Mac mini M4 and iMac M4 compared

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techpolyp
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iMac M4 and Mac mini
iMac M4 and Mac mini

Apple products are known for their high quality and performance. Let’s compare the Mac mini M4 and iMac M4. It is tough to compare these devices since they both offer the high performance and speed needed for daily office work. However, these devices will give you real value for your money.

Big Question: Is the M4 iMac a better deal than the mini?

We will compare these devices based on Specifications, performance, price affordability, connectivity, upgradability, and portability.

1. Specifications:
Mac mini M4 iMac M4
MemoryUp to 64GBUp to 32GB
Processor / Graphics M4 or M4 ProM4 only
StorageUp to 8TBUp to 2TB
Refresh rateN/A 60Hz
DisplayNone24-inch
PortsThree Thunderbolt 4 ports (M4) or three Thunderbolt 5 ports (M4 Pro), two USB-C ports, HDMI port, and Gigabit Ethernet or 10Gb Ethernet Four Thunderbolt 4 ports or Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, Gigabit Ethernet
TypeN/A4.5K Retina display
2. Performance: 

Both Mac mini M4 and the iMac M4 share the same M4 chip and have similar port selection. Expectedly Computers and devices generate heat while working, this heat has a great effect on their performance. iMac has a slim Design which has a great effect in letting heat generated go out, thus this affects its performance compared to Mac mini M4.

iMac M4
iMac M4 Photo Credit: Apple

Mac mini M4 has a robust cooling system and a design that considers heat dissipation while working. This in turn improves performance when compared with the iMac M4. To further enhance performance, the Mac mini comes in two models  M4 or M4 Pro chip with improved specifications. iMac is available only as iMac M4 and doesn’t have a Pro version.

3. Portability:

As for portability, Mac mini wins it. Considering its size and weight as displayed on the Apple website :

Size andWeightHeight: 5.0 cm (2.0 inches)

Width: 12.7 cm (5.0 inches)

Depth: 12.7 cm (5.0 inches)

Weight (M4): 0.67 kg (1.5 pounds)4

Weight (M4 Pro): 0.73 kg (1.6 pounds)4
Its sleek design, size, and weight make it easy to carry along in a bag like a portable laptop. Like a typical Laptop, it also does not consume space within your workspace or workstation.
The iMac M4 is a Desktop device, and hence, it is not designed to be portable. It is particularly good for users who are in a location without the need to move devices from location to location. It is also almost four to five times heavier than the Mac mini M4.
4. Price Affordability:
The price of a Mac Mini ranges from £599.00 to £999.00, influenced by the device type ( Mac Mini M4 or Mac Mini Pro), the SSD Storage size, and the Unified Memory size. Meanwhile, the price of an iMac starts from £1,299.
5. Upgradability:
Mac mini has an inbuilt RAM, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, thus this makes upgrading almost impossible. However, the choice of RAM can be determined at the point of purchase. With Mac mini, you can use external storage devices to extend its storage size using an external hard drive or SSD through its multiple Thunderbolt ports.
iMac offers no upgrade option at the point of purchase. iMac is non-upgradeable. The storage and RAM are soldered inside the device.
6. Connectivity:
The below tables show the connectivity options for Mac mini and iMac
iMacMac mini
PortThree Thunderbolt 4 ports-Four Thunderbolt 4 ports.
-M4 Pro variant has three Thunderbolt 5 ports.
-Two USB-C ports, an HDMI port
Gigabit EthernetGigabit or 10Gb Ethernet.

Final Verdict

Based on the analysis above the Mac mini wins as it has better connectivity, portability, and upgradability options at the point of purchase. The Choice is yours, if you considered just having these devices stationary in your workstation or if you are the mobile type.

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