M4 Mac mini [left], M2 Mac mini [right]
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Apple has updated its Mac mini again, bumping the compact Mac up to the M4 Apple Silicon as part of a complete redesign. Here's what's changed since the last update, the M2 Mac mini.
During October's Mac announcement week, Apple made big changes to the Mac mini. Along with updating the cheapest Mac to use the M4 and M4 Pro chips, it also completely redesigned the model.
Historically the cheapest and smallest physical Mac you could buy, the Mac mini has been a gateway for people entering the Apple ecosystem for the first time. But while it's a compact hunk of computing, it hasn't really seen many physical changes over the years.
With the release of the M4, rumors insisted that the Mac mini would get even smaller, with a new design that could revitalize the long-standing model. That new design has arrived and essentially makes the Mac mini even more miniature.
With Apple's new model out, here's everything you need to know about it in terms of specs, and how it compares to its predecessor, the M2 versions.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini – Specs
| Specs | M4 Mac mini (2024) | M4 Pro Mac mini (2024) | M2 Mac mini (2023) | M2 Pro Mac mini (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $599 Best M4 Mac mini Prices |
$1,399 | $599 Best M2 Mac Prices mini |
$1299 Best prices on M2 Mac mini |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.0 x 5.0 x 2.0 | 5.0 x 5.0 x 2.0 | 1.41 x 7.75 x 7.75 | 1.41 x 7.75 x 7.75 |
| Weight (lbs) | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
| Processor | Apple M4 10-core CPU | Apple M4 Pro 12-core CPU, Apple M4 Pro 14-core CPU |
Apple M2 8-core CPU | Apple M2 Pro 10-core CPU, Apple M2 Pro 12-core CPU |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU | 16-core GPU, 20-core GPU |
10-core GPU | 16-core GPU, 19-core GPU |
| RAM | 16 GB, 24 GB, 32 GB |
24 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB |
8 GB, 16 GB, 24 GB |
16 GB, 32 GB |
| Network | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E wireless network compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet, upgradable to 10Gbps |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E wireless network compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gig upgradable |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E wireless network compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gig upgradable |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E wireless network compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gig upgradable |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
512GB, 1TB, 2 TB, 4TB, 8TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Display Support | Maximum 3: Two 6K 60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 5K 60Hz via HDMI, or one 5K 60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz via HDMI |
Maximum 3: Three 6K 60Hz via Thunderbolt or HDMI, or one 6K 60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz via Thunderbolt or HDMI |
Maximum 2: One 6K 60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 5K 60Hz via Thunderbolt or 4K 60Hz via HDMI |
Maximum 3: Two 6K 60Hz via Thunderbolt and one 4K via HDMI. Up to 8K resolution or 240Hz possible via HDMI |
| Ports | HDMI, Three Thunderbolt 4, Two USB 3 Type-C (front) Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack (front) |
HDMI, Three Thunderbolt 5, Two USB 3 Type-C (front) Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack (front) |
HDMI, Two Thunderbolt 4, Two USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
HDMI, Four Thunderbolt 4, Two USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini – Design, Weight, Size
The M2 Mac mini has used the same design for many iterations over the years. This has made it an unmistakable Mac for many people, but one that has been waiting for a change for a considerable amount of time.
The design of the M2 model is the same as the late Intel Mac period. It is a thin, rounded aluminum case with a round base and a rear section that contains all the ports and connections.
At 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thick, it is actually a unit of measurement at this point.
For the release of the M4, the Mac mini now has a much smaller design. Measuring just 5 by 5 inches, the new Mac mini takes up even less space compared to the previous model.
It is slightly taller at 2 inches.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – New Mac mini looks like the old one from above.
Another big change is that Apple is borrowing the front ports from the Mac Studio, meaning you can access two USB-C ports without having to reach around the back of the Mac mini.
When the Mac Studio was introduced, it was compared to a Mac mini that had grown in height. Now, the Mac mini looks like a smaller Mac Studio.
As for weight, the M2 Mac weighs 2.6 pounds, while the M2 Pro version weighs 2.8 pounds. Thanks to their shrinking, the M4 counterparts are much lighter, at 1.5 pounds and 1.6 pounds, respectively.
One oddity of the redesign is the power button. While the M2 Mac mini had it on the back corner, the M4 has no room for it on the back, so it’s at the bottom corner, near the base’s ventilation ring.
