Apple has unveiled a new generation of the Mac mini, featuring a significantly compact design. While we’ve caught some glimpses of its internal components, iFixit has now provided its customary teardown, revealing even more insights into the construction of Apple’s most compact Mac to date.
iFixit investigates the new Mac Mini
Right from the beginning, iFixit commends the ease of disassembly of the Mac mini, despite its streamlined design. The bottom panel is secured by clips that can be unlatched without inflicting any damage. The first feature visible after lifting the bottom cover is the easily accessible CMOS battery, which can be replaced with just two screws.
By taking off a few more screws, users can reach the wireless module cables and subsequently remove the inner panel, exposing most internal components, including the speaker and a large fan that occupies a significant portion of the interior space.
Apple has revamped the thermal management system in the updated Mac mini, allowing the fan to cool the machine by pulling air from the base and circulating it through the components before releasing it. Notably, the variant equipped with the M4 Pro chip includes a larger copper heatsink compared to the base M4 model.
As noted earlier, the new Mac mini features a storage module that can be replaced. Although upgrading is not particularly straightforward since the module is proprietary, it is indeed feasible. iFixit successfully swapped modules between two Mac minis, and it functioned correctly. However, it is essential to remember that the M4 Pro version has a larger storage module that cannot be used interchangeably with the M4 version, and vice versa.
The USB-C ports and the headphone jack on the front are removable, but this does not extend to the ports located at the back. The logic board is shielded with a copper layer to enhance heat dissipation, and, as expected, the M4 chip has its RAM soldered directly onto it.
Despite these factors, iFixit awarded the new Mac mini a repairability score of 7. The company states that the primary components of the Mac are easily replaceable, making it simpler for users to maintain their computer for years to come if any part malfunctions. iFixit remarked that the new Mac mini has a “bright and repairable future ahead.”
The new Mac mini is now available for purchase, starting at a price of $599.
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