Apple Mac mini (M4, 2024) review: it’s the cheapest way to get a Mac, but should you buy it?

Price: From £599 at Apple or John Lewis

Our rating: 9/10

We like:

• Great performance
• Small and compact form
• Versatility for different accessories and displays

We don’t like:

• Apple accessories and display are expensive to add on
• Apple Intelligence AI still in its infancy
• iMac might be better value, depending on your setup

What is the Mac mini (M4)?

This is the latest model of the Mac mini, which was first introduced in 2005 by Apple as a stripped down, ‘BYODKM’ computer (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard and Mouse). It was the cheapest way to get your hands on a Mac.

The premise remains the same almost 20 years on, with this sixteenth-generation Mac mini (M4 being the name of its central processor). It gives you the latest macOS, but with the flexibility of using your own monitor and accessories.

The Mac mini is still the best value Mac available, but it now has more power within an even smaller footprint than previous models. The 2024 Mac mini is also the first carbon-neutral Mac.

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How we test desktop computers

When we test desktop computers, we test a variety of elements, from the design and usability of the computer, to the processing power (CPU), graphics and video performance (GPU) and software features.

We assess how simple the computers are to set up from the box, how easy the software is to navigate and what extra features, like artificial intelligence (AI), are on offer. We also consider how the desktop computer performs when it comes to everyday tasks, along with more demanding ones like gaming and image editing, and what connectivity options and ports are available.

I tested the Mac mini with the M4 processor, 16GB memory and 512GB of storage, and I paired it with an Apple Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and an Apple Studio Display. But it can be teamed up with any accessories of your choosing.

Design and usability: 9 out of 10

There’s a lot of love about the Mac mini’s design, and even more so now it’s smaller and more compact than it has been in the past. Measuring just 127x127mm, it takes up very little space, leaving more room for monitors and accessories.

To put those dimensions into perspective, the Mac mini is only slightly bigger than the Apple TV (albeit taller) and much smaller than Apple’s alternative BYODKM desktop computer, the Mac Studio. So it’s a great option if desk space is at a premium, or you want something you can tuck away out of sight.

The Mac mini supports up to three external displays, but those displays don’t need to be Apple (thankfully, given the Apple Studio Display starts at £1,500). You can pair the Mac mini up with whatever setup you already have, along with your favourite keyboard or mouse, giving you plenty of versatility. 

I personally like Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, but if you prefer a keyboard with more key travel, or you want your beloved curved Samsung monitor, that’s more than possible and setup with the Mac mini is simple too.

There is a built-in speaker within the Mac mini and if you have it placed on your desk, that speaker is more than adequate for background music or calls. Turn up the volume and the sound is tinny, however. I would recommend connecting external speakers or earphones if you want a better sound experience, but the Mac mini’s speaker does the job for the basics.

Connectivity and ports: 9/10

For the first time, ports are at the front of the Mac mini as well as at the back, making for a much more convenient user experience. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and two USB-C ports on the front.

On the rear, you’ll find the power port, Ethernet port, HDMI port and either three Thunderbolt 4 ports (on the M4 model), or two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a Thunderbolt 5 port (on the more expensive M4 Pro model). Thunderbolt 5 allows for faster data transfer.

I used the rear Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting the Apple Studio Display I was using with the Mac mini, while the front ports I reserved for when I needed to charge my iPhone or to transfer files from my camera’s SD card.

I’d like to have seen an SDXC reader on the Mac mini (SDXC cards store much more data than SD). But it isn’t a deal breaker.

Another consideration is the odd positioning of the Mac mini’s power button. It sits underneath the Mac mini. You probably won’t turn the Mac mini off very often so it doesn’t affect day-to-day use, but it’s still a strangely inaccessible place to put it.

In terms of connectivity, there is Bluetooth 5.3 and support for the latest form of Wi-Fi, 6E. Keep in mind you will need a compatible router to experience the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E.

Processing power and speed (CPU): 10/10

The Mac mini for 2024 has Apple’s M4 processor as standard, which has a 10-core CPU with four perform­ance cores and six efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine on board. It’s the same processor you’ll find in the new iMac and the new base-level MacBook Pro, as well as the iPad Pro that launched earlier this year.

There is also the option of the M4 Pro processor with a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, should you want extra power. That’s an option that isn’t available on the iMac. But if you’re an average user, you shouldn’t need to upgrade. The M4 processor will be more than sufficient.

It delivers a smooth and slick performance, with nothing I challenged it with too much for it to manage. Apps opened quickly and ran efficiently and switching between various tasks was fluid and consistent. It’s a snappy experience and that applies whether you’re working on a document, filling in a spreadsheet or editing RAW image files.

Graphics and video (GPU): 9/10

Gaming on the Mac mini has become a decent experience too, with good performance, great detail and no lag on the games I tested. A number of games are now being optimised for Mac too, while features like hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing – which allows for more realistic graphics – are now supported on the Mac mini.

