Great vid, first I’ve seen that really covers the mini’s portability. Sure if you’re setting up in a dozen different places throughout the week a laptop is best, but if you’re traveling every once in a while the mini is a no brainer. Not like I can get anything done using just a single laptop screen anyway, so I’m always bringing extra monitors and peripherals. At home, I can just bring my iPad around and it’s basically the same as having a laptop.
Personally, I think it’s never a question between a laptop and a desktop. If you can only have one, laptop. ALWAYS. So far, happy with my M1 Pro MBP 16”. In future, I’m gonna step up to whatever the Pro or Max laptop is at that time. Portability is a MUST, and it’s plenty of power still. When I have a LOT of money to spend, WAAAY down the road, I’d add an Ultra Studio for the desktop.
I definitely agree, but this is really only true for macs, and apple silicon macs, to be specific. In x86 land, the choice between the two is much harder. With laptops you basically have to choose between performance, battery life and reasonable pricing, and most of the time you can't have all three. Desktops, though, I just built a 5800x3d 3080ti machine for less than $1200. It's crazy how much more performance you can get with a desktop for the same price.
I’d be interested in your thoughts on a set up with an M4 Pro Mac Mini as a desktop/developer box and an 11in M4 iPad Pro for portability. Wondering what the experience would be there with a combination of remote access tools to get the portability and tablet functionality of an iPad with being able to connect to a machine that can actually compile code.
That's more expensive than a MacBook Pro, would definitely go with a MacBook Pro, both for environmental purposes (1 machine is less waste of resources) as for your own convenience :).
But iPadOS is vendorlocked OS (compared to MacOS) without ability to install anything you want... and as for the convenience of portable mode - usual laptop looks more sturdy than construction of iPad+magic_keyboard (especially when it is on your laps)) As for remote access tools for development, which are usefull on iPad - CodeServer comes to mind; it is a headless VSCode service which you start on your Mac Mini/Home server/Office workstation, and just access it using web browser (with public IP on server side or using VPN, it is not something like Anydesk or Teamviewer which use some cloud relay)
Any time I start to kvetch about ANY of my Mac speeds, I take a step back and remember 1987 and SCO XENIX running on my 10.2MHz 80286/80287 with an RLL Seagate 20MB disk drive over a 7.4MHz ISA bus. Perspective makes a big difference.
I’m running a Mini base model as a server. I’ve got it sitting next to my NAS with a 14TB external drive. It’s a plex server, it’s backing up the NAS, and it’s also backing up to backblaze. Oh and it handles all my file downloads and Google Takeout storage too. It’s been working hard!
You are perhaps the first UA-camr who is reviewing Apple products using a self-made 3D plot! Loved the visualisations! Hoping to see these plots again if/when the M4 Macbook Airs come out in 2025.
I got Mac Mini M4 Pro for my main home personal development, photo, video, and music editing and left my Windows 11 for gaming and got my work to get me MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max to replace my MacBook 16 Pro Intel (2019) laptop for development.
Honestly, I’d consider the Mac mini running at home and connecting to it with screen sharing on a secure VPN connection. It sips little power while being highly performant.
More cores helps when you’re doing more than one thing at a time. I RDP into a VM, have OneNote, Teams up. Run R Studio and Azure Data Studio, a run a local LLM. The extra 2 performance cores help. Real world, extra cores are helpful for me.
Its clear, the Macbooks costs more so the firmware told the software to speed it up or the stocks so go down lol or the cache/ swap in the ssd is the underlying factor because the macbooks may have slightly faster storage modules or larger modules where as the mini may not. I could be wrong. Or is another voltage change from the firmwares
This is so timeley! I’be been sphaving a hard time deciding if I should return my macboom pro m4pro 14c/20c 24gb ram 1Tb, and get the mac mini version with the same spec. Then just buy a macbook Air m4 once released for on the go and remote screen.
@ I actually really really loved the awesome screen. The problem is I tried coding with a 14 inch and it’s very much the same experience with my previous M2 Air - it’s hard. But, I cant imagine having a 16 inch laptop. I dont watch on laptops too cause I use my TV and iPad Mini for media consumption. I dont work with images and videos too. Im pretty contended with my IPS monitors with 240Hz refresh rate.
