Ifixit’s latest teardown of the brand-new M4 Mac mini has been released in video form, offering another fascinating exploration of how design, engineering, and technology intersect – or, in this instance, converge.
While many are fascinated by the intricacies of Apple’s products, the Mac mini may garner more attention than any other item due to its unique blend of compact design and versatile functionality. The notion persists that consumers should be empowered to tailor their desktop computing experience through customization and upgrades, including those on Apple’s Mac ecosystem. The Mac Mini has been used in a variety of unique settings and projects. While teardowns like those by iFixit may initially cater to curiosity, they ultimately provide valuable insights and information that can be useful for a variety of purposes.
After disassembling our latest device, here’s what we learned.
It’s packed to the gills
The M1 and M2 Mac minis retained a legacy design from their predecessors. With its revamped design, the Mac mini boasts an impressive amount of power and storage within its compact frame. This intricate masterpiece of design and engineering presents a significant obstacle for amateur enthusiasts to tackle. Which leads us to…
While it’s theoretically possible for consumers to upgrade certain components, the reality is that most devices are not designed with easy upgradability in mind.
Apple’s design philosophy emphasizes accessibility, particularly evident in the Mac mini’s thoughtfully engineered components. The CR2032 lithium coin cell battery, commonly referred to as the CMOS battery, is specifically designed for easy removal without requiring disassembly of the device or further technical expertise. Actually, air is the one element that’s readily accessible.
Studies on these topics have revealed initial findings, with additional insights provided by an iFixit video offering further information. The M4 and M4 Professional Mac minis employ a modular design, featuring varying component sizes; however, our attempts to swap the SSDs resulted in an inoperable device.
While iFixit often touts the Mac mini’s upgradability, this term implies the ability to remove and replace individual components. At this level, there is no upgrade option available for the Mac mini. Apple employs a custom-designed SSD module that differs fundamentally from the widely used NVMe SSDs found in Windows PCs, which are manufactured by external companies. You cannot simply purchase an NVMe drive and plug it into your Mac mini without any additional setup or configuration.
Could a company create a Mac mini-compatible solid-state drive (SSD) module, designed specifically for the compact desktop computer? Wouldn’t the potential benefits make a compelling case for allocating funds to support their endeavors? It’s exhausting to say. Although the Mac mini’s SSD shares similarities with the Mac Studio’s, a project aiming to enhance the latter’s storage has surpassed its initial goal, despite having only secured backing from 142 supporters. While the Mac Studio may be a distinct segment compared to the Mac mini, it still appears to be a low-volume effort?
Since the M4 chip integrates RAM, this was also the case with the M1 chip. There’s no straightforward method to upgrade RAM once purchased.
The fan is massive
On the rear of the Mac mini, a distinctive ring of vents accommodates a fan that occupies considerable real estate, particularly in the M4 Pro model, where it consumes even more space. While it’s unclear whether diminutive cooling solutions could be feasible for a Mac mini redesign,
Frore Systems produces “solid-state, live-cooling chips” that are remarkably slim and efficient. In the final 12 months, I learned how they managed their thermal management system, which enabled them to stop throttling and maintain a proper operating temperature. It’s difficult to estimate the cost of implementing a system like Frore’s without further research, but I suspect it may not be as affordable as a simple fan, making it potentially too expensive to consider.