Last October, Apple unveiled the revamped Mac mini featuring the M4 chip. While it may not feel new given that it’s approaching six months on the market, I believe it stands out as one of Apple’s best offerings for emerging creators, developers, and a variety of creative professionals.
It’s well-known that Apple Silicon has allowed the company to produce significantly more powerful chipsets for entry-level devices. Prior to the shift to Apple Silicon, the idea of a MacBook Air capable of smoothly editing 4K video was merely a fantasy. Attempting to compile an Xcode project on an Intel MacBook Air? Good luck with that.
In a sense, Apple Silicon has made Macs more affordable. There was no longer a need to purchase a 16″ MacBook Pro to access a high-performance chipset in a laptop. Additionally, the prices of certain Mac models have straightforwardly dropped. The 2018 Mac mini originally started at $799, then fell to $699 with the M1 model, and further decreased to $599 with the M2 model.
I know many individuals who previously relied on high-end 15″ and 16″ MacBook Pros during the Intel era, but can now efficiently work with a MacBook Air, upgrading just the RAM and SSD. This is an incredible development.
The latest Mac mini takes high-end performance to a new level with its affordability. It comes with 16GB of RAM as standard, a feature that used to cost an additional $200. The M4 chip offers outstanding performance, all packaged at a price of just $499 for students and $599 for everyone else.
In summary, this machine is an exceptional gift for any budding developer or creative professional. I’ve been using the entry-level Mac mini as my primary desktop since December, and to get so much value at this price point feels nothing short of miraculous.
Back in 2019, when I bought my first Mac, you wouldn’t find anything for $499 that had more than a dual-core processor, and certainly not brand new. The barrier to entry into the Mac ecosystem has never been lower, which is a significant advantage to recognize.
Additionally, the M4 Mac mini is currently available on Amazon for $499, offering everyone the chance to acquire it at what is typically reserved for student pricing.
My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:
Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram
