A teardown of the new M4 Mac mini by Max Tech reveals the clever engineering Apple employed to shrink the device while maintaining performance. The teardown highlights several internal changes, including a revamped cooling system.
Redesigned Cooling and Internal Layout
The M4 Mac mini features a redesigned circular cooling system with multiple holes for efficient airflow. The teardown also revealed a smaller secondary motherboard housing the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, along with a unique spiraling heatsink connected to a single heatpipe and a large metal plate. This efficient design allows the M4 Mac mini to outperform the MacBook Pro with the same M4 chip in some tests.
User-Replaceable Storage and Other Features
Surprisingly, the M4 Mac mini offers user-replaceable storage, although it uses an uncommon form factor. The base 256GB storage model actually utilizes two 128GB NAND chips for improved read and write speeds. The two front Thunderbolt 4 ports are also easily removable for added convenience. The entire PCB features a sandwiched design, further contributing to the mini's compact size.
Where to Buy
The M4 Mac mini starts at $599 for the base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Amazon currently offers a $30 discount, bringing the price down to $569.99. The 512GB model is available for $749.99 after a $50 discount, but stock is limited.
