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The Mac Mini M4 Pro

Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro review: The compact and frugal desktop PC with top performance and expensive upgrades

Pricey powerhouse.

With its new M4 Pro processor, the Apple Mac Mini M4 delivers impressive performance and energy efficiency inside a compact case. In this review, we took a closer look at the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro SoC, 64 GB RAM and a 2-TB SSD which costs around $2,600.
Sebastian Bade, 👁 Sebastian Bade (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Mini PC Desktop Apple ARM Thunderbolt

Verdict - The Mac Mini M4 Pro with lots of performance and a high price

The Mac Mini with an Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) SoC shows just how powerful and versatile a mini PC can be. Apple's latest ARM-based processor combines exceptional computing power, impressive energy efficiency and innovative architecture, making it one of the leading desktop computers in its class. We have already seen the same in the base model of the Apple Mac Mini M4. Its powerful processor is joined by an extremely potent Apple M4 Pro 16-core GPU, which is superior to the well-known iGPUs from AMD and Intel.

Its unified memory consisting of up to 64 GB and its ultra-fast SSD with a speed of 7.6 GB/s guarantee that even demanding multitasking tasks and data-intensive applications can be processed without any problems. However, as is usual with Apple, its unified memory is permanently soldered on and can't be upgraded. Users should therefore select sufficient capacity when configuring their device to make sure they are set for the future. The computer's SSD can be swapped out, but Apple has installed a proprietary module, which also quickly drives up the price during configuration.

A further highlight is its quiet and efficient cooling. The Mac Mini stays virtually silent even under average load, as its fan isn't activated often and runs at a low speed. At the same time, the M4 Pro boasts extremely low energy consumption, making it ideal for continuous use. The Mac Mini with the M4 Pro is an impressive mini PC that is visually and technically far ahead of the majority of other mini PCs on the market. In addition to its internal power supply unit, it also features a loudspeaker whose quality is impressive.

Anyone who is already well versed with the Mac universe will have no problem finding their way around the system. Those planning to switch from a Windows environment to macOS should think carefully in advance about what the system will be used for. Many well-known programs are not available on macOS, so you'll have to seek out alternatives. However, this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, as specially optimized applications generally work more efficiently and stably.

Pros

+ compact case
+ perfect build quality
+ super fast and efficient M4 Pro SoC
+ Thunderbolt 5 & Wi-Fi 6E
+ support for up to three external displays
+ silent under average load
+ 64 GB RAM (Unified Memory)
+ 2-TB SSD

Cons

- no maintenance options
- high surcharges for RAM & SSD upgrades
- impractical placement of power button
- only 1-year warranty
- very expensive

Price and availability

You can buy the new Mac Mini M4 Pro directly from Apple, with our test variant costing $2,599.

Another variant of the Mac Mini with the regular M4 SoC is currently on offer on Amazon for $744.

Possible alternatives compared

Image
Model / Review
Price
Weight
Height
Display
1.
87.2%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) ⎘
Apple M4 Pro 16-Core GPU ⎘
64 GB Memory, 2048 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $1,599.95
Apple Mac mini Desktop Compu...
2. $1,999.96
Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop ...
3. $1,199.95
Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop ...
List Price: 2811€
729 g50 mmx
2.
84.7%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores) ⎘
Apple M4 10-core GPU ⎘
16 GB Memory, 256 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $569.00
Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop ...
2. $1,599.95
Apple Mac mini Desktop Compu...
3. $989.00
Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop ...
List Price: 699€
648 g50 mmx
3.
80.8%
Aoostar GEM12
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS ⎘
AMD Radeon 780M ⎘
32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $399.95
AOOSTAR GEM12 AMD R9 6900HX ...
2. $389.00
AOOSTAR GEM12 8845HS Mini PC...
3. $499.00
AOOSTAR GEM12 Mini PC, AMD R...
List Price: 649 US-Dollar
653 g60 mmx
4.
76.7%
Minisforum MS-A1
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G ⎘
AMD Radeon 780M ⎘
32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $255.99
MINISFORUM MS-A1 Mini Workst...
2. $319.99
MINISFORUM MS-A1 Workstation...
3. $255.90
MINISFORUM MS-A1 Mini Workst...
List Price: 829 EUR
1.7 kg48 mmx
5.
75.3%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H ⎘
Intel Arc 8-Core iGPU ⎘
32 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $909.00
ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI Mini Pc, ...
2. $593.66
ASUS NUC 14 Pro Slim Barebon...
3. $779.00
ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI Mini Comp...
List Price: 1250 EUR
622 g41 mmx
6.
78.4%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H ⎘
AMD Radeon 780M ⎘
32 GB Memory, 2048 GB SSD
Amazon:
1. $579.00
GEEKOM AX8 Pro Ai Mini PC,AM...
2. $749.00
GEEKOM AX8 Pro Ai Mini PC,AM...
3. $66.99
PowerHOOD 19V AC/DC Adapter ...
List Price: 999 EUR
548 g37 mmx

