The M4 Pro Mac mini is possibly the best deal in computing in late 2024, boasting an impressive amount of power for pros that rivals the Mac Studio and Mac Pro in a tiny package.

Such is the classic simplicity of Apple design, if you’d been abducted by aliens two decades ago and taken to the peaceful planet Zog to hang out with and learn from an enlightened species, you’d still recognize this as a Mac mini when you returned. (Though you’d probably be disappointed at the state of enlightenment here on Terra Ferma.)

The M4 Pro Mac Mini is a compact, high-performance desktop computer designed to meet the demanding needs of creative professionals. With its innovative M4

There is a way to use a collection of M4 Mac minis in a cluster, but the benefits only really exist when you use high-end Macs.

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.

Apple’s M4 Mac mini has been out for two weeks now, here are my takeaways after using it for a fortnight in unconventional ways.

The M4 Pro Mac Mini and the M4 Pro MacBook Pro—can be a daunting task. Both are powered by the innovative M4 Pro chip, delivering exceptional performance

They have four standard models, from the base machine up through a pretty nice M4 Pro model. For years, we ran Relay’s live stream on a Mac mini hosted by MacStadium. If you need a Mac in the cloud, it’s the only way to go.