior to the competition, but also significantly undercuts the price of their champions at just under 700 euros.
Two USB-C ports at the front are practical for quickly connecting devices.
(Photo: kwe)
For the practical test, ntv.de received the model equipped with 512 gigabytes (GB) of flash memory, which costs around 930 euros. So it's not a price breaker – the surcharge is steep – but otherwise it's identical. You definitely have to decide on the equipment before buying, as the storage can neither be replaced nor added to.
Small and chic
If you have large hands, you can now say that the Mac mini, which weighs around 730 grams, is the size of your palm. Because it only has a base area of ​​12.7 x 12.7 centimeters and is 5 centimeters high. The predecessor is almost 1.4 centimeters flatter, but at 19.7 x 19.7 centimeters it takes up significantly more space on the desk.
A very unconventional choice of place for the power switch.
(Photo: kwe)
The Mac mini does not have a holder for attaching it to the back of a monitor or under the desk. But it doesn't have to hide either, because it's an eye-catcher with its matt aluminum body, with the Apple logo shining on the top. As before, it has a black plastic underside where the fan is housed.
USB-A took care of it
The features are quickly listed because apart from an HDMI output, a headphone jack and an Ethernet jack, Apple has only installed USB-C ports. This may be annoying since older USB-A accessories can only be connected to an adapter. On the other hand, USB-C is the future and the interface offers far more possibilities.
There is also no USB-A port or card reader on the back.
Perhaps more annoying is that there is no card reader. Apple also installed the power switch in a corner of the bottom, which isn't a big problem but is a bit fiddly. It would be better off at the front – design or not.
High data rates, plenty of display options
USB-C is not the same as USB-C because it depends on the transmission protocol behind it, i.e. the speed at which data is transported. The Mac mini M4 has two ports on the front that allow up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) with USB 3.2 Gen 2. On the back, the M4 has three additional USB-C sockets with Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4), which reach up to 40 Gbit/s. The little one makes radio contact via Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The most important points of a long text…
(Photo: kwe)
You can also connect displays to the faster USB-C ports. In total, the Mac mini M4 supports up to three monitors. Two of them can have a resolution of up to 6K, and a maximum of one 5K monitor can then be operated on the third USB-C output. The HDMI port allows up to 4K. The refresh rate is limited to 60 Hertz (Hz).
If you only use two displays, one of them can have a resolution of up to 240 Hz with 8K on a USB-C port. Otherwise, the Mac mini M4 supports two 4K monitors at 240 Hz via both USB-C and HDMI. That's enough for many professionals, but it's definitely enough for average users.
As powerful as much more expensive Windows competitors
This also applies to performance. The Mac Mini M4 achieved 3896 points in the Geekbench 6 benchmark test with its central processing unit (CPU) with one core and 14952 points with all ten cores.
… Apple Intelligence quickly summarized.
(Photo: kwe)
This doesn't make it a high flyer, but it leaves behind, among others, the Geekom GT1 recently tested by ntv.de, which scored 2360 and 13880 points. The difference is not that big, and in the graphics unit (GPU) test, the Chinese competitor is ahead with 39,793 to 37,776 points. However, the tested version of the GT1 costs at least 1150 euros, making the Mac mini M4 the clear price-performance winner, even though the Geekom has more comprehensive features.
The Mac mini M4 is also powerful enough for games, as long as they are not too graphically demanding. Gamers are better off choosing a device with the more powerful M4 Pro chip, which ntv.de will be testing with a new MacBook Pro at the beginning of next week. What's remarkable is that even on the very compact new Mac mini, the fan can hardly be heard, even at maximum performance.
Fast SSD, fit for Apple Intelligence
The built-in SSD also proved to be up to the highest demands in the test. In the Blackmagic Disk Speed ​​Test, Apple's powerhouse achieved 3031 megabytes per second (MB/s) when reading and 4415 MB/s when writing. The smaller 256 GB SSD may deliver weaker values ​​here, but the difference is unlikely to be significant.
In conjunction with the latest macOS 15.1 Sequoia operating system, the computer is fit enough for Apple Intelligence, even in its basic configuration. However, you still have to set the language to US English for the time being. In the test, it worked very well in Notes to summarize a long press release, and Apple Intelligence also quickly recognized and wrote down the core statements. Summaries in email, on the other hand, only partially worked because formatting often gets in the way. What's cool is asking Siri general questions via text or voice, which she answers promptly and usually confidently.
Conclusion
The new edition of the Apple Mac mini is very compact, but still remarkably powerful. This already applies to the cheapest variant, which you can get for around 700 euros. This makes the M4 clearly the first choice for anyone who wants a powerful but inexpensive mini computer. Unless it has to be a Windows computer. If 256 GB of storage is not enough, you can buy an external SSD for photos and videos, which with a higher capacity is still far cheaper than the additional charge for larger storage.
