Apple killed the Mac mini’s best hidden feature [Video]
With the release of the M6 Mac mini and its more powerful M5 Pro counterpart , Apple quietly killed off one of the machine’s most compelling features. While both new Mac mini models look like their predecessors from the outside, Apple nixed the hidden feature that made the previous-generation Mac mini an incredible value. more…
![Apple killed the Mac mini’s best hidden feature [Video]](/img/12441615)
Apple has eliminated one of the most appealing aspects of the Mac mini with the launch of the M6 and M5 Pro models, namely the user-upgradable storage. The previous M4 Mac mini was a standout for its affordability, featuring a powerful M4 SoC, 16GB of unified memory, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, two front-facing USB 3 ports, HDMI, and Ethernet—all for just $599.
Its standout feature was the ability to replace the storage with a third-party SSD, saving customers a substantial sum compared to Apple's build-to-order upgrade option. However, the latest generation Mac mini now has its SSD soldered to the logic board, removing the ability to upgrade post-purchase. This change has transformed the Mac mini into a pricier option, with the M6 model now priced at $1900, up from $900 for the base model.
The increased cost can be attributed to the higher component and SSD prices due to factors such as AI demand, but Apple's decision to solder the SSDs to the logic board remains unclear. Despite this, all Mac mini models still offer Thunderbolt connectivity, allowing for external storage options.
Written by urgent.news from 9to5Mac's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
