Apple Mac mini (M4)

C CNET Prakhar Khanna · reviewer · Jan 2026

I bought the M4 Mac Mini after reading CNET laptop expert Joshua Goldman's review of the tiny machine. I was looking for a computer that would increase my productivity and better organize my workflow. Since then, I’ve found it to be the best value for the money among Apple’s lineup. I would even argue that this is a more powerful computer than the MacBook Air . The M4 Mac Mini, Apple’s smallest computer, is an easy recommendation from me, as it’s one of CNET’s top picks for the best desktop computers of 2026 . It’s also our go-to for the best cheap desktop alternative to a MacBook or iMac.

B Beebom Beebom · 3.5M subscribers · Nov 2024

This tiny PC is so special that it brings top end performance with M4 processor, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM in base storage, and 256GB of fast SSD. It starts at ₹59,999 but if you are a student, you can get it under ₹50K with student discounts and bank offers, which makes it a very sweet deal.

L Low End Mac Mark Sokolovsky · reviewer · Oct 2025

Is what I said about the 15-Inch M4 MacBook Air , but is even more true for this 5″ x 5″ x 2″ rounded aluminum Macintosh computer box. Although the M5 chip just dropped for the M5 iPad Pro and 14-Inch Late 2025 MacBook Pro , there’s still time until we see one in the mini, which would then make the newer M5 more affordable. An M4 chip with extra RAM is an excellent choice now or later – you can always upgrade the storage in an M4 mini.

The M4 Mac mini is so efficient, they couldn't fit the power button on the front.

P PC Build Advisor Alayna Waseem · reviewer · Jan 2026

The Mac Mini M4 is the best Mini PC deal by a fair margin. It is a rare moment in tech history where the premium option is also the value option. Whether you are a student, a creative, or just someone who wants a computer that disappears onto your desk and does its job instantly, this is the one to buy.

Unboxing and review of the new M4 Mac mini. This is by far the best released computer from Apple as it's really affordable at $599. Get the base storage option with the student discount!

T Tatakis Article · Jun 2026

Especially if you are upgrading from an Intel Mac, an older Mac mini, or a base M1 iMac like mine, the difference can be dramatic. If you edit video, work in DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, or similar creative software, the M4 Mac mini is a serious machine.

9 9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 983K subscribers · Nov 2025

The M4 Mac Mini released a little over a year ago now at this point. And in that year, it's completely ruined the way that I look at other desktop class computers. And it's not because it's the most powerful or the more expensive, but it's because of what it can do at that $490 price point that other computers can't do at even double or triple the price. So, even at the baseline model, which is the 16 gigs of RAM and 256 gigs of storage version, it makes me question why anybody else would look at a better value play because there really isn't anything out there when it comes to a desktop computer

B Bhphotovideo Sueyen Rated · reviewer

Now housing the powerful M4 10-Core chip, the Mac mini delivers up to 1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance over the M1 model. Add 16GB of unified RAM, 256GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E, and Thunderbolt 4, the Mac mini is a tiny powerhouse.

9 9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 970K subscribers · May 2025

How to UPGRADE the M4 Mac mini SSD and save hundreds!

M MacRumors Forums MikkelAD · reviewer · Jan 2026

Considering my needs it seems like the basic Mac Mini M4 will provide a nice affordable way into the modern M-chip series and give me great up to date performance overall without any negative compromises that will frustrate me.

9 9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 970K subscribers · Feb 2025

The M4 Mac Mini has mostly been amazing and for the price there is nothing that can come close to that.

I bought it because of windows 11, which I hate. I put back w10 and kept my laptop for games and convenience. I use jump desktop from that to my mini so I can use the same way as my corporate macbook.

M Matthew Moniz Matthew Moniz · 938K subscribers · Nov 2024

Mac Mini M4 Pro Review! Incredible value insanely small size. This is the MAC to get for most people.

For anyone else without my aversion to macos, I just recommended Mac M4 the midnight blue ones, they all love it aesthetically and functionally. And it's always on "discount" on Amazon India as well.

M MacRumors MacRumors · 650K subscribers · Jan 2025

Apple refreshed the Mac mini back in November, adding M4 chips and increasing the base storage. We did a hands-on impressions video at the time, but we thought we'd follow that up with a more in-depth review now that we've had more time to spend with Apple's cheapest desktop machine.

