The Mac mini M4 combined with an 42" LG OLED C4 is the large screen (i)Mac. Every well-assorted household should have both a 24" iMac and a 5-inch Mac mini anyway.
The fact that the mini is upgradable, and your monitor does not become useless when some hardware in your computer becomes outdated makes it the winner. It really annoys me that my 2019 imac has a screen that is just as good as the modern imac, but it is useless because it is chained to the outdated computing parts. They should have made the imac a mac mini that docks onto a monitor.
There was a third party solution that designed a circuit board that made an upgrade logic board manage the iMac. It was sold in Australia and I don’t think it was successful. That might be a lot easier now with 3D printers.
@@Patricia-kk8tr There were several hacks where people surgically implanted a Mini motherboard into the carcass of an iMac - I think Luke did a video on it. World's most elaborate upgrade, and that was with the old Intel Macs.
The mini isn't actually upgradeable. The storage is a separate module but it's still cryptographically locked to the SOC. The only way you can upgrade the storage is by desoldering the nand chips and soldering on higher capacity ones to keep the lockchip onboard untouched... It's absurd to call that upgradable. I personally don't view storage as a real limit though, external drives and network storage has so many options, just pick what suits you. Even cloud if you're a complete maniac who loves subscriptions. You're right thought, It would be really nice if apple was Framework ™️ and you could just buy the new board for your existing system.
Cuz it's cheaper since you can use any screen while the iMac has a screen built in so it's obviously more expensive, if you don't have an Apple display the Mac Mini will be better value even with the magic peripherals
Obviously. You can personalize the mini with the monitor, keyboard, and mouse that you want and Can change them anytime. Also the price of the mini is cheaper.
The iMac’s allure is the all in one set up. One power cable is all that is needed. Some people and businesses prefer that for a cleaner look. Also less power outlets used. More efficient.
Apple claiming to care about the environment and touting carbon neutrality on the new M4 Mac Mini while discontinuing TARGET DISPLAY MODE is inexcusable! That feature would enable eventual re-use of iMac displays as standalone displays for any future computer you may get... like with a M10 Mac Mini down the line. Shame on you Apple!
@ Use your iMac as a display with target display mode Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models. No alt supplied for Image The following older iMac models can be used as an external display when plugged into another older Mac model. iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014 To use any of these iMac models as an external display: The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed. The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed. The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a ThunderboltThunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2Thunderbolt 2 cable. 24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010 To use any of these iMac models as an external display: The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed. The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed. The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Mini DisplayPortDisplayPort cable. How to use target display mode Make sure that your iMac is started up and meets the system requirements above. Make sure that the other Mac is started up and logged in to a macOS user account. Connect the two computers using the appropriate Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable. You can use more than one iMac as a display, if each iMac is using a Thunderbolt cable to connect directly to a Thunderbolt port on the other Mac (not the other iMac). Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac. You should now see the desktop of the other Mac. To exit target display mode, press Command-F2 again. Or disconnect the cable, or restart either Mac. Apps that were open on your iMac when entering target display mode remain open in target display mode. For example, if you begin playing music on your iMac and then enter target display mode, the music doesn't pause on your iMac.
Mini with Dell S2722QC (4k HDR) monitor, keyboard, mouse, and optional webcam. The Dell is currently $250, so it’s about $200 less than the BenQ Luke recommended. I’m a big fan of the BenQ monitors, but these Dell monitors are also very good. Definitely a better value than the iMac, maybe spend the savings on a 512GB SSD or 24GB RAM, depending on your needs. Personally, I’m going to wait until 3rd party SSD upgrades are available before I buy. Also, I already have monitors, keyboard, and mouse on a KVM with my 2018 Mac Mini, PC, and work computer so no rush and no need (nor space for) an iMac.
@@mex5341 BS. 1. I have “perfect” color vision. I calibrate monitors without the need of a colorimeter. You’re subjectively full of crap. 2. Look at the delta-E for these monitors. You’re objectively full of crap.
@@allmyownvideo the iMac Pro dead too the Mac studio with pro display XDR 32 inch replace it the rumors have been around for 2 years still nothing (I miss the big iMacs)
My setup. M4 Mac mini $1099nzd. Used Thunderbolt Display $150nzd. New in box old stock Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard 2 from a school supply store $85nz. $1334nzd. That’s $1165 cheaper than the base model iMac here.
I traded up from an 16” M1 Max (that was desk-bound) to the top-spec M4 Pro Mac Mini to run Motion Graphics (among other design tasks). No regrets… except for the nostalgia factor of owning a slice of history with that M1 transition.
Just been advising a not-particularly-geeky friend trying to choose between a new iMac and a new Mac Mini. She really wanted a 27" display, and (less rationally) really wanted an Apple display, so was prepared (and able) to spend a lot more to buy the Mac Mini with the Apple Studio display. I'm glad to learn that she also gets better performance and better thermal behaviour (and more ports) with this choice.
I've had three iMacs. The first, from '08, is a trooper; still truckin' along doing homely work. The second died at six years. The third works, but crashes frequently and is super balky at booting. My Mac guy has tried to fix it, but no dice. He threw up his hands last time in frustration. So there's a new Mini in my future, with a nice 4k display.
I already had a Mac mini, an M1 with 16GB memory and 512GB storage, This was attached to a Satechi dock/hub with a 1TB SSD in it, USB condenser mic, Insta 360 Link 4k webcam and Apple Studio Display. I chose the M4 Mac mini opting for 24GB memory and 1TB storage. I still use the Satechi dock/hub thing and am experimenting with using the Mac mini inverted with the power button effectively on the right rear corner at the top. Inverting it doesn't seem to affect the internal temperature.
Since my iMac 2017 cannot go on for maybe one more year. I decided to go with Mac Mini 1TB 28 gigabit, since Apple no longer makes the 27 inch 5k display. I decided to go with a Oled 43 inch TV as a monitor and get my on Satechi keyboard and mouse to have a great setup. For mixing music, watch movies, videos and regular computer work this setup will be perfect for me. By the way great video.
Basically I bought a new M4 Mini to replace my 4 year old M1 Mini and transferred all the accessories, sold my M1 machine the next day. The net cost was just £205 to upgrade. Base 16/256 M4 Mac Mini, with Apple Magic Mouse and Keyboards. An external 1TB Seacuda NVME in an Orico Thunderbolt 3 case. 2nd hand 2018 Dell S2718D 2516*1440 Ultra thin Monitor. My eyes can’t cope with any smaller pixels… Took around 90 minutes to move over using the Seacuda backup.
@@SquintyGears The setup software for a new Mac gives you the option of copying the contents of a Time Machine backup. Could not be easier ... so long as you buy a large enough internal SSD.
Still rocking a 27 inch 2010 iMac with Linux/SSD. Works pretty great for light tasks, even the GPU acceleration works and can play multiple 4K UA-cam vids easily.
I'm about to retire my late 2014 27" iMac 5K, so your video is both relevant and interesting for me. I've been mulling it over for a while and have decided to go with the Mac Mini / Studio display setup. The 27" iMac was my first Mac and I've been very pleased with how trouble free it's been and how long it's lasted. Especially as it has a Fusion drive not SSD! The only reason I'm retiring it is that I can't upgrade the OS beyond Big Sur. I think I'd face the same dilemma with the iMac down the line and of this turns out to be the case then all I'll need to do is get a new Mac Mini, which I'm confident will be a far more cost effective option.
Even as an IT guy, the Mac Mini is actually the much simpler choice, the only additional item is a monitor and connecting that to the Mac Mini via USB C or HDMI is pretty much a one step process. And for all future upgrades, and there will be future upgrades, it's a simple 600$ upgrade to just replace the Mac Mini, most of the peripherals (keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers/headphones) can last up to 5-6 years in an office setup. I cannot imagine any company budgeting to replace the iMac every 2 years as opposed to the Mac Minis
I was so smitten with the M4 Pro Mac Mini that I ordered one… And then I cancelled the order. Because it was just for home use. Not for any of the workloads that my beloved tech-UA-camrs test them on.My use case is basically internet, media and various iOS apps. So I cancelled the order for the m4 Pro Mac Mini that was making me drool. Instead I bought a 32” 4k Samsung HDR monitor and plugged it to my 12.9” M1 iPad Pro. It’s been a revelation! I’ve used the iPad Pro as my primary home / personal use computer since it came out. Seeing it run this 32” 4k HDR monitor without breaking a sweat, has only made me fall in love with it more. I use it with the monitor when I want to do some web surfing, or to really enjoy some media. When I want to play my games I pull the cord on the USB C Apple media adapter and play on the iPad like always. The M4 product generation is amazing. My only suggestion would be to carefully consider your own use case. Yes, the M4 Pro Mac Mini gets you (and me) excited. But if it’s going in your home, do you do anything regularly at home that would benefit from that much computing power? Be honest, and spend wisely.
A point lost in this would be the Fruit Mini allows you to purchase a system at your current budget, but you could later upgrade to a much larger and better screen later. And I love my logi mx keyboard which I use for three different computers including my closed lid 2012 13 inch Macbook Pro.
I currently travel with a M2 Pro Mac mini with a 22” 1440p “travel” display packed in a pelican air case along with other audio gear. The constant setup and tear down has me looking at this iMac as a replacement for the road. 1 less power cable and 1 less display connector goes a long way lol. And now the M4 is a capable chip for I do it seems feasible now.
I’m a teacher and I plan to buy a Mac mini M4 next summer during “back to school”. I will pair it with my 2015 iMac 27” for its beautiful screen with Luna display. It’s cheaper than buying a 5K display.
