To be fair, both of those other computers have significantly more memory bandwidth than the Mac Mini, and both have better GPU performance. If maxing out as many GPU cores as possible is important to you, you’re probably better off with an M4 Max, which means either a MacBook Pro or waiting for an updated Mac Studio.

When it was introduced during the white plastic heyday of peak iPod-era Apple, the Mac mini was pitched as the cheapest way to buy into the Mac ecosystem. It was $499. And despite some fluctuation (as high as $799 for the entry-level 2018 mini, $599 for this year's refresh), the Mac mini has stayed the cheapest entry-level Mac ever since.

After nearly a two-year hiatus, Apple just released their new Mac Mini desktop computer. And because it was such a long time between models, the tech company leapfrogged over an entire processor generation — going from M2 and M2 Pro to M4 and M4 Pro in a single upgrade cycle.