A And Nobody Is Talking About It Article

It’s now a machine that video editors, AI researchers, developers, and music producers are buying seriously — not as a budget option, not as a compromise, but as the actual best tool for the job.

S Simple Alpaca Simple Alpaca · 640K subscribers · Apr 2026

But if your work permits or your lifestyle permits you to basically just use a Mac on your computer, like on your desktop, you don't have to use it in the car, you don't have to take to you don't have to take it to go or maybe you have a separate machine already dedicated to your other work that you do and you need one specifically for your other work and you're looking between a MacBook Neo and a Mac mini, I do think a Mac mini is a way better Mac. Once it's set up and good to go, you're getting a much better machine from something like a Mac mini over something like a MacBook Neo.

K Knuckledustermusic Article

When testing more demanding sessions with multiple software instruments, the M4 still performed about twice as efficiently as the Intel iMac, giving me plenty of headroom for large productions.

So at the end of the day, should the average user buy the cheapest M4 Mac mini? If you're a basic to mid-level user, or a student who needs a super tiny and extremely powerful desktop, or if you want the cheapest way to get into the Apple ecosystem, you absolutely can't beat the bass.

R Roon Labs Community andrew_cowan1 · reviewer · Feb 2026

I think a Mac Mini M4 would be a good choice. I would probably get the base model for my library size of < 100,000 tracks.

M Matt WhoisMatt Johnson Matt WhoisMatt Johnson · 454K subscribers · Aug 2025

But this Mac mini is, in my opinion, the best cheap computer that you can buy today for video editing. And the options from the windows PC side aren't even close when it comes to this price, you will not be able to get the speed that you get from windows at this cost

9 9to5Mac Fernando Silva · reviewer · Nov 2025

The M4 Mac mini has completely shifted my perspective on what value looks like in tech.

Here's my honest review of the M4 Mac Mini after a week of 'real world' use. I did not expect the $599 base Apple M4 Mac Mini to be THIS good. The redesign, the bonkers M4 chip performance, hardware accelerated ray tracing and low price tag are some of the things that make this Mac possibly the Mac to get.

S Specs, reviews and EoL info Article

The Apple Mac Mini (M4, 2024) excels in performance and design.

B Brian Tong Brian Tong · 364K subscribers · Nov 2024

Apple's biggest redesign of the Mac mini with an all-new M4 & M4 Pro chip brings a whole lot of power to their smallest Mac desktop ever.

Mac mini m4 is incredible good for its price

M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 316K subscribers · Apr 2025

Let's start with the two things that I think I've got right about the M4 Mac Mini. The first one is the fact that it's the best thing that Apple has ever made

If the M6 Mac mini is just too expensive and if the M5 Pro Mac mini is way too expensive, you have to look at the M4 versions, which at the moment, at the time of filming in August 2026, are starting to appear on the Apple Refurb Store. I won't quote the price in and if you're watching this in the future, that may not be the case, but you should still be able to get them on the second-hand market because there's lots of them out there. And they are wonderful and I think they're a bit of a bargain.

M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 303K subscribers · Jun 2025

And I could not agree more. that combination of power and price and just the stuff that you can do with this for very little outlay. This is a Mac. Remember, Apple charges a lot of money for a lot of things. But when it comes to the Mac Mini, one of the many reasons that I love this thing and think it's one of the best things they've ever done is that they have kind of, and bear with me on this, t

6 6 Months Later 6 Months Later · 299K subscribers · Nov 2025

When the M4 Mac Mini was announced last year, it somehow already looked like an iconic design. It looks like the little brother of the Mac Studio, which has been the best Mac I've owned thus far. And now that I've had a Mac Mini for 6 months, I'm going to take you through who this device is for and whether I'd recommend getting one.

J Jimmy Tries World Jimmy Tries World · 257K subscribers · Aug 2025

It's made me rethink how much computing power I need, but I don't think anyone picking up the Mac Mini will be disappointed. It's a competent machine at doing pretty much whatever I want to toss at it. And I'm glad that this is a great option because this just means good and faster computers are now becoming very budget friendly. And I'm sure with the state of well everything going on, we'd all be happy with that result

J Jimmy Tries World Jimmy Tries World · 255K subscribers · Jan 2025

And after spending over two months with this thing there’s sooooo many things I genuinely like about the M4 Mac Mini that makes me question if I even need a Mac Studio anymore. So, let's talk about it and my experience with it doing everyday tasks and for this YouTube channel.

