M4 Mac mini has a cool secret

But it's a good news/bad news secret.

Author

Leander Kahney
November 08, 2024

The M4 Mac mini hit store shelves Friday, along with the other new M4 Macs, and there’s some good news/bad news about the redesigned desktop computer.

First of all, the good news: The new M4 Mac mini has modular storage!

That means the SSD inside the tiny machine isn’t soldered onto the motherboard. Its ribbon connector detaches pretty easily.

Does that mean you can upgrade it with a cheap SSD you buy online, and avoid Apple’s notoriously exorbitant upgrade charges?

Unclear! That’s where the bad news comes in. See our post for details.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Quick pop quiz: How many external screens does the new M4 MacBook Pro support? One? Two? More? You might be surprised.

  • You usually get 14 days to return new Apple products to the store, no questions asked. But as usual, Apple just extended that through January to make holiday shopping simple. It’s a good policy, guaranteeing giftees will likely get whatever they want.

  • Get great deals on upgrade-ready Microsoft productivity software like Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office from our friends at CdkeySales.

  • Back when Apple was struggling, it was so desperate for sales, it even lent prospective buyers new Macs. Those days are long gone.

  • We’ve seen all kinds of Apple setups over the years, but this is one of the most minimal.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

New M4 Mac mini has removable storage — but don’t touch it!

The SSD in the newly launched M4 Mac mini can be removed, but that doesn’t automatically make the storage upgradable.

M4 Mac mini, MacBook Pro and iMac hit store shelves

The M4 iMac, redesigned Mac mini with faster internals, and MacBook Pro with M4 chip arrive in stores worldwide.

How many external displays each MacBook Pro or MacBook Air supports

Exactly how many external displays your MacBook supports varies by model, and goes up to four. Here’s what you need to know.

A message from CdkeySales

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Apple extends holiday return period for purchases

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Find out if Apple Music deleted one of your favorite songs

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A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

This $33 charging station packs 7 ports

With five USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, this 220W GaN charger can handle all your gear. It works wonders at home or on the road.

Grab an M1 MacBook Air at hundreds off

Pick up the perfect laptop for students at a price that's perfect for anyone. Get a refurbished M1 Macbook Air on sale for just $514.99.

Today in Apple history: World gets a chance to test-drive a Mac

On November 8, 1984, Apple kick-started its "Test Drive a Macintosh" campaign, offering customers the chance to borrow a Mac for 24 hours.

Vision Pro gives developer ultra-wide virtual screen in minimal rig [Setups]

A developer hides his MacBook Pro and skips external displays altogether, thanks to the beta Virtual Display feature in his Vision Pro.

Tweets of the day

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One more thing ...

❝

We had a fundamental belief that doing it right the first time was going to be easier than having to go back and fix it. And I cannot say strongly enough that the repercussions of that attitude are staggering. I've seen them again and again throughout my business life.

— Steve Jobs, 1989.

Today’s poll

Should you be able to upgrade Mac mini storage?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Which new M4 Mac looks most impressive?

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