Apple Mac mini (M4) review: the humble mini-PC remains Apple's greatest hit

Small but mighty, powerful but affordable, the latest Mac mini is Apple best value proposition, and everything most creatives will need on an everyday basis.

A silver Apple Mac mini (M4) on a wooden desk
(Image: © Future / Erlingur Einarsson)

Our Verdict

Apart from the lack of high-power discrete graphics, the Apple Mac mini (M4) might be as close to the perfect computer for most people as any computer can get. It's tiny, but packs enough power for any creative task outside 3D processing or heavy video renders, and unlike many Apple products, it offers great value for your money. Rival mini-PCs may be getting closer to the Mac mini, but the M4 version proves gap has only closed from a gulf to a chasm.

For

  • Great value for power
  • Super small
  • Excellent MacOS UX

Against

  • No discrete graphics

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Apple Mac mini (M4) is the latest, and tiniest, addition to Apple's computer line-up (until the reported M5 models arrive, that is), and the reason we're excited about it not merely because many of the Creative Bloq team love the Mac mini, but rather that so many creatives all around the world have grown to appreciate and rely on Apple's pocket rocket for their work and hobbies.

The new Mac mini is sure to replace the previous model among the best computers for graphic design, but will it draw more PC users away from bulkier tower PCs (or underpowered laptops), or be a better alternative to the astronomically powerful (and expensive) Mac Studio? I think it just might.

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CPU:

10-core Apple M4 (12-core M4 Pro available)

Graphics:

10-core GPU (16-core in M4 Pro)

Memory:

16-64GB RAM

Storage:

256GB-8TB

Screen size:

n/a

Ports:

3x Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2x USB-C, 1x headphone jack, 1x Ethernet, 1x HDMI

Wireless connectivity:

WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions:

5 x 12.7 x 12.7cm

Weight:

670-730g

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Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1

Apple Mac mini (M4)

GEEKBENCH 6

CPU Single-core:

3,724

Row 1 - Cell 0

CPU Multi-core:

14,982

Row 2 - Cell 0

GPU OpenCL:

37,914

CINEBENCH 2024

CPU single-core:

174

Row 4 - Cell 0

CPU multi-core:

951

Row 5 - Cell 0

GPU:

n/a

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Apple Mac mini (M4) score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design:

Familiar, sturdy, extremely compact, just enough ports

4.5/5

Features:

Stock model well equipped with lots of configuration options

4.5/5

Performance:

Blistering CPU performance with good integrated graphics

5/5

Value:

Apple's best value product, hands down

5/5

The Verdict
9.5

out of 10

Apple Mac mini (M4 2024)

Apart from the lack of high-power discrete graphics, the Apple Mac mini (M4) might be as close to the perfect computer for most people as any computer can get. It's tiny, but packs enough power for any creative task outside 3D processing or heavy video renders, and unlike many Apple products, it offers great value for your money. Rival mini-PCs may be getting closer to the Mac mini, but the M4 version proves gap has only closed from a gulf to a chasm.

Erlingur Einarsson
Tech Reviews Editor

Erlingur is the Tech Reviews Editor on Creative Bloq. Having worked on magazines devoted to Photoshop, films, history, and science for over 15 years, as well as working on Digital Camera World and Top Ten Reviews in more recent times, Erlingur has developed a passion for finding tech that helps people do their job, whatever it may be. He loves putting things to the test and seeing if they're all hyped up to be, to make sure people are getting what they're promised. Still can't get his wifi-only printer to connect to his computer. 

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