Having already looked at the base configuration of the Mac Mini M4 with an M4 processor, it's now time to turn our attention to the significantly more powerful model based on an M4 Pro with twelve cores, which is additionally equipped with the equally powerful Apple M4 Pro 16-core GPU. This extensive redesign of the tiny mini PCs from Apple is now significantly more compact and lighter than ever. The new base model—with the M4 SoC, 16 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD—is available for an MRSP of $599, although our test sample (M4 Pro with 12 CPU cores, 64 GB RAM, 2 TB storage) costs a good $2,600. However, this is by no means the maximum. In its top configuration, you can easily spend up to $4,699 (M4 Pro with 14 CPU cores, 64 GB RAM, 8 TB storage, 10 Gbit/s Ethernet) on the device.

Specifications

Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Processor
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) 12 x 2.6 - 4.5 GHz, 40 W PL2 / Short Burst, 40 W PL1 / Sustained
Graphics adapter
Memory
64 GB 
, LPDDR5X-8533, unified
Storage
Apple SSD AP2048Z, 2048 GB 
, 1900 GB free
Connections
2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 3 USB 4.0 40 Gbps, 3 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 3 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm Stereo
Networking
10/100/1000 LAN Card (10/100/1000MBit/s), Broadcom 0x14E4, 0x4388 WiFi 6E AirPort (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/ Wi-Fi 6E 6 GHz), Bluetooth 5.3
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 50 x 127 x 127 ( = 1.97 x 5 x 5 in)
Operating System
Apple macOS 15 Sequoia
Additional features
12 Months Warranty
Weight
729 g ( = 25.71 oz / 1.61 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
2811 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - The Mac Mini is more compact than a lot of other mini PCs

The Mac Mini 2024 always uses the same case, regardless of its configuration. Its footprint of 12.7 x 12.7 cm is extremely compact in relation to its performance. Visually, the Mac Mini is more reminiscent of an Apple TV. With a height of 5 cm, the mini PC has become slightly thicker, but this doesn't stand out negatively at all. As is typical for Apple, its build quality is excellent and the power supply unit is integrated into the device. Compared to the entry-level configuration, the M4 Pro model is slightly heavier.

Despite its compact size, the Mac Mini 2024 dissipates heat just fine, ensuring quiet operation. Its timeless design and well-thought-out construction make it a versatile choice for a wide range of applications. Still, you'll have to get used to the placement of the power button, which is located on the underside of the device. Most Apple users probably only rarely actually switch off their devices, which does justify Apple's decision a little. Its case can be opened via the underside using the appropriate tools. After removing the large fan, the proprietary SSD module becomes visible. Theoretically, it is possible to replace the storage device. It remains to be seen to what extent Apple will offer corresponding upgrades in the future. Its RAM, on the other hand, is permanently soldered on and cannot be replaced or upgraded.

Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro
Mac Mini M4 Pro

Size comparison

189.5 mm / 7.46 in 186 mm / 7.32 in 48 mm / 1.89 in 1.7 kg3.8 lbs197 mm / 7.76 in 197 mm / 7.76 in 36 mm / 1.417 in 1.2 kg2.59 lbs130 mm / 5.12 in 130 mm / 5.12 in 60 mm / 2.36 in 653 g1.44 lbs144 mm / 5.67 in 112 mm / 4.41 in 41 mm / 1.614 in 622 g1.371 lbs127 mm / 5 in 127 mm / 5 in 50 mm / 1.969 in 729 g1.607 lbs117 mm / 4.61 in 112 mm / 4.41 in 37 mm / 1.457 in 548 g1.208 lbs297 mm / 11.7 in 210 mm / 8.27 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Thunderbolt 5 with up to 120 Gbit/s

The Mac Mini M4 Pro boasts a modern and versatile selection of connectivity options that ensures both flexibility and ease of use. There are two USB-C ports on the front: ideal for quick access, for example for connecting external storage media or mobile devices. There are also three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back: These enable ultra-fast data transfers, connecting external storage solutions and support for up to two 6K displays at 60 Hz. It also features an HDMI port and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The Mac Mini can optionally be equipped with 10 Gigabit Ethernet for faster network connections.

The same as with the current MacBook Pro models, its Wi-Fi module supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, but it doesn't support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard. Its speed and stability were excellent during our test using our reference router from Asus and gave no cause for criticism.