Idea… MBP in shell mode with external monitor or iPad & kb to avoid reclining chair in front of you and no need for external power. This could help avoid losing my temper when some reclines aggressively 😅
This is why I hope Apple creates a first party Remote Desktop. What if with same tech as airdrop and nearby, your iPad Pro can easily can tell your near the Mac and you get notification on iPad. “Want to control your Mac?” and boom Mac on ipad.
correction to 1:55. If you really know what you need and are doing some AI work… you get an RTX 4090 desktop machine for a lower price and killer performance. AI work, real AI work, is not meant to be mobile
I've heard you can turn ON high power mode and efficiency mode in the M4 Pro mac minis. I think this might be the issue why pro minis are taking longer to export?
I am working on a MacBook Pro (M3 Pro) and yes, I do have an external audio interface at home, so I can use my SM 7 B knockoff and my DT770 Pro with my mac. If I am on the go, I will choose convenience over fidelity, so I use my Marshall Major V via Bluetooth. Also I need to share that audio setup with my Windows gaming PC. My audio interface is connected via USB to my display and this acts as a KVMC switch (Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Camera).
@@AZisk This is exactly what I am saying. I have this kind of overkill home office setup, because we needed to be able to do band practice remotely and I got used to having a good mic and headphones ;-)
Thanks for the video. 🙂🙏 Do you reckon it still makes sense to buy a used M1 Max MacBook Pro, 16 inch? I have a budget of about $1500, need something on which I can run local LLMs, and need portability.
Great video as always. I really like it since you brought up the XREAL AR Glasses. They have a new One version of the glasses X1 chip. I am going to try a M4 Pro Mac Mini & use a Virtual Display Only and my existing keyboard & mouse.
It's not mac mini replace Macbook, two different kinds of use scenarios. But a reshuffle of current Mac price structure. Anything before M4 just quickly depreciate in reselling values. Cause even the most basic $499 m4 can beats M1 max - M3 Pro.
I am impressed by the M4 Mac mini but you don't save $800 because you still have to buy a display, keyboard, mouse, camera, microphone and speakers and advisedly additional storage. Which is then not mobile.
I would consider the monitor to be the most expensive from this list and it’s something you buy regardless of using a Macbook or a mini. You simply don’t do productivity stuff on the laptop screen. The same goes for the mouse. So realistically you only need a keyboard, a webcam and a mic. You can use your iPhone as a camera (free), get the wired apple EarPods for $19 and whatever keyboard you like. That’s a lot of savings. Not mobile, but a lot of savings
@@Bek-A That's a miscount. I have a Macbook Pro M1 Pro, my two external monitors give me *three displays,* one extremely high quality, plus one vertical for text and file viewing, and another landscape showing my work full screen with direct access to all other windows and desktops. I played with continuing with a mouse but just went back to using my trackpad which I would have wanted anyway in addition to the mouse. I do miss having a numeric keypad for styling shortcuts. What I really miss is my 27" iMac. But Apple... 🥺
You have complete control of purchase of all of those components, and they can be bought for less than $200 for the whole package, while you’re stuck with what you got with the laptop
@@JoseDiaz-qw7mg If you haven't tried the new Macbook Pros you may not appreciate what high quality all those components are. Despite I've had mine 2 years now, I am still gobsmacked how amazing the screen and speakers are. "Less than $200" (which I do not believe) will get the worst cheap rubbish which will probably have to be replaced and paid for again fairly quickly. In my experience I will be "stuck with what I've got" for probably a decade, and since it is a league ahead of the competition it will be better than what is available for most of that time.. My 2012 Macbook Pro 16" is still running fine and is still amazing and better (except for the CPU/GPU) than most PCs available today.
I have to say I’m a little underwhelmed with my M4 Max running Flux. I thought the 40 core GPU would be pretty zippy but not awesome. I feel like of going back to cloud GPU’s to do any Flux work. Can’t wait to see if Mac Studio comes out with an extreme or ultra chip.
Heres what the best ai model said about the Mac mini as compared to the AMD 370 mini pc from minisforum : "The AMD Ryzen 370 Mini PC is better suited for gaming at 1440p and AI model inference due to its powerful integrated GPU and dedicated AI processing capabilities. The Mac Mini M4 excels in efficiency and macOS-specific workflows but falls short in gaming and intensive AI tasks."
