I bought the new Mini but I upped it to 24GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. I'm upgrading from an old 2015 Intel iMac also with 24GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD (I upgraded my old iMac myself years ago since the RAM was easy to add in the backdoor). I'm kind of a light pro/heavy consumer/prosumer user. A bit of Final Cut Pro work as a hobby (my youtube channel) and a few other projects but mostly just a fun/entertainment machine. I found out a cool trick from another youtuber when ordering your Mac.... anyone can get the educational price by ordering through the Apple Education store instead of the regular Apple online store. Apple doesn't do any sort of educational verification. Good way to save $200-$300. I managed to get my Mac Mini with 24GB and 1TB SSD for only $1300 Canadian ($1004 USD).
M4 Pro 14/20 with 48gb RAM and 512gb storage. I'm a hobbyist composer and have been using an M1 Studio base model. I have a few Logic projects that push about 30gb RAM usage so I'm going to 48 to future proof. I'm looking forward to the 10 p-cores on the new mini!
@@TransCanadaPhil then do it right before you take a holiday and claim back the GST/VAT at the airport, pay with discounted apple giftcards and you can realy put a dint, oh, cash rewards also increases a little more too. But yeah, EDU is for anyone who studies, family members of anyone who studies so everyone qualifies if you think about it
Yeah, I hope UA-cam ends up paying some dividens you can put towards your hardware purchases. I enjoy the videos. For me personally, my main machine is a gaming Desktop. And I actually keep the box in a spare bedroom and route all the cables through the walls. I do this so I don't have to hear it. But it also does great for keeping my office very tidy. My work space is basically just the desk, two monitors, mouse and keyboard. No bulky case, no fan noise, no crazy flashing lights. For my storage, I have a 2TB internal, and while I could buy more m.2 drives to fill it up, I've actually been using a lot of 1-2TB portable drives. With my case being in another room I can have a little cabal of drives plugging in without it being distracting. I never see them. But I really like them for a few reasons. External drives are super easy to replace and switch around. They're uh, huh. They're not cheaper than buying m.2 drives, but they are cheaper than paying Apple tax. They're great for backups. If one of them stops working, it only affects that one drive, and not my entirely system. I've never had a drive fail though. If you do use a laptop and a desktop, using extra drives means you can just plug and play the drives from device to device and always have access to the files. Personally, I always buy the smallest storage config possible for anything portable. I never want to store too much crap on them incase they get stolen or damaged. -- If money wasn't an issue I can see just being lazy and getting a fat internal drive and never thinking about externals, but with money being an issue I would use externals. Just too many pros in my book.
I love my iPhones and iPads but my computers have always run on a MS platform. I just ordered the Apple MP4 Pro mini and it will be the first Apple computer I ever had to work with. I know I’ll have a learning curve to overcome and I just hope it works out.
Trust me John - they are super simple to get to grips with and work on! You'll absolutely love the experience. And, judging by your message...I think you might enjoy the video I am working on this week!
Great shout on the Mac mini and keeping the internal storage down, you're right, it's not going anywhere you may as well stick a external SSD under your desk hidden away, which connects directly in. I'm really amazed by the Mac mini design, it looks bloody incredible! You've gone for a good spec and will be great to see how it compare to your M1 Max MacBook Pro. It will look very sleek connected to your studio display too. I may have to pick one up myself!
Hi George - we are bad for one another, you do know that don't you! I still desperately want a Watch Ultra! I thought long and hard about the specs of this mac mini - I think I have just about nailed it! Lots to chat over in this week's newsletter!
@davidlewistech honest feedback you asked for, Mini Pro when you upgrade the chip and ram, just like last time when comparing Mini to the Studio, is a bad value. It’s almost the same as the base Studio, which is significantly faster. Future proofing? Slippery slope. It’s usually best to buy what you need that will last about 3 years, get a high trade-in value, and get the next thing. Overbuying is a worse value as the tech the next time round will be much better. Yes those GPU cores are very important, especially for future proofing as is ram since you prefer future-proofing, and since modern AI models, especially since not everything leverages the neural engines need lots of GPU and RAM and Apple silicon is great but behind in GPU compared to dedicated.
Hi there - the more I hear about this M4 chip and Mac mini the more excited I am to try it and get to work on it! Thanks for commenting...and watching too of course
Your export time will increase because exporting depends on media encoders and max models have 2 of them compared to pro models 1.. it's better to buy max chip if you are concerned about export speeds.
I did the same thing today. 14/20 and 48 memory. It took me a week to decide. I'm coming off a M1 MBP with 32 memory. I also bought a SanDisk Professional 2TB PRO-G40 SSD - with 3000MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), USB-C (10Gbps). One also would have to get the Thunderbolt 5 cable to take advantage of the speed. I plan on using the SanDisk for my startup files and all the rest of them. With that speed, I don't expect and issues with delay in retrieving and storing data from the SanDisk. They also quoted me 2-3 weeks delivery.
So I heard that the Thunderbolt 5 ports will only support the higher speed for video transfer for the high spec monitors and will only support Thunderbolt 4 speeds for data transfer. As a music creator I have ordered a m4 pro with 64gb and a 4Tb ssd mainly so I don’t have to carry lots of external ssd’s for the huge music library’s.
I think the details you heard about the Thunderbolt 5 ports are correct. I've mentioned that over the past few videos. As for the 4TB SSD - although expensive, internal SSD is more convenient and much quicker. Sounds like a really well spec'd machine
Personally, if you have a computer which is comfortably doing the work you need to - why buy another? If it fails, you can upgrade then. With regards to future proofing, I always ask myself - how long realistically am I going to run this computer? For macs, I tend to keep them for around 3 years and sell them before they become too long in the tooth and lose their resale value. That rarely makes significantly upgrading the spec worthwhile. As a result, I've gone for the base spec M4 as I think it'll comfortably do what I need to, and I'll upgrade/sell it on if in the unlikely case it no longer means my requirements.
I sold my M1 Mac mini last year to buy a laptop and it was my biggest regret! 😭 I will be buying a new Mac mini in the next 6 months and I plan to keep it for a long time. Mac minis are just my favorite computer from Apple.
@@modoulaminceesay9211 It was my favorite machine and the cost to performance was soooo gooood. My MacBook Pro was more than double the price just to have the laptop.
I am going to go M4 Max from the M1 Max since I’m in music production and recording, and the thing you want is CPU Power cores for apps like Logic & MainStage and the fastest RAM bandwidth. The Mini had me really excited since you can now get 10 P cores, but the Max has 12 P cores which is basically a huge difference when working with 150 tracks or a Movie, video game or TV show score. The extra GPU cores would only help in playback of the video file for synchronization of audio to video in Logic and maybe screen recording and editing for UA-cam plugin reviews. But the mini is great and I’m sure it will feel like an upgrade from the M1 Max.
I used to hang out with some guys in professional music and movie editing - boy, you lads to push your hardware don't you. Those pro workflows are another level!! Yeah, Joe, I am fairly confident that the M4 Pro is going to feel pretty damn fast!
Good choices! I will have to look into that OWC Thunderbolt 5 drive. I ordered an M4 Pro Mac Mini on standard config. Expensive enough for me, should last a few years to come...
I chose the same spec except a 2Tb ssd, and the 10Mbs Ethernet. For the me the device will be occasionally portable and the extra storage will mean I can carry one less item when I take it on the road. Also the larger size gives more storage breathing space and future proofing of its value. The faster Ethernet is also a futureproofing idea. I hope to keep mine for at least 5 years, and may put into service as a media server or the like down the road much later.
hopefully they come out with a dock that has the nvme slot on it like the previous mac mini has. Im thinking on getting a mac mini too, but when you add on 2 tb and more storage you get into mac studio price territory.
Have you considered getting a NAS for external storage? With the potential for hundreds of terabytes connected via 10GbE, it is an excellent long-term solution for video editing.
Never looked after going with a NAS for editing, I had a client that used Google drive to deliver rushes and using folder sync to pull those files as they arrived overnight saved me so much drama. (Any one who has had to download large folders of data from Google Drive knows what I'm talking about)... except now I'm eyeing all these tiny NVME NAS on the market.
Why bother? TB5 is 80 GB. What I’d like to see is an honest to goodness SAN. I was thinking of buying a low end mini and using it as a NAS head but I don’t need that kind of storage. What i would like to set up is my own mail server but my ISP won’t give me a static address. My spam mail is just out of control.
Hi David. Adam from Vancouver, Canada here. Oddly enough, we built the EXACT Macbook Pro specs 3 years ago, and the EXACT Mac Mini this week. In Canadian currency, the Macbook Pro was $5500, while this new Mini is $2800. That's essentially HALF. Amazing. If I feel inclined to sell the Macbook Pro, I'll be able to get $2000 for it, essentially making the new Mini only $800 out of pocket. Fantastic. I'm very, very curious, as a music producer, if I notice any considerable improvement with the additional performance cores. Whilst I do very little to no video work at this time, I'm happy to have future proofed for that as well. Thanks for the great video! You have a new subscriber. Hoping you do some nice side-by-side comparisons when the Mini arrives. :) Cheers!
Hello Adam and welcome to Vancouver! Clearly, we are similar creators then judging by the machines we spec! I still feel cautious about going from an M1 Max to a M4 pro - but I think the three years in between will have made a huge difference - and the MacBook is going nowhere any time soon! Great to hear from you and thanks for the sub! 🤛🏻
I ordered the M4... base configuration. I had actually ordered a Orange Pi 5 to push content to a Raspberry Pi 4 streaming server... cancelled that order when I heard the news of the M4. So i got the $599 base config and am happy with my choice. Will pair it with a 4tb external SSD... mostly for music and video storage.
M4 Pro, upgraded chip, 24 GB Ram, 512 GB storage, standard ethernet Use it for admin + tons of spreadsheet work. The chip and ram should be sufficient for the years to come. Didn’t need more space as I don’t really safe much on the drive anyway. Even when I do it’s files that are very small either way. My delivery time is also 2-3 weeks.
Great to hear from you - I thought your delivery time may be quicker than that. My Apple team told me they are hoping for those delivery times to be improved upon...
@@DavidLewisTech Well, whenever it arrives :D What are your thoughts on the 24gb RAM considering what I'd be using it for? Thought that that 48 would be an overkill for my work needs, I hope I wasn't wrong.
@@DavidLewisTech Noted! I am currently using a 15-inch 2018 MBP with 16 GB of RAM, and upgraded processor and graphics, but they are an older generation (still Intel), so it should be quite the upgrade withat Mac Mini and the M4 Pro.