Front: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit/s), status LED, 3.5-mm audio (image: Apple)
Front: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit/s), status LED, 3.5-mm audio (image: Apple)
Back: power cable, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, 3x USB-C Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbit/s, DisplayPort Alt mode 1.4) (image: Apple)
Back: power cable, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, 3x USB-C Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbit/s, DisplayPort Alt mode 1.4) (image: Apple)
Performance check with the ADATA SE920 via Thunderbolt 4
Performance check with the ADATA SE920 via Thunderbolt 4
Connectivity - USB 3.x / USB4 / TB - AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
3809 MB/s
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
3245.45 MB/s
Khadas Mind 2
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 7 155H, WD PC SN740 SDDPTQD-1T00
3165.4 MB/s
Average of class Mini PC
  (1611 - 3809, n=8, last 2 years)
2983 MB/s
Geekom GT1 Mega
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Crucial P3 Plus CT2000P3PSSD8
1611.37 MB/s
Networking
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Broadcom 0x14E4, 0x4388 WiFi 6E AirPort
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz
1651 (min: 1571) MBit/s ∼94%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz
1434 (min: 1391) MBit/s ∼80%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Broadcom 0x14E4, 0x4388 WiFi 6E AirPort
iperf3 receive AXE11000
1755 (min: 1638) MBit/s ∼100%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
1676 (min: 1640) MBit/s ∼100%
Aoostar GEM12
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
iperf3 receive AXE11000
740 (min: 676) MBit/s ∼42%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
736 (min: 369) MBit/s ∼44%
Minisforum MS-A1
Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz
1749 (min: 1702) MBit/s ∼100%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz
1597 (min: 1554) MBit/s ∼89%
iperf3 receive AXE11000
941 (min: 873) MBit/s ∼54%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
855 (min: 438) MBit/s ∼51%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz
1446 (min: 1321) MBit/s ∼83%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz
1223 (min: 1160) MBit/s ∼68%
iperf3 receive AXE11000
951 (min: 926) MBit/s ∼54%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
707 (min: 666) MBit/s ∼42%
Geekom AX8 Pro
MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E MT7922 160MHz Wireless LAN Card
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz
1657 (min: 1619) MBit/s ∼95%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz
1800 (min: 1737) MBit/s ∼100%
iperf3 receive AXE11000
979 (min: 962) MBit/s ∼56%
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
966 (min: 921) MBit/s ∼58%
05010015020025030035040045050055060065070075080085090095010001050110011501200125013001350140014501500155016001650Tooltip
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro; iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1432 (1391-1454)
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro; iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1651 (1571-1689)

Sustainability

Apple doesn't treat the topic of sustainability lightly, as numerous points are advertised on the Mac's product page. In addition to the extensive information on the use of recycled materials that are predominantly used in the Mac Mini, the entire topic surrounding its production is touched on. In short, we can state that its production can be classified as climate-neutral. The long service life of Apple devices and the long supply of product updates also contribute positively to this.

Performance - The Apple M4 Pro (12 Cores) with 64 GB RAM

Even the base model with the M4 chip and 16 GB RAM already delivered an excellent result during our test. However, if you want 64 GB RAM, then you'll have to go for the M4 Pro chip. As an intermediate step, Apple also offers its M4 Pro models with 24 or 32 GB RAM. The SSD, on the other hand, comes with at least 512 GB.

Testing conditions

The Mac Mini with the M4 Pro SoC doesn't feature any energy profiles—only the familiar power-saving mode.

Processor - M4 Pro with 12 CPU cores

The M4 SoC is a new SoC that has already been installed in the current MacBook Pro 14 models. Our test sample contains a 12-core SoC that is designed for efficiency and multi-core performance. The M4 Pro with twelve cores delivers outstanding performance for everyday tasks such as office programs, web browsing and video streaming. Even with several parallel applications, the system stays smooth. Compared to the base configuration of the Apple Mac Mini M4, its performance has been significantly increased once again. However, this increase in performance is only limited to the multi-core benchmarks, although its single-core performance is almost identical.

The M4 Pro with twelve cores is a versatile processor that offers strong multi-core performance and good energy efficiency. It is perfect for all-round systems that need to work reliably both during everyday use and for more demanding tasks. Apple remains unbeaten, especially when it comes to efficiency. The Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) additionally requires very little power in idle mode and under load. The system only needed 60 watts on average during a Cinebench R23 Multi run.