I know this is not quite the suitable video, but I'm watching this right now and thought of it; so I just ask, since you are my favorite Mac-content-person right now: What do you think about the "vignetting-effect" of the mini-led displays on the MacBook Pros? I have a hard time getting used to it because it's so noticeable while coding and writing, especially since I'm absolutely not a dark-mode-person. Since you have so much experience with this mini-led MacBooks I'm very interested in your opinion. Like: Can you notice a difference between different units with the same mini-led-display? Does the shadow appear to you also kind of blue-ish sometimes? And I don't know, would be cool if you could share your thoughts over all on that topic. I wish you a merry Christmas and a lovely time with your loved ones during the holidays.
Will be happy to get a reply from you Sir. I bought an M4 Max Macbook pro 16", heavily inspired by you, and I am planning to use it for locally hosting agentic AI and applications like that. I haven't started yet, but what I have noted is the RAM is always 30 Gig out of the 36 Gig even while doing very less intensive things like browsing the web, using the microsoft office apps and things like that.... Is that a normal thing or this is something to worry about? (I remember one software engineer told me Mac's Unix expand to use up all the RAM always, but wanted to confirm from you or any expert who will like to help in the comment section...)
bro you contradict yourself 6:20 on your videos a lot when you don't show numbers on screen, is this something intended? cuz it's not the first time I noticed it
If you ever feel slighted or angry at one of those macbook pros or mac mini pros.... like if it says something mean to ya, or they look at you too cross. Send me a message, I would love to take one of*f (lmfao edit** not take one OF your hands but one OFF your hands O.o) your hands, lmfao. Okok sorry my humor sucks, lolololol I'm just drooling at your kit every video LOLOLOLOL(again sorry my long COVID brain has just, dismantled my ability to be funny but I gotta try right? Right...? Maybe? PLEASE GIMME ONE PLEASE! lolol)
More cores helps when you’re doing more than one thing at a time. I RDP into a VM, have OneNote, Teams up. Run R Studio and Azure Data Studio, a run a local LLM. The extra 2 performance cores help. Real world, extra cores are helpful for me.
![Best Gaming CPUs: Update Late 2024 [28 CPUs, 14 Games]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2mE4YEm2L-g/mqdefault.jpg)
Great vid, first I’ve seen that really covers the mini’s portability. Sure if you’re setting up in a dozen different places throughout the week a laptop is best, but if you’re traveling every once in a while the mini is a no brainer. Not like I can get anything done using just a single laptop screen anyway, so I’m always bringing extra monitors and peripherals. At home, I can just bring my iPad around and it’s basically the same as having a laptop.
I’ve been waiting since the release of Mac mini m4 for this video. Finally 🎉❤
Personally, I think it’s never a question between a laptop and a desktop. If you can only have one, laptop. ALWAYS.
So far, happy with my M1 Pro MBP 16”. In future, I’m gonna step up to whatever the Pro or Max laptop is at that time. Portability is a MUST, and it’s plenty of power still. When I have a LOT of money to spend, WAAAY down the road, I’d add an Ultra Studio for the desktop.
I definitely agree, but this is really only true for macs, and apple silicon macs, to be specific. In x86 land, the choice between the two is much harder. With laptops you basically have to choose between performance, battery life and reasonable pricing, and most of the time you can't have all three. Desktops, though, I just built a 5800x3d 3080ti machine for less than $1200. It's crazy how much more performance you can get with a desktop for the same price.
exactly the video i was looking for! Thanks
I’d be interested in your thoughts on a set up with an M4 Pro Mac Mini as a desktop/developer box and an 11in M4 iPad Pro for portability. Wondering what the experience would be there with a combination of remote access tools to get the portability and tablet functionality of an iPad with being able to connect to a machine that can actually compile code.
This is exactly what I am contemplating…
That's more expensive than a MacBook Pro, would definitely go with a MacBook Pro, both for environmental purposes (1 machine is less waste of resources) as for your own convenience :).
@@brennonjacobson6262 A good question and something I was wondering.
