A recent test by The Verge reveals that the M4 Mac mini surpasses the M4 MacBook Pro in a Premiere Pro 4K export test, showcasing the importance of effective cooling solutions for maximizing Apple Silicon performance.
All three tested machines feature the same 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU M4 chip, manufactured using TSMC's second-generation 3nm process. This means thermal management plays a crucial role in performance differences.
The Premiere Pro 4K export test, which stresses both CPU and GPU, demonstrated the following results:
| Device | Export Time | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| M4 iMac (24-inch) | 3 minutes 4 seconds | $2,299 |
| M4 Mac mini (512GB) | 3 minutes 9 seconds | $799 |
| M4 MacBook Pro (14-inch) | 3 minutes 14 seconds | $1,949 |
While the differences are relatively small, the iMac's superior cooling likely contributed to its faster export time. The Mac mini's competitive performance at a much lower price point makes it an attractive option.
The base M4 Mac mini is available on Amazon starting at $579, with the 512GB variant at $749. The base M4 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) is also available on Amazon for $1,549.