@@bennym1956 I checked with Luna Display people and was told you will still have control of brightness,, but will lose access to volume control and camera and microphone.
I just bought a M4 Mac Mini with 512 GB of storage and 24 GB of RAM for $110 off retail from Amazon (discount + coupon). I also earn 5% on my Amazon credit card, which is about another $50 perk. Happy with my purchase. Can't wait to get crackin' on my computer.
I switched to an iMac from my Macbook when the first Retina 5K iMac came out. I used that machine till 2021, when I switched to the M1 iMac, which I still use today. I REALLY miss the bigger display. But the display was the one part, that made me keep the 5K iMac for so long. It was just that good. It had no defects, no burn in - it really hurt to give away that machine, since it worked just fine. All I wanted, was the newer chip. So, for me, it's clearly going to be Mac Mini plus display. Being able to upgrade my PC piece by piece is the only thing I really miss from my Windows PC days. So, maybe it's going to be Studio Display and base Mini, or base Mini Pro, don't know yet. Perhaps I'll just keep the M1 iMac and wait till the Mini get's the M5 or M6
Wow, this sounds like a mirror of my situation! Bought an iMac 27" 5K back in 2015. It got slow, and outdated, so I convinced myself I could live with a 24" display. NOOOO!!! I made it work for about 1.5 years, and could not stand it anymore (yes, I moved it closer, it's NOT the same!). So about a year ago, I bit the bullet (hard!) and got the Studio Display. So now I have a 24" iMac driving this display, sitting behind it (limited desk space). I'm looking very hard at trading this iMac in on the Mac mini M4 very soon. Trade in on this is like $300 through Apple, so it's more or less a no-brainer for a base M4 Mac mini. I will also add that not only is the 24" iMac display 3 inches smaller, it is also grossly inferior in display quality..mainly in the off angle viewing, it's horrible(compare them sometime in a store, especially from a top down/angle view). I'll take the 5K Studio display any day! ZERO regrets even at the outrageous price. I also found that the Studio Display has much less light bleed around the screen (black screen in a dark room). Seems Apple went cheap on these 24" iMac displays.
I chose iMac! If you need great screen, speakers, speed, all-in-one-compact-aesthetic-really-nice-looking package. What are going to place on your desk in the middle of the room - plastic Dell monitor with many black cables? :) There are simply no alternatives for 24" 4.5K great looking, compact display with just one nice cable attached.
Yeah I agree that screen is killer add in the peripherals built in camera and speakers add a small dock with built in storage and a few extra ports makes the iMac a great choice.
The iMac is a nice buy in a certain context. But the problem with it is that it is significantly pricier than the M4 MM with a cheaper 4K monitor (even Dell has nice options below 300usd like that S2722QC). Then you probably already have a keyboard and mouse, at least I do. Granted the iMac has nice integrated speakers, center stage camera, mic, great screen (albeit small in my opinion), but for the price of the iMac I can the best of both worlds which is buy a base MBA (ok, still M3, but with M4 next march/april) that also as great screen, webcam, mic, speakers etc. and a 4K 27” monitor. And in this case I have the versatility of the MM (wel, kinda, you need dongles 😂) and the portability of a laptop. The MM makes the sacrifice of not having portability (albeit not as bad as the iMac) but at least it’s cheap. I find the iMac interesting, but has the problem of not having neither the price or the portability of other options.
The iMac is a nice buy in a certain context. But the problem with it is that it is significantly pricier than the M4 MM with a cheaper 4K monitor (even Dell has nice options below 300usd like that S2722QC). Then you probably already have a keyboard and mouse, at least I do. Granted the iMac has nice integrated speakers, center stage camera, mic, great screen (albeit small in my opinion), but for the price of the iMac I can the best of both worlds which is buy a base MBA (ok, still M3, but with M4 next march/april) that also as great screen, webcam, mic, speakers etc. and a 4K 27” monitor. And in this case I have the versatility of the MM (well, kinda, you need dongles 😂) and the portability of a laptop. The MM makes the sacrifice of not having portability (albeit not as bad as the iMac) but at least it’s cheap. I find the iMac interesting, but has the problem of not having neither the price or the portability of other options. And at least in my country the iMac stars at a price that is double the price of the M4 MM plus a cheap 4K monitor. I know, this doesnt included a magic Magic Keyboard and a Magic Mouse, but still. And the Dell monitors have speakers, although worse than the iMac.
@@DustyKingyes, the iMac monitor is also better with better colors and brightness. I didn’t say it was the best option for everyone, but also another problem with iMacs if you look at the past is the fact that the monitors life largely surpasses the life of the internals. Also another win for the the external monitor option. I have monitors with more than 10 years still working just fine.
Luke, I upgraded from a Mac Mini M2 setup with a Samsung 32” M8 smart monitor and a Samsung 28” monitor, both 4K. Also had a Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboards (both sizes), and Edifier desktop speakers. The M4 Mac Mini I chose was the 24 GB Ram w/ 512 GB storage option for $999 … kinda. After an education discount of $100, and trading in my M2 Mac Mini, my net cost was about $590. Of course, the key is the education discount (anyone can get it by just asking, though I’m a legitimate higher ed math instructor), the trade-in of the old device, and already owned peripherals.
I’ve just pulled the trigger on the base m4 mini, but with 24GB Ram (£799). Coming from an old 27” iMac (2010). Keeping my keyboard/mouse. Bought a 27” 4K Dell monitor (S2722QC - £260 on a deal price), a 2TB M.2 drive (Crucial gen 4 P310) with Thunderbolt 4 enclosure (Graugear 40Gbps) (Home and Applications to go on that), and a 4TB usbc storage drive for Time Machine. All in (based in UK) that came to £1350. Now all I need to do is make it last the 14 years the iMac did…
Made the switch to external monitors when Apple nix'd the iMac Pro. Glad I did, now I can swap the base unit out and I'm good to go. Waiting for the Studio M4 Max.
Got a Mac mini m4 pro to pair up with my 2 studio displays. works super well and I couldn't be any happier. Screens are so worth it to me too. quality, colors and overall eye strain is perfect.
I had a 27" iMac for many years and loved it. Just updated and because I wanted to retain a 27" screen the decision was easy. Shame because I definitely prefer the integration of the iMac
Monitor size was the most important factor for me. I was replacing a 2015 27" iMac. I just couldn't see going down to the smaller display, for I went for the m4 iMac with minimum specs, and I bought an LG 4K monitor to go with it. I didn't even know at the time that the internal drive is upgradable. Right now I'm using a Samsung T7 for additional storage, but eventually I will upgrade the internal SSD to 500 GB or 1 TB.
Pulled the trigger on the iMac, 10core CPU/GPU, 16GB ram, 512GB storage. I wish it was LED backlit (I guess it does!, when you compare diff models, apple state that its LED backlit!) and base storage was 512GB. It is a very minimalistic choice and matches well with other things around the home, very clean look. I am going to use it for net, streaming only. Nothing more, so it was a cheaper choice as well. I upgraded to get the peaks of the 4 ports at the back, 2 fans, that I just found out from your video here! and more storage so that the read write speed is faster as well, also I plan on keeping it for 5yrs +.
After going from a 27 inch Intel iMac to an M1 Mac mini with a 32 inch display, I was in a similar conundrum; and in the end I chose the M4 iMac (not the base model though I wasn't that bothered by the cores - having touchid like my MacBook was a must). For me, the iMac feels like more than the sum of its parts, and it's so nice to have something packaged so well, so attractive with decent sound. I love the touchid on the keyboard; although I have an Apple Watch Ultra, the unlocking with the watch on the M1 mini was quite hit and miss. I have tried connecting my 32 inch screen, though now it looks quite ugly beside the gorgeous iMac.
Another advantage of the Mini comes in is you make an investment in the keyboard/mouse/display and even speakers but then in the future when you are ready to upgrade you don't have to purchase those again. Or of course if you already own those now.
That’s only the case because Apple can’t offer top tier displays in their iMacs anymore. In the past you got a better computer and a better display. And you needed one to run the other. It was an advantage they both came in one package, because they belonged together. But nowadays the very best displays are so expensive that they would absolutely destroy the price of an iMac. Especially the large iMac.
I use my iPhone as the Mini's camera, when needed. You just need a stand that can hold it horizontally. (MacOS has an app, "Continuity Camera", that imports a video feed from the phone.)
You might have forgotten it but the base model iMac has a single fan that is NOT connected directly to the heatsink on the chip, like the 2018-2020 MacBook Air models. That's why the temperature doesn't drop much even if you max out the fan. The higher-end models have 2 fans that are directly connected to the heatsink, so the cooling solution is much more effective.
That's interesting - I really hope @LukeMiani does a video comparing the base model M4 iMac against the higher models - that would be interesting to see!
@@johnchandy7101 I think the difference will be similar to the difference between the base iMac and the base Mac mini, as the higher-end iMac has the same specs as the base Mac mini and the Mac mini has similarly effective cooling.
One thing against the iMac. Dust. My old iMac got very dusty inside quickly, and I have to clean it at least once every year, and that is a painful process, considering that the screen glued in. Never ever want to own a computer again where a basic maintenance task like cleaning the fan and the cooler was so complicated. That is why I switched to the new M4 mini. Super easy to clean the dust, and also have the possibility to upgrade the storage later. I used my old 75Hz 23 inch Asus monitor with it and kept the keyboard and moise from the iMac.
I'm having the same consideration right now. Am leaning more towards the Mini because I already have that setup now with a 68 cm monitor. However, the iMac has a sharper display and is a cleaner setup.