But iPadOS is vendorlocked OS (compared to MacOS) without ability to install anything you want... and as for the convenience of portable mode - usual laptop looks more sturdy than construction of iPad+magic_keyboard (especially when it is on your laps))
As for remote access tools for development, which are usefull on iPad - CodeServer comes to mind; it is a headless VSCode service which you start on your Mac Mini/Home server/Office workstation, and just access it using web browser (with public IP on server side or using VPN, it is not something like Anydesk or Teamviewer which use some cloud relay)
A lot of people have tried this, and they all end up selling them and opting for a Macbook because it is so inconvenient.
first time mac mini user here after 4 macbooks through 15 years. So far so good
I’ve been waiting for this com-Alison video. Thank you!
Will you test new Nvidia Jetson products? Maybe even some combo with Mac mini? Compare pure and mixed clusters?
🤔 maybe
@@AZisk they are pretty cool
Any time I start to kvetch about ANY of my Mac speeds, I take a step back and remember 1987 and SCO XENIX running on my 10.2MHz 80286/80287 with an RLL Seagate 20MB disk drive over a 7.4MHz ISA bus. Perspective makes a big difference.
I’m running a Mini base model as a server. I’ve got it sitting next to my NAS with a 14TB external drive. It’s a plex server, it’s backing up the NAS, and it’s also backing up to backblaze. Oh and it handles all my file downloads and Google Takeout storage too. It’s been working hard!
Base model studio is going to be the sweet spot for pros
You are perhaps the first UA-camr who is reviewing Apple products using a self-made 3D plot! Loved the visualisations! Hoping to see these plots again if/when the M4 Macbook Airs come out in 2025.
Can you make a video please, mac mini m4 as a NAS/server (with sdd/hdd enclosure something like that). synology is too expensive imo
Much needed video !
So Happy you dropped this video. This was literally my dilemma lol
You may laugh but Mac Mini is a perfect PC for grandma. So I bought one for my grandma for this Christmas.
I got Mac Mini M4 Pro for my main home personal development, photo, video, and music editing and left my Windows 11 for gaming and got my work to get me MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max to replace my MacBook 16 Pro Intel (2019) laptop for development.
Your content is fantastic! However, the floating camera is a bit hard for me to follow. Still, I’m excited to see more of your work.
Honestly, I’d consider the Mac mini running at home and connecting to it with screen sharing on a secure VPN connection. It sips little power while being highly performant.
More cores helps when you’re doing more than one thing at a time.
I RDP into a VM, have OneNote, Teams up. Run R Studio and Azure Data Studio, a run a local LLM. The extra 2 performance cores help.
Real world, extra cores are helpful for me.
You should make Docker videos with these M4 chips!
Its clear, the Macbooks costs more so the firmware told the software to speed it up or the stocks so go down lol or the cache/ swap in the ssd is the underlying factor because the macbooks may have slightly faster storage modules or larger modules where as the mini may not. I could be wrong. Or is another voltage change from the firmwares
This is so timeley! I’be been sphaving a hard time deciding if I should return my macboom pro m4pro 14c/20c 24gb ram 1Tb, and get the mac mini version with the same spec. Then just buy a macbook Air m4 once released for on the go and remote screen.
The 120hz screen on the new macbook pros is just sublime. If you are not going to use its screen then just get a mac mini and wait for m4 macair.
@ I actually really really loved the awesome screen. The problem is I tried coding with a 14 inch and it’s very much the same experience with my previous M2 Air - it’s hard. But, I cant imagine having a 16 inch laptop. I dont watch on laptops too cause I use my TV and iPad Mini for media consumption. I dont work with images and videos too. Im pretty contended with my IPS monitors with 240Hz refresh rate.
I have an M4 Macbook Pro with 128GB of RAM so not sure what you're talking about at 0:30
@@IsZomg maybe you have to upgrade the processor too
Idea… MBP in shell mode with external monitor or iPad & kb to avoid reclining chair in front of you and no need for external power.
This could help avoid losing my temper when some reclines aggressively 😅
This is why I hope Apple creates a first party Remote Desktop. What if with same tech as airdrop and nearby, your iPad Pro can easily can tell your near the Mac and you get notification on iPad. “Want to control your Mac?” and boom Mac on ipad.
correction to 1:55. If you really know what you need and are doing some AI work… you get an RTX 4090 desktop machine for a lower price and killer performance. AI work, real AI work, is not meant to be mobile
I’m old school: desktop? Mini. Portable? Book. (I have both but if you can afford only one and really need mobility: book)
It is not weird at all. Better cooling, better performance. More space, better heat disipation...
