I had high expectations for this years Apple Mac mini.
Compared to last years offering, the Mac Mini with M4 is nearly flawless.
The only thing I can really nitpick is the power button, which is in a truly odd location.
© Adriano Contreras
My review unit is a step up, costing $799 with double the storage.
Next is the $999 model, which increases the unified memory to 24GB while retaining the 512GB SSD.
However, it will set you back a whopping $4,699.
©Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Its also lighter, at 1.5 pounds compared to 2.6 pounds.
However, thats not the only difference, as Apple has added quite a few ports.
If you opt for the M4 Pro Mac Mini, you get three Thunderbolt 5 ports for some futureproofing.
©Photo: Sherri L. Smith / DreamSmith LLC
The new Mac Mini has the same iconic minimalism that youve come to expect from Apple.
The top and sides of the case are made of silver anodized aluminum.
There are no sharp edges, as all the corners are gently rounded.
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The large glossy Apple logo on the top of the gear finishes the look.
But its the bottom of the Mac Mini that has people talking.
In the rear-left corner, youll find the power button.
©Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Its an inconvenient placement, but Apples betting that youll only be turning the system on once.
At best, they think youll put the Mac Mini to sleep occasionally.
After a relatively short setup, I could access every app on my iPhone.
©Photo: Sherri L. Smith / DreamSmith LLC
Notes, one of my favorite productivity apps, also has some new tricks.
The app now supports audio transcription, which is handy during meetings and briefings.
It can also act as a calculator in a pinch.
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throw in in the equation with an equal sign, and Notes will crunch the numbers for you.
Safari also got some new updates, bringing a redesigned Reader and a new Viewer.
Distraction Control has also been added to allow more focused web browsing.
©©Photo: Sherri L. Smith / DreamSmith LLC
Apples got the remedy with easier window tiling, allowing you to easily arrange all your errant windows.
you might place them side-by-side or snap them into corners for easier screen navigation.
Video conferencing has also gotten some polish.
© ©Photo: Sherri L. Smith / DreamSmith LLC
Messages also got a big update, bringing new text effects and emojis.
But remembering all of them is a challenge in itself.
The Passwords feature keeps all your passwords in one place, protected by end-to-end encryption.
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This is important as Apple has big plans to bring more console and PC games to the platform.
The AI-powered technology introduces a more conversational version of Siri that can pick up on context cues.
Are you often at a loss for words on that important email or paper?
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Writing Tools can add some razzle dazzle to your work, whether its proofreading, summarizing, or rewriting.
The feature is not limited to Apple tools and can be accessed across third-party apps.
The Smart Reply feature will craft an appropriate response in Messages and Mail.
©Photos: Sherri L. Smith / DreamSmith LLC
Apple Intelligence will create a glanceable summary if you get multiple notifications from the same app.
Apple is hoping to give Google a run for its money with its photo-editing features.
Searching for images and videos is easier than ever with support for natural language queries.
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Finding and enhancing your photos is easier than ever.
Plus, you’ve got the option to search for specific spots in videos.
The final feature to discuss is Reduce Interruptions.
©Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
When its time to initiate Focus mode, Apple Intelligence will only send notifications that it deems important.
It understands the content.
The tabs also had several YouTube videos and social media sites.
And the M4 Mac Mini beat the brakes off its predecessor.
Compare that to the M2 Mac Mini, which posted results of 2,599 and 9,740.
The last-gen Mini CPU took much longer, at 4:28, and the GPU completed the render in 1:27.
Meanwhile, the M2 Mini only notched 588 and 122, respectively.
Year after year, it significantly improved on the previous years wins.
The result is a gear that blows its predecessor out of the water.
Apple even managed to put more ports on a box with smaller dimensions.
The only flaw I can find with the newest Mac Mini is that bottom-mounted power button.
But its a minor concern in the grand scheme of things.
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