Thanks. Gotta replace my wifes antique 2008 Imac that's getting slow and can't be updated apparently so this video was great. Glad you mentioned alternative monitors for the mini since I think that's the way I'm going to go.
I’ve paired my new Mac Mini (base model) with 28.5 inch Samsung 4K monitor (£150), wired backlit numerical keyboard (£24), old AA battery Magic Mouse and 1TB m.2 thunderbolt 4 enclosure (£74) - super happy with it!
I had an M1 iMac, brilliant machine but that 27inch Studio display and M4 mini was a worthy upgrade,,I think reality is neither the iMac or mini would be a wrong choice. Both very nice products.
I still can't get around the white bezels on the iMac. My ideal setup with the two products shown today would be the Mac Mini, the magic keyboard with numpad and touch id in black, magic trackpad in black (I do not like the magic mouse), and the Studio Display. If I can include other Apple products and money is no issue, I would switch to the rumored M4 Ultra Studio and 4 Pro Display XDRs.
Hi Luke, thank you for this video. For me it is the Mac Mini. Mini allows for more powerful SOC (14/20) and more RAM (64) to form a powerhouse. You can pair up a nice 32" BenQ 4K monitor and have a powerful pro class set up for about $3K. The iMac all maxed out is at $2.5K and you have a less capable machine, half the RAM and limited to 24" monitor.
@@bennym1956 I understand but 512GB would be sufficient for the OS and apps? I normally store all my files/projects on a different drive on my old PC, as a safety measure if the OS drive corrupts for whatever reason.
@@borremoonkey I usually get the 1TB SSD. My work files are all on external drives anyway. Perhaps 512 is enough but I usually keep my machines for 6-8 years. It is not a bad idea to have some extra SSD space just incase.
Looking at your example Mac Mini setup, there should be a hole cutout in the lower portion of the Studio Display stand so you can place the Mac Mini on the base of the monitor and run you cables directly out the back.
Not sure what companies you’ve worked at Luke, but every company I have worked for used laptops and docking stations. All-in-one’s don’t work well if employees need to or want to work remotely. It also means the office set up is flexible; no employee is tied to a specific desk.
I would pick the iMac but in upgraded format. If it has to last 4 years, I would get 32Gb of RAM in it. Since it sits in a well lit office, I might opt for the nano texture. Yes, I could maybe save a little bit going with the M4M. The cohesiveness of an iMac still has a dear spot in my mind and heart.
brilliant video absolutely spot on . For me I purchased my first Apple computer ( I've had iPads and phones for years) my first Apple computer about two years ago A imac M1 don't get me wrong I've enjoyed having it and it still does what I need to do , at times it does struggle with doing photography imagery or video . Knowing what i know now and I didn't know two years ago I wish I purchased a separate screen and keyboard option . now I would like to have the Mac mini M4 but I also have to purchase a screen as you have mentioned .... I'm also waiting for the new M4 studio to be released to see if it's just worth hanging on for a moment ... thanks for the video 10/10 ❤
@@billkormas3460 Hi I'm so low tech, just wanted to clarify, if I upgrade the iMac to 10 core GPU instead of the default 8 core I should get the same performance as the M4 Mac mini?
Just the video I was looking for. But also I kinda wish there were more Pros/Cons that could be 20 minutes of as many things as possible. Because I am really stuck in the middle 🫨 I am not looking for anything crazy, just the simplest choice between the two. The extent of my computer skills being large memory because I do a lot of photos - just simple editing just using my large photo collection - Listening to my major music library - Surfing around the web, watching videos like this & - working on my Cricut projects (just personal ones nothing too wild - making documents again just personal ones. Just dumb silly things & what you feel the longevity of these two rivals as to who’s going to shill survive the longest 😅 Otherwise, thanks for the helpful breakdown. Cheers & Happy Holidays 🎉
Since you're a more casual computer user, either Mac would probably handle your photo editing quite well. So I would consider the following factors in your decision: 1. What screen size do you want? I use a MacBook Pro 14-inch laptop with a 24-inch monitor as my second screen. I find 24 inches quite comfortable for a monitor, but some people consider it too small. If you're happy with a 24-inch monitor, the iMac would be a fine choice. 2. Do you want to spend less money up-front to buy a basic set-up, with the option to upgrade various parts later? If you buy a Mac Mini now, you can purchase an inexpensive monitor, keyboard, and mouse for it--or use some equipment you already have. Later, if you'd like something fancier, you can upgrade those components one at a time. With the iMac, the built-in screen and attachable keyboard and mouse are high quality to begin with and look very nice together--but you may pay more money up-front for that immediate benefit, and you can't upgrade the screen later. 3. Something cool about the Mac Mini is its portability. Yes, it's intended to be a desktop machine. However, if you find yourself commuting between two separate desks, you could take the Mini with you and hook it up to a new monitor, keyboard, and mouse at a second location. I toyed with the idea of doing this myself during graduate school, but I didn't end up needing it. I just took a portable hard drive with me and backed it up after finishing my work in one location, then took it home and plugged it into another computer. 4. You stated that you're looking for "the simplest choice between the two." The iMac is definitely easier to set up than the Mac Mini, so if you don't have anyone at home to assist you, you may be better off with the simplicity of an all-in-one machine like the iMac. I personally feel comfortable setting up a complex array of peripherals for my computer, so I'd be able to use the Mac Mini easily. Yet when it's time for me to upgrade my machine, I'll probably choose the iMac instead! I love its appearance, and I'm not interested in upgrading the monitor in the future, so I would enjoy the convenience of the all-in-one iMac.
1 upgraded 4m a 2019 27"iMac 8core i9 2 a m4 Mac mini w a 27"Costco dell monitor, don't miss the 5k display or the 350watts of power needed vs 60w Mac mini &50w(apps) 4m dell. Used the same trackpad &keybd
The easy choice was made for me. Only 24” screen on iMac these days. I’m upgrading from my old late 2014 5K 27” iMac. I can’t go back from a 5K 27” screen. But, it also means an expensive upgrade to go to Mac Mini + Studio Display. If they still did 27” iMac it’d be a smoother upgrade path!
I am with you. I need to replace a very dated 27" desktop iMac and I will also choose the M4 Mac Mini over the 24" iMac. It will give me the option of upgrading my computer inexpensively (relatively speaking) in 4-5 years if necessary which cannot be done with the iMac. Despite the cost, I am not in the camp that wants to pair the M4 Mac Mini with a BenQ on Dell monitor and I will bite the bullet and purchase the Apple Studio Monitor. They are designed and made for each other and work seamlessly together, eliminating possible incompatibility issues which may arise with other monitors.
@ Well, it’s been a month and lots of research and thought later, I just got home from buying a Dell U2723QE 4K monitor. I decided to just take the 4K 1.5x scaling compromise, versus the 5K 2x scaling, on the basis that 1.5x scaling with a 4K monitor still looks better than the pixilated look of a native QHD monitor. Sure, a 5K Apple Studio Display would have been my preference, but in my country (NZL), the Studio Display sells for NZ$2999, whereas I just got the U2723QE 4K on special for NZ$799. So the Apple Display is literally 3.75x the price, or, another $2200 !!! Pretty hard to justify that additional cost! Aside from saving $2200, the U2723QE has been reviewed multiple times as probably the best 4K alternative monitor for a Mac. Also, it has a built in hub that allows me to plug my USB mechanical keyboard in via the monitor, and only use a single USB-C connection to the Mac. It also has KVM functionality inbuilt, to allow me to use the same monitor / mouse / keyboard with my PC. Time will tell, but a lot of research went into to this decision, and I’m confident I’ll be happy with my $2200 saving. 🤓
If you are looking at these two Macs you already know which one you want. They are specifically designed for two very different types of Mac users. I'm that third type of Mac users who doesn't have desk space for either of these so I'm sticking with the M1 MacBook Air that I bought last year because this is the last MacBook Air that actually LOOKS like a MacBook Air. I feel this is the pinnacle of the MacBook Air design. Maybe I'll wait for the M6 before I upgrade.
My 2020 M1 Mac 512 Gb mini drives 2 x 23” monitors, boots from an external 2 TB drive and basically runs cool at 48C. I’m mostly using the latest Pro Tools but Davinci Resolve also runs at the same temp. I have not heard fan noise in 4 years.
But the OLED screen I prefer is much more expensive than what I'm willing to pay. And it doesn't even come with the necessary HDMI 2.1 cable. And I might need an extra soundbar as well. To have everything included in one package of decent quality is a great offer.
I got the m4 iMac with 24 gb as a stopgap till the m4 max Mac Studio is released ... When using final cut, it is using swap memory about 700mb !! ... the computer is pretty good but screen too small and it's the base m4 chip ...
Because the studio display has more pixels, there will be more load on the GPU. If you connect the iMAC to the studio display and then run the benchmarks, you will get a better comparison.
One thing in favour of iMac is the fabulous speakers and the full-bodied pleasing sound they produce. With Mac mini I also have to shell out for speakers. And a camera!!
Luke once again shows why he is the only HONEST Fruit Fly when discussing Fruit products. Most are bloviating about what might be coming next (and wrong about it); Luke lives in realville.
I’ve ordered the iMac 10/10/32/1Tb as this will stand in my living room and don’t want all kinds of cables dangling. Even though I like my MB Air it’s not the most ergonomic for longer periods of time.
I just bought the mini with 1tb and tbh it’s worth every penny I don’t have that big of a desk and I’m able to conceal it so I have the necessary space for paperwork. I was fortunate enough that my uncle gave me his monitor that he doesn’t use anymore and all I did was buy the keyboard and the accessories
I have a 27” IMac which I run with a second 27” Acer monitor, the problem with the new models is 24” display, as I’m in my senior years I can’t use the Magic Mouse for long periods, the fingers start to become uncomfortable so I have a chunkier orthopaedic wireless mouse. The Magic Keyboard is ok but I do prefer a full sized keyboard. So it looks like a Mac Mini for me with the full spec chip.