Cinebench 2024: CPU Multi Core | CPU Single Core
Geekbench 6.3: Multi-Core | Single-Core
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench 2024 / CPU Multi Core
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
1455 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
1435 Points -1%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
1403 Points -4%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
991 Points -32%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
986 Points -32%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
958 Points -34%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
933 Points -36%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
852 Points -41%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
712 Points -51%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU, Apple M3
601 Points -59%
Cinebench 2024 / CPU Single Core
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
177 Points +2%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
176 Points +1%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
174 Points
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU, Apple M3
141 Points -19%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
140 Points -20%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
109 Points -37%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
107 Points -39%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
107 Points -39%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
107 Points -39%
Geekbench 6.3 / Multi-Core
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
20617 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
20458 Points -1%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
20385 Points -1%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
15072 Points -27%
Apple Mac Studio 2023 M2 Max
Apple M2 Max
14863 Points -28%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
13848 Points -33%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
13741 Points -33%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
13318 Points -35%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
13162 Points -36%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU, Apple M3
11992 Points -42%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
11966 Points -42%
Apple Mac Mini M2
Apple M2
10034 Points -51%
Geekbench 6.3 / Single-Core
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
3928 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
3844 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
3837 Points -2%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
3838 Points -2%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
3099 Points -21%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU, Apple M3
3054 Points -22%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
2711 Points -31%
Apple Mac Studio 2023 M2 Max
Apple M2 Max
2692 Points -31%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
2667 Points -32%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
2651 Points -33%
Apple Mac Mini M2
Apple M2
2650 Points -33%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
2465 Points -37%
Cinebench R23 / Multi Core
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
19844 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
18569 Points -6%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
17615 Points -11%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
17128 Points -14%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
16130 Points -19%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
15516 Points -22%
Apple Mac Studio 2023 M2 Max
Apple M2 Max
14738 Points -26%
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
13845 Points -30%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
10454 Points -47%
Apple Mac Mini M2
Apple M2
8772 Points -56%
Cinebench R23 / Single Core
Apple Mac Mini M4
Apple M4 (10 cores)
2269 Points +1%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
2254 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
2172 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple M3
1904 Points -16%
Minisforum MS-A1
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
1817 Points -19%
Geekom AX8 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 8945H
1808 Points -20%
Aoostar GEM12
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
1783 Points -21%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
1764 Points -22%
Apple Mac Studio 2023 M2 Max
Apple M2 Max
1662 Points -26%
Apple Mac Mini M2
Apple M2
1638 Points -27%
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.5 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
306 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
2720 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
153.03 fps
Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
5074 Points
Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
557 Points
Cinebench R23 Single Core
2254 Points
Cinebench R23 Multi Core
19844 Points
Cinebench 2024 CPU Multi Core
1455 Points
Cinebench 2024 CPU Single Core
174 Points
Help

System performance

The Mac Mini with the M4 Pro (12 cores) delivers impressive performance inside a compact case. Supported by 64 GB of fast unified memory and an SSD with 7.4 GB/s write speeds, the mini PC is perfect for demanding tasks, smooth multitasking, software development and 4K video editing.

Its integrated GPU with up to 16 cores ensures excellent graphics performance for creative applications and Metal-optimized games. Thanks to the close integration of hardware and macOS, the system works extremely efficiently and stays nice and quiet even under heavy load. The Mac Mini M4 Pro outperformed many of the competitors with its top values in the benchmarks and extremely low energy consumption, and it is ideal for professional users and demanding users. Thanks to its integrated Neural Engine, it also supports Apple Intelligence—although the new iPhone synchronization is not yet available in some countries.

CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
WebXPRT 3: Overall
WebXPRT 4: Overall
Mozilla Kraken 1.1: Total
CrossMark / Overall
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
2159 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
2051 Points -5%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
1939 Points -10%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
1902 Points -12%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
1865 Points -14%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
1713 Points -21%
CrossMark / Productivity
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
1990 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
1924 Points -3%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
1872 Points -6%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
1812 Points -9%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
1786 Points -10%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
1591 Points -20%
CrossMark / Creativity
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
2610 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
2392 Points -8%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
2095 Points -20%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
2057 Points -21%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
2040 Points -22%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
1984 Points -24%
CrossMark / Responsiveness
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
1849 Points +18%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
1646 Points +5%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
1583 Points +1%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
1568 Points 0%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
1561 Points
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
1378 Points -12%
WebXPRT 3 / Overall
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
557 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
478 Points -14%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
336 Points -40%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
309 Points -45%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
300 Points -46%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
268 Points -52%
WebXPRT 4 / Overall
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
364 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
334 Points -8%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
271 Points -26%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
267 Points -27%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
256 Points -30%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
248 Points -32%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
528 ms * -107%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
517 ms * -103%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
506 ms * -98%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
486 ms * -91%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
262 ms * -3%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
255.1 ms *

* ... smaller is better

Storage device

Amorphous Disk Mark
Amorphous Disk Mark

The Mac Mini M4 Pro boasts an ultra-fast mass storage device that enables seamless working. Equipped with a proprietary PCIe SSD, it offers capacities ranging from 256 GB to 2 TB, depending on the selected configuration. If an Apple M4 Pro chip is to work in the system, you can expect at least 512 GB of storage space. For even more storage space, you'll still have to dig deep into your pockets. Apple demands a surcharge of $600 if you want the 2 TB model of our test sample. The Mac Mini M4 can even be equipped with a maximum of 8 TB. However, you'll then have to pay an absurd $2,400 as a surcharge for that model. There is nothing to complain about in terms of the SSD's performance. Our test device achieved excellent values for sequential reading and writing data.

