A more mini Mac Mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips 

Apple just gave its Mac Mini lineup a serious refresh with the launch of the redesigned, M4 and M4 Pro-powered Mini, and it's packing a lot of impressive upgrades into a smaller package. This is the first real design overhaul the Mini’s had in over a decade, and it's safe to say it’s the sleekest one yet. Measuring just 5 inches square and standing slightly taller than the previous model, this new Mini is compact and powerful, ready to handle big tasks without taking up much desk space.

Let’s dive into the specs. First, the standard M4 chip makes this Mac Mini incredibly capable for most people’s needs, from work tasks to streaming and even some light gaming. But Apple didn't stop there. They've also rolled out an M4 Pro version, marking the first time we’ve seen the Pro variant in a Mini. This means even more power for users who need it for creative tasks or multitasking. And with Thunderbolt 5, the Mini is prepped for faster connections and better external display support—perfect for anyone wanting a big-screen setup. 

Apple claims the M4 chip gives the new Mac mini a serious speed boost—up to 1.8 times faster than the original M1 model and up to 2.2 times faster in graphics performance. (The lack of a direct comparison to the M2 Mini suggests this isn’t a huge step up from last year’s model.) The M4 chip maxes out with 10 cores, while the M4 Pro ramps up to 12 (10 performance and 2 efficiency cores) and a hefty 20-core GPU, doubling the graphics power of the base M4. For the first time, the M4 Pro also brings Thunderbolt 5 to the Mac Mini, which boosts bandwidth up to three times over Thunderbolt 3, and allows up to 64GB of RAM alongside 273GBps of memory bandwidth—ideal for AI applications. With Apple Intelligence launching this week on iOS 18.1, the new Mini’s 38 TOPS (tera operations per second) of AI processing power shines compared to the M3’s 18 TOPS. Starting the Mini with 16GB of RAM feels forward-looking, especially as Apple’s AI tech, including Xcode 16, pushes the limits on memory.

Design-wise, Apple’s finally added front ports to the Mini, including two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm jack, making it a lot easier to plug in drives or headphones. The back still has three Thunderbolt USB-C ports, HDMI, and Ethernet. While an SD card reader would have been welcome, that remains a perk for the pricier Mac Studio. This model’s also the most eco-friendly Mini ever, made from over 50% recycled materials and produced using 100% renewable energy. Apple is calling this its first carbon-neutral Mac, with its far reduced use of aluminum. 

Like other Apple silicon-running systems, the new Mac mini M4 offers full support for Apple intelligence. Perhaps that's why the new base memory for all Mac minis is now 16GB, up from 8GB. Though, you can get up to 64GB of RAM when you have the M4 Pro chip in a Mac mini. Apple is doing that while keeping the base price at $599 / £599 / $999AU. It's a welcome change, even if it's partially necessitated by Apple Intelligence's onboard generative AI processing demands.

All in all, this new Mac Mini is perfect if you want a desktop that’s both powerful and space-saving. Apple has really packed a lot of value into this tiny machine, making it a top choice for anyone looking to upgrade their desktop setup without breaking the bank or cluttering up their workspace.