I went for the M4 pro chip with the upgraded chip. I stayed with the base ram of 24gb and 512gb SSD.. don't need massive storage or ram for my use case.. Going to be a huge upgrade from my M1 mini 8gb.. plus with education savings I only spent £1479
I’m still using my 15 year old 5,1 Mac Pro cheese grater. I’ve been waiting for a machine that made sense for me to upgrade too. My Mac has been upgraded on all fronts. 1T ssd. 8T internal storage. 64gb ram, upgraded faster gpu and cpu. It does all I need fairly well. I use it for design and music production. I’m not doing any editing or after effects animation anymore so I’m not concerned about that. Design is snappy. The one issue I run into is music production. I can run tons of tracks with samples in Ableton live, but the cpu needs for many of the soft synths and fx have become extremely high. I like to keep as much midi as possible without having to convert tracks until I’m done. I’m also running into issues with the os I’m running (osx 10.14) but that could be still hacked and upgraded. The machine you specced out is Exactly the machine I specced out for future proofing. I don’t run into memory problems currently and I often have tons of tabs open in two browsers as I work so I think 48gb of ram is fine. I’m considering external storage for sample libraries and storage. I will need a good Hub because I have many, many usb A peripherals. I have one now that may work or I may have to get a usb c hub when they come out. The old Mac mini had some that were the same footprint and had a hard drive bay as well as many usb ports so hoping someone makes one for the new model.
And that says it all - that you can replace a Mac Pro, even if it is 15 years old, with a Mac mini. I'm expecting great things from this little Mac. I've been using an Ivanky dock (you'll find a video about it on the channel) and love it
I have always thought that the base mini is the best option and if you needed more, then jump to the base Max Studio. I wouldn’t bother with any of the in-between mini configurations. Those are not good bang for the money compared to the base Studio. Just have to wait a few more months
Thank you, for your great comments. Based on some You Tube video editing reviews, they found with their M-1 and M-2 "mac mini" systems things worked best with 2TB SSD internal storage. So, please keep your Apple receipt push it hard during the first week and if, needed return it during the 2-week refund period. (smile ... smile).
Looking forward to watching/reading your Mac mini review. I am going for the absolute base model to see how much I can squeeze out of it as a software engineer. Fun times! 😁
Can you use your phone as a m4 mac mini screen (just as a 1 off portable solution?) And I'd also like to know how to port fcp from my old Intel imac to a new mac mini.
I have been using 4 TB of external drive as boot drive on m2.. rule number one you must have fan to cool your SSD otherwise your computer is going to slow down and crash. Another thing to make notice that the software that require kernel extension cannot be used with external drive
@@Capyrkeys that's it. Also considering that SSD lifespan is finite and that it cannot be replaced. I want mine to last at least 7 years like my current macbook pro
I went with the same specs (top pro chip, 48gb ram) but with 2tb storage. I ordered quite early so mine should be here on the 8th. Excited to get into a desktop Mac.
I am thinking of getting the exact same machine, but with 64GB of RAM (because I do motion graphics and light 3D work professionally - and After Effects is a RAM hog). I’m would also be moving from an M1 Max with 64 gigs. I’m pretty sure that this is a good time to upgrade from the M1. I don’t think the prior M-series chips were a big enough leap, but I’m pretty sure the M4 with the 3 nm chip architecture and better bandwidth, it’s finally worth it. I’m also thinking of 1TB (the same that’s in my M1), as Ae actually runs better with an external. And as soon as a good Thunderbolt 5 drive drops, I agree with you, it’s gonna be super fast. That said, I’m going to subscribe to see how it all works out for you! Thanks and good luck!
Hi ya - it sounds as if we are on a very similar journey then, doesn't it? Yeah, everything seems to suggest that this M4 silicon is going to be pretty special! Let me know how you are getting along, and thanks for the sub too!
Apple's strategy is unique here. The base model is the one that Apple wants to get out at $599. Once you upgrade, the Mac Studio makes way more sense, as the base model has 32GB of RAM and a Max chip. I wish they upgraded it to the M4 to simplify the decision-making, but it looks like the M4 Ultra still needs to be prepared.
At this time I haven't gotten the new Mac Mini. There are lots of reasons why that doesn't fit into my use cases currently. Any o f the "really heavy lifting" can be done on my M2 MacBook Pro with 32 GB of RAM. In terms of your purchase - and purely off the top of my head - I probably wouldn't have gone to 48GB but, yes, that will future proof it for you. What I have done though is to order the iPad mini 7th Generation.
I hope you enjoy it David - it’s likely the next device I’ll get for the house. My M1 Max MBP is more than fine and will be until I get my replacement (likely about M6/M7) but I’m thinking given the work I do, I can likely use the Mac mini as a central part of my home and work automation - a bit of a mix between the file ordering I do with Hazel, and using it to run some local LLMs. I probably don’t need to fully spec it - having bought my M1 Max back just before the M2 came, I realise that I only need power when I’m doing professional work, so the question is if I am ok with the LLM responding a bit slower if I’m asking it questions for”offline” queries (technically Tailscale connected)… Always enjoy your content David - ref external storage, I’d just use a NAS if it’s staying at home which most minis will be (outside of professional rigs where they’re carried to site). Happy Friday too! ❤️
Hi David, just found your channel after buying the new Mac Mini, earned a sub from me. Also I have gone for the Base Model personally. I already own The M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and M3 Pro MacBook Pro, and wanted to update my Mini which is currently the 2018 Intel machine with 32GB of Ram. Really looking forward to seeing how it compares to my already very good Macs. I have the old trashcan Mac Pro too and cannot wait to also see how far Apple have come from what was once an almost 10 grand machine to a base model Mac mini for 600 quid. Thanks again for the content, I am planning to start making videos myself very shortly, as I am some what of a Tech nerd with a house full of computers. Keep up the great work. Thanks again.
Hey, Anthony - it's great to hear from you and thanks for the sub man! Damn, you have some fine Macs in your lineup! I didn't think many people would have more than me...but I think you smashed it 😀. Yeah, out of all the announcements this week, it's the Mac mini that did it for me. It'll be my first and I am genuinely excited about it!
Hi David! I just subscribed to your channel, and I’m really impressed with the content. I also have a MacBook Pro M1 Max 32GB, but it’s been sitting on my desk for a while as I’ve been using it with a monitor and Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. The Mac mini M4 Pro with a 20-core GPU looks absolutely stunning! I’m going to wait until after it has been fully reviewed and benchmarked before I make a purchase. I’ve had around 75-80 Macs in my lifetime! It’s amazing to see how quickly technology has advanced in the past few years. Cheers from California!
I am thinking the top M4 Pro. The 24GB seems plenty for me. Storage is where I’m undecided. My M1 has 512 GB and is just about full. So I’m inclined to get 1TB of storage. I do mostly photo editing with a lot of Superresolution upsizing. On my 1917 i5 Mini with Intel graphics it would typically take 3 minutes. M1 15 seconds. So I don’t need the M4 Pro yet but photo editing will probably get more processor intensive as more AI is added. So the top M4 Pro looks like a reasonably priced upgrade for me. AUD2700 for me.
Can anyone explain why the Mac Mini can't get powered by the USB C ports? It's the same chip as the laptops. It'd be really nice to use this with a USB C Monitor using a single cable
Hi, David. Same here mate. I’ve ordered the exact same configuration and I already have the M1 Max MBP with 32 GPU cores. So I’ve got the same concerns about memory bandwidth and GPU performance. The CPU difference is heavily in favour of the Mac Mini, with 2.5x the performance cores, which are also considerably faster on M4. However, I use DaVinci Resolve for my UA-cam videos, so I’m a little nervous that the lack of GPU cores and bandwidth may be an issue. Apple have a great return policy, so I’m not too concerned about returning it if I have to. If I do have to return it, thats where the real problems arise. I only bought the M1 Max MBP because it was the most powerful Apple Silicon machine at the time and I use it 99% of the time as a desktop, in clamshell mode connected to a monitor. This has been a fantastic PC for almost three years and maybe my best computer buy in over 30 years (my first Atari ST for my music production was probably the best purchase ever). However, I always said to myself that my next main computer would be an Apple Silicon desktop. So if the M4 Pro MM doesn’t work out, I’ll be stuck until next year as I doubt I’ll buy an M4 Max MBP, as an M4 Max Mac Studio would be a better suit for me, Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on your channel as it’ll be interesting to see how you get on and if it compares to how I do. Cheers, Dave.
Hi there David - I have spent the morning working through hundreds of comments, and the general feedback is that we should be ok! Like you, I had concerns, but my heart was telling me that the 3 years on, the newer M4 Pro would be better than the M1 Max - it seems folks think that's the case! Fingers crossed and let me know how you get on with yours!
@@DavidLewisTech Hi, David. Looks like good news. It would seem that the Geekbench scores are putting the M4 Pro 20 core GPU at roughly the same as the M1 Max 32 GPU core, both just over 110,000. So while the Mac Mini won’t increase GPU performance, at least we haven’t really lost any. Plus, we more than make up for it in CPU performance and I’m going to guess that the accelerators will have an edge, although, they are doubled in the M1 Max, which also has considerably faster memory bandwidth. Cheers, Dave.
Thanks for the info David - the more I am hearing about the M4 the more excited I am to try it out! I'm genuinely excited about it! Really appreciate you getting back to me - thank you 🙏🏻
@@DavidLewisTech Hi, David. Yes, it’s all looking very exciting now and only a few more days before we get them. BTW, I’m going to be first in line to test and review one of the first Thunderbolt 5 NVMe enclosures, from one of the manufactures that send me stuff to review. I’ll be demonstrating it with a fast Gen 4 NVMe SSD and also the fastest Gen 5 that I can find when I get the enclosure. You may want to keep an eye on my channel as you’ll probably find the results interesting for extra storage. Cheers, Dave.
I’m a photographer and last evening I built a possible replacement for my late 2018 Mac Mini, the only difference being more storage… However after seeing your discussion on the subject and thinking about the fact that my Mac Mini has 1 TB storage and it’s taken me 6 years to fill it to 2/3 capacity, do I really need to spend the extra money on Apple onboard storage… My music is stored on a 1 TB external drive which is 3/4 full… Perhaps a new Mac Mini of the same specs you’d chosen, a couple of external SS drives for storage and utilize my old existing Mac Mini for my music. Oh and I still have my original 17” mid 2010 MacBook Pro with it’s 500 gb drive that I could update with larger capacity SS drives and update the OS beyond what Apple supports… Subscribed as well.
M4 Pro (12 core) with 64GB but only a 1TB SSD. I don't need much on the main HD and can plug in an external drive if needed, but I'm replacing a 10 year old iMac so I wanted to max out the memory to keep it as future proof as possible.
the exact same specs...as yours but on Dec. 1 waited for reviews..lots of videos watched. I do video/photos and music production. currently own MBP M1...but opening and closing is a pain. just need stationary. I to like to future proof. and with the thunderbolt 5 here I will use external storage. ( not yet purchased ) unfortunately I'm in Canada so the price tag is ridiculous. But I to love the small size and a " neat organized " work area. ps subscribed to your channel....your not Hollywood or a used car salesman..lol. that's why I like your videos.
