699 euros for an Apple computer? No, you are not dreaming. The new Mac Mini M4 is positioned as the most affordable Mac ever released. But behind this proposal lies perhaps a more problematic compromise than a simple misplaced power button.
Apple’s new Mac mini M4 is getting a lot of attention, and for good reason: with an entry price set at 699 euros in France, it represents one of the most affordable entry points to the Mac ecosystem.
An impressive technical sheet
On paper, the Mac mini M4 has something to seduce. In a remarkably compact package, Apple has managed to integrate its latest M4 chip, accompanied by 16 GB of unified RAM.
The connectivity is not left out, with three Thunderbolt 4 compatible USB-C ports, an HDMI output, an SDXC card reader and even an HDMI port. A configuration that allows you to calmly consider both productivity and content creation.
The real issue
If the controversy surrounding the power button placed under the device makes a lot of noise – reminiscent of the episode of the Magic Mouse charging backwards – it masks a much more fundamental problem: storage. With only 256 GB in its basic configuration, the Mac mini M4 risks quickly finding itself cramped.
This choice is particularly problematic at a time when AI applications, software development, and photo/video processing occupy an ever-increasing space.
Of course, it is possible to connect an external SSD using Thunderbolt 4, but this distorts the compact and minimalist appearance of the device.
Even more problematic, the price list for additional storage borders on indecency:
- 256 Go : 699 euros (2,73 €/Go)
- 512 GB: 929 euros (1.81 €/GB) (cost per additional GB: 230 € ÷ 256 = 0.90 €/GB)
- 1 TB: 1159 euros (1.16 €/GB) (cost per additional GB: 460 € ÷ 768 = 0.60 €/GB)
For reference, a modern external NVMe SSD costs around €0.10 to €0.15 per GB.
These prices, well above market prices for SSD storage, represent a huge increase in the initial budget.
To put these prices into perspective, in today’s external SSD market:
- A good quality 1TB external NVMe SSD costs around €100-150
- A 1 TB PCIe Gen4 internal SSD: €80 to €120
So for the additional cost requested by Apple to upgrade to 1 TB (+€460), you could buy 3 external SSDs of 1 TB each.
The Power Button Question
Contrary to what social media would have us believe, the position of the power button is not a real problem.
Modern Macs are designed to operate in sleep mode, with uptimes which can reach several weeks or even several months. Access to the power button therefore becomes a marginal issue in daily use.