Better idea for portability: don't bring your work with you when you're traveling
there is a very large group of people that travel for business that you’re forgetting
I'm waiting for the Mac Studio
Nice video! Really well done. Kind of confirmed that my macbook air 15inch is still the ideal development machine lol.
I've heard you can turn ON high power mode and efficiency mode in the M4 Pro mac minis.
I think this might be the issue why pro minis are taking longer to export?
Macmini m4 - DC mod + portable keyboard and screen/vr glasses
DC mod?
@@C.r.i.m.s.o.n DC so it can be used with a battery
MacBook with extra step
@@ValentinoNicko CYBERDECK. not settling for laptop formfactor or macbook IO or macbook battery or screen size... no not macbook
mac mini and AR Glass for the win
I am working on a MacBook Pro (M3 Pro) and yes, I do have an external audio interface at home, so I can use my SM 7 B knockoff and my DT770 Pro with my mac. If I am on the go, I will choose convenience over fidelity, so I use my Marshall Major V via Bluetooth. Also I need to share that audio setup with my Windows gaming PC. My audio interface is connected via USB to my display and this acts as a KVMC switch (Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Camera).
so what you’re saying is that you’re an audio nerd. 😂 i appreciate good audio
@@AZisk This is exactly what I am saying. I have this kind of overkill home office setup, because we needed to be able to do band practice remotely and I got used to having a good mic and headphones ;-)
Thanks for the video. 🙂🙏
Do you reckon it still makes sense to buy a used M1 Max MacBook Pro, 16 inch? I have a budget of about $1500, need something on which I can run local LLMs, and need portability.
Great video as always. I really like it since you brought up the XREAL AR Glasses. They have a new One version of the glasses X1 chip. I am going to try a M4 Pro Mac Mini & use a Virtual Display Only and my existing keyboard & mouse.
IMO given the lack luster performance of thunderbolt 5, the M3 Max is the way to go.
You hit me :) with this video, as also I am looking to get a M4 PRO mac mini.
Interesting thought - be interesting windows laptop / combined with mac mini m4 as a setup?
I can pick up my MacBook Pro and go anywhere, it's not soo easy with the Mac Mini. I have both.
Different OS versions 15/16 can make a difference
It's not mac mini replace Macbook, two different kinds of use scenarios. But a reshuffle of current Mac price structure. Anything before M4 just quickly depreciate in reselling values. Cause even the most basic $499 m4 can beats M1 max - M3 Pro.
I am impressed by the M4 Mac mini but you don't save $800 because you still have to buy a display, keyboard, mouse, camera, microphone and speakers and advisedly additional storage. Which is then not mobile.
I would consider the monitor to be the most expensive from this list and it’s something you buy regardless of using a Macbook or a mini. You simply don’t do productivity stuff on the laptop screen. The same goes for the mouse.
So realistically you only need a keyboard, a webcam and a mic. You can use your iPhone as a camera (free), get the wired apple EarPods for $19 and whatever keyboard you like. That’s a lot of savings. Not mobile, but a lot of savings
@@Bek-A That's a miscount.
I have a Macbook Pro M1 Pro, my two external monitors give me *three displays,* one extremely high quality, plus one vertical for text and file viewing, and another landscape showing my work full screen with direct access to all other windows and desktops. I played with continuing with a mouse but just went back to using my trackpad which I would have wanted anyway in addition to the mouse.
I do miss having a numeric keypad for styling shortcuts. What I really miss is my 27" iMac. But Apple... 🥺
You have complete control of purchase of all of those components, and they can be bought for less than $200 for the whole package, while you’re stuck with what you got with the laptop
@@JoseDiaz-qw7mg If you haven't tried the new Macbook Pros you may not appreciate what high quality all those components are.
Despite I've had mine 2 years now, I am still gobsmacked how amazing the screen and speakers are.
"Less than $200" (which I do not believe) will get the worst cheap rubbish which will probably have to be replaced and paid for again fairly quickly.
