When Apple released the M4 Mac Mini, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to upgrade not only my work setup but also my home environment and my team's hardware. I ended up purchasing three units: one base model M4 and two M4 Pros. Now, three months later, I'm here to share my experiences, address some common questions, and discuss the pros and cons of these devices.
Why Three Mac Minis?
- Home Mac Mini (Base M4): This unit replaced my older M1 Mac Mini. It serves as the heart of my home automation with Home Assistant, ensuring it runs 24x7. It doubles as a media server for my Plex library, decoding various file types for streaming on our three Apple TVs. This Mac Mini also handles basic tasks like word processing, web browsing, emails, and video calls when I work from home. My children use it for homework and practicing their touch typing.
- Office Mac Mini (M4 Pro): Located in my office, this Mac Mini handles all my creative work for YouTube, including day-to-day productivity apps and more intensive tasks such as editing in Lightroom and Davinci Resolve. I've also explored its capabilities as a live stream setup.
- Videographer’s Mac Mini (M4 Pro with Upgrades): The most powerful of the three, this upgraded M4 Pro aids my videographer in shooting and editing videos. It also allows my remote editor to access files directly, saving us from having to upload large video files to Google Drive.
Specifications and Design
The specs for these Mac Minis are as follows:
- Base M4 Mac Mini: £599
- My M4 Pro: Upgraded with 1TB SSD and 10Gb Ethernet at £1,699
- Team’s M4 Pro: Further upgraded with 1TB SSD, 10Gb Ethernet, 48GB of memory, and the enhanced 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, and 16-Core Neural Engine at £2,299.
The design of the Mac Mini is compact, allowing it to fit into smaller spaces, a feature I initially considered using for travel to events like CES in Vegas. However, practicality prevailed over the novelty. The power button's placement under the unit hasn't been a problem, though the limited number of ports prompted me to invest in external hubs like the Caldigit TS4+ and OWC's Thunderbolt 5 Hub for enhanced connectivity and speed.
Network and Performance
I upgraded to the 10Gb Ethernet on both M4 Pro Minis, significantly improving file transfers to our Synology NAS. Although editing directly off the NAS isn't always feasible due to speed limitations, using smaller proxy files locally has been an effective workaround.
Despite its lower specs, my base M4 Mac Mini has handled all tasks impressively, from multitasking with numerous tabs and apps to running games like Counterstrike 2 and Black Ops III smoothly—a testament to its capability even at a lower price point.
Desk Setup
My current desk setup includes the M4 Pro Mac Mini, a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface, Edifier MR4 Studio Monitors, and the massive 57” Samsung G9 Ultrawide monitor. I'm considering upgrading to KEF speakers and possibly LG UltraGear monitors for better resolution and screen real estate.
Adjacent to this setup, I use the Anker Charging Hub and ESR MagSafe 3-in-1 charging stand for devices, enhancing functionality without direct connection to the Mac. I also utilise the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub for additional connectivity.
If you're considering which Mac Mini to buy, this review should provide a detailed perspective on the capabilities and limitations of these models. For more guidance, check out the buyer's guide linked in this post. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to bringing more updates in the future!