T Technolobe Technolobe · 241K subscribers · Nov 2024

Today let us talk about the best budget accessories like monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers etc for the mac mini m4.

T Tricks Tips Fix Tricks Tips Fix · 213K subscribers · Dec 2024

Here is a complete step by step easy to follow guide on your to setup your Mac Mini M4 computer. I will show you how to connect your display, mouse, keyboard, go trough the setup process on screen and then share with you many tips and tricks.

A Alex Gear & Tech Alex Gear & Tech · 205K subscribers · Mar 2025

🥵 From editing 4K ProRes videos and working on Logic Pro sessions with 250+ tracks, to training and even fine-tuning LLMs with just 24GB of RAM – these little machines have handled far more than I ever expected.

And personally, if I was just buying one of these as a regular consumer, I'd just be sticking with an M4. You can get a lot out of these, especially if you bump up the RAM and the storage a little and when it starts to feel like it's not enough. I would just skip the Prochip altogether and go directly to the Max. But I would love to know what you guys think here.

S Sean Aslam Sean Aslam · 145K subscribers · Apr 2026

What you really need is a basic M4 mini

J JaRadio TV JaRadio TV · 121K subscribers · Dec 2025

The M4 Mac Mini is the best computer you can find on the market for under $1,000. And I challenge anyone in the comment section to tell me a better value for money.

A Andrew Tsai Andrew Tsai · 113K subscribers · Nov 2024

00:00 M4 Mac mini 16GB is amazing for gaming!

G Geoff Fagien Geoff Fagien · 106K subscribers · Jan 2026

And as I said earlier, people are buying the M4 Mac Mini because you need to run this on a computer pretty much 24/7. So you may not want to use your current computer that you're using all the time or even your current desktop. This is going to be an extra computer. And for the price of the M4 Mac Mini, if you don't have an extra computer, I completely understand why the M4 Mac Mini is the best for the money.

G Geoff Fagien Geoff Fagien · 106K subscribers · Apr 2025

So, yes, six months later with the base model M4 Mac Mini, I can confidently say it's still the best value Mac you can buy in 2025. Since my three-month review, I've upgraded the internal SSD to 2 TB with a third party kit

G Geoff Fagien Geoff Fagien · 106K subscribers · May 2025

But even at $599, the M4 Mac Mini is still the best value Mac period in 2025. It's faster than the Air and Sustain performance

If you're comfortable opening up your Mac Mini and doing a little bit of work, it's definitely the thing to do. But if you're someone who plans on using the M4 Mac Mini a lot, editing, coding, content creation, you name it, this is one of the best upgrades you can do. You'll save money, simplify your setup, and make this already affordable machine feel like a powerhouse

And now with the M5 chip offering roughly a 15% CPU gain, the M4 Mac Mini still holds its ground as the most balanced and costefficient Mac Apple's ever made. The only thing left on my wish list is Thunderbolt 5, which would unlock the full potential of nextG drives. But even without it, one year later, the M4 Mac Mini hasn't just held up, it's gotten better, cheaper, and more flexible. So yeah, one year later, it's not just the best value Mac, it's the best deal Apple's ever made.

G Geoff Fagien Geoff Fagien · 97.2K subscribers · Apr 2026

And honestly, it performs exactly the same as it did 18 months ago. No slow downs, no weird bugs, and no instability. It feels just like the original internal drive, which I did not fully expect. Because you always assume there's going to be some kind of trade-off, especially with a third-party drive. But in the day-to-day use, editing, apps, general workflow, it's been completely solid.

R Rjey Tech Rjey Tech · 83.2K subscribers · Feb 2026

So, should you still buy the M4 Mac Mini in 2026? Yeah, absolutely. This is one of the best value desktop computers you can buy, period

R Ravi Singh Ravi Singh · 67.8K subscribers · Feb 2026

I bought the base model M4 Mac Mini (16GB RAM / 256GB storage) in January 2026 instead of waiting for the M5 — and after 20 days of real work, I’m convinced it was the right decision.

