Mac mini M4 and iMac M4: The maximum you can spend
A look at the equipment variants of the new M4 Macs for the desktop shows where you can save money and where you can pay far too much.
Mac mini M4: You have to bring your own keyboard and mouse / trackpad.
(Image: Apple)
Here they are at last: Apple launched the iMac M4 and Mac mini M4 on Monday and Tuesday, finally bringing its latest SoC, previously only known from the iPad Pro, to the desktop. To say it up front: The new machines are not cheap. Once again, Apple is taking the liberty of being very generous with the configuration options. This is all the more serious (as is unfortunately usual) because there are no expansion options: Once bought, the Mac stays as it is, unless you're hoping for hobbyist projects. But which variants make sense – and which don't?
iMac M4: Novelty nanotexture
The new iMac M4 is available in four standard configurations, all with M4 (without Pro or Max). For an entry-level price of 1499 euros, you get 8 CPU cores, 8 GPU cores, 16 GB of shared RAM (GPU and CPU share this as with all other Apple Silicon machines) and an SSD with a slim 256 GB. Only two Thunderbolt and USB 4 ports are included, as well as a simple Magic Keyboard without a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. For an extra 250 euros (1749 euros), you get two more CPU and two more GPU cores, four Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C) plus Gigabit Ethernet and a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. It continues with the same features but a 512 GB SSD for 1979 euros. The top standard configuration for 2209 euros gets another 10 GB more RAM –, i.e. 24 GB, but no larger SSD (still 512 GB).
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The configuration options (based on the entry-level model) include more RAM (24 GB instead of 16 GB, plus 230 euros), a larger SSD (230 euros surcharge for 512 GB, 460 euros surcharge for 1 TB, there is no more space) and Gigabit Ethernet (plus 30 euros). You can also configure a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad for 80 euros or a Magic Trackpad for 54 euros. More memory and SSD are only available with the 10-core model at an entry-level price of 1749 euros. Here you also get up to 32 GB RAM (plus 460 euros) and a maximum 2 TB SSD (plus 920 euros). You pay 30 euros more if you want the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID to have a numeric keypad. Finally, the display – is available for an extra 230 euros – for the first time with matt "nano-textured glass", which is less reflective. The iMac M4 is sold in seven colors (all at the same price).
But what should you choose? As a good mid-range model, the 10-core version from 1979 euros seems interesting. If you work a lot with video editing or AI, at least 24 GBytes are sensible. With the SSD, 512 GByte is very tight, 1 TByte would make more sense. That makes a total of 2439 euros. This is certainly not a bargain, but at least the 24-inch screen and accessories are included. Incidentally, the most expensive iMac M4 with all conceivable options costs 3443 euros.
Mac mini M4: Small, but potentially (very) expensive
With the Mac mini M4, Apple sticks to the sparse range of accessories. Only the computer and a power cable are supplied – fortunately without a "power brick", the transformer is built in internally. Input devices and screen must either be purchased separately or existing hardware must be used. The Mac mini M4 is also available in four basic configurations. The entry level starts at 699 euros for an M4 with 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores, including 16 GB of shared RAM and a narrow 256 GB SSD space.
The Mac mini M4 with 512 GB SSD costs 929 euros with otherwise the same features. For 1159 euros, you get 8 GB more RAM (then 24 GB). The top standard model for 1649 euros is equipped with an M4 Pro, which means 12 CPU and 16 GPU cores, 24 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. There are also three Thunderbolt 5 ports (instead of TB4), a first for Apple. Apple also offers a range of configuration options here. Starting from the entry-level model, you can pay 230 euros extra for 24 GB RAM – or 460 euros for 32 GB. SSDs cost 230 euros for 512 GB more, 1 TByte (plus 460 euros) and 2 TByte (plus 920 euros – both hefty) are also available. For 115 euros more, 10 Gigabit Ethernet is available instead of Gigabit Ethernet.
With the Mac mini M4 Pro, 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores can be purchased for an extra 230 euros, 48 GB RAM costs 460 euros extra, 64 GB even 690 euros. The SSD is a crazy choice: 1 TByte (plus 230 euros), 2 TByte (plus 690 euros), 4 TByte (plus 1380 euros) and 8 TByte (plus 2760 euros) are available. 10 Gigabit Ethernet is not standard and costs an extra 115 euros. This means that you can pay up to 5444 euros for a Mac mini M4 Pro – for a device that is only slightly larger than an Apple TV (12.7 x 12.7 cm instead of 9.3 x 9.3 cm, 5 cm high instead of 3.1 cm).
And which Mac mini M4 is worthwhile? That depends very much on your requirements. Among the standard models, the 512 GByte version with 16 GByte appears to be quite well placed, but if you want maximum power, you will have to spend at least 1649 euros on the M4 Pro. As mentioned, this also only has a ridiculously small 512 GB SSD for this price. Apple continues to differentiate its systems from one another by memory sizes (RAM and SSD) – and is charging increasingly unrealistic prices. As there is no alternative or upgrade option, the customer has to swallow this.
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