Video rendering was also speedy on the Mac mini. I exported an eight-minute video with a 4K resolution that was roughly 3GB in size, and the Mac mini did this in just under seven minutes when it was focusing on best quality, and in under three minutes and 30 seconds when focusing on speed. When I exported the same video on the iMac with M3 chip last year, it took over eight minutes so there are improvements.

It’s worth noting that when exporting the video, I was editing RAW image files on Photoshop while I was waiting, as well as checking emails and testing the Apple Intelligence Writing Tools features, so the Mac mini was handling multiple other tasks in tandem without an issue.

Software, apps and AI features: 9/10

The Mac mini runs on macOS Sequoia, which is the latest software for Mac. The most recent build – macOS Sequoia 15.1 – brings with it Apple Intelligence features, though they aren’t all here yet. To access the ones that are, you will also need to set your Mac mini’s language to US English. 

Priority notifications are helpful and the priority inbox in Apple’s native Mail app is also good, summarising emails into a couple of lines so you can see what is happening at a glance when the email comes through, without having to open Mail itself.

Writing Tools will summarise, proofread and rewrite copy anywhere you might write, whether that’s an email or Word document. I didn’t think it did too bad a job, though I would back myself to write something less robotic. I can see how it would be a helpful tool for those who don’t enjoy writing, or who want a quick rewrite of something.

Being able to type to ask Siri by double pressing the Command key to pull up the shortcut is useful too, though there’s more to come here and Siri still can’t do as much as I would like yet.

Apple Intelligence features aside, there are other features with the latest macOS software worth mentioning, such as iPhone Mirroring. This enables you to control your iPhone directly from your Mac mini whilst your phone remains in your bag or pocket, as well as get iPhone notifications like you do Mac notifications, and drag and drop files between your iPhone and Mac mini.

It takes time to get used to switching between apps using a mouse or trackpad on your monitor’s screen rather than your finger on your phone, but it works well. Having iPhone notifications is very useful too, with things like push notifications from authentication apps coming through directly on your Mac, allowing you to action them without digging your phone out. It makes for a more productive workflow. The macOS Sequoia software also brings more options for tiling windows (you can now tile four) and that’s great, especially if you have a larger monitor attached to your Mac mini.

Technical specifications

Let’s compare the Mac mini (M4) with the previous Mac mini (M2), released back in 2023...

Telegraph verdict

The Apple Mac mini (M4) is an excellent desktop computer. It’s great value if you already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse ready to go, offering smooth and slick performance and access to macOS from a small and compact form factor.

If you have to buy displays and accessories then you might find the iMac works out cheaper overall, and if you have an older Mac mini running Apple Silicon, you may not need to upgrade given they too support the latest software and Apple Intelligence, whilst still delivering decent performance.

On the whole though, there is very little to complain about when it comes to the Mac mini (M4). The smaller design is discreet, the addition of ports on the front are very convenient, and the overall user experience – both from a performance and software perspective – is a great one.

FAQs

When does the Mac mini (M4) come out?

The Mac mini (M4) is on sale from November 8, 2024.

How much does the Mac mini (M4) cost?

The Mac mini starts at £599, which is for the Apple M4 processor with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. If you want to upgrade to the M4 Pro processor, which comes with 24GB memory and 512GB storage as standard, you’ll pay £1,399.

The RAM memory can be configured up to 64GB and storage up to 8TB, though you will need to do this at the time of purchase. Memory and storage can’t be retrofitted post purchase, which is something you used to be able to do on the first Mac mini models. The top-spec model of the new Mac mini (M4) costs £4,699.

What are the key features of the Mac mini (M4)?

The key features of the Mac mini (M4) are the performance upgrade with the new M4 chip, said to be built for Apple Intelligence. Another key feature is the smaller footprint, less than half that of last year’s Mac mini (M2). The Mac mini (M4) also offers ports on the front and, if you opt for the M4 Pro model, higher-bandwidth ports on the rear.

How is the Mac mini different from the iMac (M4)?

The Mac mini is a desktop computer but it doesn’t come with a monitor, mouse or keyboard. It runs the same processor as the iMac (M4), but you can opt for the Mac mini with an M4 Pro processor, which is not offered on the iMac (M4).

Because the iMac is an all-in-one desktop computer, there’s no need to buy a monitor and the accessories come in the box.

What is Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence is Apple’s version of artificial intelligence (AI). It is available on iPhones, iPads and Macs running the latest software. It brings with it a number of features, such as removing unwanted objects from images, Writing Tools for rewriting, summarising and proofreading text, and a smarter Siri that can understand more natural language.

More features are due to come within the next few months, but for now, you can access the beginning of Apple Intelligence features by switching your Mac, iPhone or iPad to US English. Localised Apple Intelligence for the UK is expected in December.

What storage options is the Mac mini available in?

The Apple Mac mini comes in 256GB and 512GB options. However, storage for the Mac mini on M4 is configurable, up to 2TB. If you buy the M4 Pro version, it’s configurable up to 8TB.

For RAM memory, the Mac mini with M4 has 16GB as standard. This is also configurable, up to 24GB or 32GB. The Mac mini with M4 Pro has 24GB of memory as standard and is configurable up to 48GB or 64GB.