I highly doubt you will be able to buy storage upgrades for the mini. The chips are proprietary to Apple and it'll probably be just like the Mac Studio with no upgrades after purchase. The few people managing to upgrade the storage in Apple Silicon Macs are doing so with salvaged chips since there is no way to buy them new so its not really feasable for third parties to produce upgrades either.
There’s actually a case for both. If you want the convenience of having everything in one package and working out of the box the iMac is for you. However if you prefer to have some customization in choosing your own accessories the Mini is the better option. It really boils down to a matter of personal preference and application.
I bought an M1 iMac when it first came out for the family and then bought myself a studio display later on and just connected my Intel Macbook Air. My MBA is getting old though so I’m thinking of getting an M4 Mac mini but the M1 iMac has been so great that I kind of feel like it’s pointless to spend another $600 when I can just go to our family computer in the living room. Kind of wanting to sell the Studio Display 😂
I’d like to go with the m4 Mac mini but I don’t understand the monitor choice, I’d prefer a 24 inch so that narrows the choice, has anybody paired one to a 24” QHD monitor that has speakers and a good performance? I’d love to know.
Horses for courses. The iMac is really ideal for public-facing tasks such as reception desks where the workload is light, the back of the machine can be very tidy - this is the part the public sees. Most people won't be doing complex 4K video editing so the binned M4 model is fine. My desktop is very messy, a Mac studio with a cheap 27 inch monitor, multiple drives, wired keyboard and mouse receiver, USB printers and speakers etc all plugged in. The view of the back of my desk is a horror. But only the wall sees that. An iMac isn't my choice but can be ideal for an image-conscious office.
12/8/24 I was struggling between a 24" iMac M4 and the iMac mini with 24gb memory and a 512 Gb storage. The 24" for all the stuff you mentioned with ease of setup, and it looks and features, but not a fan of the wireless keyboard and mouse that I have had several died on me where a wire keyboard keeps on working. I went with the iMac min with the $999 pricing due to the fact it is more to the way I can get myself a USB hub with all the missing and older ports, plus SD card reader, hook up an external DVD player, a bigger storage HD, a bigger screen that will carry me further into the future, plus as the price of an 24" M4 goes down in the future I can still get a used one for a whole lot less like the 24" m1 has done since it came out just 3 years ago without giving up that I will be able to us it with an M4 same as my iMac mini.
Mac Mini M4 setup is Gigabyte 34 ultrawide monitor, M4 512 ssd 16gb ram Mx Keyboard and Ergo Trackball... works great...plus with the KVM on the monitor I can use the mouse/trackball and monitor for the i7 Nuc I have......works for me.
For me it was bugging me that each time the iMac was on its last legs as a computer I was scrapping a perfectly good monitor. Then by not doing a 27inch it convinced me to have a look at the Mini. To leave the iMac behind can be expensive, but long term will be way cheaper. I went from the iBook to the iMac because the iMac was a great value, now not so much.
I picked up an M4 iMac with the 24GB RAM and 512GB storage. I upgraded from a 2019 27" intel iMac. I do miss the big display compared to the old iMac. My only other issue is that this iMac will eject my external disks quite regularly on it's own. Sometimes I have to reboot to get them back on line. Those are important as with 512GB of storage it would not take very long to filler up. Hopefully that problem works itself out. It's also disheartening when Apple longer offers the color matching options on the numbered magic keyboards, and trackpad. I use the trackpad WAY more than the mouse. While trivial, I also miss the Apple logo on the front of the machine too. That however can be rectified. In all it's fast, and quiet, and works well. I just have to work out the kinks.
@@bennym1956 I mean more MY kinks than the machines. IE: Figuring out how everything works, and it's total capabilities. Coming from intel the fact that some items I used before may not work with Apple Silicon, and figuring ways around that if possible. Those are the kinks I'm talking about.
Honestly what I’d do is likely get the Thunderbolt Display and the 1st gen Magic Mouse and aluminum keyboard. The ones with AA batteries. Then pair them with the M4 mini
I’m still getting the Mini and studio display. My logic is I am amortizing the display across this purchase and my next Mac Mini 3-4 years down the road. Then the math makes better sense.
The issue for me as a Logic user is that both units aren't very compelling. Logic doesn't use the efficiency cores so an M4 Pro chip is required for decent performance.
As usual you show why you are youtube's best FRUITFLY (Fruit Fanboi). You don't just spend hours speculating on what is coming up while virtually ignoring what is. You actually take today's hardware (or even vintage) and go through it in a logical and well-explained analysis. Kudos to you. I have never understood the fixation on fan noise or in other Fruit Flies' fixation on thinness of a DESKTOP monitor, weight of a phone (you can't handle another gram?), or how thin or heavy a laptop or fruitpad is. These are absolute meaningless points as modern technology is not going back to being inches thick or ten pounds heavy. Work out Fruit Flies to handle that extra gram of weight! You are the best, Luke. Merry Christmas to you! I would go for the mac mini with upgraded storage to 512 gb of storage and upgraded ram - then I'd buy a 27 inch monitor. I bought and upgraded two mid-2012 13 macbook pros and hooked each up to 27 inch monitors, closed their lids, stood them on a holder on edge, and they perform amazingly in their dual drive maxed ram setup.
As I have a 27 in nano glass studio display and a Dell P2715Q as well the the MX keys and mouse it’s a clear choice for me - Mac mini but probably the 24/512 or the M4 pro as the T5 connections plus the upgraded 10gb Ethernet make sense for longevity. If it were my first iMac set up, I’d go for the 16/512 iMac - probably in silver as it’s still very classy. Nano glass is also a worthwhile upgrade as I’ve found in my study in the summer months or when the overhead lights come on at 3pm in winter.
I wonder if iMacs still have the "dust" issue on the display?I had it twice on 27" and at the end I bought replacement panel and put display controller board.Now I can connect the M4 mac mini and still have the 27" retina display without "dust".This was the only way.Cheers
i’ve been using an M4 mac mini for the past 2 weeks now to replace an old 2018 13” i7 MBP that i kept at my desk, and it’s been perfect for powering my dual monitor setup. i already had the whole setup in place, so buying the imac wouldv’ve been a waste for me (plus i wouldn’t want to shrink from my 32” main monitor)
Imagine that keyboard is a delight to type on but Touch ID for passwords, payment and login is essential. Worth paying a bit more for an Apple keyboard with Touch ID.
Really wish they would give us a larger iMac 24 inches is too small.
It really is, 27inch would be better, but I’ve even moved on from 27inch by now
I heard M4 iMac will get a Pro and Max models in a 32" setup maybe in 2025.
@@AdmiralCecil dead imac pro will never come back to be replaced by the mac pro / mac studio with the studio display XDR which is 32 inches
What the mfs want is you to buy the Mini and display studio
The Mac mini M4 combined with an 42" LG OLED C4 is the large screen (i)Mac. Every well-assorted household should have both a 24" iMac and a 5-inch Mac mini anyway.
The fact that the mini is upgradable, and your monitor does not become useless when some hardware in your computer becomes outdated makes it the winner. It really annoys me that my 2019 imac has a screen that is just as good as the modern imac, but it is useless because it is chained to the outdated computing parts. They should have made the imac a mac mini that docks onto a monitor.
There was a third party solution that designed a circuit board that made an upgrade logic board manage the iMac. It was sold in Australia and I don’t think it was successful. That might be a lot easier now with 3D printers.
@@Patricia-kk8tr There were several hacks where people surgically implanted a Mini motherboard into the carcass of an iMac - I think Luke did a video on it. World's most elaborate upgrade, and that was with the old Intel Macs.
You can still plug it into an external display
The mini isn't actually upgradeable. The storage is a separate module but it's still cryptographically locked to the SOC.
The only way you can upgrade the storage is by desoldering the nand chips and soldering on higher capacity ones to keep the lockchip onboard untouched... It's absurd to call that upgradable.
I personally don't view storage as a real limit though, external drives and network storage has so many options, just pick what suits you. Even cloud if you're a complete maniac who loves subscriptions.
You're right thought, It would be really nice if apple was Framework ™️ and you could just buy the new board for your existing system.
@@SquintyGears It's designed to be upgradeable _BY APPLE._ I'm sure the prices will be perfectly reasonable. /s
TL;DR, he thinks the better choice is the mac mini
Cuz it's cheaper since you can use any screen while the iMac has a screen built in so it's obviously more expensive, if you don't have an Apple display the Mac Mini will be better value even with the magic peripherals
really? he told us that companies are buying 250 imacs!!!!
😮
Obviously. You can personalize the mini with the monitor, keyboard, and mouse that you want and Can change them anytime. Also the price of the mini is cheaper.
The iMac’s allure is the all in one set up. One power cable is all that is needed. Some people and businesses prefer that for a cleaner look. Also less power outlets used. More efficient.
Apple claiming to care about the environment and touting carbon neutrality on the new M4 Mac Mini while discontinuing TARGET DISPLAY MODE is inexcusable! That feature would enable eventual re-use of iMac displays as standalone displays for any future computer you may get... like with a M10 Mac Mini down the line. Shame on you Apple!
Darn Right!
What’s target display mode?
@@nicolasrulli Allowed you to use an Imac screen as a beautiful external monitor for an external computer. Eliminated by Apple.
@ Use your iMac as a display with target display mode
Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.
