Apple has packed powerful features into a compact size.
When I picked up a brand new M4 Mac mini, I knew even before I opened the box that Apple had launched a winning product this year.
The M4 chip performs exceptionally well in the M4 iPad Pro, so we know it must be outstanding in Apple’s new Mac product line. I imagine the M4 Pro should be able to handle any task I throw at it. I’m optimistic.
So how big is the mini desktop? It’s truly impressive.
Now that I have been using the M4 Mac mini for a while, I can confidently say: it’s the best Mac I’ve ever owned, and it’s also the cheapest.
This is a win-win!
How I Use My Mac
Over the years, I have grown to love macOS — sometimes I even consider completely abandoning Windows and just using macOS.
When I’m not gaming or working with heavy 3D content, I’m most likely using macOS.
So, this means my Mac can be used for a variety of tasks — from writing to graphic design to web design and even video editing.
For several of these tasks, the base model M4 is good enough. After all, even the base M4 chip outperformed the M1 Max in Blender’s GPU benchmark, which is just crazy to me.
Most of what I do on my Mac doesn’t require the extra features of the Pro chip, and I know that writing, browsing social media, building websites for clients, etc., certainly don’t require a lot of GPU power.
However, after enjoying the Blender experience on my now-traded M1 Pro MacBook Pro and the current M3 Pro MacBook Pro, I think I will stick with the Pro SKU and choose the M4 Pro Mac mini.
My MacBook Pro Companion
You see, the Mac mini isn’t my only Mac. My 14-inch MacBook Pro is a powerful tool for writing and content creation.
Some might quickly point out that I could easily use the MacBook Pro as a desktop with an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
So why buy a Mac mini?
The answer, of course, is that the two complement each other. One does not replace the other.
Of course, if I were content to work at a desk, I could just use the Mac mini. Many people choose to do this, and it makes them more powerful.
But I also love mobility, being able to use it while moving around the house or when out. I don’t want to be tethered to a desk all the time. So, I’m also happy to have a portable macOS option.
Power in a Small Box
The size of the M4 Mac mini is impressive, but it’s not anything new in the world of computing. PC manufacturers have released many products that are more or less shaped like the current Mac mini.
But even the base model Mac mini keeps up and even dominates in several metrics.
On the other hand, the Mac mini can comfortably sit in the corner of my standing desk without making much noise unless I start a Blender render or do similarly intensive work.
Maybe because I grew up in the era of large beige box computers, I find it so charming that such a small computer can exist, but the fact that Apple has successfully integrated such powerful computing power into a compact package is impressive.
Low Entry Price
The base model Mac mini is Apple’s lowest-priced new Mac at just $599. However, once you start upgrading, the price can easily rise to $799 or $999.
That said, $999 is still cheaper than the base model M4 iMac, which is $200 more.
But for creative professionals, the best choice seems to be the M4 Pro model, which is the one I chose.
This option comes with 512GB of storage, 24GB of memory, and the excellent M4 Pro chip. The total price is $1,399. A bit more expensive than the M4 iMac but much more powerful.
For creative professionals, the Mac desktop options are somewhat limited to the Mac mini or Mac Studio. Of course, the Mac Studio is an impressive computer — even with the older M2 series chips. But it starts at $1,999. Ouch.
The Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip is significantly cheaper, and the M4 Pro easily outperforms the M2 Max in certain workloads. Of course, not all workloads. But we’re even having this discussion, which is impressive.
Even in Blender, I’m impressed. 3D design and rendering have never been a strong suit for Macs — unless you’re willing to pay several times the price for a Windows machine with equivalent performance.
Still, my M1 Pro MacBook Pro is sufficient for general 3D design and composition. After switching from M1 Pro to M3 Pro, I’m thrilled to see such a significant boost in GPU performance in just a few years.
But with the arrival of the M4 Pro, the Mac mini has become a serious contender for 3D content creation.
No, it’s not faster than my RTX 4070 SUPER desktop. Even the M4 Max isn’t that fast. But it’s definitely fast enough to set up more complex scenes and even run renders here and there.
I would still choose to do most of my Blender work on my desktop, but with the performance boost, the Mac mini has become a powerful option.
I didn’t expect that.
Very Quiet
If there’s one thing about computers that I can’t tolerate, it’s fan noise. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I often prefer using the MacBook Pro over the Dell XPS. It’s not that the XPS is slow. It’s not slow. But it is noisy.
My desktop is powerful, but it’s also a bit loud. Sometimes, that’s okay.
Other times, I feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Kindergarten Cop:
I know system components need to stay cool, which means fan noise. I get it. But I appreciate performance without noise much more.
That’s the advantage of the Mac mini.
Yes, it does have a fan — I can confirm this under heavier workloads. But even then, the fan isn’t obnoxious.
You might think this isn’t important until you’re sitting in a quiet office, forced to listen to an annoying fan buzzing away.
We Need to Talk About the Power Button
After the Mac mini was released, the online tech community quickly mocked the location of its power button. If the Magic Mouse can charge from the bottom, why shouldn’t the Mac mini’s power button be there? Huh?
I had hoped, maybe just maybe, that the edge of the Mac mini was high enough that I could reach the button without lifting the machine, but that’s not the case. The rumors are true.
But honestly, it’s not a big deal. At first, I thought I might find it annoying, but after using it for a while, I really don’t mind it.
Restarting doesn’t require pressing the power button, and in the rare instances when I shut down the Mac, I can just lift the machine and press the button immediately.
Whether powering on or off, the Mac mini consumes much less power than my PC. And the PC consumes quite a bit. So, it makes perfect sense to turn off this behemoth when I’m not using it.
mini? I don’t worry about it. After I’m done, I’ll lock it or let it sleep and continue my day.
I know people often make a big deal out of small quirks that come with every new technology release, but I don’t think this is one of those things worth writing home about.
Low Maintenance Cost, No Issues.
Previously, I even said that the M4 Mac mini is the best desktop for most people, and I stand by that. I believe its ease of use, simple design, and raw performance make it a serious contender for anyone seeking a stable desktop computing experience.
Based on my limited experience so far, it has indeed delivered.
As for its external construction, the M4 Mac mini couldn’t be simpler.
This simple design is ideal for those of us who just want to get things done.
Incorrect setups are nearly impossible to happen, or at least very difficult. Plug in the power cable and display, connect any other peripherals you want to use, and you’re ready to go, seeing the friendly macOS setup screen.
Unlike my custom desktop or even the MacBook Pro, I don’t expect any maintenance headaches or hardware issues. Maybe at most I’ll use some compressed air to clean the vents every few months. There’s no built-in screen to clean, and no difficult-to-replace keyboard to clear debris from.
As someone who has worked in the IT industry for over a decade and built many computers, I truly appreciate this simplicity.
My Favorite Mac
Of course, I know that desktop Macs aren’t for everyone. For many of us, laptops or even iPads are a better option. But as someone who appreciates a good desktop computing experience, I find using the Mac mini with the M4 Pro to be a dream come true.
It’s fast, can handle all the workloads I’ve thrown at it so far, and runs very quietly — even silently.
Apple has successfully packed a typically quiet, powerful system into a very compact form factor, making it hard not to love. Even in the high-end products, choosing the M4 Pro model is indeed worth it.
No, it’s not perfect; I do wish Apple would change its storage pricing structure.
But there’s no denying that Apple has done an excellent job with this release, and I think it will be one of my favorites for a long time to come.
