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So you’ve decided that it’s time for a new Mac, but which should you choose? The lineup has never looked so good, with the portable MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both being excellent options. Then there are the Mac Studio and Mac Pro desktop machines that are designed with professionals in mind. But when it comes to a desktop computer that takes up almost no space yet still has plenty of performance on tap, Apple’s new M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini could be just the ticket. Apple also refreshed the iMac with the same M4 chip as well, but it’s hard to fault the Mac mini’s incredibly small form factor and, of course, it’s the only option if you want the more performant M4 Pro chip, too.
The M4 model starts at $599, while the M4 Pro is going for $1,399. Apple will officially start shipping the device on Friday, Nov. 8. Compared to the previous gen Mac Minis, these models are much smaller in size at just 5 by 5 inches and also comes with easy-to-access ports on the front of the device. This is the first upgrade to the device in nearly two years with the last update being in early 2023.
Apple’s student discounts and refurbs
It’s worth noting that the Apple Store offers students an educational discount, where you can save $100 on the price of a new Mac Mini. Some upgrades are discounted, too. For example, doubling the RAM to 16GB costs $180 with the student discount instead of the usual $200 charge.
Also at Apple, you might find a refurbished Mac Mini on the Certified Refurbished Mac page, but it’s too early to find an M4 refurb, and we’d caution against buying an older Intel-based Mac Mini. And an M2 refurb would need to be priced substantially less than the new M4 models or comparable M2 models in new condition. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye out, because you can lock in substantial savings. Apple refurbs are a great way to save some cash and are often just as good as new.
Keep reading to see the best US prices currently available for Apple’s Mac Mini. We update this page regularly and give prices that are accurate at the time of publication, but note that they fluctuate.
Mac Mini discounts, compared
| Model w/ CPU, RAM and storage capacity | List price | Best price (current) | Best price (all time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini w/ M2, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD | $599 | $499 | $499 |
| Mac Mini w/ M2, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD | $799 | $690 | $679 |
| Mac Mini w/ M2 Pro, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD | $1,499 | $1,349 | $1,149 |
Note that “all time” means the best price we’ve seen at an Apple-authorized retailer in the product’s lifetime.
There are three different options when it comes to the M4 Mac Mini. They all have 10-Core CPU and 10-Core GPU but difference is in the storage options. Storage ranges from 16 to 24GB of unified memory and 256 to 512GB of SSD storage. Although there aren’t any direct discounts, you can trade in a device to save some money as well as use your Apple Card* to save 3%.
The M4 Pro Mac Mini has 12-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage. Although there aren’t any direct discount, you can trade in a device to save some money as well as use your Apple Card* to save 3%.
The baseline Mac Mini uses Apple’s new M2 chip, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It supplies two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port and a headphone jack. It lists for $599 at Apple, and right now you can get it at a $39 discount at Amazon when you clip the on-screen coupon.
The step-up Mac Mini bumps the storage up to 512GB. That’s an increased capacity that most people will benefit from, and 512GB is about the smallest SSD we’d recommend for any desktop. Right now, you can save $29.
The Mac Mini also offers a Pro chip option from Apple’s lineup. The baseline Mac Mini with the M2 Pro costs $1,299 and features 16GB of RAM — double that of the M2 models — and a 512GB SSD. The step-up model with a 1TB SSD costs $1,499 from Apple, and right now, you can save $150 on it at B&H.
The M2 Pro chip has 10 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores compared with the eight-CPU core, 10-GPU core M2 chip. The M2 Pro model also doubles the number of Thunderbolt 4 ports to four.
*All information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