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The following older iMac models can be used as an external display when plugged into another older Mac model.
iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014
To use any of these iMac models as an external display:
The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a ThunderboltThunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2Thunderbolt 2 cable.
24-inch and 27-inch iMac models introduced in 2009 and 2010
To use any of these iMac models as an external display:
The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Mini DisplayPortDisplayPort cable.
How to use target display mode
Make sure that your iMac is started up and meets the system requirements above.
Make sure that the other Mac is started up and logged in to a macOS user account.
Connect the two computers using the appropriate Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt cable.
You can use more than one iMac as a display, if each iMac is using a Thunderbolt cable to connect directly to a Thunderbolt port on the other Mac (not the other iMac).
Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac. You should now see the desktop of the other Mac.
To exit target display mode, press Command-F2 again. Or disconnect the cable, or restart either Mac.
Apps that were open on your iMac when entering target display mode remain open in target display mode. For example, if you begin playing music on your iMac and then enter target display mode, the music doesn't pause on your iMac.
There is third party software just to replace that kind of thing
Mini with Dell S2722QC (4k HDR) monitor, keyboard, mouse, and optional webcam. The Dell is currently $250, so it’s about $200 less than the BenQ Luke recommended. I’m a big fan of the BenQ monitors, but these Dell monitors are also very good. Definitely a better value than the iMac, maybe spend the savings on a 512GB SSD or 24GB RAM, depending on your needs.
Personally, I’m going to wait until 3rd party SSD upgrades are available before I buy. Also, I already have monitors, keyboard, and mouse on a KVM with my 2018 Mac Mini, PC, and work computer so no rush and no need (nor space for) an iMac.
There are several oled monitors on sale for $400-500 over Black Friday. Substantially better than the studio monitor.
these monitors are crap if we speak about true colors and sRGB .
@@mex5341 BS.
1. I have “perfect” color vision. I calibrate monitors without the need of a colorimeter. You’re subjectively full of crap.
2. Look at the delta-E for these monitors. You’re objectively full of crap.
@@geoffstrickler keep believing , lol
@@mex5341 they are good though, stop your bitching.
It is too bad they don't offer this as 27'' model as well
dead for ever sorry I want too but the studio display replace it according to apple
@@TechGameDev 27 may be dead but rumours of a 30 inch being close to release, maybe mid 2025
@@allmyownvideo the iMac Pro dead too the Mac studio with pro display XDR 32 inch replace it the rumors have been around for 2 years still nothing (I miss the big iMacs)
@@allmyownvideo Rumors.....
We definitely need a 28-32" option with M4 Pro. I don't get why it hasn't happened yet.
My setup. M4 Mac mini $1099nzd. Used Thunderbolt Display $150nzd. New in box old stock Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard 2 from a school supply store $85nz. $1334nzd. That’s $1165 cheaper than the base model iMac here.
I traded up from an 16” M1 Max (that was desk-bound) to the top-spec M4 Pro Mac Mini to run Motion Graphics (among other design tasks). No regrets… except for the nostalgia factor of owning a slice of history with that M1 transition.
how has the gpu performance been? I have an 14" M1 Pro, but I'm waiting on the studio with the m4 max.
I still use a 2018 15” MBP with the Coffee Lake 6 core as my daily. 😅
Just been advising a not-particularly-geeky friend trying to choose between a new iMac and a new Mac Mini. She really wanted a 27" display, and (less rationally) really wanted an Apple display, so was prepared (and able) to spend a lot more to buy the Mac Mini with the Apple Studio display. I'm glad to learn that she also gets better performance and better thermal behaviour (and more ports) with this choice.
But can't get it in PINK !
my wife bought me a new mini for xmas, and a new Phillips monitor, keyboard and mouse , got to learn , been on windows for ever cheers Shane uk
I've had three iMacs. The first, from '08, is a trooper; still truckin' along doing homely work. The second died at six years. The third works, but crashes frequently and is super balky at booting. My Mac guy has tried to fix it, but no dice. He threw up his hands last time in frustration. So there's a new Mini in my future, with a nice 4k display.
Go 5K if you can. Scaling and sharpness is SOOO much better.
I already had a Mac mini, an M1 with 16GB memory and 512GB storage, This was attached to a Satechi dock/hub with a 1TB SSD in it, USB condenser mic, Insta 360 Link 4k webcam and Apple Studio Display. I chose the M4 Mac mini opting for 24GB memory and 1TB storage. I still use the Satechi dock/hub thing and am experimenting with using the Mac mini inverted with the power button effectively on the right rear corner at the top. Inverting it doesn't seem to affect the internal temperature.
Since my iMac 2017 cannot go on for maybe one more year. I decided to go with Mac Mini 1TB 28 gigabit, since Apple no longer makes the 27 inch 5k display. I decided to go with a Oled 43 inch TV as a monitor and get my on Satechi keyboard and mouse to have a great setup. For mixing music, watch movies, videos and regular computer work this setup will be perfect for me. By the way great video.
Basically I bought a new M4 Mini to replace my 4 year old M1 Mini and transferred all the accessories, sold my M1 machine the next day. The net cost was just £205 to upgrade.
Base 16/256 M4 Mac Mini, with Apple Magic Mouse and Keyboards. An external 1TB Seacuda NVME in an Orico Thunderbolt 3 case. 2nd hand 2018 Dell S2718D 2516*1440 Ultra thin Monitor. My eyes can’t cope with any smaller pixels…
Took around 90 minutes to move over using the Seacuda backup.
Wonder who the hell is that guy that can’t spend 205 pounds more to buy a better upgrade and opt for soon to be outdated hardware.
What's the transfer process like? I'm considering doing this for mine. Is there a built in migration utility like for iphones?
@@SquintyGears The setup software for a new Mac gives you the option of copying the contents of a Time Machine backup. Could not be easier ... so long as you buy a large enough internal SSD.
I was a 27” iMac user and cant go back to a smaller screen. So I got a Mac mini m4 pro with a 32 inches 4k oled 240hz Alienware monitor 😊
Still rocking a 27 inch 2010 iMac with Linux/SSD. Works pretty great for light tasks, even the GPU acceleration works and can play multiple 4K UA-cam vids easily.
I thought MacOs was limiting the refresh rate to 60hz...
I'm about to retire my late 2014 27" iMac 5K, so your video is both relevant and interesting for me.
I've been mulling it over for a while and have decided to go with the Mac Mini / Studio display setup. The 27" iMac was my first Mac and I've been very pleased with how trouble free it's been and how long it's lasted. Especially as it has a Fusion drive not SSD!
The only reason I'm retiring it is that I can't upgrade the OS beyond Big Sur. I think I'd face the same dilemma with the iMac down the line and of this turns out to be the case then all I'll need to do is get a new Mac Mini, which I'm confident will be a far more cost effective option.
I am loving my M4 mini. Replaced my desk queen M1 Air with it.
Even as an IT guy, the Mac Mini is actually the much simpler choice, the only additional item is a monitor and connecting that to the Mac Mini via USB C or HDMI is pretty much a one step process. And for all future upgrades, and there will be future upgrades, it's a simple 600$ upgrade to just replace the Mac Mini, most of the peripherals (keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers/headphones) can last up to 5-6 years in an office setup. I cannot imagine any company budgeting to replace the iMac every 2 years as opposed to the Mac Minis
I was so smitten with the M4 Pro Mac Mini that I ordered one… And then I cancelled the order. Because it was just for home use. Not for any of the workloads that my beloved tech-UA-camrs test them on.My use case is basically internet, media and various iOS apps. So I cancelled the order for the m4 Pro Mac Mini that was making me drool. Instead I bought a 32” 4k Samsung HDR monitor and plugged it to my 12.9” M1 iPad Pro. It’s been a revelation! I’ve used the iPad Pro as my primary home / personal use computer since it came out. Seeing it run this 32” 4k HDR monitor without breaking a sweat, has only made me fall in love with it more. I use it with the monitor when I want to do some web surfing, or to really enjoy some media. When I want to play my games I pull the cord on the USB C Apple media adapter and play on the iPad like always. The M4 product generation is amazing. My only suggestion would be to carefully consider your own use case. Yes, the M4 Pro Mac Mini gets you (and me) excited. But if it’s going in your home, do you do anything regularly at home that would benefit from that much computing power? Be honest, and spend wisely.
A point lost in this would be the Fruit Mini allows you to purchase a system at your current budget, but you could later upgrade to a much larger and better screen later. And I love my logi mx keyboard which I use for three different computers including my closed lid 2012 13 inch Macbook Pro.
I currently travel with a M2 Pro Mac mini with a 22” 1440p “travel” display packed in a pelican air case along with other audio gear. The constant setup and tear down has me looking at this iMac as a replacement for the road. 1 less power cable and 1 less display connector goes a long way lol. And now the M4 is a capable chip for I do it seems feasible now.
I can’t understand why you didn’t test the £1499 iMac with the same chips as the cheapest Mac mini, that would be the true test, on equal footing
I’m a teacher and I plan to buy a Mac mini M4 next summer during “back to school”. I will pair it with my 2015 iMac 27” for its beautiful screen with Luna display. It’s cheaper than buying a 5K display.
If the Luna display works great, I would consider doing that with my 2017 iMac.
Can you really use the imac as a monitor? I've watched a lot of videos that say the imac can't be paired with anything.
@@bennym1956 I checked with Luna Display people and was told you will still have control of brightness,, but will lose access to volume control and camera and microphone.
I just bought a M4 Mac Mini with 512 GB of storage and 24 GB of RAM for $110 off retail from Amazon (discount + coupon). I also earn 5% on my Amazon credit card, which is about another $50 perk. Happy with my purchase. Can't wait to get crackin' on my computer.