You’ll have to lift the new Mac mini to turn it on, which will be annoying. At the very least, you’ll have to be careful not to put anything on top of the Mac mini, since you’ll have to move it every time.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini – Performance
The M2 chip used in the previous Mac mini was an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. It also had a 16-core Neural Engine, a 10-core GPU, and 100GB/s of memory bandwidth.
There was also a Media Engine that could handle video encoding and decoding on behalf of the CPU. It included video decoding and encoding engines, a ProRes encoding and decoding engine, and support for ProRes RAW, among other common codec types.
Unified Memory started at 8GB, with 16GB and 24GB options.
The M2 Pro was similar in some ways, but very different in others. For starters, its base CPU had ten cores, including six performance cores, though you could also get a 12-core version with eight performance cores.
Memory bandwidth also doubled to 200GB/s. Memory capacity started at 16GB, with a 32GB option also available.
Meanwhile, the GPU was a 16-core version with a 10-core CPU, 19 cores for a 12-core CPU.
Apple has once again gone the way of the M4 and M4 Pro, with the latter getting higher specs.
The M4 has a 10-core CPU with four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The M4 Pro starts with a 12-core CPU with eight performance cores and four efficiency cores, but you can get a 14-core version with ten performance cores and four efficiency cores.
As for the GPU, the M4 has a 10-core version. The M4 Pro starts with a 16-core GPU, but the updated chip has a 20-core GPU available for use.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – Apple introduces the M4 Pro with the new Mac mini
As before, there's a Media Engine, as well as a 16-core Neural Engine. This time, Apple claims the Neural Engine in the M4 Pro is three times faster than the equivalent M1 version, which will make it even easier to use Apple Intelligence.
The M4 chip has a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s, which is 20% more than the M2. The M4 Pro has a memory bandwidth of 273GB/s, which is 36% more than the M2 Pro.
Storage capacity has also jumped this time around. The M4 starts at 16GB, with 24GB and 32GB capacities also available.
The M4 Pro is even better again. Starting at 24GB, you can upgrade to 48GB or, if you really need it, 64GB.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini Benchmark Estimate
Discussing benchmarks for the new Mac mini models is a bit tricky, as there aren't any actual Mac benchmarks using the M4 at this point, let alone the M4 Pro. To make matters worse, Apple prefers to cite the M4's power as being based on the M1 chip rather than the M2.
While it would be possible to use the M4 iPad Pro models to provide some level of comparison, that would also be unfair. While the higher-capacity models have a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the nature of tablet computing means they won’t have the thermal management or power consumption advantages that the Mac does.
Instead, until Mac benchmarks are actually available, we’ll have to compare to Apple’s claims and extrapolate.
Apple claims the M4 Mac mini has 1.8x the CPU performance and 2.2x the GPU performance of the M1.
Unfortunately, there’s no analog comparison to work with for the M4 Pro, but it’s likely that the single-core result could match the M4. As for multi-core, the extra cores will help to deliver a much higher score.
We won't be looking at the M4 Pro's CPU score for now, due to Apple's lack of a direct comparison to work with.
Apple says the 20-core GPU is twice as powerful as the M4's GPU.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – Geekbench Single-Core and Multi-Core Results and Scores
Using Geekbench results, the M2 and M2 Pro score 2,641 and 2,658 for single-core performance, and 9,802 and 14,475 for multi-core, respectively. Based on the M1 Mac mini scores, the M4 is expected to score 4,250 for single-core and over 15,200 for multi-core.
That’s a significant jump over the M2, and it should mean a big boost for the M4 Pro’s multi-core performance, too.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – Geekbench Metal Benchmarks and Scores
In the Metal test, the M2 and M2 Pro scored 46,174 and 81,088, respectively. The M4 is estimated to score 72,000 points, while the M4 Pro is expected to score around 144,000 points.
Again, these are significant performance jumps. That is, of course, if real-world tests match Apple's claims.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – Storage, Connectivity, Audio
In terms of storage, the M2 Mac mini starts at 256GB of capacity, with upgrade options including 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. For the Pro model, it starts at 512GB and goes up to 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB up to 8TB.
The M4 editions follow a similar path when it comes to storage capacity.
