Base M4 Mac mini stands out for price, silence, and size
A base was available in Europe for €719, which was lower than Apple’s education price. The original plan was to wait for a Mac Studio with an M5 Max chip, but recent price increases made that option unrealistic. Compared with powerful gaming PCs, the base M4’s did not feel surprising.
The quiet operation stood out much more. The small case also felt like a welcome change after years of using a large desktop tower with glass panels and RGB lighting. The machine is currently running the macOS 27 “” .
Everyday use made Windows and macOS feel more similar than expected, but iPad Air , Quick Look, and Homebrew were useful and enjoyable.
Key points
- The base was bought for €719, below Apple’s education price.
- A planned Mac Studio M5 Max purchase was dropped because of higher pricing.
- Quiet operation made a stronger impression than .
- The small body was a major improvement over a large RGB desktop tower.
- iPad Air , Quick Look, and Homebrew were useful in daily use.