T Tech Dad Tech Dad · 60.9K subscribers · Sept 2025

I just picked myself up an M4 Macintosh Mini and I have to say I am super impressed so far with this little Mac. The design is all new, so you get this incredibly compact and incredibly small footprint on your desk with this Mac Mini. The setup with my Apple Studio Display is beautiful and super minimalistic, which I really love.

D David Lewis David Lewis · 35.5K subscribers · Aug 2026

For the past 2 years, I've been using this M4 Pro Mac Mini as my main editing rig. Not only my main editing rig, my main Mac. It's the Mac I spend hours of in front of every day, countless hours every week, and for the most part, it's been amazing. I couldn't fault it. I've been really happy with my choice. But just recently, something's changed.

D David Lewis David Lewis · 35.5K subscribers · Aug 2026

I want to talk to you about how, with your help, I've managed to improve no end the performance of my M4 Pro Mac mini with some really simple steps. Then I stumbled across a desk setup that I want to show you and get your thoughts about that I think might just work.

M MrHtech MrHtech · 30K subscribers · Nov 2024

Just got your new M4 Mac Mini? Let me show you how to set it up quickly and easily—even if you’re a total beginner! From unboxing to connecting your keyboard, mouse, and monitor, plus a quick walkthrough of macOS setup, this guide covers everything you need to get started.

Q Qasim Zafar Qasim Zafar · 20.6K subscribers · Jul 2025

I really think the M4 Mac Mini is a really, really valuable and capable machine and something that you should definitely consider for your next desk setup

Q Qasim Zafar Qasim Zafar · 20.6K subscribers · Jan 2026

So, this has just been such a wonderful and reliable experience that I can easily recommend you picking up the M4 Mac Mini for yourself. Get these before they're not even able to be bought. Seriously, this is a great computer, and I absolutely love it. And I really, really think that you should buy one for yourself even in 2026 so you can have a dedicated workspace that's going to be reliable and not break the bank

N Nicholas James Johnson Nicholas James Johnson · 19.4K subscribers · Dec 2024

I pile on effects and layers until the Mac mini gives up to price that the Base Model Apple M4 Mac mini, for 95% of all YouTube videos, is powerful enough to be your main editing rig.

G GOT good old tech GOT good old tech · 16.4K subscribers · Jun 2025

This Mac Mini M4 SSD upgrade not only doubles your space but boosts speed while saving you money. I’ll guide you step-by-step on the Mac Mini internal SSD install, using DFU mode, and restoring with Time Machine. Don’t miss this Mac Mini SSD installation guide that shows you real speed tests and tips.

R Rank On Top Rank On Top · 14.2K subscribers · Oct 2025

Apple created this absolutely brilliant little machine that can handle 8K video editing, run virtual machines like a champ, and basically embarrass computers twice its size. But then they put exactly two Thunderbolt ports on it and called it a day. It's like buying a Ferrari and discovering it only has cup holders for your coffee, not your friends.

So, should you get the M4 Mac mini in the year 2026? My honest answer is if you're a creator, photographer, videographer, YouTuber, pretty much any type of creator, and you have some type of creative workflow, the M4 Mac Mini is generally one of the best purchases you can still make today

T Techie krish Techie krish · 264 subscribers · Feb 2026

But its performance is so great. This single PC can deliver a CPU worth ₹1 lakh. Let's look in the end box and see what comes out. And this is nothing. The data cable comes out, I did not remove the one which is connected to the PC. And here comes some stickers. As you can see in Macini M4, it has Macini written on it. Macin M4 is also printed. So friends, let's move the box to the side. But let's

C Cult of Mac Rajesh Pandey · reviewer · Apr 2026

For a few months, I was more than happy with the M4 Pro Mac mini. It was far from slow, and felt like a big leap over my M1 Mac mini (and even the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip). Apps opened significantly faster. I experienced no lag or stutter, irrespective of the number of apps running in the background.

I iFixit iFixit · 1.3M subscribers · Nov 2024

This thing looks just like a tiny version of a Mac Studio, and while that signature Apple aluminum finish is nice to look at, it is a fingerprint magnet. Some folks feel that Apple’s obsession with aesthetics might have gone too far. Let’s see what we can find inside!