I switched to an iMac from my Macbook when the first Retina 5K iMac came out. I used that machine till 2021, when I switched to the M1 iMac, which I still use today.
I REALLY miss the bigger display.
But the display was the one part, that made me keep the 5K iMac for so long. It was just that good. It had no defects, no burn in - it really hurt to give away that machine, since it worked just fine. All I wanted, was the newer chip.
So, for me, it's clearly going to be Mac Mini plus display. Being able to upgrade my PC piece by piece is the only thing I really miss from my Windows PC days. So, maybe it's going to be Studio Display and base Mini, or base Mini Pro, don't know yet. Perhaps I'll just keep the M1 iMac and wait till the Mini get's the M5 or M6
Wow, this sounds like a mirror of my situation! Bought an iMac 27" 5K back in 2015. It got slow, and outdated, so I convinced myself I could live with a 24" display. NOOOO!!! I made it work for about 1.5 years, and could not stand it anymore (yes, I moved it closer, it's NOT the same!). So about a year ago, I bit the bullet (hard!) and got the Studio Display. So now I have a 24" iMac driving this display, sitting behind it (limited desk space). I'm looking very hard at trading this iMac in on the Mac mini M4 very soon. Trade in on this is like $300 through Apple, so it's more or less a no-brainer for a base M4 Mac mini.
I will also add that not only is the 24" iMac display 3 inches smaller, it is also grossly inferior in display quality..mainly in the off angle viewing, it's horrible(compare them sometime in a store, especially from a top down/angle view). I'll take the 5K Studio display any day! ZERO regrets even at the outrageous price. I also found that the Studio Display has much less light bleed around the screen (black screen in a dark room). Seems Apple went cheap on these 24" iMac displays.
I chose iMac! If you need great screen, speakers, speed, all-in-one-compact-aesthetic-really-nice-looking package. What are going to place on your desk in the middle of the room - plastic Dell monitor with many black cables? :) There are simply no alternatives for 24" 4.5K great looking, compact display with just one nice cable attached.
Yeah I agree that screen is killer add in the peripherals built in camera and speakers add a small dock with built in storage and a few extra ports makes the iMac a great choice.
The iMac is a nice buy in a certain context. But the problem with it is that it is significantly pricier than the M4 MM with a cheaper 4K monitor (even Dell has nice options below 300usd like that S2722QC). Then you probably already have a keyboard and mouse, at least I do. Granted the iMac has nice integrated speakers, center stage camera, mic, great screen (albeit small in my opinion), but for the price of the iMac I can the best of both worlds which is buy a base MBA (ok, still M3, but with M4 next march/april) that also as great screen, webcam, mic, speakers etc. and a 4K 27” monitor. And in this case I have the versatility of the MM (wel, kinda, you need dongles 😂) and the portability of a laptop. The MM makes the sacrifice of not having portability (albeit not as bad as the iMac) but at least it’s cheap. I find the iMac interesting, but has the problem of not having neither the price or the portability of other options.
The iMac is a nice buy in a certain context. But the problem with it is that it is significantly pricier than the M4 MM with a cheaper 4K monitor (even Dell has nice options below 300usd like that S2722QC). Then you probably already have a keyboard and mouse, at least I do. Granted the iMac has nice integrated speakers, center stage camera, mic, great screen (albeit small in my opinion), but for the price of the iMac I can the best of both worlds which is buy a base MBA (ok, still M3, but with M4 next march/april) that also as great screen, webcam, mic, speakers etc. and a 4K 27” monitor. And in this case I have the versatility of the MM (well, kinda, you need dongles 😂) and the portability of a laptop. The MM makes the sacrifice of not having portability (albeit not as bad as the iMac) but at least it’s cheap. I find the iMac interesting, but has the problem of not having neither the price or the portability of other options. And at least in my country the iMac stars at a price that is double the price of the M4 MM plus a cheap 4K monitor. I know, this doesnt included a magic Magic Keyboard and a Magic Mouse, but still. And the Dell monitors have speakers, although worse than the iMac.
@@L0p3sdell monitor is made of cheap plastic tho. The Dell monitor is not made of aluminum whereas the iMac is fully made of premium aluminum.
@@DustyKingyes, the iMac monitor is also better with better colors and brightness. I didn’t say it was the best option for everyone, but also another problem with iMacs if you look at the past is the fact that the monitors life largely surpasses the life of the internals. Also another win for the the external monitor option. I have monitors with more than 10 years still working just fine.
Luke, I upgraded from a Mac Mini M2 setup with a Samsung 32” M8 smart monitor and a Samsung 28” monitor, both 4K. Also had a Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboards (both sizes), and Edifier desktop speakers.
The M4 Mac Mini I chose was the 24 GB Ram w/ 512 GB storage option for $999 … kinda.
After an education discount of $100, and trading in my M2 Mac Mini, my net cost was about $590.
Of course, the key is the education discount (anyone can get it by just asking, though I’m a legitimate higher ed math instructor), the trade-in of the old device, and already owned peripherals.
I’ve just pulled the trigger on the base m4 mini, but with 24GB Ram (£799). Coming from an old 27” iMac (2010). Keeping my keyboard/mouse. Bought a 27” 4K Dell monitor (S2722QC - £260 on a deal price), a 2TB M.2 drive (Crucial gen 4 P310) with Thunderbolt 4 enclosure (Graugear 40Gbps) (Home and Applications to go on that), and a 4TB usbc storage drive for Time Machine. All in (based in UK) that came to £1350. Now all I need to do is make it last the 14 years the iMac did…
Made the switch to external monitors when Apple nix'd the iMac Pro. Glad I did, now I can swap the base unit out and I'm good to go. Waiting for the Studio M4 Max.
Best path forward.
The M4 iMac supporting a second display was a big and welcome change.
Lol you mean that it wasn’t supported before?
@@unknown81360he meant 2 monitors I believe
It was, my iMac M1 does.
Is it possible to show the screen of my windows laptop from work, on the iMac’s screen?
Got a Mac mini m4 pro to pair up with my 2 studio displays. works super well and I couldn't be any happier. Screens are so worth it to me too. quality, colors and overall eye strain is perfect.
I had a 27" iMac for many years and loved it. Just updated and because I wanted to retain a 27" screen the decision was easy. Shame because I definitely prefer the integration of the iMac
Monitor size was the most important factor for me. I was replacing a 2015 27" iMac. I just couldn't see going down to the smaller display, for I went for the m4 iMac with minimum specs, and I bought an LG 4K monitor to go with it. I didn't even know at the time that the internal drive is upgradable. Right now I'm using a Samsung T7 for additional storage, but eventually I will upgrade the internal SSD to 500 GB or 1 TB.
Pulled the trigger on the iMac, 10core CPU/GPU, 16GB ram, 512GB storage. I wish it was LED backlit (I guess it does!, when you compare diff models, apple state that its LED backlit!) and base storage was 512GB. It is a very minimalistic choice and matches well with other things around the home, very clean look. I am going to use it for net, streaming only. Nothing more, so it was a cheaper choice as well. I upgraded to get the peaks of the 4 ports at the back, 2 fans, that I just found out from your video here! and more storage so that the read write speed is faster as well, also I plan on keeping it for 5yrs +.
After going from a 27 inch Intel iMac to an M1 Mac mini with a 32 inch display, I was in a similar conundrum; and in the end I chose the M4 iMac (not the base model though I wasn't that bothered by the cores - having touchid like my MacBook was a must). For me, the iMac feels like more than the sum of its parts, and it's so nice to have something packaged so well, so attractive with decent sound. I love the touchid on the keyboard; although I have an Apple Watch Ultra, the unlocking with the watch on the M1 mini was quite hit and miss. I have tried connecting my 32 inch screen, though now it looks quite ugly beside the gorgeous iMac.
Another advantage of the Mini comes in is you make an investment in the keyboard/mouse/display and even speakers but then in the future when you are ready to upgrade you don't have to purchase those again. Or of course if you already own those now.
That’s only the case because Apple can’t offer top tier displays in their iMacs anymore. In the past you got a better computer and a better display. And you needed one to run the other. It was an advantage they both came in one package, because they belonged together. But nowadays the very best displays are so expensive that they would absolutely destroy the price of an iMac. Especially the large iMac.
You forgot a camera add on to the mini set up
I use my iPhone as the Mini's camera, when needed. You just need a stand that can hold it horizontally. (MacOS has an app, "Continuity Camera", that imports a video feed from the phone.)
You might have forgotten it but the base model iMac has a single fan that is NOT connected directly to the heatsink on the chip, like the 2018-2020 MacBook Air models. That's why the temperature doesn't drop much even if you max out the fan. The higher-end models have 2 fans that are directly connected to the heatsink, so the cooling solution is much more effective.
That's interesting - I really hope @LukeMiani does a video comparing the base model M4 iMac against the higher models - that would be interesting to see!
@@johnchandy7101 I think the difference will be similar to the difference between the base iMac and the base Mac mini, as the higher-end iMac has the same specs as the base Mac mini and the Mac mini has similarly effective cooling.
One thing against the iMac. Dust. My old iMac got very dusty inside quickly, and I have to clean it at least once every year, and that is a painful process, considering that the screen glued in. Never ever want to own a computer again where a basic maintenance task like cleaning the fan and the cooler was so complicated. That is why I switched to the new M4 mini. Super easy to clean the dust, and also have the possibility to upgrade the storage later. I used my old 75Hz 23 inch Asus monitor with it and kept the keyboard and moise from the iMac.
