CheckMag | The M4 Mac Mini is the best desktop for most people

The newest Mac Mini has a lot going for it. As our review of the mini PC showed, the Mini beats most other mini PCs in benchmarks despite its diminutive size. (Keep in mind the M4 Mac Mini does this with an internal power supply; most other mini PCs, particularly those at this size, require an external PSU attached to the device's power cable.) This performance isn't limited to CPU-heavy tasks; the Mini beats competitors by a fair margin in GPU benchmarks as well. All this comes at less than half the power draw AMD- and Intel-based mini PCs demand, as well as (on average) much less fan noise. 

It is impressive how Apple managed to pull off this level of performance at this low of a power draw in a desktop this compact. True to its predecessors, the 2024 Mac Mini is a fantastically powerful and power-efficient "set it and forget it" desktop PC. It offers more than enough power for average consumer demands (such as web browsing, photo editing, office work, and light gaming) without sucking much juice from the wall, and it should continue to do so for years. 

Not only is the M4 Mac Mini extremely powerful, it is quite cost-efficient (at least, in its base configuration; more on this below). For a dollar shy of $600, consumers get the incredibly powerful M4 SoC, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage (which we will discuss). Competing mini PCs typically start at $150-200 more than the Mini and offer less performance while drawing more power (which further adds to their overall cost). Additionally, the 2024 Mini is equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports. Other mini PCs may have one or two USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 ports and one or two USB-C ports (which may operate at the slower USB 3.2 Gen 1 spec). 

All said, there's a lot to like about the M4 Mac Mini. Our review states this claim as well, as the new Mac Mini outscores its competitors by a fair bit in both specific categories and overall value.

While the latest Mac Mini has a good array of high-speed ports, it lacks basic ports most consumers are used to, like USB-A. This issue can be resolved with a dongle or Thunderbolt dock, but that in turn impacts the compact nature and setup of the Mac, which is a strong selling point. There are some smaller quibbles as well, such as the 2024 Mac Mini's fan noise at full load (which can get quite loud) and the placement of the power button (which has oddly been one of the most criticized aspects of the machine).

Lastly, the M4 Mac Mini runs macOS. This on its face makes the desktop a poor option for certain people, specifically those ingrained in Windows or gamers. While the Mini's graphical performance (especially per Watt) is impressive, macOS is nowhere near as robust as Windows when it comes to support for games. Mac gaming is steadily growing thanks to Apple's push into the industry and compatibility software like CrossOver, Parallels, and WINE. Additionally, Microsoft's recent focus on ARM-powered machines may see fruits in the Mac space, as Bootcamp may return. However, these are still ideas for the future, so gamers shouldn't buy a Mac Mini expecting to game on it. Windows (and maybe Linux) are better options for those with big Steam libraries. Some users also rely on Windows-specific software, ruling out any machine running something other than Windows. 

Apple has some kind of sorcery cooking over in Cupertino. They struck gold with the M1 MacBook Air, which quickly became the de facto option for most consumers hunting for a notebook. It seems the company has hit another home run with the M4 Mac Mini. The tiny desktop is unbelievably efficient without skimping on power, and its $599 price is mightily attractive for average consumers in need of a simple and smooth computing experience. 

There are definitely drawbacks, primarily related to upgradeability and (potentially) software compatibility. Still, the new Mac Mini makes the most sense for value-minded consumers (which is admittedly strange to say about an Apple product). If you're looking for a new desktop for home or office use, the M4 Mac Mini should be at the top of your list.