Apple's long-overdue overhaul of the Mac mini shrinks an already great package even more, yet it still punches far above its weight class.

The Mac mini M4 improves upon what was already a great mini PC with excellent performance, extra ports on both the front and back and a much more capable base model. Its smaller size also makes it a more compelling upgrade that takes up less space on your desk.

The M4 Mac Mini, the latest addition to Apple's lineup, is turning heads in the tech community for its impressive capabilities as an emulation device.

To be fair, both of those other computers have significantly more memory bandwidth than the Mac Mini, and both have better GPU performance. If maxing out as many GPU cores as possible is important to you, you’re probably better off with an M4 Max, which means either a MacBook Pro or waiting for an updated Mac Studio.

Early teardowns reveal that the M4 Mac Mini uses slotted modular SSDs, rather than soldered-on memory. This modular system means that storage upgrades are technically feasible, but Apple's proprietary SSD design makes upgrades a non-starter for the average customer.

When it was introduced during the white plastic heyday of peak iPod-era Apple, the Mac mini was pitched as the cheapest way to buy into the Mac ecosystem. It was $499. And despite some fluctuation (as high as $799 for the entry-level 2018 mini, $599 for this year's refresh), the Mac mini has stayed the cheapest entry-level Mac ever since.

FREE! The new M4 Mac Mini is absurdly small but powerful enough for gaming. The tiny form factor has also undergone some other changes. There are two USB-C ports and a headphone jack in the front, and the power button has also been moved from the back to the bottom of the device.

Apple launched Apple M4 Mac Mini recently and it has been well received amongst tech enthusiasts. People are amazed by the palm-sized device packing the power of a full-fledged computer inside. There is one aspect of the Apple M4 Mac Mini that is being widely talked about in the industry and it is the placement of the power button.