I'm having the same consideration right now. Am leaning more towards the Mini because I already have that setup now with a 68 cm monitor. However, the iMac has a sharper display and is a cleaner setup.
Thanks. Gotta replace my wifes antique 2008 Imac that's getting slow and can't be updated apparently so this video was great. Glad you mentioned alternative monitors for the mini since I think that's the way I'm going to go.
I’ve paired my new Mac Mini (base model) with 28.5 inch Samsung 4K monitor (£150), wired backlit numerical keyboard (£24), old AA battery Magic Mouse and 1TB m.2 thunderbolt 4 enclosure (£74) - super happy with it!
Probably all cheaper than an 24" iMac.
@ very much so! And considering the screen is larger and the chip is not binned, it’s a no-brainer! The M4 Mac mini is seriously good value
I got the orange iMac. Basic model. The best iMac I’ve ever used. Love the all in one desktop.
I had an M1 iMac, brilliant machine but that 27inch Studio display and M4 mini was a worthy upgrade,,I think reality is neither the iMac or mini would be a wrong choice. Both very nice products.
Got the iMac as my first apple computer. Still getting use to it.
I still can't get around the white bezels on the iMac. My ideal setup with the two products shown today would be the Mac Mini, the magic keyboard with numpad and touch id in black, magic trackpad in black (I do not like the magic mouse), and the Studio Display. If I can include other Apple products and money is no issue, I would switch to the rumored M4 Ultra Studio and 4 Pro Display XDRs.
Hi Luke, thank you for this video. For me it is the Mac Mini. Mini allows for more powerful SOC (14/20) and more RAM (64) to form a powerhouse. You can pair up a nice 32" BenQ 4K monitor and have a powerful pro class set up for about $3K. The iMac all maxed out is at $2.5K and you have a less capable machine, half the RAM and limited to 24" monitor.
How much storage did you grab? The starting 512GB for pro or did you upgrade?
@@borremoonkey Don't buy extra storage from Apple too $$$, buy external SSD ,cheaper.
@@bennym1956 I understand but 512GB would be sufficient for the OS and apps? I normally store all my files/projects on a different drive on my old PC, as a safety measure if the OS drive corrupts for whatever reason.
@@borremoonkey I usually get the 1TB SSD. My work files are all on external drives anyway. Perhaps 512 is enough but I usually keep my machines for 6-8 years. It is not a bad idea to have some extra SSD space just incase.
Looking at your example Mac Mini setup, there should be a hole cutout in the lower portion of the Studio Display stand so you can place the Mac Mini on the base of the monitor and run you cables directly out the back.
If you think you need that cutout,
you can mill it yourself.
Done a lot of back and forth- thinking. Settling on the Mac mini+ studio display and Magic Trackpad + keyboard.
Not sure what companies you’ve worked at Luke, but every company I have worked for used laptops and docking stations. All-in-one’s don’t work well if employees need to or want to work remotely. It also means the office set up is flexible; no employee is tied to a specific desk.
I would pick the iMac but in upgraded format. If it has to last 4 years, I would get 32Gb of RAM in it. Since it sits in a well lit office, I might opt for the nano texture. Yes, I could maybe save a little bit going with the M4M. The cohesiveness of an iMac still has a dear spot in my mind and heart.
9:33 - THIS is what we come for. The economical peripherals configuration. Great job as always Luke.
brilliant video absolutely spot on . For me I purchased my first Apple computer ( I've had iPads and phones for years) my first Apple computer about two years ago A imac M1 don't get me wrong I've enjoyed having it and it still does what I need to do , at times it does struggle with doing photography imagery or video . Knowing what i know now and I didn't know two years ago I wish I purchased a separate screen and keyboard option . now I would like to have the Mac mini M4 but I also have to purchase a screen as you have mentioned .... I'm also waiting for the new M4 studio to be released to see if it's just worth hanging on for a moment ... thanks for the video 10/10 ❤
How does the Mac Mini M4 compare to the iMac 10 Core with the same RAM? Identical?
Yes.
@@billkormas3460 Hi I'm so low tech, just wanted to clarify, if I upgrade the iMac to 10 core GPU instead of the default 8 core I should get the same performance as the M4 Mac mini?
@@lammie-858 yass diva!!! It's the same processor 😍😘🤧🤓🌧️🍷🤰🦅
@@billkormas3460 thanks 😂
Bought the studio display and Mac mini since apple refuses to make a 27imac.
Just the video I was looking for. But also I kinda wish there were more Pros/Cons that could be 20 minutes of as many things as possible. Because I am really stuck in the middle 🫨 I am not looking for anything crazy, just the simplest choice between the two.
The extent of my computer skills being large memory because I do a lot of photos
- just simple editing just using my large photo collection
- Listening to my major music library
- Surfing around the web, watching videos like this &
- working on my Cricut projects (just personal ones nothing too wild
- making documents again just personal ones.
Just dumb silly things & what you feel the longevity of these two rivals as to who’s going to shill survive the longest 😅
Otherwise, thanks for the helpful breakdown. Cheers & Happy Holidays 🎉
Since you're a more casual computer user, either Mac would probably handle your photo editing quite well. So I would consider the following factors in your decision:
1. What screen size do you want? I use a MacBook Pro 14-inch laptop with a 24-inch monitor as my second screen. I find 24 inches quite comfortable for a monitor, but some people consider it too small. If you're happy with a 24-inch monitor, the iMac would be a fine choice.
2. Do you want to spend less money up-front to buy a basic set-up, with the option to upgrade various parts later? If you buy a Mac Mini now, you can purchase an inexpensive monitor, keyboard, and mouse for it--or use some equipment you already have. Later, if you'd like something fancier, you can upgrade those components one at a time. With the iMac, the built-in screen and attachable keyboard and mouse are high quality to begin with and look very nice together--but you may pay more money up-front for that immediate benefit, and you can't upgrade the screen later.
3. Something cool about the Mac Mini is its portability. Yes, it's intended to be a desktop machine. However, if you find yourself commuting between two separate desks, you could take the Mini with you and hook it up to a new monitor, keyboard, and mouse at a second location. I toyed with the idea of doing this myself during graduate school, but I didn't end up needing it. I just took a portable hard drive with me and backed it up after finishing my work in one location, then took it home and plugged it into another computer.
4. You stated that you're looking for "the simplest choice between the two." The iMac is definitely easier to set up than the Mac Mini, so if you don't have anyone at home to assist you, you may be better off with the simplicity of an all-in-one machine like the iMac.
I personally feel comfortable setting up a complex array of peripherals for my computer, so I'd be able to use the Mac Mini easily. Yet when it's time for me to upgrade my machine, I'll probably choose the iMac instead! I love its appearance, and I'm not interested in upgrading the monitor in the future, so I would enjoy the convenience of the all-in-one iMac.
could you tell me please, what is that mean M4 binned?
what’s the difference between M4 binned and M4?
A binned chip is one that when tested has found to have possible defective cores, they are then disabled and the chip down rated.
Luke, I literally just rewatched your M1 iMac vs M1 Mini video yesterday. 😅🔥🔥
1 upgraded 4m a 2019 27"iMac 8core i9 2 a m4 Mac mini w a 27"Costco dell monitor, don't miss the 5k display or the 350watts of power needed vs 60w Mac mini &50w(apps) 4m dell. Used the same trackpad &keybd
The easy choice was made for me. Only 24” screen on iMac these days. I’m upgrading from my old late 2014 5K 27” iMac. I can’t go back from a 5K 27” screen. But, it also means an expensive upgrade to go to Mac Mini + Studio Display. If they still did 27” iMac it’d be a smoother upgrade path!
I am with you. I need to replace a very dated 27" desktop iMac and I will also choose the M4 Mac Mini over the 24" iMac. It will give me the option of upgrading my computer inexpensively (relatively speaking) in 4-5 years if necessary which cannot be done with the iMac. Despite the cost, I am not in the camp that wants to pair the M4 Mac Mini with a BenQ on Dell monitor and I will bite the bullet and purchase the Apple Studio Monitor. They are designed and made for each other and work seamlessly together, eliminating possible incompatibility issues which may arise with other monitors.
@ Well, it’s been a month and lots of research and thought later, I just got home from buying a Dell U2723QE 4K monitor.
I decided to just take the 4K 1.5x scaling compromise, versus the 5K 2x scaling, on the basis that 1.5x scaling with a 4K monitor still looks better than the pixilated look of a native QHD monitor.
Sure, a 5K Apple Studio Display would have been my preference, but in my country (NZL), the Studio Display sells for NZ$2999, whereas I just got the U2723QE 4K on special for NZ$799. So the Apple Display is literally 3.75x the price, or, another $2200 !!!
Pretty hard to justify that additional cost!
Aside from saving $2200, the U2723QE has been reviewed multiple times as probably the best 4K alternative monitor for a Mac. Also, it has a built in hub that allows me to plug my USB mechanical keyboard in via the monitor, and only use a single USB-C connection to the Mac. It also has KVM functionality inbuilt, to allow me to use the same monitor / mouse / keyboard with my PC.
Time will tell, but a lot of research went into to this decision, and I’m confident I’ll be happy with my $2200 saving. 🤓
If you are looking at these two Macs you already know which one you want.
They are specifically designed for two very different types of Mac users.
I'm that third type of Mac users who doesn't have desk space for either of these so I'm sticking with the M1 MacBook Air that I bought last year because this is the last MacBook Air that actually LOOKS like a MacBook Air.
I feel this is the pinnacle of the MacBook Air design.
Maybe I'll wait for the M6 before I upgrade.
The post-M1 MacBook Air looks far better IRL than the pics & vids. I was initially reluctant for the same reason as you but I actually quite like it.
