Apple Introduces New M4-Powered Mac mini With Improved Performance and Enhanced Features

Apple has introduced a revamped Mac mini featuring the new M4 and M4 Pro chips, aiming to offer a smaller, more powerful desktop solution. At 5 inches square, the new Mac mini is the company’s smallest desktop yet, built around Apple silicon’s energy efficiency and a redesigned thermal architecture. This new model also represents Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac, part of its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.

With the M4 and M4 Pro chips, the new Mac mini brings a level of versatility and power that broadens its appeal across different user groups. Students, creatives, and small business owners alike can benefit from the desktop’s ability to handle intensive tasks in a compact design. The redesigned thermal architecture maximizes performance, while new Apple Intelligence features offer smarter ways to work and create. By balancing performance with reduced power consumption and advanced AI tools, this iteration of Mac mini emphasizes Apple’s commitment to both innovation and sustainability in its product lineup.

Key Features and Specs

• Chips: Available in M4 and M4 Pro options

  • M4: 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
  • M4 Pro: 14-core CPU (10 performance, four efficiency), 20-core GPU
  • Hardware-accelerated ray tracing for enhanced graphics
  • Up to 64 GB of unified memory and 273 GB/s memory bandwidth on M4 Pro

• Performance:

  • M4:
    • Up to 1.8x faster CPU and 2.2x faster GPU performance than the M1 Mac mini
    • Enhanced performance in video editing, music production, and multitasking
  • M4 Pro:
    • Faster single-threaded performance with "world’s fastest CPU core"
    • Multithreaded performance for professional-level workloads
    • Up to 20x faster on-device AI transcription compared to Intel Core i7-based Mac mini

• Apple Intelligence Integration:

  • Systemwide Writing Tools: rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text
  • Redesigned Siri with expanded capabilities
  • Image Playground and Genmoji for creative applications
  • Integrated ChatGPT for streamlined assistance without user accounts

• Environmental Impact:

  • Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac
  • Over 50% recycled content, including 100% recycled aluminum
  • Renewable electricity in production
  • Ocean freight shipping for lower emissions

• Ports:

  • Front: Two USB-C ports (USB 3) and an audio jack
  • Back (M4): Three Thunderbolt 4 ports; (M4 Pro): Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
  • Gigabit Ethernet (configurable up to 10 Gb)
  • HDMI port
  • Display Support: M4 – up to two 6K displays and one 5K; M4 Pro – up to three 6K displays at 60 Hz

• macOS Sequoia Compatibility:

  • iPhone Mirroring for accessing iPhone apps and notifications
  • New Safari features, including Highlights and Video Viewer
  • Enhanced gaming with Personalized Spatial Audio and Game Mode

Pricing and Availability

The Mac mini with M4 starts at $599 for the general public and $499 for educational use. The M4 Pro model starts at $1,399 ($1,299 for education). Pre-orders are open now, with availability in stores and for delivery beginning November 8.

The Mac mini has always stood out as a favorite in Apple’s lineup for me. It packs an impressive amount of power into a small, unassuming form factor with a very competitive price. With this release, Apple has refined that value proposition even further. The combination of the new M4 and M4 Pro chips offers professional-level performance at very reasonable prices, making the Mac mini one of the best options for those who need serious computing power on a budget.

This launch positions the Mac mini as a compact, energy-efficient powerhouse suitable for both casual and professional users, building on Apple’s ongoing advances in hardware and environmental responsibility.