M MusicRadar Article · Jun 2026

MusicRadar verdict: For me, the Apple Mac Mini M4 is a no-brainer for the producer or recording engineer who wants a permanent home setup. Its small size makes it well-suited to fitting into a variety of spaces, and the performance is simply superb, making it a very capable companion for music making.

M Max Tech Max Tech · 1.3M subscribers · Nov 2024

Apple's M4 Mac mini is CONFUSING, so here are 8 Mistakes to Avoid, as well as our Buyer's Guide!

L Layer3Labs | AI Consultants Jonathan West · reviewer · Jul 2026

This review looks at where this Mac mini earns its top spot on the mini PC shelf, and where it falls short for certain business buyers. We cover its performance, its standout Apple Intelligence features, its ports and design, and its most important limitation: it runs macOS, not Windows.

9 9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 970K subscribers · Jan 2025

The M4 Mac Mini has mostly been amazing and for the price there is nothing that can come close to that. But there are some things that its lacking.

B Blogger amaansmd · reviewer · Apr 2026

That said, if you’re buying right now for the first time, the M5 is probably worth the extra cost. Not because the M4 is bad. Just because you’re going to have the M5 longer, and the speed difference will feel less like nothing over time.

M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 303K subscribers · Feb 2025

After three months with the M4 Mac mini, it's time to break down the experience—what's great, what's not so great, and whether this is still Apple's best-value desktop.

H Here’s What They Know That You Don’t Article

But there’s stuff people don’t talk about enough. The limitations, the weird design decisions, the things Apple clearly held back. So let’s go through all of it.

T Top 5 Picks Top 5 Picks · 212K subscribers · Mar 2026

The M4 Mac Mini is insanely powerful, but but there's one big problem. Apple still gives you very limited front ports, which means dongles, external drives, and cables quickly turn your clean setup into a mess. But, the right Mac Mini hub or dock can instantly fix that.

M Macworld Karen Haslam · reviewer · May 2026

The M4 Mac mini is still an excellent purchase, but the expected M5 refresh and the limited supply makes waiting sensible if urgency is low.

K Kyle Erickson Kyle Erickson · 155K subscribers · Feb 2025

I break down my experience—the good, the bad, and whether it’s been worth the price.

I do recommend the M-4 , but don’t expect the earth to move if your running an older M series

G Geoff Fagien Geoff Fagien · 97.2K subscribers · May 2026

The M4 Mac mini has been one of Apple’s best values in years, but with current wait times stretching 4–6 weeks and the M5 Mac mini likely on the way, should you still buy one now?

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 43.4K subscribers · Sept 2025

The Mac Mini has a single fan with more of a heat sink style design, and the Mac Studio actually has dual fans and does a better job at intake and outtake on the thermal cooling on it. So, this one again is just going to be better if you're using it for a longer period of time under the heavier workloads.

D David Lewis David Lewis · 35.5K subscribers · Sept 2025

Well, I've been using my M4 Pro Mac Mini for just under a year now, and I think I can finally set the record straight on whether that's true or not and help you buy the right M4 Mac Mini. I'm David and this is D Talking Tech. Having used my M4 Pro Mac Mini now for the past 10 months, the rose tinted glasses are off and that new toy syndrome is a thing in the rear view mirror.

R Ross Zeiger Ross Zeiger · 2.7K subscribers · May 2025

But I do have one big regret. I'll start with three things I like about this computer, and then I'll get into my dislikes. The first thing I love is having all of the ports that this has. That's been a gamecher. My computer looks like this at all times.

A André Creates André Creates · 7.3K subscribers · Jun 2026

And that same chip is about to land in the cheapest Mac you can buy, the Mac mini. But honestly, that's not even the part I'm excited about because if the regular M5 is this good, the M5 Pro version of the mini might just be the best value computer Apple has ever made. And I'm not guessing because I already tested the M5 Pro against my own M3 Max. So, let me show you why.

Z Zineddine Zineddine · 595 subscribers · Sept 2025

A year since the tiny M4 Mac Mini was released, is it still a great deal, and how did it hold up after one year of use.