Hey - thanks for the sub! That helps me out so much 🙏🏼 You've bought a great Mac - I am using it as my Mac mini Pro as my main Mac now - I made the switch last week. I have a video coming out about it this week 👍🏼
16gb of RAM will get you by but will end up resulting in considerable amount of paging that will wear out your internal non-replaceable SSD. It also causes marked slow downs and, since it is all shared memory with the GPU, unrendered graphics in webpages, pdfs and files viewed in Finder. Make higher RAM your number one upgrade. As you point out storage can be extended externally much more cheaply than internally and is safer as that external storage can be replaced. Thunderbolt enclosures are expensive but once you jump that hurdle you are pretty free to make the external storage as large as possible. USB-C 4 is very fast, just not as fast as Thunderbolt, and very cost effective. Stage your storage. For maximum speed use the internal storage. For large working files that will not fit on the internal storage use fast Thunderbolt external drives. For smaller, slower files and long term storage use USB-C connected slower storage.
I really wish I could justify owning both a laptop and a desktop. The Mac Mini looks like a beautiful piece of tech but I can't see any world in which I can justify owning one alongside my mac other than the purposes of it looking cute.
I own a fancy desktop in my home office to play video games. But my laptop is just a small one for travel and watching youtube. Because I game, I really have no choice but to get a powerhouse Windows PC, but I can see a lot of normal people getting a laptop they just dock up.
Two machines is a lot to manage, while with a Mac you could simply take a time machine backup and restore it to the new one, the files and apps will drift apart over time.
Yeah, you are quite right. if this wasn't what I was doing to make a living there would be no reason for me to own both. As I mentioned, my 2021 M1 Max MBP is still an absolute beast!
And i am going to get the M4 Pro 14 core version and i am going to get a SD card reader and get a 1TB SD Card and use it as direct memory to store programs
David, loved hearing your thinking process. Coincidentally, the day before seeing your video, I had ordered exactly the same specs for an M4 Pro, with 48GB of memory, also with some future proofing for AI-intensive photo editing in mind (amateur enthusiast). It is tempting to get the beefy M2 Max Mac Studio with the base 32 GB memory for about the same price, but the tiny new Mac Mini will nestle so much more nicely on my desk. It'll be interesting to see to see how the speed tests compare between these two machines. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this new Mini after you do some real work on it.
Hi there - this Mac has really piqued my interest and it makes me so happy to read the joy and enthusiasm about it. My mindset has changed totally - the more I think about it, the more I am pretty certain I will end up using this as my main rig and possibly use the iPad Pro as a second display via Sidecar. I might even go the NAS route and get a Synology system for it...
Base model M4 Mac mini, trading in my base model M1 Mac mini for $230. I'm not a power user, just daily computing tasks so getting the extra RAM, better chip, and a decent price w/trade-in, I took the bait, although I kind of wish they would have left at least one USB-A port...oh well, can't have everything I want I suppose
Same spec as me, for the same reasons. I ordered it at launch and I'm quoted 8th - 12th November. Looking forward to using it. I'm just waiting for the next gen apple studio display with >=120hz RR.
I spec’d the same. Ordered within a few hours of the announcement, and will arrive on day 1. Replacing my M1 Max Studio, which was a bit of an overkill for me.
I've watched several of your Mac mini videos thus far and appreciate the depth you've gone into with them (subscribed to the channel, as well). I bought an M1 Mac mini and Studio Monitor in the fall of 2022 after tiring of waiting for a new mini version to arrive (usually released in the fall). Shortly after Apple released the M2 & M2 Pro Mac minis in January 2023 which left me steamed about the purchase. Anyway, with 16GB memory and 512GB storage, the M1 is a slug for my purposes. I fight each day to reclaim memory (browsers with multiple tabs open eat a tremendous amount) and my hard drive is almost full. Overall, a poor purchase. Now as I'm looking at the new M4 to replace it I have a quandary facing me. Do I spring for an M4 Pro Mac mini now or wait until the M4 Max Studio is released next year. I'm guessing the M4 Max Studio will sell for about the same price as the current M2 Max model (or just a touch more). Configuring both the M4 Pro Mac mini and current M2 Max Mac Studio, the later is only about $100 more (64GB memory, 1TB storage and 10 Gigabit Ethernet). My concerns about the M4 Pro Mac mini is that it lacks an SD card slot, all three Thunderbolt 5 ports will be populated from the start and possible overheating with the smaller confines (though I do appreciate the smaller footprint). My current workflow includes working in multiple photo apps simultaneously and having a good dose of browser tabs open at a time. I also expect to get into AI apps this coming year and some small scale video production. So, any recommendations?
Hi there - and thanks for the sub! From what you are telling me, and the buyer's remorse you've already experienced, I'd wait for the Studio next year. I have nothing but good to say about the Mac mini Pro and last week switched to using it full-time ahead of the M1 Max MacBook Pro. I have had no thermal issues at all, no matter what I throw at it, it copes. I have it hooked up to my Ivanky dock which not only gives me more ports but also the SD card slot. But it sounds to me as if your heart is set on the Mac Studio!
@@DavidLewisTech Thanks, David! I'm not totally sold on the Studio. The most difficult part of the equation is knowing how much memory I really need given the new Apple silicon memory architecture. My previous Mac was an Intel-based, late 2014, 27-inch iMac that I upgraded to 32GB of ram and had the same memory issue with it. So, this time around I don't want buyers remorse on the memory front. I definitely want at least the M4 Pro if I go with the mini but not sure that the standard 24 GB would be enough to preclude remorse. Also, while I do prefer the smaller footprint of the mini over the Studio, I was hoping for an SD card slot, something my current M1 mini lacks. I have a USB C card reader I use as needed that I could easily pop in one of the front ports on the M4 Pro mini when necessary, or get one of the upcoming docks with an SD card slot on it. It's just too bad that Apple didn't make the M4 mini slightly larger to accommodate an SD slot, as well as a back-mounted power button. It would have been a better design. However, it seems like Apple is trying to push photographers and videographers toward the Studio model by the M4 mini's design choices. Anyway, I believe you upgraded to 48GB on your M4 Pro. Has that been sufficient for your needs? Or, would you go with 64GB if you were to do it over again? From what I understand, the M4 Pro minis sent out to reviewers were fitted with 48GB. Looking forward to your next video. Thanks, again!
So, my heaviest use cases each week are Final Cut, Audition, Lightroom & Photoshop. This past week I have switched from using the M1 Max MBP as my mainMac to the Mac mini Pro. As I type, I am exporting a 16-minute video in 4K with 3D plugins, and it looks as if it's going to take about 6 minutes. This mini has not missed a beat. Yes, I have the 48GB of memory and reckon that's what you should go for. The other great thing about the mini is that I can easily pop it into my back pack and take it home to carry on working on. It's been amazing - a desktop by day and a laptop by night! I am so impressed with it!
I'm torn between the Mini M4 Pro and Studio M2 Max. The M4 chip is superior, but that is rarely the whole story. The base Studio has 30 GPU cores (vs 16 on the new Mini Pro), comes with 32GB of unified memory (vs 24) and an SDXC slot which the Mini does not have. All that (with a 1TB SSD) is just a bit over $2K. I know a new Studio is coming sometime next year, but I want to replace my 2017 27" iMac sooner than that. Thanks Apple, for making great products... and hard decisions.
@@DavidLewisTech I could also wait for the Studio M4 Max, because that will surely move the goalposts further apart. But that could be a year away, and I don’t want to wait that long to upgrade. (What I really want is a direct replacement for my 27” iMac, but that doesn’t appear eminent)
Just watched you for the first time. Like the way you explain things. New subscriber....considering ne Mac Mini myself, although likely not the pro version.
I have a 2TB nvme drive in a thunderbolt 3 enclosure and the speeds are fast enough to not notice any difference when scrubbing directly from the drive. I think I paid around 300 USD back when I got my m2 pro Mac mini and using a Samsung 970 evo nvme which are pretty cheap nowadays
I'm still using an M1 Mac Mini with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, I edit video in Davinci Pro and it still works for me. Whilst this new Mac Mini looks cute and the specs are impressive I still don't need to upgrade. However, my 2013 MacBook Pro is very long in the tooth and I'll probably be looking at a new M4, or an excellent used M3 in the next 12 months. Interesting video!
Cheers Will - it's been a busy week and I've loved every moment of it! Thanks for the view fella! Don't forget to subscribe to my free, weekly, video BTS newsletter - you might enjoy it! talkingtechandaudio.com
Don’t buy that OWC Envoy yet… a TB5 version is coming very soon (already announced with end of October availability). I think they’re a little late getting this out the door, though. The TB5 version is spec’ed at double the real world read/write speed!
I am moving from an iMac 2020 Intel i9 fully loaded with 64 GB RAM, 2TB storage (some of it rotating). All my intensive work is 3D CAD related using Fusion 360. Sure, I do a lot of Photoshop, and make a videos for my UA-cam channel, but I rarely even have a B-Roll. So I have decided to upgrade to the Mini with M4 Pro, 64 GB RAM, and 2TB SSD. $2,800 due here November 29. I already have one Apple Studio monitor as 2nd monitor with my iMac, but will buy another Studio Monitor for use with the Mini when I sell my iMac for an estimated $1K. Apple is going to have it's hands full making an Apple Studio with M4 that is value for the mainstream - even with the Ultra, they are boxed in on lowering prices.
This Mac mini has been the showstopper from last week - there is no doubt about it! In my mind, it's gone from a review unit to wanting it to be my main production rig in the blink of an eye. It sounds as if you have a pretty intensive workflow and the hardware to match it! Greta specs you've chosen...
I just went with base model with 512gb of SSD. I have a NAS for storing most things, but I found the 256gb in my M1 Air was just too tight. I was AGONIZING over 10gb ethernet though. My home network is 10gb, but my Air barely saturated 1gb when transferring files. MacOS seems to despise SMB...
Stick to the base M4 for the mini, it’s going to be comparable to your M1 max. Get a 14” 14 core macbook pro with 48 GB and 1TB storage if you want to buy now. Wait for the base M4 studio if you want a fast workhorse desktop with dual encoders for video editing.
You’ll be doubling the export times for your videos as the pro only has one encoder. Other than that the pro looks like an awesome machine. Will be interesting to see if this bothers you too much
Yeah - I have been wondering about the single encoder - part of me wonders if the overall improvements in M4 might compensate. One way to find out I guess...🤛🏻
Getting the same Mac mini M4 pro but with 2TB SSD. Similar reasons but I do AstroPhoto, Photographs, Windows VM's for work, programming. which is running ok on my Mac Mini M1 but notices it's slow. Getting in 22-28 Nov. Also in England and have subscribed, great Video, Thanks
Great to hear from you Julian - I added to my spec today and and have gone with the 10GB Ethernet in case I should ever want to network it! Thank you for the sub too!
Based on experience with video editing, I'm going for the 32GB memory and 512GB SSD storage option. I wish the offered a 64GB option for 4K editing. Annoyingly, my PC to upgrade from 16GB to 40Gb (added 32GB DIMM) was £100.
I’m in the market for a desktop and trying to decide whether I should go for an iMac (downside not so big monitor) vs building up a Mac mini bearing in mind I don’t have any of the extra bits ( screen / key board / mouse) my use is really basic to be honest .. just usual home use (no video editing etc) thanks in advance.