My 2020 M1 Mac 512 Gb mini drives 2 x 23” monitors, boots from an external 2 TB drive and basically runs cool at 48C. I’m mostly using the latest Pro Tools but Davinci Resolve also runs at the same temp. I have not heard fan noise in 4 years.
For me the better value would be the Mac mini. As you stated, you can pair whatever size screen and the keyboard and mouse of your preference.
But the OLED screen I prefer is much more expensive than what I'm willing to pay. And it doesn't even come with the necessary HDMI 2.1 cable. And I might need an extra soundbar as well. To have everything included in one package of decent quality is a great offer.
I got the m4 iMac with 24 gb as a stopgap till the m4 max Mac Studio is released ... When using final cut, it is using swap memory about 700mb !! ... the computer is pretty good but screen too small and it's the base m4 chip ...
Apple needs to make a 32" 5k Pro-motion M4 Max iMac.
That green is so beautiful to me! Only if it was 27” or 30”!
i got a mini M4 day one. no doubt the most flexibel solution Luke! Plan to game with crossover etc
Because the studio display has more pixels, there will be more load on the GPU. If you connect the iMAC to the studio display and then run the benchmarks, you will get a better comparison.
One thing in favour of iMac is the fabulous speakers and the full-bodied pleasing sound they produce. With Mac mini I also have to shell out for speakers. And a camera!!
I think the problem here is that we are forgetting that these are for two very different customers.
Luke once again shows why he is the only HONEST Fruit Fly when discussing Fruit products. Most are bloviating about what might be coming next (and wrong about it); Luke lives in realville.
I’ve ordered the iMac 10/10/32/1Tb as this will stand in my living room and don’t want all kinds of cables dangling. Even though I like my MB Air it’s not the most ergonomic for longer periods of time.
Which M4 iMac does one need to buy in order get two fans instead of one? Thank you.🙏
I just bought the mini with 1tb and tbh it’s worth every penny I don’t have that big of a desk and I’m able to conceal it so I have the necessary space for paperwork. I was fortunate enough that my uncle gave me his monitor that he doesn’t use anymore and all I did was buy the keyboard and the accessories
I have a 27” IMac which I run with a second 27” Acer monitor, the problem with the new models is 24” display, as I’m in my senior years I can’t use the Magic Mouse for long periods, the fingers start to become uncomfortable so I have a chunkier orthopaedic wireless mouse. The Magic Keyboard is ok but I do prefer a full sized keyboard. So it looks like a Mac Mini for me with the full spec chip.
I highly doubt you will be able to buy storage upgrades for the mini. The chips are proprietary to Apple and it'll probably be just like the Mac Studio with no upgrades after purchase. The few people managing to upgrade the storage in Apple Silicon Macs are doing so with salvaged chips since there is no way to buy them new so its not really feasable for third parties to produce upgrades either.
Can you do a video on the best alternate cheap monitors to the Apple studio display?
Asus ProArt 27" 5k. It's the exact same panel as the Studio Display at half the cost.
There’s actually a case for both. If you want the convenience of having everything in one package and working out of the box the iMac is for you. However if you prefer to have some customization in choosing your own accessories the Mini is the better option. It really boils down to a matter of personal preference and application.
This video was precisely what I needed. Luke always delivers!
I bought an M1 iMac when it first came out for the family and then bought myself a studio display later on and just connected my Intel Macbook Air. My MBA is getting old though so I’m thinking of getting an M4 Mac mini but the M1 iMac has been so great that I kind of feel like it’s pointless to spend another $600 when I can just go to our family computer in the living room. Kind of wanting to sell the Studio Display 😂
i'm missing the 27" 5k iMac era. those were really pushing the boundary of technology back then.
I’d like to go with the m4 Mac mini but I don’t understand the monitor choice, I’d prefer a 24 inch so that narrows the choice, has anybody paired one to a 24” QHD monitor that has speakers and a good performance? I’d love to know.
Horses for courses. The iMac is really ideal for public-facing tasks such as reception desks where the workload is light, the back of the machine can be very tidy - this is the part the public sees. Most people won't be doing complex 4K video editing so the binned M4 model is fine.
My desktop is very messy, a Mac studio with a cheap 27 inch monitor, multiple drives, wired keyboard and mouse receiver, USB printers and speakers etc all plugged in. The view of the back of my desk is a horror. But only the wall sees that. An iMac isn't my choice but can be ideal for an image-conscious office.
12/8/24 I was struggling between a 24" iMac M4 and the iMac mini with 24gb memory and a 512 Gb storage. The 24" for all the stuff you mentioned with ease of setup, and it looks and features, but not a fan of the wireless keyboard and mouse that I have had several died on me where a wire keyboard keeps on working. I went with the iMac min with the $999 pricing due to the fact it is more to the way I can get myself a USB hub with all the missing and older ports, plus SD card reader, hook up an external DVD player, a bigger storage HD, a bigger screen that will carry me further into the future, plus as the price of an 24" M4 goes down in the future I can still get a used one for a whole lot less like the 24" m1 has done since it came out just 3 years ago without giving up that I will be able to us it with an M4 same as my iMac mini.
I just bought the base model M4 Mac mini. Fantastic machine. Killer design. And it can fit anywhere. Heck, it’s almost portable.
Mac Mini M4 setup is Gigabyte 34 ultrawide monitor, M4 512 ssd 16gb ram Mx Keyboard and Ergo Trackball... works great...plus with the KVM on the monitor I can use the mouse/trackball and monitor for the i7 Nuc I have......works for me.
For me it was bugging me that each time the iMac was on its last legs as a computer I was scrapping a perfectly good monitor. Then by not doing a 27inch it convinced me to have a look at the Mini. To leave the iMac behind can be expensive, but long term will be way cheaper. I went from the iBook to the iMac because the iMac was a great value, now not so much.
I picked up an M4 iMac with the 24GB RAM and 512GB storage. I upgraded from a 2019 27" intel iMac. I do miss the big display compared to the old iMac. My only other issue is that this iMac will eject my external disks quite regularly on it's own. Sometimes I have to reboot to get them back on line. Those are important as with 512GB of storage it would not take very long to filler up. Hopefully that problem works itself out. It's also disheartening when Apple longer offers the color matching options on the numbered magic keyboards, and trackpad. I use the trackpad WAY more than the mouse. While trivial, I also miss the Apple logo on the front of the machine too. That however can be rectified. In all it's fast, and quiet, and works well. I just have to work out the kinks.
Geez. I wouldn't want to deal with kinks in any new Mac.
@@bennym1956 I mean more MY kinks than the machines. IE: Figuring out how everything works, and it's total capabilities. Coming from intel the fact that some items I used before may not work with Apple Silicon, and figuring ways around that if possible. Those are the kinks I'm talking about.
Honestly what I’d do is likely get the Thunderbolt Display and the 1st gen Magic Mouse and aluminum keyboard. The ones with AA batteries. Then pair them with the M4 mini
I’m still getting the Mini and studio display. My logic is I am amortizing the display across this purchase and my next Mac Mini 3-4 years down the road. Then the math makes better sense.
how much of the 256gb is available to the user when either computer is setup for the very first time?
~ 200
@@pixelturm wow! thats not good
No question I'd take the Mac mini for display or computer flexibility later.
Hey Luke, thanks for the video. What’s the custom keyboard you’re using with the Mac Mini in this video?
The issue for me as a Logic user is that both units aren't very compelling. Logic doesn't use the efficiency cores so an M4 Pro chip is required for decent performance.
As usual you show why you are youtube's best FRUITFLY (Fruit Fanboi). You don't just spend hours speculating on what is coming up while virtually ignoring what is. You actually take today's hardware (or even vintage) and go through it in a logical and well-explained analysis. Kudos to you. I have never understood the fixation on fan noise or in other Fruit Flies' fixation on thinness of a DESKTOP monitor, weight of a phone (you can't handle another gram?), or how thin or heavy a laptop or fruitpad is. These are absolute meaningless points as modern technology is not going back to being inches thick or ten pounds heavy. Work out Fruit Flies to handle that extra gram of weight!
You are the best, Luke. Merry Christmas to you!
I would go for the mac mini with upgraded storage to 512 gb of storage and upgraded ram - then I'd buy a 27 inch monitor. I bought and upgraded two mid-2012 13 macbook pros and hooked each up to 27 inch monitors, closed their lids, stood them on a holder on edge, and they perform amazingly in their dual drive maxed ram setup.
As I have a 27 in nano glass studio display and a Dell P2715Q as well the the MX keys and mouse it’s a clear choice for me - Mac mini but probably the 24/512 or the M4 pro as the T5 connections plus the upgraded 10gb Ethernet make sense for longevity.
If it were my first iMac set up, I’d go for the 16/512 iMac - probably in silver as it’s still very classy. Nano glass is also a worthwhile upgrade as I’ve found in my study in the summer months or when the overhead lights come on at 3pm in winter.
I wonder if iMacs still have the "dust" issue on the display?I had it twice on 27" and at the end I bought replacement panel and put display controller board.Now I can connect the M4 mac mini and still have the 27" retina display without "dust".This was the only way.Cheers
i’ve been using an M4 mac mini for the past 2 weeks now to replace an old 2018 13” i7 MBP that i kept at my desk, and it’s been perfect for powering my dual monitor setup. i already had the whole setup in place, so buying the imac wouldv’ve been a waste for me (plus i wouldn’t want to shrink from my 32” main monitor)
Imagine that keyboard is a delight to type on but Touch ID for passwords, payment and login is essential. Worth paying a bit more for an Apple keyboard with Touch ID.
Thanks