M4 Mac mini: The best value for money, 5 reasons and buying guide

Posted by: XinYe 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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Apple released a new version of Mac mini on October 30, 2024. Today we will talk about the top 5 reasons to buy it, and give purchase suggestions for the M4 and M4 Pro versions based on different usage scenarios.

1. Size and memory advantages

The new Mac mini is smaller in size, but the starting price is the same as in previous years, and the price/performance ratio is beginning to show. In terms of memory, 16GB is basic, enough to support a variety of applications, including tasks such as video editing. For example, a blogger uses a 16+512 configured M1 chip Macbook Pro for 4K video editing, audio and image processing, and it is still capable of doing the job after 5 years. The M4 chip can be upgraded up to 32GB, and the M4 Pro up to 64GB. It is recommended to fill up the memory directly when purchasing. Compared to upgrading storage capacity, upgrading memory is more cost-effective. Because in Huaqiangbei and other channels, the price of the so-called original 2T Apple storage is half cheaper than the official website.

2. Chip performance is greatly improved

The minimum configuration of the Mac mini chip is upgraded to M4, which improves single-core performance by 46% and multi-core performance by 56% compared to M2. The new base version is even faster than the old top-of-the-line M2 Pro, which is a great opportunity for users looking for performance improvements. The M4 Pro is more powerful, with ten performance cores, and its multi-core performance is equal to or better than the M3 Max. Compared with the previous generation M2 Pro, it is a qualitative leap.

3. Excellent interface design

In terms of interface design, Mac mini has many highlights. The headphone jack has been moved to the front, making it more convenient to use. The USBA interface is canceled and equipped with 5 Type-C interfaces. M4 has a Thunderbolt 4 interface, and M4 Pro is the first Mac product equipped with Thunderbolt 5. The transmission speed of the Thunderbolt 5 interface is three times higher than that of Thunderbolt 4. However, in terms of display, the M4 and M4 Pro have the same number of external monitors, three, with the same resolution and frame rate.

4. Prepare for AI development

The performance of the neural engine has been greatly improved under the M4 chip architecture, preparing for Apple's later SIRI intelligence and Apple Intelligence, making it easier to run AI tasks in the future.

5. Purchasing guide for different scenarios

1. Ordinary office, leisure and entertainment people : choose the lowest configuration to meet daily needs.
2. Video editing crowd : It is recommended to choose M4 Pro directly and select 32GB or 48GB of memory to take advantage of the high-speed transmission of Thunderbolt 5. But it's important to note that companion devices need to keep up with the Thunderbolt 5 protocol to achieve its full speed.
3. IT company coding crowd : The company level can purchase a batch of M4 Pro Mac mini plus monitors, which is simple and efficient. But for programmers who work alone, Mac mini may not be suitable because they need a device that integrates a screen, keyboard, and trackpad and can work at any time and take it with them.

The above is the relevant content about M4 Mac mini. If you have different opinions, please share them in the comment area to help everyone make a better purchase.

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