Apple has released its brand-new Mac mini and we had the chance to try it out and find out how much power was really crammed into such a small design.
Right from the get-go, there is a lot to love about the mini — especially when it comes to affordability and size. This latest version with Apple’s M4 chip is even more supercharged than its predecessor without a supercharged price or size. Plus, it marks an impressive milestone for Apple as it’s the first carbon-neutral Mac.
So, if you’re in the market for a new desktop, here are some of our favourite things about the new Mac mini:
Smaller size
Gone are the days (for most of us) of dedicated computer rooms, which means we have less space for our tech. But the new mini works for small spaces, or that dining room setup.
It’s less than half the size of its predecessor — just 5 by 5 inches (12.7 cm by 12.7 cm), so it’s much smaller than the previous design and takes up even less space on your workspace.
Mac mini (Apple)
In a release, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, says the unbelievably small design was made possible “thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative new thermal architecture.”
“Combined with the performance of M4 and the new M4 Pro chip, enhanced connectivity on both the front and back, and the arrival of Apple Intelligence, Mac mini is more capable and versatile than ever, and there is nothing else like it.”
It may be small but there are still more than enough ports for extensive connectivity. On the back, you’ll find HDMI, Ethernet, and three Thunderbolt ports, allowing you to connect up
to three external displays.
There are also two USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the front — for more convenient
access.
Extensive power
The Mac mini is truly a tiny powerhouse. It’s equipped with an M4 chip, which means extremely fast performance, ideal for everyday tasks, gaming, and more demanding ones like photo and video editing.
Apple M4 takes the Mac mini experience even further with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, a faster Neural Engine, and higher memory bandwidth for incredible performance. The mini also comes with 64GB unified memory, up to 14 CPU cores, and up to 20 GPU cores.
Carbon neutrality
One of the highlights of this device is that the Mac mini is Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac. This marks an important milestone toward Apple 2030, the company’s goal to be carbon neutral across the entire carbon footprint by the end of this decade.
More than 50% of the mini is made from recycled content — including 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure. The electricity used to manufacture the Mac mini is sourced from 100% renewable electricity.
Even the packaging marks another first as it’s entirely fibre-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal of removing plastic from its packaging by next year.
Accessories and adaptability
One thing I have always loved about Apple is the adaptability between devices and accessories, and the mini is no different.
It pairs with a bunch of different displays and accessories you may already own, including the Studio display and Magic accessories. As someone obsessed with a track pad, it’s great to have that option while using the computer for daily tasks.
New macOS
The newly released macOS Sequoia adds to the mini experience with a bunch of new features, including the ability to mirror your iPhone and wirelessly interact with your device and your apps.
Apple
As someone who has way too many passwords to remember, the all-new Passwords app is huge. You can easily access passwords, passkeys, and other credentials — all in one place.
When it comes to organization, the new window tiling will make you feel like you have it all together and lay out windows exactly how you want them, all helping you become even more productive.
Price point
If you already have a display and accessories, the Mac mini makes an upgrade a more affordable choice. Comparing the mini to the best-selling PC desktop in a similar price range, it’s up to six times faster at one-twentieth the size.
The Mac mini with M4 starts at C$799 and C$649 for education.