Apple Has a New Offering for Those Who Don’t Switch Off Their Computers: The M4 Mac Mini

The new M4 Mac mini has undergone a significant redesign compared to its predecessors and shows a notable improvement in performance. However, one aspect that has sparked controversy among the community is the placement of its power button.

What’s the button doing there? Apple has controversially placed the new Mac mini’s power button at the bottom of the device. This location is unusual because it makes accessing the button somewhat awkward. Until now, the power button was conveniently located on the back, next to the connection ports, making it easily accessible.

Turning off the computer. With its recent design choice, Apple seems to be questioning the popular practice of turning off your computer. Clearly, the company believes that M4 Mac mini users don’t need to switch off their devices often. There’s a reason for this stance.

Efficiency. The M4 chips, like their predecessors, are designed to be particularly efficient. For instance, the M1 Mac mini uses 6.8 watts during periods of inactivity, while the M2/M2 Pro Mac mini consumes 7 watts. It’s reasonable to expect that the M4 Mac mini will have similar power consumption. This means that turning the computer off won’t make a huge difference in terms of saving energy.

How much does it cost to leave a Mac on and idle? I’ve made a quick calculation based on the reasonable assumption that the computer is inactive for 12 hours a day. If it consumes 7 watts during these periods, the energy consumed amounts to approximately 30.66 kWh per year. Considering the most recent average electricity price in the U.S. ($0.178/kWh), leaving a Mac mini on and inactive for an entire year costs only about $5.5o.

Turning it off has become somewhat of a fixation. Since I started using a M1 Mac mini at the end of 2021, I’ve made it a habit to turn off my computer at the end of each day. This behavior likely stems from years of working with much less efficient equipment. With the current cost calculations, it seems that switching it off has minimal impact on the annual electricity bill.

Annoying design. Mac mini owners rarely use the power button to turn off the computer, preferring the Apple > Shut Down… option. However, the button is widely used for turning the Mac on.

Docks and hubs. Apple’s recent design choice presents another challenge. Dock manufacturers that previously offered features like SSD slots and additional ports for traditional Mac minis designed their products to be attachable underneath these computers. However, the new M4 Mac mini design complicates this option. It’ll be interesting to see how manufacturers who want to create similar accessories for the new models will address this challenge. It must be said, though, that with the improved supply of connection ports on the new Mac mini, the demand for hubs and docks may not be as high.

Hiding the Mac mini behind a monitor is also not easy. Although Apple has always made it difficult to place and conceal the device behind a display, several manufacturers offer brackets designed for this purpose. The new design adds complexity to this option. However, the solution appears to be relatively simple. Theoretically, if the top of the M4 Mac mini (where the logo is located) is attached to the back of the monitor, both the ports and the power button would remain accessible.

Apple’s design philosophy. The company’s decisions reflect a consistent approach, similar to the redesigned Magic Mouse. In the mouse’s case, the controversial USB-C connector for charging is positioned at the bottom of the peripheral, which many view as a poor design choice. However, this positioning aligns with Apple’s intention for the Magic Mouse: The company prefers that users don’t use it with a cable while it’s charging. It’s a unique way of “forcing” users to use Apple’s devices as intended, although some users seem to resist.

Image | Apple

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