One thing to remember with SSD storage is the lifespan of the drive, they only have a finite # of read/writes. This means a higher spec storage will result in longer lifespan, a 4TB drive for example will significantly outlast a 512Gb drive as the read/write operations are spread across more locations on the larger drive. Storage on these things can't (very difficult) be upgraded. So if you can afford it, go for a larger capacity SSD if possible, if you want it for a longer time. my 2c.
I talked to a apple technician that is also a good friend of mine. They almost never have repairs of broken NAND to fix. I always thought that it would be an issue, but maybe they do some management to keep the flash healthy.
All SSDs do management of their flash. The reality is that the vast majority of people don’t write that much data to exhaust the total bytes written spec of modern flash. If you think you’re one of the few, use external storage. Better to give Apple money for RAM for which there is no aftermarket upgrade or external expansion. Internal SSD generally isn’t worth the extra coin to Apple.
Also considering the NEW Mac Mini M4 Pro too… However, inclined to go with the 14 Core | 64GB RAM | 1TB | 10Gb Ethernet for £2,499… Future proofing is our propensity as well, may even go with 2GB storage too, but not sure… Then too, we have not finalized anything yet… 🤔
@@Superz3ro I’ve just spent the last 10 hours running some benchmarks on 5 Macs including two Mac mini’s - the Pro and non Pro. I’ll have a video up this week on them!
I’m one of those who is getting ready to upgrade to the M4 Mini from a 2017 Intel iMac. Needless to say, I’m excited to see what effect it has on my photo editing. Working in Photoshop/Lightroom and their array of plugins and filters has become a waiting game I’m anxious to leave behind. Regarding specs, the only difference between your setup and mine could be RAM. I have 60 on my iMac (added after purchase), but I understand that RAM is different these days, so I’m trying to decide whether I need 24 or 48. I build many layered composites and work with high megapixel images. Any thoughts? BTW, thank you for your well composed videos on this topic.
Hi there Roger - a few years back I was in the same boat as you coming from a 2015 Intel iMac. The difference you are about to experience will blow your mind! I spend quite a lot of time in both Photoshop & Lightroom - 24GB will easily see you through, but if you can afford to go to 48GB it would be even better. The RAM in Apple silicon behaves so differently from the old Intel Macs! You are in for a treat sir!
Have you seen the Geekbench scores for the M4 Pro that have just appeared? It's beats the M2 Ultra on single and Multi-Core Score. It seems to manage 1/2 the performance of the M2 Ultra's 60 GPU codes using just 20. It's a little monster. I ordered one hours after it was announced but I'm going from an 2017 iMac 5K i7 so I expect it to rip through my compile times on Xcode. From 2 and 1/2 minutes for my largest app to just 20s. I do some video editing but not that much. Future proofing! I got 64G of memory ordered with 2TB storage. Current iMac has 40G & 1TB and it's just on the edge of what I need these days.
I have a studio max and also want to go to a pro mini, it should be much faster, the only place it may lose is pure GPU power going from 32 core to 20, but since they're more recent, I think it may, mostly even out
Either way youre fine with an M1 Max or M4 Pro. My M1 Max runs like itzs new still. Linux VMs run flawlessly Battery health still above 90% cause I m,astered the "Keeping Battery at Maximum health" Unless you're rendering and some photo editor/video editor as a real job. Enjoy your M1 Max and your M4 Pro with confidence. By the time the M1 isnt supported anymore. Open Core Legacy will have a fix for that as well. My 2011's 2012's etc all run Seqouia flawlessly at this moment. Fully integrated with my iphones
Yeah, my M1 Max is an amazing beast. It works so hard and hardly ever complains. I'm just setting up a Mac mini now - not my one, but an off-the-shelf one. I should have a video up later today/Tuesday
Actually performance matters more than any marketing or "napkin" math. If you need a performant computer for work, get as much performance as you can get especially if you are going to keep it for 4-5 years. Get the best SoC you can afford. It's a lot of money for the upgrade now, but to get it after you've bought the computer is the price of a new computer with the upgrade. I think the Pro will be a downgrade from the Pro, but actual performance is better than theorized performance.
Pari a MacAir with the Mac mini. If somebody finds a way to allow the MacAir to provide the screen, keyboard, and pad as the controller for the Mac Mini, you might have a very nice way to bring your Mac Mini on the road as a backup muscle when you need it.
What monitor would you pair with a mini? I'm in the market to ditch my ancient 27" iMac and the Mac Mini with a non-Apple monitor looks to be the best bang for buck route forward.
Hi - I can't testify to the alternatives, but all I can tell you is the Studio Display is one of the best buys I've made. That is what I'll be using it with! ua-cam.com/video/KSJb_S5bZ2o/v-deo.html
It all depends on when the 'Sora' class video generation open source arrives and you want to run locally. This will require the maximum amount of npu/gpu and memory band width. So I would max everything?
Base M4 with 2 TB storage, as I like to keep a lot of games and media around. I suppose I'll look at getting fast external storage to use with it as well. It's going to replace the M1 iMac as my work+ machine. Got that in addition to a homebrew Ryzen desktop and a Framework Ryzen desktop both running Linux for my modern computing needs and wants. Oh, and an M1 mini that is presently plugged into my TV, where it can offer up media and game console emulation on the big screen.
I went for the same spec as you but didn’t upgrade the memory, I stayed with the 24 GB. I also bought a Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 elements dock as I still need USB A and a Thunderbolt 4 SSD, 4 TB for £260. I don’t think that Thunderbolt 5 drives are worth the premium. I’m hoping that It’ll be at least 3 years and preferably 5 before I need to upgrade again.
I have an m1 ultra studio, still 2 years payments left…….. i won’t be jumping in to this round of releases (got an m3 pro mbp earlier this year) Cannot imagine how crazy systems will be in 2-3 years time…… was saying to my son today I prob won’t upgrade until current studio is unuseable/non updateable
Awesome! Great specs. I haven’t got an MacOS system yet but Im debating on getting the Mac Mini Pro or the MacBook Pro, since i already have an iPad Pro, I don’t know if a laptop would be the right choice (the pros on the laptop is the display for editing).
I've just topped up my spec to include a 10GB Ethernet port so that if I choose to network it, it will be ready! My possible workflow soon may be the Mac mini and an M4 iPad Pro acting as a second display via Sidecar
Im getting the M4 Pro 14 core version as the rest will not be a upgrade to my 2018 i7 6 core with 16GB RAM as all of my cores are performance cores and tge standard only has 4 performance cores
I suppose it comes down to how much you need a Mac right now. My best guess is that the Studio won't be updated until next Spring. If you can wait and need the extra grunt, then yeah, sit back and wait for that Mac to be released.
If I get a new Mac Mini, I'll probably go for the base M4 Pro Mac Mini, which would replace or supplement my current M1 Max Mac Studio. The 12-core CPU in the M4 Pro chip should be significantly more powerful than the M1 Max's CPU, and while the M1 Max's GPU, with eight more cores, may be more powerful on paper, the M4 Pro's GPU is still probably better due to the advanced new features such as hardware ray-tracing and dynamic caching. 24 GB of RAM is a slight downgrade from my Mac Studio's 32 GB, but both amounts are overkill for my needs as a writer and editor (but suit my gamer needs nicely).
So what specs have you chosen for your new M4 Mac mini? Go 👍🏻
What display will you be using?
I bought the new Mini but I upped it to 24GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. I'm upgrading from an old 2015 Intel iMac also with 24GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD (I upgraded my old iMac myself years ago since the RAM was easy to add in the backdoor). I'm kind of a light pro/heavy consumer/prosumer user. A bit of Final Cut Pro work as a hobby (my youtube channel) and a few other projects but mostly just a fun/entertainment machine. I found out a cool trick from another youtuber when ordering your Mac.... anyone can get the educational price by ordering through the Apple Education store instead of the regular Apple online store. Apple doesn't do any sort of educational verification. Good way to save $200-$300. I managed to get my Mac Mini with 24GB and 1TB SSD for only $1300 Canadian ($1004 USD).
M4 Pro 14/20 with 48gb RAM and 512gb storage. I'm a hobbyist composer and have been using an M1 Studio base model. I have a few Logic projects that push about 30gb RAM usage so I'm going to 48 to future proof. I'm looking forward to the 10 p-cores on the new mini!
M4 Pro 14/20 cores, 48GB memory and 1TB storage 😁
@@TransCanadaPhil then do it right before you take a holiday and claim back the GST/VAT at the airport, pay with discounted apple giftcards and you can realy put a dint, oh, cash rewards also increases a little more too. But yeah, EDU is for anyone who studies, family members of anyone who studies so everyone qualifies if you think about it
Yeah, I hope UA-cam ends up paying some dividens you can put towards your hardware purchases. I enjoy the videos.
For me personally, my main machine is a gaming Desktop. And I actually keep the box in a spare bedroom and route all the cables through the walls. I do this so I don't have to hear it. But it also does great for keeping my office very tidy. My work space is basically just the desk, two monitors, mouse and keyboard. No bulky case, no fan noise, no crazy flashing lights.
For my storage, I have a 2TB internal, and while I could buy more m.2 drives to fill it up, I've actually been using a lot of 1-2TB portable drives. With my case being in another room I can have a little cabal of drives plugging in without it being distracting. I never see them.
But I really like them for a few reasons.
External drives are super easy to replace and switch around.
They're uh, huh. They're not cheaper than buying m.2 drives, but they are cheaper than paying Apple tax.
They're great for backups. If one of them stops working, it only affects that one drive, and not my entirely system. I've never had a drive fail though.
If you do use a laptop and a desktop, using extra drives means you can just plug and play the drives from device to device and always have access to the files.
Personally, I always buy the smallest storage config possible for anything portable. I never want to store too much crap on them incase they get stolen or damaged.
--
If money wasn't an issue I can see just being lazy and getting a fat internal drive and never thinking about externals, but with money being an issue I would use externals. Just too many pros in my book.
Yeah - it's a great point you make about not having too much stored on it in case of damage! I like that!
I love my iPhones and iPads but my computers have always run on a MS platform. I just ordered the Apple MP4 Pro mini and it will be the first Apple computer I ever had to work with. I know I’ll have a learning curve to overcome and I just hope it works out.
Trust me John - they are super simple to get to grips with and work on! You'll absolutely love the experience. And, judging by your message...I think you might enjoy the video I am working on this week!
@@DavidLewisTech Thanks. I’ll be looking forward to it.👍
..deep in edit mode....🤛🏻
Great shout on the Mac mini and keeping the internal storage down, you're right, it's not going anywhere you may as well stick a external SSD under your desk hidden away, which connects directly in. I'm really amazed by the Mac mini design, it looks bloody incredible! You've gone for a good spec and will be great to see how it compare to your M1 Max MacBook Pro.
It will look very sleek connected to your studio display too. I may have to pick one up myself!
Hi George - we are bad for one another, you do know that don't you! I still desperately want a Watch Ultra!
I thought long and hard about the specs of this mac mini - I think I have just about nailed it! Lots to chat over in this week's newsletter!
@ haha I do indeed! Catch you Sunday. You’ve spent this much you might as well add to it with a Watch Ultra 😂😂
I think the accountant might shoot me though!! I'll be recording the newsletter very soon...