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
5GB Read
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
5381 MB/s
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max
M4 Max 40-Core GPU, M4 Max (16 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
5060.9 MB/s -6%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
3028 MB/s -44%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
1326.6 MB/s -75%
5GB Write
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
6713 MB/s
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max
M4 Max 40-Core GPU, M4 Max (16 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
6242.8 MB/s -7%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
3426 MB/s -49%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
1927.7 MB/s -71%

Graphics card

The Mac Mini M4 Pro's graphics performance varies depending on the installed SoC. The version we tested features an Apple M4 Pro 16-core GPU. For a surcharge of $200, you can get an Apple M4 Pro 20-core GPU in addition to a slightly more powerful processor, which should achieve even better performance values. It could easily beat the performance of current iGPUs from AMD or Intel during our test. Even an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop was within reach.

The Mac Mini M4 isn't our first choice for pure gaming. Lots of games can't be run on macOS and this massively limits your choice. Thanks to its close integration with macOS and the Metal API, the hardware is optimally utilized. Games that use this interface generally run well, and the performance of the Apple M4 Pro 16-core GPU is sufficient to display games with high to maximum details. Due to the aforementioned limitations, the Mac Mini M4 is not recommended as a gaming PC. The Asus ROG NUC 14 deserves recognition as a gaming alternative.

3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  ()
7254 Points +10%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
6739 Points +2%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
6624 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
3989 Points -40%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
3510 Points -47%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
3406 Points -49%
Minisforum EliteMini AI370
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
3211 Points -52%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
3026 Points -54%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
2806 Points -58%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
2756 Points -58%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
2677 Points -60%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
2467 Points -63%
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
16143 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  (9394 - 16529, n=9)
13655 Points -15%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
9636 Points -40%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
8286 Points -49%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
7623 Points -53%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
6987 Points -57%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
6978 Points -57%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
M3 8-Core GPU, M3
6968 Points -57%
Geekbench 6.3 / GPU OpenCL
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  (60815 - 86892, n=19)
78550 Points +30%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
60506 Points 0%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
60234 Points
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
43082 Points -28%
Minisforum EliteMini AI370
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
42088 Points -30%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
38759 Points -36%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
37898 Points -37%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
31965 Points -47%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
30470 Points -49%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
30345 Points -50%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
30092 Points -50%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
30015 Points -50%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
27880 Points -54%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
M3 8-Core GPU, M3
25825 Points -57%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
23854 Points -60%
Geekbench 6.3 / GPU Metal
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
99055 Points +1%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
97610 Points
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
57948 Points -41%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
47699 Points -51%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
45946 Points -53%
GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
104.2 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
103.3 fps -1%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  ()
90 fps -14%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
63.1 fps -39%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
52.6 fps -50%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
48 fps -54%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
M3 8-Core GPU, M3
44.5 fps -57%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
39.7 fps -62%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
28.5 fps -73%
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
238.2 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
234.5 fps -2%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  ()
208 fps -13%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
144 fps -40%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
120 fps -50%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
107.9 fps -55%
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU
M3 8-Core GPU, M3
101.7 fps -57%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
84.6 fps -64%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
66.1 fps -72%
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
504.2 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
501.5 fps -1%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
  ()
470 fps -7%
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
301.6 fps -40%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
260 fps -48%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
232 fps -54%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
133.9 fps -73%
Baldur's Gate 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
51 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
50.3 (43min - 55max) fps -1%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
31.6 fps -38%
Minisforum EliteMini AI370
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
30.7 (24.7min, 24.9P0.1, 26.6P1 - 37.1max) fps -40%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
29.6 fps -42%
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
27.8 fps -45%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
26 (13.8min, 14.3P0.1, 22.5P1 - 88.8max) fps -49%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
24.6 (16.4min, 17P0.1, 19.1P1 - 48.3max) fps -52%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
24.4 (8.81min, 15.2P0.1, 19.3P1 - 51.9max) fps -52%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
24.4 (8.14min, 11.8P0.1, 15.7P1 - 98.9max) fps -52%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
19 fps -63%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
19 fps -63%
Cyberpunk 2077 2.1 Phantom Liberty - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (FSR off)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
35.7 (29min - 47max) fps +2%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
35.1 fps
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
30.1 (24.4min - 39.5max) fps -14%
Minisforum EliteMini AI370
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
28.4 (23.6min - 36.3max) fps -19%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
27 (22.4min - 34.9max) fps -23%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
23.4 (19.7min - 29.4max) fps -33%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
23.3 (19.6min - 28.9max) fps -34%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
22 (18.9min - 26max) fps -37%
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
21.7 (18.2min - 28.6max) fps -38%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
20.4 fps -42%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
16.6 (12.9min - 23.2max) fps -53%
Total War Pharaoh - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
55.2 fps +11%
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
54.4 fps +9%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
51.4 (42min - 60max) fps +3%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
49.9 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
39.9 fps -20%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
35 fps -30%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Highest Preset AA:T
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
78 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4 Pro Entry
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP1024Z
76 (56min - 142max) fps -3%
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2024 M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0512Z
41 fps -47%
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
33.9 fps -57%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
32 fps -59%
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
32 fps -59%
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
23 fps -71%
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Asus ProArt P16 H7606WI
Radeon 890M, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
32 fps
Aoostar GEM12
Radeon 780M, R7 8845HS, Crucial P3 Plus CT1000P3PSSD8
31.6 (7.61min, 16.4P0.1, 19.1P1 - 141.4max) fps
Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406 Core Ultra 9
Arc 140V, Core Ultra 9 288V
29 fps
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
M3 10-Core GPU, M3, Apple SSD AP0512Z
24 fps
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 X1E-84-100
Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS, SD X Elite X1E-84-100
22 fps
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 198 99 89 78 51 26
Borderlands 3 (2019) 92.9 70.2 53.8 39.9 31.6 17.6
Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) 84 71 53 51 36 18
Cyberpunk 2077 2.1 Phantom Liberty (2023) 53.5 47.5 39.8 35.1
Total War Pharaoh (2023) 64.8 53.5 49.3 49.9 46.2 23