In my experience I will be "stuck with what I've got" for probably a decade, and since it is a league ahead of the competition it will be better than what is available for most of that time.. My 2012 Macbook Pro 16" is still running fine and is still amazing and better (except for the CPU/GPU) than most PCs available today.
I have to say I’m a little underwhelmed with my M4 Max running Flux. I thought the 40 core GPU would be pretty zippy but not awesome. I feel like of going back to cloud GPU’s to do any Flux work. Can’t wait to see if Mac Studio comes out with an extreme or ultra chip.
did you try mflux?
Heres what the best ai model said about the Mac mini as compared to the AMD 370 mini pc from minisforum : "The AMD Ryzen 370 Mini PC is better suited for gaming at 1440p and AI model inference due to its powerful integrated GPU and dedicated AI processing capabilities. The Mac Mini M4 excels in efficiency and macOS-specific workflows but falls short in gaming and intensive AI tasks."
I am Tester developer, AI enthusiastic, I will be good with M4 base with 16GB or should I try to get more RAM?
Grandma Alex ftw
Agree with another commentor, would love to see the new jetsons on your workbench. At $249, very interesting hardware.
it does open up some new possibilities
The Max isn’t in the Mini because thermally it can only handle up to the Pro chip not the Max chip
I know this is not quite the suitable video, but I'm watching this right now and thought of it; so I just ask, since you are my favorite Mac-content-person right now: What do you think about the "vignetting-effect" of the mini-led displays on the MacBook Pros? I have a hard time getting used to it because it's so noticeable while coding and writing, especially since I'm absolutely not a dark-mode-person. Since you have so much experience with this mini-led MacBooks I'm very interested in your opinion. Like: Can you notice a difference between different units with the same mini-led-display? Does the shadow appear to you also kind of blue-ish sometimes? And I don't know, would be cool if you could share your thoughts over all on that topic. I wish you a merry Christmas and a lovely time with your loved ones during the holidays.
i never noticed vignetting on any of my MacBook screens.
@@AZisk Ok, that's weird. I can even see it in your videos. Perhaps it's in my head though. Thanks for answering anyways.
Will be happy to get a reply from you Sir. I bought an M4 Max Macbook pro 16", heavily inspired by you, and I am planning to use it for locally hosting agentic AI and applications like that.
I haven't started yet, but what I have noted is the RAM is always 30 Gig out of the 36 Gig even while doing very less intensive things like browsing the web, using the microsoft office apps and things like that.... Is that a normal thing or this is something to worry about?
(I remember one software engineer told me Mac's Unix expand to use up all the RAM always, but wanted to confirm from you or any expert who will like to help in the comment section...)
it’s fine.
just let macos do macos
bro you contradict yourself 6:20 on your videos a lot when you don't show numbers on screen, is this something intended? cuz it's not the first time I noticed it
can you be more specific?
Just toss the mini in your bag with your MacBook, and remote into the mini.
00:57 LMAAOOOOO
If the Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro allowed for 64GB RAM, I would still buy the MBP. What a stupid decision by Apple.
M4 Macbook comes with up to 128GB of RAM
@@IsZomg Did you see how I wrote "M4 Pro" in my comment above? I know the Max allows for 128GB but I'm not looking for a 14" toaster oven.
Oooor buy a Mac mini and use a Mac book air 15” as a monitor.
iPad as a monitor.
Hello Alex
hi there
@@AZisk It was nice comparison video on mac books and mac mini .loved it
@@bhanuprakashp9616 THx. I appreciate you watching!
If you ever feel slighted or angry at one of those macbook pros or mac mini pros.... like if it says something mean to ya, or they look at you too cross. Send me a message, I would love to take one of*f (lmfao edit** not take one OF your hands but one OFF your hands O.o) your hands, lmfao. Okok sorry my humor sucks, lolololol I'm just drooling at your kit every video LOLOLOLOL(again sorry my long COVID brain has just, dismantled my ability to be funny but I gotta try right? Right...? Maybe? PLEASE GIMME ONE PLEASE! lolol)
First ? !
this is a first...
Third
3
fourth
nice
More cores helps when you’re doing more than one thing at a time.
I RDP into a VM, have OneNote, Teams up. Run R Studio and Azure Data Studio, a run a local LLM. The extra 2 performance cores help.
Real world, extra cores are helpful for me.