@davidlewistech honest feedback you asked for, Mini Pro when you upgrade the chip and ram, just like last time when comparing Mini to the Studio, is a bad value. It’s almost the same as the base Studio, which is significantly faster. Future proofing? Slippery slope. It’s usually best to buy what you need that will last about 3 years, get a high trade-in value, and get the next thing. Overbuying is a worse value as the tech the next time round will be much better. Yes those GPU cores are very important, especially for future proofing as is ram since you prefer future-proofing, and since modern AI models, especially since not everything leverages the neural engines need lots of GPU and RAM and Apple silicon is great but behind in GPU compared to dedicated.
I totally agree with you
Hi there - the more I hear about this M4 chip and Mac mini the more excited I am to try it and get to work on it! Thanks for commenting...and watching too of course
Your export time will increase because exporting depends on media encoders and max models have 2 of them compared to pro models 1.. it's better to buy max chip if you are concerned about export speeds.
I noticed that when I went from the M1 Max to the M3 Pro. Exporting was definitely slower.
thank you
it does depend though on how much your export uses them also
@@Monkwrestler Max models reduce export times by half
we'll soon find out...
I did the same thing today. 14/20 and 48 memory. It took me a week to decide. I'm coming off a M1 MBP with 32 memory. I also bought a SanDisk Professional 2TB PRO-G40 SSD - with 3000MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), USB-C (10Gbps). One also would have to get the Thunderbolt 5 cable to take advantage of the speed. I plan on using the SanDisk for my startup files and all the rest of them. With that speed, I don't expect and issues with delay in retrieving and storing data from the SanDisk. They also quoted me 2-3 weeks delivery.
So I heard that the Thunderbolt 5 ports will only support the higher speed for video transfer for the high spec monitors and will only support Thunderbolt 4 speeds for data transfer. As a music creator I have ordered a m4 pro with 64gb and a 4Tb ssd mainly so I don’t have to carry lots of external ssd’s for the huge music library’s.
I think the details you heard about the Thunderbolt 5 ports are correct. I've mentioned that over the past few videos. As for the 4TB SSD - although expensive, internal SSD is more convenient and much quicker. Sounds like a really well spec'd machine
Personally, if you have a computer which is comfortably doing the work you need to - why buy another? If it fails, you can upgrade then. With regards to future proofing, I always ask myself - how long realistically am I going to run this computer? For macs, I tend to keep them for around 3 years and sell them before they become too long in the tooth and lose their resale value. That rarely makes significantly upgrading the spec worthwhile. As a result, I've gone for the base spec M4 as I think it'll comfortably do what I need to, and I'll upgrade/sell it on if in the unlikely case it no longer means my requirements.
Your 3 year cycle idea is genius! I love it! The base M4 looks to be a great machine, doesn't it!
I sold my M1 Mac mini last year to buy a laptop and it was my biggest regret! 😭 I will be buying a new Mac mini in the next 6 months and I plan to keep it for a long time. Mac minis are just my favorite computer from Apple.
Why did you regret it ?
I want a Mac mini but can’t justify it as I run around all day with a MBP
@@whatispizza makes sense buy the base model as a spare computer
they are great Macs - working from my MBP today 🤛🏻
@@modoulaminceesay9211 It was my favorite machine and the cost to performance was soooo gooood. My MacBook Pro was more than double the price just to have the laptop.
I am going to go M4 Max from the M1 Max since I’m in music production and recording, and the thing you want is CPU Power cores for apps like Logic & MainStage and the fastest RAM bandwidth. The Mini had me really excited since you can now get 10 P cores, but the Max has 12 P cores which is basically a huge difference when working with 150 tracks or a Movie, video game or TV show score. The extra GPU cores would only help in playback of the video file for synchronization of audio to video in Logic and maybe screen recording and editing for UA-cam plugin reviews. But the mini is great and I’m sure it will feel like an upgrade from the M1 Max.
I used to hang out with some guys in professional music and movie editing - boy, you lads to push your hardware don't you. Those pro workflows are another level!! Yeah, Joe, I am fairly confident that the M4 Pro is going to feel pretty damn fast!
Good choices! I will have to look into that OWC Thunderbolt 5 drive. I ordered an M4 Pro Mac Mini on standard config. Expensive enough for me, should last a few years to come...
I chose the same spec except a 2Tb ssd, and the 10Mbs Ethernet. For the me the device will be occasionally portable and the extra storage will mean I can carry one less item when I take it on the road. Also the larger size gives more storage breathing space and future proofing of its value. The faster Ethernet is also a futureproofing idea. I hope to keep mine for at least 5 years, and may put into service as a media server or the like down the road much later.
I'm starting to really buy into the idea of this Mac being so portable. It's a win-win, isn't it!
hopefully they come out with a dock that has the nvme slot on it like the previous mac mini has. Im thinking on getting a mac mini too, but when you add on 2 tb and more storage you get into mac studio price territory.
yeah, but with a smaller footprint, M4 architecture and that 2TB of storage as well...It is a touch choice though
Have you considered getting a NAS for external storage? With the potential for hundreds of terabytes connected via 10GbE, it is an excellent long-term solution for video editing.
That’s how I do it. No more than 1TB internal, all the rest is on a QNAP.
Never looked after going with a NAS for editing, I had a client that used Google drive to deliver rushes and using folder sync to pull those files as they arrived overnight saved me so much drama. (Any one who has had to download large folders of data from Google Drive knows what I'm talking about)... except now I'm eyeing all these tiny NVME NAS on the market.
Why bother? TB5 is 80 GB. What I’d like to see is an honest to goodness SAN. I was thinking of buying a low end mini and using it as a NAS head but I don’t need that kind of storage. What i would like to set up is my own mail server but my ISP won’t give me a static address. My spam mail is just out of control.
Hi Norman, I think a NAS setup will become almost a necessity soon. It's on my to-do list. Do you use one?
I really need to look into this solution!
Hi David. Adam from Vancouver, Canada here. Oddly enough, we built the EXACT Macbook Pro specs 3 years ago, and the EXACT Mac Mini this week. In Canadian currency, the Macbook Pro was $5500, while this new Mini is $2800. That's essentially HALF. Amazing. If I feel inclined to sell the Macbook Pro, I'll be able to get $2000 for it, essentially making the new Mini only $800 out of pocket. Fantastic. I'm very, very curious, as a music producer, if I notice any considerable improvement with the additional performance cores. Whilst I do very little to no video work at this time, I'm happy to have future proofed for that as well. Thanks for the great video! You have a new subscriber. Hoping you do some nice side-by-side comparisons when the Mini arrives. :) Cheers!
Hello Adam and welcome to Vancouver! Clearly, we are similar creators then judging by the machines we spec! I still feel cautious about going from an M1 Max to a M4 pro - but I think the three years in between will have made a huge difference - and the MacBook is going nowhere any time soon! Great to hear from you and thanks for the sub! 🤛🏻
I ordered the M4... base configuration. I had actually ordered a Orange Pi 5 to push content to a Raspberry Pi 4 streaming server... cancelled that order when I heard the news of the M4. So i got the $599 base config and am happy with my choice. Will pair it with a 4tb external SSD... mostly for music and video storage.
The M4 base config is the most insane deal in the market, pehaps in history. wow.
That base config is a stonking machine! Apple smashed it this week!
M4 Pro, upgraded chip, 24 GB Ram, 512 GB storage, standard ethernet
Use it for admin + tons of spreadsheet work.
The chip and ram should be sufficient for the years to come. Didn’t need more space as I don’t really safe much on the drive anyway. Even when I do it’s files that are very small either way.
My delivery time is also 2-3 weeks.
Great to hear from you - I thought your delivery time may be quicker than that. My Apple team told me they are hoping for those delivery times to be improved upon...
@@DavidLewisTech Well, whenever it arrives :D What are your thoughts on the 24gb RAM considering what I'd be using it for? Thought that that 48 would be an overkill for my work needs, I hope I wasn't wrong.
For reference, my M3 MBA only has 16GB and rarely struggles...I think you'll be fine!
@@DavidLewisTech Noted! I am currently using a 15-inch 2018 MBP with 16 GB of RAM, and upgraded processor and graphics, but they are an older generation (still Intel), so it should be quite the upgrade withat Mac Mini and the M4 Pro.
I went for the M4 pro chip with the upgraded chip. I stayed with the base ram of 24gb and 512gb SSD.. don't need massive storage or ram for my use case..
Going to be a huge upgrade from my M1 mini 8gb.. plus with education savings I only spent £1479
I’m still using my 15 year old 5,1 Mac Pro cheese grater. I’ve been waiting for a machine that made sense for me to upgrade too. My Mac has been upgraded on all fronts. 1T ssd. 8T internal storage. 64gb ram, upgraded faster gpu and cpu. It does all I need fairly well. I use it for design and music production. I’m not doing any editing or after effects animation anymore so I’m not concerned about that. Design is snappy. The one issue I run into is music production. I can run tons of tracks with samples in Ableton live, but the cpu needs for many of the soft synths and fx have become extremely high. I like to keep as much midi as possible without having to convert tracks until I’m done. I’m also running into issues with the os I’m running (osx 10.14) but that could be still hacked and upgraded. The machine you specced out is Exactly the machine I specced out for future proofing. I don’t run into memory problems currently and I often have tons of tabs open in two browsers as I work so I think 48gb of ram is fine. I’m considering external storage for sample libraries and storage. I will need a good Hub because I have many, many usb A peripherals. I have one now that may work or I may have to get a usb c hub when they come out. The old Mac mini had some that were the same footprint and had a hard drive bay as well as many usb ports so hoping someone makes one for the new model.
And that says it all - that you can replace a Mac Pro, even if it is 15 years old, with a Mac mini. I'm expecting great things from this little Mac. I've been using an Ivanky dock (you'll find a video about it on the channel) and love it
I have always thought that the base mini is the best option and if you needed more, then jump to the base Max Studio. I wouldn’t bother with any of the in-between mini configurations. Those are not good bang for the money compared to the base Studio. Just have to wait a few more months
mac mini is just fantastic, and this true mini form is simply spectaculair, still rocking the m2 mini pro here and its simply the best pc i ever had
Thank you, for your great comments. Based on some You Tube video editing reviews, they found with their M-1 and M-2 "mac mini" systems things worked best with 2TB SSD internal storage. So, please keep your Apple receipt push it hard during the first week and if, needed return it during the 2-week refund period. (smile ... smile).
...that and plead for more sponsors to help me pay for it 😆
Thanks SO much for taking the time to comment...it is deeply appreciated.
You can just use the migration assistant to move to the mini from the mbp. Its easy. Fcp will move too.
Thanks, man - seems a simple fix! Love it - thank you 🙏🏻
Looking forward to watching/reading your Mac mini review. I am going for the absolute base model to see how much I can squeeze out of it as a software engineer. Fun times! 😁
I am really looking forward to this Mac landing with me...it's got me excited
Can you use your phone as a m4 mac mini screen (just as a 1 off portable solution?)