The physical connectivity on the M2 Mac mini was the same as the M1: an HDMI port, two USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The M2 Pro added two more Thunderbolt 4 ports, bringing the total to four, while keeping the rest of the port selection the same as the M2.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini – New Mac mini rear ports
The rear panel of the M4 models is limited, but still very useful for consumers. The rear panel still has an HDMI port, three Thunderbolt ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
However, while the M4 Mac mini uses three Thunderbolt 4 ports, the M4 Pro version has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. This increases the data transfer speed from 40Gbps on Thunderbolt 4 to 120Gbps on Thunderbolt 5 at its peak.
This will be extremely useful for some data-intensive applications in the future, such as accessing high-speed storage. However, it means investing in Thunderbolt 5 peripherals and accessories to take advantage of the increased bandwidth.
The new Mac mini adds two more USB-C ports to the front for easy access. These are USB 3 ports, using the Type-C connections on both M4 variants, offering speeds of up to 10Gbps.
The M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models had a Gigabit Ethernet port on the back by default. You could upgrade to a 10Gbps connection at the time of purchase. This also applies to the M4 generation.
Wireless connectivity remained unchanged, with support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The Mac mini's audio capabilities in the M2 era relied heavily on external audio devices, such as support for multi-channel audio on the HDMI port. The headphone jack on the back also supports high-impedance headphones, which will please audiophiles.
As expected of the model, there's a built-in speaker, but it's best described as an adequate source of sound if nothing else. It works and is completely usable, but you're better off using proper speakers.
No changes here for the M4 and M4 Pro. The advice is the same: rely on external audio devices where possible.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini – Pricing
The base M2 Mac mini cost consumers $599 and featured an 8-core processor with 10-core graphics, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage.
Upgrading to 16GB of memory was an extra $200, or $400 to get 24GB. Storage upgrades started at $200 for 512GB, $400 for 1TB, or $800 for 2TB.
The M2 Pro came with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage for $1,299. Upgrading to a 12-core CPU increased the price by $300.
Upgrading from 16GB to 32GB of memory cost $400. Upgrading to 1TB of storage was $200, 2TB was $600, 4TB was $1,200, and 8TB was an insufferable $2,400.
Upgrading from Gigabit Ethernet to 10Gbps costs $100, regardless of model.
The base model M4 Mac mini costs $599 with a 10-core processor and 10-core graphics processor, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and Gigabit Ethernet.
Going from 16GB to 24GB of memory costs an extra $200, while 32GB costs another $200. Upgrading storage costs $200 from 256GB to 512GB, another $200 to 1TB, and another $400 to 2TB.
The base M4 Pro configuration with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and Gigabit Ethernet costs $1,399.
Upgrading to a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU costs $200. Going from 24GB to 48GB costs $400, while 64GB costs another $200.
The storage upgrade from 512GB to 1TB costs $200, another $400 for 2TB, another $600 for 4TB, and another $1,200 to a hot 8TB.
Gigabit Ethernet, again, is a $100 upgrade on the M4 models.
M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini — Which One Should You Buy?
The new M4 Mac mini is a rare redesign for Apple, and especially for the Mac mini line. It’s a significant step away from the worn-out seven-square-inch design in favor of a smaller form factor that looks like a more aggressive Apple TV.
Add to that that Apple has moved some ports to the front for easy access, and we have a slightly more usable Mac design. The power button placement may be inconvenient, but if you put your Mac to sleep rather than shut it down every day, it’s not such an issue.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – The new design is smaller, but it’s still powerful.
The real star of the show is the M4 chip. Claimed improvements over its M2 counterparts make it a very powerful option for those who need more processing power on their desk. At least if they’re not willing to wait for a Mac Studio update at some point in the future.
This won’t necessarily be a direct upgrade for M2 Mac mini owners, since this is ultimately a performance game. But there’s a lot here for potential buyers and owners of older generations of the Mac mini to consider.
The Mac mini is still Apple’s smallest, cheapest, and most welcoming Mac in its entry-level range. Now it’s even smaller and far more powerful.
M4 Mac mini vs M2 Mac mini – where to buy
The 2024 M4 Mac mini is available for pre-order at Apple resellers, and Adorama is offering up to $50 off the new models with promo code APINSIDER. Code APINSIDER also gets you $20 off three years of AppleCare on the new Mac mini. You can find a breakdown of the deals in our M4 Mac mini price guide.
You can also find discounts on the (now) latest-gen M2 models in our M2 Mac mini price guide. At the time of publication, prices start at $499, and the best Mac mini deals are at your fingertips in our dedicated guide.
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