I still think the Mac mini M4 is 'the best small form factor PC in the world' — and it’s $150 off at Best Buy

Despite the buzz surrounding the Apple Mac mini M6, I believe the Mac mini M4 remains the top choice for those seeking a sleek and powerful mini PC. While it may not match the performance of the M6, the M4 delivers exceptional value for daily office tasks and creative work. Currently priced at $650 (down from $799) at Best Buy, the Mac mini M4 offers a compelling deal for professionals and creators upgrading from older systems or Windows mini PCs.

Its standout features include Apple's speedy M4 chip, 16GB of unified memory for seamless multitasking, Apple Intelligence, and a compact five-inch-square design. The front-facing USB-C ports, headphone jack, and additional backports for Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Ethernet further enhance its versatility. The Mac mini M4 earned a 5-star rating in our review, solidifying its position as potentially the best Mac ever.

It provides the cheapest entry point into the Mac ecosystem, although it falls short in handling modern games and has an awkwardly placed power button on its underside. Our reviewer awarded it an Editor’s Choice badge for its strong performance, compact design, and convenient front ports. The unit we tested featured a 512GB SSD, compared to this model's 256GB, but both utilized the same M4 chip and 16GB of memory.

While Apple raised the Mac mini's starting price to $799 earlier this year due to memory cost increases, this $150 discount is measured against Apple's current price rather than an inflated list price. Given today's pricing, $649 remains a strong deal and an excellent time to purchase. For comparison, the Mac mini M6 is currently discounted to $799 at Best Buy.

For general office tasks, the M4 remains a worthy consideration for its value. If you're in the market for an affordable yet powerful Mac desktop, already own a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or desire a near-silent machine for work, photo editing, or music production, the Mac mini M4 is the ideal choice. Conversely, skip the M4 if you require extensive local storage, plan to play the latest PC games, or lack a monitor and accessories, as these factors would increase the overall cost.