And I'd also like to know how to port fcp from my old Intel imac to a new mac mini.
I don't think so...I tried my M4 iPad Pro and no joy
I have been using 4 TB of external drive as boot drive on m2.. rule number one you must have fan to cool your SSD otherwise your computer is going to slow down and crash.
Another thing to make notice that the software that require kernel extension cannot be used with external drive
thank you - essential advice and great to know you've not had any issues
I preordered M4 24GB, 512SSD for longevity.
That’s what I thought too. I will definitely put all media on an external drive, but I don’t want to hit a storage wall for applications.
There is a real, genuine buzz about these new minis isn't there Lucas! let me know how your's is going once you've been using it for a bit 👌🏻
@@Capyrkeys that's it. Also considering that SSD lifespan is finite and that it cannot be replaced. I want mine to last at least 7 years like my current macbook pro
I went with the same specs (top pro chip, 48gb ram) but with 2tb storage. I ordered quite early so mine should be here on the 8th. Excited to get into a desktop Mac.
Great specs - what display will you be using?
@@DavidLewisTech My current display for pc, it's Alienware 34 inch ultrawide oled
I am thinking of getting the exact same machine, but with 64GB of RAM (because I do motion graphics and light 3D work professionally - and After Effects is a RAM hog). I’m would also be moving from an M1 Max with 64 gigs. I’m pretty sure that this is a good time to upgrade from the M1. I don’t think the prior M-series chips were a big enough leap, but I’m pretty sure the M4 with the 3 nm chip architecture and better bandwidth, it’s finally worth it. I’m also thinking of 1TB (the same that’s in my M1), as Ae actually runs better with an external. And as soon as a good Thunderbolt 5 drive drops, I agree with you, it’s gonna be super fast.
That said, I’m going to subscribe to see how it all works out for you! Thanks and good luck!
Hi ya - it sounds as if we are on a very similar journey then, doesn't it? Yeah, everything seems to suggest that this M4 silicon is going to be pretty special! Let me know how you are getting along, and thanks for the sub too!
Apple's strategy is unique here. The base model is the one that Apple wants to get out at $599. Once you upgrade, the Mac Studio makes way more sense, as the base model has 32GB of RAM and a Max chip. I wish they upgraded it to the M4 to simplify the decision-making, but it looks like the M4 Ultra still needs to be prepared.
At this time I haven't gotten the new Mac Mini. There are lots of reasons why that doesn't fit into my use cases currently. Any o f the "really heavy lifting" can be done on my M2 MacBook Pro with 32 GB of RAM. In terms of your purchase - and purely off the top of my head - I probably wouldn't have gone to 48GB but, yes, that will future proof it for you. What I have done though is to order the iPad mini 7th Generation.
I went M4 Pro with 14 cores, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD and paired it with a Studio Display.
OOOH! That got my attention! What top-flight specs. As for the Studio Display....
ua-cam.com/video/KSJb_S5bZ2o/v-deo.html
I hope you enjoy it David - it’s likely the next device I’ll get for the house.
My M1 Max MBP is more than fine and will be until I get my replacement (likely about M6/M7) but I’m thinking given the work I do, I can likely use the Mac mini as a central part of my home and work automation - a bit of a mix between the file ordering I do with Hazel, and using it to run some local LLMs.
I probably don’t need to fully spec it - having bought my M1 Max back just before the M2 came, I realise that I only need power when I’m doing professional work, so the question is if I am ok with the LLM responding a bit slower if I’m asking it questions for”offline” queries (technically Tailscale connected)…
Always enjoy your content David - ref external storage, I’d just use a NAS if it’s staying at home which most minis will be (outside of professional rigs where they’re carried to site).
Happy Friday too! ❤️
Hi David, just found your channel after buying the new Mac Mini, earned a sub from me. Also I have gone for the Base Model personally. I already own The M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and M3 Pro MacBook Pro, and wanted to update my Mini which is currently the 2018 Intel machine with 32GB of Ram. Really looking forward to seeing how it compares to my already very good Macs. I have the old trashcan Mac Pro too and cannot wait to also see how far Apple have come from what was once an almost 10 grand machine to a base model Mac mini for 600 quid. Thanks again for the content, I am planning to start making videos myself very shortly, as I am some what of a Tech nerd with a house full of computers. Keep up the great work. Thanks again.
Hey, Anthony - it's great to hear from you and thanks for the sub man!
Damn, you have some fine Macs in your lineup! I didn't think many people would have more than me...but I think you smashed it 😀. Yeah, out of all the announcements this week, it's the Mac mini that did it for me. It'll be my first and I am genuinely excited about it!
Hi David! I just subscribed to your channel, and I’m really impressed with the content. I also have a MacBook Pro M1 Max 32GB, but it’s been sitting on my desk for a while as I’ve been using it with a monitor and Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. The Mac mini M4 Pro with a 20-core GPU looks absolutely stunning! I’m going to wait until after it has been fully reviewed and benchmarked before I make a purchase. I’ve had around 75-80 Macs in my lifetime! It’s amazing to see how quickly technology has advanced in the past few years. Cheers from California!
Thank you for the video 👍👍
@@WilliamRemuso pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting
Cheers buddy! i bought the same specs you ordered, good balanced choice. 2-3 weeks delivery in the States as well.
Be sure to let me know how you are getting on with it! I'll be keen to hear!
I am thinking the top M4 Pro. The 24GB seems plenty for me. Storage is where I’m undecided. My M1 has 512 GB and is just about full. So I’m inclined to get 1TB of storage. I do mostly photo editing with a lot of Superresolution upsizing. On my 1917 i5 Mini with Intel graphics it would typically take 3 minutes. M1 15 seconds. So I don’t need the M4 Pro yet but photo editing will probably get more processor intensive as more AI is added. So the top M4 Pro looks like a reasonably priced upgrade for me. AUD2700 for me.
Those 1917 chips were really slow! 😜 Sorry, had to! Cheers!
Great specs!!
Can anyone explain why the Mac Mini can't get powered by the USB C ports? It's the same chip as the laptops. It'd be really nice to use this with a USB C Monitor using a single cable
Hi, David. Same here mate. I’ve ordered the exact same configuration and I already have the M1 Max MBP with 32 GPU cores. So I’ve got the same concerns about memory bandwidth and GPU performance. The CPU difference is heavily in favour of the Mac Mini, with 2.5x the performance cores, which are also considerably faster on M4. However, I use DaVinci Resolve for my UA-cam videos, so I’m a little nervous that the lack of GPU cores and bandwidth may be an issue. Apple have a great return policy, so I’m not too concerned about returning it if I have to. If I do have to return it, thats where the real problems arise. I only bought the M1 Max MBP because it was the most powerful Apple Silicon machine at the time and I use it 99% of the time as a desktop, in clamshell mode connected to a monitor. This has been a fantastic PC for almost three years and maybe my best computer buy in over 30 years (my first Atari ST for my music production was probably the best purchase ever). However, I always said to myself that my next main computer would be an Apple Silicon desktop. So if the M4 Pro MM doesn’t work out, I’ll be stuck until next year as I doubt I’ll buy an M4 Max MBP, as an M4 Max Mac Studio would be a better suit for me, Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on your channel as it’ll be interesting to see how you get on and if it compares to how I do. Cheers, Dave.
Hi there David - I have spent the morning working through hundreds of comments, and the general feedback is that we should be ok! Like you, I had concerns, but my heart was telling me that the 3 years on, the newer M4 Pro would be better than the M1 Max - it seems folks think that's the case! Fingers crossed and let me know how you get on with yours!
@@DavidLewisTech Hi, David. Looks like good news. It would seem that the Geekbench scores are putting the M4 Pro 20 core GPU at roughly the same as the M1 Max 32 GPU core, both just over 110,000. So while the Mac Mini won’t increase GPU performance, at least we haven’t really lost any. Plus, we more than make up for it in CPU performance and I’m going to guess that the accelerators will have an edge, although, they are doubled in the M1 Max, which also has considerably faster memory bandwidth. Cheers, Dave.
Thanks for the info David - the more I am hearing about the M4 the more excited I am to try it out! I'm genuinely excited about it! Really appreciate you getting back to me - thank you 🙏🏻
@@DavidLewisTech Hi, David. Yes, it’s all looking very exciting now and only a few more days before we get them. BTW, I’m going to be first in line to test and review one of the first Thunderbolt 5 NVMe enclosures, from one of the manufactures that send me stuff to review. I’ll be demonstrating it with a fast Gen 4 NVMe SSD and also the fastest Gen 5 that I can find when I get the enclosure. You may want to keep an eye on my channel as you’ll probably find the results interesting for extra storage. Cheers, Dave.
Awesome - let me know when you post the video! I'd love to see it...
I’m a photographer and last evening I built a possible replacement for my late 2018 Mac Mini, the only difference being more storage…
However after seeing your discussion on the subject and thinking about the fact that my Mac Mini has 1 TB storage and it’s taken me 6 years to fill it to 2/3 capacity, do I really need to spend the extra money on Apple onboard storage…
My music is stored on a 1 TB external drive which is 3/4 full…
Perhaps a new Mac Mini of the same specs you’d chosen, a couple of external SS drives for storage and utilize my old existing Mac Mini for my music. Oh and I still have my original 17” mid 2010 MacBook Pro with it’s 500 gb drive that I could update with larger capacity SS drives and update the OS beyond what Apple supports…
Subscribed as well.
M4 Pro (12 core) with 64GB but only a 1TB SSD. I don't need much on the main HD and can plug in an external drive if needed, but I'm replacing a 10 year old iMac so I wanted to max out the memory to keep it as future proof as possible.
the exact same specs...as yours but on Dec. 1 waited for reviews..lots of videos watched. I do video/photos and music production. currently own MBP M1...but opening and closing is a pain. just need stationary. I to like to future proof. and with the thunderbolt 5 here I will use external storage. ( not yet purchased ) unfortunately I'm in Canada so the price tag is ridiculous. But I to love the small size and a " neat organized " work area. ps subscribed to your channel....your not Hollywood or a used car salesman..lol. that's why I like your videos.
Hey - thanks for the sub! That helps me out so much 🙏🏼
You've bought a great Mac - I am using it as my Mac mini Pro as my main Mac now - I made the switch last week. I have a video coming out about it this week 👍🏼
16gb of RAM will get you by but will end up resulting in considerable amount of paging that will wear out your internal non-replaceable SSD. It also causes marked slow downs and, since it is all shared memory with the GPU, unrendered graphics in webpages, pdfs and files viewed in Finder.
Make higher RAM your number one upgrade. As you point out storage can be extended externally much more cheaply than internally and is safer as that external storage can be replaced.
Thunderbolt enclosures are expensive but once you jump that hurdle you are pretty free to make the external storage as large as possible. USB-C 4 is very fast, just not as fast as Thunderbolt, and very cost effective.
Stage your storage. For maximum speed use the internal storage. For large working files that will not fit on the internal storage use fast Thunderbolt external drives. For smaller, slower files and long term storage use USB-C connected slower storage.