Emissions & energy - Frugal and quiet

Noise emissions

The Mac Mini's noise emissions are an impressive example of the excellent interplay between energy-efficient design and optimized cooling. Thanks to the frugal M4 processors, the device generates very little waste heat when idling and under partial load, resulting in extremely low noise levels. The device runs almost silently over long distances, although the fan is always spinning. This is not reflected in our reports, but at least 1,000 rpm was always present during readout. Under load, the Mac Mini is clearly audible, reaching up to 46.1 dB(A). However, we thankfully didn't detect any unpleasant whirring noises.

Noise Level

Idle
25.1 / 25.1 / 25.1 dB(A)
Load
25.1 / 46.1 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 25.1 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2042.942.745.241.140.841.942.92546.939.843.941.44141.146.93146.137.439.538.339.436.846.14034.529.326.127.62928.234.55035.134.431.328.228.530.535.16334.730.129.425.526.327.534.78033.525.125.923.522.624.833.510030.422.822.322.522.223.230.412528.115.816.417.516.419.528.116030.716.716.418.615.516.930.720031.413.913.115.314.314.231.425033.212.112.61513.113.633.231534.710.510.512.81312.234.740036.711.311.712.113.51236.750038.111.710.510.511.411.238.163034.110.611.610.111.711.334.180031.810.311.711.610.911.731.8100033.810.71212.111.311.633.8125034.911.211.211.211.311.134.9160031.711.210.911.311.21131.7200030.611.811.711.811.511.730.6250035.612.412.412.312.212.535.6315038.21313.112.9131338.2400036.713.713.613.813.713.536.7500029.414.214.114.21414.129.4630026.914.714.514.614.614.526.9800023.614.814.614.614.714.823.61000021.114.914.814.914.81521.11250022.71514.614.714.614.722.71600018.81714.915.31614.618.8SPL46.125.125.125.225.125.146.1N5.50.60.60.60.60.65.5median 31.7median 13median 13.1median 13.8median 13.5median 13.5median 31.7Delta3.91.91.61.91.823.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseApple Mac Mini M4 Pro
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro (12 cores), M4 Pro 16-Core GPU
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 (10 cores), M4 10-Core GPU
Aoostar GEM12
R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M
Minisforum MS-A1
Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core
Geekom AX8 Pro
R9 8945H, Radeon 780M
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2, M2 10-Core GPU
Noise
5%
-8%
-27%
-22%
-21%
8%
off / environment *
25.1
24.1
4%
24.3
3%
24.8
1%
24.6
2%
24.9
1%
24.7
2%
Idle Minimum *
25.1
24.1
4%
27.5
-10%
33.9
-35%
24.7
2%
24.9
1%
24.7
2%
Idle Average *
25.1
24.1
4%
27.6
-10%
34
-35%
29.6
-18%
24.9
1%
24.7
2%
Idle Maximum *
25.1
24.1
4%
27.6
-10%
34
-35%
29.8
-19%
24.9
1%
24.7
2%
Load Average *
25.1
24.1
4%
36
-43%
41.1
-64%
45.7
-82%
50.1
-100%
24.7
2%
Cyberpunk 2077 ultra *
35.1
30.3
14%
35.4
-1%
42.2
-20%
47.7
-36%
50
-42%
Load Maximum *
46.1
45.1
2%
38.2
17%
46.2
-0%
47.4
-3%
50.2
-9%
29.4
36%
Witcher 3 ultra *
35.4

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Our test sample's surface temperatures turned out to be slightly higher than those of the base model. Even so, we were unable to identify any critical hotspots during our test. On the underside, however, the device heated up noticeably in the area of the fan outlet. On the top, the heat was distributed very evenly thanks to the metal cover. The M4 SoC gets significantly hotter, easily exceeding 100 °C. Still, the fan has plenty of room to maneuver, which means that Apple intentionally allows these temperatures to be hit.

Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)
Max. Load
 35.6 °C
96 F
35.9 °C
97 F
35.8 °C
96 F
 
 34.7 °C
94 F
36.2 °C
97 F
35.1 °C
95 F
 
 35.6 °C
96 F
35.3 °C
96 F
35.8 °C
96 F
 
Maximum: 36.2 °C = 97 F
Average: 35.6 °C = 96 F
38.8 °C
102 F
42.7 °C
109 F
41.7 °C
107 F
32.6 °C
91 F
28.1 °C
83 F
27.9 °C
82 F
28.4 °C
83 F
25 °C
77 F
25.6 °C
78 F
Maximum: 42.7 °C = 109 F
Average: 32.3 °C = 90 F
Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated)
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.6 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 32.4 °C / 90 F for the devices in the class Mini PC.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.2 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 35.8 °C / 96 F, ranging from 24 to 69.5 °C for the class Mini PC.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.7 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 36.1 °C / 97 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.1 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 32.4 °C / 90 F.

Speakers

The Mac Mini has one built-in speaker designed for basic audio tasks. It delivers a clear but basic sound quality that is sufficient for system notifications, video calls and occasionally listening to music or videos. For more demanding audio applications, the Mac Mini offers numerous expansion options. Wired speakers or headphones can be connected via the 3.5 mm jack connection. Bluetooth enables a wireless connection to external audio devices, while the HDMI port transmits audio to monitors with integrated speakers or home theater systems. The integrated speaker fulfills basic requirements, but is not a substitute for high-quality external audio solutions. For a better sound experience, we recommend using external speakers or headphones.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2043.741.943.72541.241.141.2314036.8404030.728.230.75028.230.528.26329.227.529.28024.424.824.410036.423.236.412547.319.547.31605716.95720065.514.265.525065.213.665.231563.112.263.140062.81262.850063.911.263.963062.511.362.580061.411.761.4100058.511.658.5125067.511.167.5160065.31165.3200070.511.770.5250074.712.574.7315074.91374.9400073.213.573.2500073.414.173.4630070.314.570.3800071.514.871.51000070.11570.1125006814.7681600056.914.656.9SPL83.125.183.1N54.90.654.9median 65.3median 13.5median 65.3Delta5.525.536.640.938.341.332.535.634.836.533.632.830.330.725.626.623.428.320.838.120.444.122.347.723.850.616.754.814.948.113.143.313.55912.566.512.869.611.163.410.363.410.265.110.662.210.664.5116411.171.311.66811.566.811.56811.565.810.760.224.778.30.641.2median 11.6median 63.438.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseApple Mac Mini M4 ProApple Mac Mini M2
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (13.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 26%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 12% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Apple Mac Mini M2 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 13%, average was 26%, worst was 64%
Compared to all devices tested
» 34% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 58% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Power consumption

When idling, the Mac Mini only requires 2.5 to 2.8 watts, making it extremely frugal compared to the competition. Even in standby mode or when switched off, its values are low and give no cause for criticism. When gaming, we measured around 70 watts—the same as during the beginning of the stress test. Due to the SoC's higher power consumption, our test sample loses some efficiency compared to the base configuration of the new Mac Mini.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.58 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.54 / 2.59 / 2.79 Watt
Load midlight 31.4 / 70.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro (12 cores), M4 Pro 16-Core GPU
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 (10 cores), M4 10-Core GPU
Aoostar GEM12
R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M
Minisforum MS-A1
Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core
Geekom AX8 Pro
R9 8945H, Radeon 780M
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2, M2 10-Core GPU
Average Apple M4 Pro 16-Core GPU
 
