Right from the get-go, there is a lot to love about the mini — especially when it comes to affordability and size. This latest version with Apple’s M4 chip is even more supercharged than its predecessor without a supercharged price or size. Plus, it marks an impressive milestone for Apple as it’s the first carbon-neutral Mac.

Apple's 2024 Mac mini stashes the power button underneath, a bold move that executives say aligns with user habits, even if it's left some fans scratching their heads.

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.