I really wish I could justify owning both a laptop and a desktop. The Mac Mini looks like a beautiful piece of tech but I can't see any world in which I can justify owning one alongside my mac other than the purposes of it looking cute.
I own a fancy desktop in my home office to play video games. But my laptop is just a small one for travel and watching youtube.
Because I game, I really have no choice but to get a powerhouse Windows PC, but I can see a lot of normal people getting a laptop they just dock up.
Two machines is a lot to manage, while with a Mac you could simply take a time machine backup and restore it to the new one, the files and apps will drift apart over time.
Yeah, you are quite right.
if this wasn't what I was doing to make a living there would be no reason for me to own both. As I mentioned, my 2021 M1 Max MBP is still an absolute beast!
@@DavidLewisTech The main reason I'm even considering the M4 Mini is because my 14 M1 doesn't support 4k120. First world problems haha!
...you are in the right place for 1st world problems 😉
And i am going to get the M4 Pro 14 core version and i am going to get a SD card reader and get a 1TB SD Card and use it as direct memory to store programs
M1 Max has dual video encoder / decoders, so I suspect it may render more quickly than the M4 Pro.
I did spot that and wondered what effect that may have on things for me - thank you
David, loved hearing your thinking process. Coincidentally, the day before seeing your video, I had ordered exactly the same specs for an M4 Pro, with 48GB of memory, also with some future proofing for AI-intensive photo editing in mind (amateur enthusiast). It is tempting to get the beefy M2 Max Mac Studio with the base 32 GB memory for about the same price, but the tiny new Mac Mini will nestle so much more nicely on my desk. It'll be interesting to see to see how the speed tests compare between these two machines. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this new Mini after you do some real work on it.
Hi there - this Mac has really piqued my interest and it makes me so happy to read the joy and enthusiasm about it.
My mindset has changed totally - the more I think about it, the more I am pretty certain I will end up using this as my main rig and possibly use the iPad Pro as a second display via Sidecar. I might even go the NAS route and get a Synology system for it...
The bandwidth is more marketing really, apps rarely utilise that pipe as far as I have seen. Mac Mini M4 Pro is so cool
Base model M4 Mac mini, trading in my base model M1 Mac mini for $230. I'm not a power user, just daily computing tasks so getting the extra RAM, better chip, and a decent price w/trade-in, I took the bait, although I kind of wish they would have left at least one USB-A port...oh well, can't have everything I want I suppose
one usb a and a better position of power button
@davnez05 now I'll need a dongle for my SuperDrive #thatdonglelifestill 😆
Same spec as me, for the same reasons. I ordered it at launch and I'm quoted 8th - 12th November. Looking forward to using it. I'm just waiting for the next gen apple studio display with >=120hz RR.
Nice 👌🏻
I spec’d the same. Ordered within a few hours of the announcement, and will arrive on day 1. Replacing my M1 Max Studio, which was a bit of an overkill for me.
I've watched several of your Mac mini videos thus far and appreciate the depth you've gone into with them (subscribed to the channel, as well). I bought an M1 Mac mini and Studio Monitor in the fall of 2022 after tiring of waiting for a new mini version to arrive (usually released in the fall). Shortly after Apple released the M2 & M2 Pro Mac minis in January 2023 which left me steamed about the purchase. Anyway, with 16GB memory and 512GB storage, the M1 is a slug for my purposes. I fight each day to reclaim memory (browsers with multiple tabs open eat a tremendous amount) and my hard drive is almost full. Overall, a poor purchase.
Now as I'm looking at the new M4 to replace it I have a quandary facing me. Do I spring for an M4 Pro Mac mini now or wait until the M4 Max Studio is released next year. I'm guessing the M4 Max Studio will sell for about the same price as the current M2 Max model (or just a touch more). Configuring both the M4 Pro Mac mini and current M2 Max Mac Studio, the later is only about $100 more (64GB memory, 1TB storage and 10 Gigabit Ethernet).
My concerns about the M4 Pro Mac mini is that it lacks an SD card slot, all three Thunderbolt 5 ports will be populated from the start and possible overheating with the smaller confines (though I do appreciate the smaller footprint). My current workflow includes working in multiple photo apps simultaneously and having a good dose of browser tabs open at a time. I also expect to get into AI apps this coming year and some small scale video production. So, any recommendations?
Hi there - and thanks for the sub!
From what you are telling me, and the buyer's remorse you've already experienced, I'd wait for the Studio next year.
I have nothing but good to say about the Mac mini Pro and last week switched to using it full-time ahead of the M1 Max MacBook Pro. I have had no thermal issues at all, no matter what I throw at it, it copes. I have it hooked up to my Ivanky dock which not only gives me more ports but also the SD card slot.
But it sounds to me as if your heart is set on the Mac Studio!
@@DavidLewisTech Thanks, David! I'm not totally sold on the Studio. The most difficult part of the equation is knowing how much memory I really need given the new Apple silicon memory architecture. My previous Mac was an Intel-based, late 2014, 27-inch iMac that I upgraded to 32GB of ram and had the same memory issue with it. So, this time around I don't want buyers remorse on the memory front. I definitely want at least the M4 Pro if I go with the mini but not sure that the standard 24 GB would be enough to preclude remorse.
Also, while I do prefer the smaller footprint of the mini over the Studio, I was hoping for an SD card slot, something my current M1 mini lacks. I have a USB C card reader I use as needed that I could easily pop in one of the front ports on the M4 Pro mini when necessary, or get one of the upcoming docks with an SD card slot on it. It's just too bad that Apple didn't make the M4 mini slightly larger to accommodate an SD slot, as well as a back-mounted power button. It would have been a better design. However, it seems like Apple is trying to push photographers and videographers toward the Studio model by the M4 mini's design choices.
Anyway, I believe you upgraded to 48GB on your M4 Pro. Has that been sufficient for your needs? Or, would you go with 64GB if you were to do it over again? From what I understand, the M4 Pro minis sent out to reviewers were fitted with 48GB.
Looking forward to your next video. Thanks, again!
So, my heaviest use cases each week are Final Cut, Audition, Lightroom & Photoshop. This past week I have switched from using the M1 Max MBP as my mainMac to the Mac mini Pro.
As I type, I am exporting a 16-minute video in 4K with 3D plugins, and it looks as if it's going to take about 6 minutes. This mini has not missed a beat. Yes, I have the 48GB of memory and reckon that's what you should go for. The other great thing about the mini is that I can easily pop it into my back pack and take it home to carry on working on.
It's been amazing - a desktop by day and a laptop by night! I am so impressed with it!
I'm torn between the Mini M4 Pro and Studio M2 Max. The M4 chip is superior, but that is rarely the whole story. The base Studio has 30 GPU cores (vs 16 on the new Mini Pro), comes with 32GB of unified memory (vs 24) and an SDXC slot which the Mini does not have. All that (with a 1TB SSD) is just a bit over $2K. I know a new Studio is coming sometime next year, but I want to replace my 2017 27" iMac sooner than that. Thanks Apple, for making great products... and hard decisions.
@@tomscott4438
Maybe look at refurbished mac studio?
Yeah, the Studio and mini are getting ever closer and harder to decide between. But that equally shows how good this mini is - on paper at least!
@@DavidLewisTech I could also wait for the Studio M4 Max, because that will surely move the goalposts further apart. But that could be a year away, and I don’t want to wait that long to upgrade. (What I really want is a direct replacement for my 27” iMac, but that doesn’t appear eminent)
Tom - as much as there is clamour for a 27" iMac I think those days have sailed. I'd be ever so surprised if that will ever make a comeback
Just watched you for the first time. Like the way you explain things. New subscriber....considering ne Mac Mini myself, although likely not the pro version.
thank you 🙏
I have a 2TB nvme drive in a thunderbolt 3 enclosure and the speeds are fast enough to not notice any difference when scrubbing directly from the drive. I think I paid around 300 USD back when I got my m2 pro Mac mini and using a Samsung 970 evo nvme which are pretty cheap nowadays
I'm still using an M1 Mac Mini with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, I edit video in Davinci Pro and it still works for me. Whilst this new Mac Mini looks cute and the specs are impressive I still don't need to upgrade.
However, my 2013 MacBook Pro is very long in the tooth and I'll probably be looking at a new M4, or an excellent used M3 in the next 12 months.
Interesting video!
Thanks - yeah, I thought this video may be interesting just for us all to chat over the choices we've made and exchange thoughts
Solid content man. Keep it up.
Cheers Will - it's been a busy week and I've loved every moment of it! Thanks for the view fella! Don't forget to subscribe to my free, weekly, video BTS newsletter - you might enjoy it!
talkingtechandaudio.com
Don’t buy that OWC Envoy yet… a TB5 version is coming very soon (already announced with end of October availability). I think they’re a little late getting this out the door, though. The TB5 version is spec’ed at double the real world read/write speed!
BRILLIANT! Thank you - I've heard great things about Envoy gear. Thanks for the steer fella!
I am moving from an iMac 2020 Intel i9 fully loaded with 64 GB RAM, 2TB storage (some of it rotating). All my intensive work is 3D CAD related using Fusion 360. Sure, I do a lot of Photoshop, and make a videos for my UA-cam channel, but I rarely even have a B-Roll. So I have decided to upgrade to the Mini with M4 Pro, 64 GB RAM, and 2TB SSD. $2,800 due here November 29. I already have one Apple Studio monitor as 2nd monitor with my iMac, but will buy another Studio Monitor for use with the Mini when I sell my iMac for an estimated $1K. Apple is going to have it's hands full making an Apple Studio with M4 that is value for the mainstream - even with the Ultra, they are boxed in on lowering prices.
This Mac mini has been the showstopper from last week - there is no doubt about it! In my mind, it's gone from a review unit to wanting it to be my main production rig in the blink of an eye. It sounds as if you have a pretty intensive workflow and the hardware to match it! Greta specs you've chosen...
I just went with base model with 512gb of SSD. I have a NAS for storing most things, but I found the 256gb in my M1 Air was just too tight. I was AGONIZING over 10gb ethernet though. My home network is 10gb, but my Air barely saturated 1gb when transferring files. MacOS seems to despise SMB...
That extra SSD headroom will make a difference...
If you were going from an iMac to the Mini M4 Pro, what monitor would you get for it? The Studio Display? Thanks.
Hi Dave - yup - all day long! It is not the cheapest, but I have zero regrets about buying it!
ua-cam.com/video/KSJb_S5bZ2o/v-deo.html
@@DavidLewisTech Thanks!
I also wonder about overheating issues with the new mini due to its size. Do you have any concerns?
Funnily enough yes! It's something I've just mentioned in my buyer's guide video that is about to go live!
Studio Display is what I went with. As far as overheating, I would imagine Apple has planned for that. I wouldn’t concern yourself.
Stick to the base M4 for the mini, it’s going to be comparable to your M1 max.
Get a 14” 14 core macbook pro with 48 GB and 1TB storage if you want to buy now.
Wait for the base M4 studio if you want a fast workhorse desktop with dual encoders for video editing.
12/16 pro. I need three monitor support for editing and other tasks.