Average of class Mini PC
 
Power Consumption
11%
-186%
-221%
-140%
-287%
14%
-70%
-240%
Idle Minimum *
2.54
2.6
-2%
8.2
-223%
8.8
-246%
4.2
-65%
14
-451%
2.2
13%
2.57 ?(2.54 - 2.6, n=2)
-1%
Idle Average *
2.59
10
-286%
12.6
-386%
7.2
-178%
15.9
-514%
7.2 ?(2.59 - 11.8, n=2)
-178%
Idle Maximum *
2.79
2.7
3%
14.6
-423%
14
-402%
13
-366%
19.5
-599%
2.6
7%
7.5 ?(2.79 - 12.2, n=2)
-169%
Load Average *
31.4
31.5
-0%
73.9
-135%
93.2
-197%
68.5
-118%
76.4
-143%
28.7
9%
31.4 ?()
-0%
Cyberpunk 2077 ultra external monitor *
71.4
39.6
45%
79.9
-12%
102.1
-43%
74.1
-4%
54.3
24%
Load Maximum *
70.1
62.5
11%
95.3
-36%
105.4
-50%
144.9
-107%
99.1
-41%
51.5
27%

* ... smaller is better

Efficiency overview

Performance Rating - Percent
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
100 pt
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
88.1 pt
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
79.6 pt
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
41.9 pt
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
35.9 pt
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
34.1 pt
Power Consumption
Cinebench R23 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
418 Points per Watt +27%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
372 Points per Watt +13%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
330 Points per Watt
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
219 Points per Watt -34%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
187.8 Points per Watt -43%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
177.7 Points per Watt -46%
Cinebench R23 Single Power Efficiency - external Monitor
Apple Mac Mini M4
M4 10-Core GPU, M4 (10 cores), Apple SSD AP0256Z
186 Points per Watt +25%
Apple Mac Mini M2
M2 10-Core GPU, M2, Apple SSD AP0512Z
162.2 Points per Watt +9%
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro
M4 Pro 16-Core GPU, M4 Pro (12 cores), Apple SSD AP2048Z
149.3 Points per Watt
Geekom AX8 Pro
Radeon 780M, R9 8945H, Acer N7000
58.3 Points per Watt -61%
Asus NUC 14 Pro+
Arc 8-Core, Ultra 9 185H, Samsung PM9A1a MZVL21T0HDLU
50 Points per Watt -67%
Minisforum MS-A1
Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 8700G, Kingston OM8PGP41024Q-A0
47.8 Points per Watt -68%

Power consumption with external monitor

0102030405060708090100110120130140Tooltip
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro M4 Pro (12 cores), M4 Pro 16-Core GPU; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø2.59 (2.54-2.79)
Aoostar GEM12 R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø10 (9.28-14.3)
Minisforum MS-A1 Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø11.9 (10-14)
Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø7.26 (4.91-13.1)
Geekom AX8 Pro R9 8945H, Radeon 780M; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø15.9 (14.3-19.4)
Apple Mac Mini M2 M2, M2 10-Core GPU; Idle 1min (external Monitor): Ø2.44 (1.049-3.69)
Aoostar GEM12 R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M; 1920x1080 The Witcher 3 ultra (external Monitor): Ø79.6 (76-85.2)
Apple Mac Mini M2 M2, M2 10-Core GPU; 1920x1080 The Witcher 3 ultra (external Monitor): Ø28.7 (28.1-29.2)
Aoostar GEM12 R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø84.4 (83.6-85.1)
Minisforum MS-A1 Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø104.6 (102.1-105.4)
Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø114.7 (100.9-144.9)
Geekom AX8 Pro R9 8945H, Radeon 780M; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø89.4 (87.8-94.6)
Apple Mac Mini M2 M2, M2 10-Core GPU; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø45 (39.3-49.3)
Apple Mac Mini M4 Pro M4 Pro (12 cores), M4 Pro 16-Core GPU; Cyberpunk 2077 FHD ultra no FSR (external Monitor): Ø71.4 (69.3-74)
Aoostar GEM12 R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M; Cyberpunk 2077 FHD ultra no FSR (external Monitor): Ø79.9 (75.5-83.5)
Minisforum MS-A1 Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M; Cyberpunk 2077 FHD ultra no FSR (external Monitor): Ø102.1 (95.2-102.9)
Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core; Cyberpunk 2077 FHD ultra no FSR (external Monitor): Ø74.1 (62.4-78.7)
Geekom AX8 Pro R9 8945H, Radeon 780M; Cyberpunk 2077 FHD ultra no FSR (external Monitor): Ø54.3 (43.7-67.1)
Aoostar GEM12 R7 8845HS, Radeon 780M; 3DMark06 Return To Proxycon: Ø73.9 (55.4-87)
Minisforum MS-A1 Ryzen 7 8700G, Radeon 780M; 3DMark06 Return To Proxycon: Ø93.2 (78.1-104.5)
Asus NUC 14 Pro+ Ultra 9 185H, Arc 8-Core; 3DMark06 Return To Proxycon: Ø68.5 (60-97.6)
Geekom AX8 Pro R9 8945H, Radeon 780M; 3DMark06 Return To Proxycon: Ø76.5 (55.7-96.2)

Power consumption with external monitor