The TB 5 ports will help hugely with a multi-display setup!
I already pre-ordered :) Mac Mini is the shit.
Much like my iPad Pro and mini this year, this Mac mini will be my first! I can't wait!!
You’ll be doubling the export times for your videos as the pro only has one encoder. Other than that the pro looks like an awesome machine.
Will be interesting to see if this bothers you too much
Yeah - I have been wondering about the single encoder - part of me wonders if the overall improvements in M4 might compensate. One way to find out I guess...🤛🏻
@@DavidLewisTechbest of luck ! Hope it’s just right for you
🙏🏻
Getting the same Mac mini M4 pro but with 2TB SSD. Similar reasons but I do AstroPhoto, Photographs, Windows VM's for work, programming. which is running ok on my Mac Mini M1 but notices it's slow. Getting in 22-28 Nov. Also in England and have subscribed, great Video, Thanks
Great to hear from you Julian - I added to my spec today and and have gone with the 10GB Ethernet in case I should ever want to network it! Thank you for the sub too!
Based on experience with video editing, I'm going for the 32GB memory and 512GB SSD storage option. I wish the offered a 64GB option for 4K editing. Annoyingly, my PC to upgrade from 16GB to 40Gb (added 32GB DIMM) was £100.
good specs 🤛🏻
I’m in the market for a desktop and trying to decide whether I should go for an iMac (downside not so big monitor) vs building up a Mac mini bearing in mind I don’t have any of the extra bits ( screen / key board / mouse) my use is really basic to be honest .. just usual home use (no video editing etc) thanks in advance.
One thing to remember with SSD storage is the lifespan of the drive, they only have a finite # of read/writes. This means a higher spec storage will result in longer lifespan, a 4TB drive for example will significantly outlast a 512Gb drive as the read/write operations are spread across more locations on the larger drive. Storage on these things can't (very difficult) be upgraded. So if you can afford it, go for a larger capacity SSD if possible, if you want it for a longer time. my 2c.
I talked to a apple technician that is also a good friend of mine. They almost never have repairs of broken NAND to fix. I always thought that it would be an issue, but maybe they do some management to keep the flash healthy.
All SSDs do management of their flash. The reality is that the vast majority of people don’t write that much data to exhaust the total bytes written spec of modern flash. If you think you’re one of the few, use external storage. Better to give Apple money for RAM for which there is no aftermarket upgrade or external expansion. Internal SSD generally isn’t worth the extra coin to Apple.
@@byz-blade Yep. SSD life is measured in drive writes per day; browsing the Internet or editing a text document barely even touches the disk.
Eager to know about the comparison between the spec’d out m1max and your new macmini
I promise as soon as it arrives and I've loaded it up with a few apps like FCP, I'll let ya know...👍🏻
Also considering the NEW Mac Mini M4 Pro too… However, inclined to go with the 14 Core | 64GB RAM | 1TB | 10Gb Ethernet for £2,499…
Future proofing is our propensity as well, may even go with 2GB storage too, but not sure… Then too, we have not finalized anything yet…
🤔
@@Superz3ro I’ve just spent the last 10 hours running some benchmarks on 5 Macs including two Mac mini’s - the Pro and non Pro. I’ll have a video up this week on them!
What monitor will work well with these new M4 MacMinis ? (not the ridiculously high priced Apple Displays)
they support pretty much all displays and there is an HDMI port on them too
I’m one of those who is getting ready to upgrade to the M4 Mini from a 2017 Intel iMac. Needless to say, I’m excited to see what effect it has on my photo editing. Working in Photoshop/Lightroom and their array of plugins and filters has become a waiting game I’m anxious to leave behind. Regarding specs, the only difference between your setup and mine could be RAM. I have 60 on my iMac (added after purchase), but I understand that RAM is different these days, so I’m trying to decide whether I need 24 or 48. I build many layered composites and work with high megapixel images. Any thoughts? BTW, thank you for your well composed videos on this topic.
Hi there Roger - a few years back I was in the same boat as you coming from a 2015 Intel iMac. The difference you are about to experience will blow your mind!
I spend quite a lot of time in both Photoshop & Lightroom - 24GB will easily see you through, but if you can afford to go to 48GB it would be even better. The RAM in Apple silicon behaves so differently from the old Intel Macs!
You are in for a treat sir!
Have you seen the Geekbench scores for the M4 Pro that have just appeared? It's beats the M2 Ultra on single and Multi-Core Score. It seems to manage 1/2 the performance of the M2 Ultra's 60 GPU codes using just 20. It's a little monster. I ordered one hours after it was announced but I'm going from an 2017 iMac 5K i7 so I expect it to rip through my compile times on Xcode. From 2 and 1/2 minutes for my largest app to just 20s. I do some video editing but not that much. Future proofing! I got 64G of memory ordered with 2TB storage. Current iMac has 40G & 1TB and it's just on the edge of what I need these days.
I have a studio max and also want to go to a pro mini, it should be much faster, the only place it may lose is pure GPU power going from 32 core to 20, but since they're more recent, I think it may, mostly even out
yeah - that's my thinking too!
Thunderbolt 5 is great but when mass storage is limited to 200mb/s transfer speed
Either way youre fine with an M1 Max or M4 Pro. My M1 Max runs like itzs new still. Linux VMs run flawlessly Battery health still above 90% cause I m,astered the "Keeping Battery at Maximum health" Unless you're rendering and some photo editor/video editor as a real job. Enjoy your M1 Max and your M4 Pro with confidence. By the time the M1 isnt supported anymore. Open Core Legacy will have a fix for that as well. My 2011's 2012's etc all run Seqouia flawlessly at this moment. Fully integrated with my iphones
Yeah, my M1 Max is an amazing beast. It works so hard and hardly ever complains. I'm just setting up a Mac mini now - not my one, but an off-the-shelf one. I should have a video up later today/Tuesday
Actually performance matters more than any marketing or "napkin" math. If you need a performant computer for work, get as much performance as you can get especially if you are going to keep it for 4-5 years. Get the best SoC you can afford. It's a lot of money for the upgrade now, but to get it after you've bought the computer is the price of a new computer with the upgrade. I think the Pro will be a downgrade from the Pro, but actual performance is better than theorized performance.
Yup - I ADORE my studio display!
Pari a MacAir with the Mac mini. If somebody finds a way to allow the MacAir to provide the screen, keyboard, and pad as the controller for the Mac Mini, you might have a very nice way to bring your Mac Mini on the road as a backup muscle when you need it.
What monitor would you pair with a mini? I'm in the market to ditch my ancient 27" iMac and the Mac Mini with a non-Apple monitor looks to be the best bang for buck route forward.
Hi - I can't testify to the alternatives, but all I can tell you is the Studio Display is one of the best buys I've made. That is what I'll be using it with!
ua-cam.com/video/KSJb_S5bZ2o/v-deo.html
It all depends on when the 'Sora' class video generation open source arrives and you want to run locally. This will require the maximum amount of npu/gpu and memory band width. So I would max everything?
Base M4 with 2 TB storage, as I like to keep a lot of games and media around. I suppose I'll look at getting fast external storage to use with it as well. It's going to replace the M1 iMac as my work+ machine. Got that in addition to a homebrew Ryzen desktop and a Framework Ryzen desktop both running Linux for my modern computing needs and wants. Oh, and an M1 mini that is presently plugged into my TV, where it can offer up media and game console emulation on the big screen.
On the Max tech channel they show a graph comparing performances across all M chips and both M4 Max and M4 Pro were faster than all previous M-chips.
The more I'm reading today, the more excited I am to get my hands on the is Mac mini!
Thanks, David!
Pleasure 🙏🏻
I went for the same spec as you but didn’t upgrade the memory, I stayed with the 24 GB. I also bought a Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 elements dock as I still need USB A and a Thunderbolt 4 SSD, 4 TB for £260. I don’t think that Thunderbolt 5 drives are worth the premium. I’m hoping that It’ll be at least 3 years and preferably 5 before I need to upgrade again.
Great run through of your reasoning and final choices - all seems sound to me - enjoy it when it comes!
Thanks Dave - yeah, the release of this Mac has certainly piqued my interest...
I have an m1 ultra studio, still 2 years payments left…….. i won’t be jumping in to this round of releases (got an m3 pro mbp earlier this year)
Cannot imagine how crazy systems will be in 2-3 years time…… was saying to my son today I prob won’t upgrade until current studio is unuseable/non updateable
Apple silicon is moving so fast! The improvements are unreal!
Awesome! Great specs. I haven’t got an MacOS system yet but Im debating on getting the Mac Mini Pro or the MacBook Pro, since i already have an iPad Pro, I don’t know if a laptop would be the right choice (the pros on the laptop is the display for editing).
I've just topped up my spec to include a 10GB Ethernet port so that if I choose to network it, it will be ready! My possible workflow soon may be the Mac mini and an M4 iPad Pro acting as a second display via Sidecar
@ Exactly what Im expecting to do! My real question would be, if I can move completely from Windows to Mac.
fingers crossed!
These prices are incredible. I bought an M2 Studio Max last year for $1800 (32GB, 512G, 16 Core) and the new Mini I’m seeing is about the same price.
Incredible in a good way?
what monitor to pair the mini m4 with? the studio is old by now....
The Studio Display - I adore that thing!
ua-cam.com/video/KSJb_S5bZ2o/v-deo.html
Im getting the M4 Pro 14 core version as the rest will not be a upgrade to my 2018 i7 6 core with 16GB RAM as all of my cores are performance cores and tge standard only has 4 performance cores
great choice! 🤛🏻
Are you forgoing the Mac Studio with your setup for the excellent choices for the Mac Mini Pro?
This time around I will be going with the mini...
Do i get a new mac mini or wait for the M4 mac studio?
I suppose it comes down to how much you need a Mac right now. My best guess is that the Studio won't be updated until next Spring. If you can wait and need the extra grunt, then yeah, sit back and wait for that Mac to be released.
The Mac mini will be what I’ll be going for next year I think. M4 Pro, 2TB of storage, 10gbps Ethernet and 24 gigs of RAM
The base model Studio is what I’m waiting for
They are so closely spec'd now the choice is getting super hard to make!
@@DavidLewisTech If nothing else, studio would have better thermals in the larger package
the thermals is something I'll be keeping an eye on
I will be buying an M4 Mac mini within the next three months. This is perfect size and just an overall great design.
Good choice!
What about apple care? Good choice btw exactly what I am buying, and fyi look at Luke Miani charts on processor rankings, interesting viewing.
If I get a new Mac Mini, I'll probably go for the base M4 Pro Mac Mini, which would replace or supplement my current M1 Max Mac Studio. The 12-core CPU in the M4 Pro chip should be significantly more powerful than the M1 Max's CPU, and while the M1 Max's GPU, with eight more cores, may be more powerful on paper, the M4 Pro's GPU is still probably better due to the advanced new features such as hardware ray-tracing and dynamic caching. 24 GB of RAM is a slight downgrade from my Mac Studio's 32 GB, but both amounts are overkill for my needs as a writer and editor (but suit my gamer needs nicely).