2024 M4 Mac Mini vs iMac

Tulipone

Tulipone

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Chris
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I currently have a 2019 Intel iMac fusion that I have decided is to be replaced by either a Mac mini plus external monitor or iMac. So decision made - ish. I'm struggling to decide which to get. I have no desire to return to Windows so that makes life a little simpler.

I 'pre purchased' an M4 / 24gb / 1tb model on announcement yesterday and know that this will probably see me out, be initially more than adequate for my needs and likely be effective for the next 5 years or so and suspect that I'll move to just an iPad / tablet when this is defunct.

Watching the next Apple announcements today with the new Mac mini. Totting up, I can get a decent 27” monitor - a BenQ PD2725U 27 inch 4K UHD Thunderbolt 3 Monitor and a better spec (M4 pro) Mac mini 24gb / 1tb plus keyboard and mouse for an additional £100 or so.

So the idea of an all in one that works out the box is appealing but wondering if the thought that I could have gotten a bit better is going to get to me over the life of the computer.

Interested in knowing what you'd do in similar circumstances. The iMac is still being processed and very easy to cancel.
 
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FWIW I moved from iMac to Mac mini a few years ago and have never regretted it.
a) more flexible in terms of replacement of screen or computer
b) less heavy to move around when I rearrange the desk/room
c) Cheaper (arguably)
d) less of a wrench if I decide to upgrade computer leaving a redundant perfectly good screen as in the iMac

I must look at the Apple announcements.
 
I have to agree with Lindsay, the idea you can update the computer with out dumping the screen, keyboard and so on .

It may not be an issue for you, but there is no 10gbe on iMac but it's an option on mini
 
I've parted ways with apple a while back, so looking at this the mini with M4 Pro cpu sort of looks OK, all the rest definitely meh... That's £1.4k and they will get you to upgrade that pathetic SSD and ideally RAM.
imac doesn't even get pro option, and is substandard (for 2024) 24", but tries to make up for it with ridiculous bezel colors. And they cost like the pro mini version right of the bat. You probably buy this sort of thing for your kids at school if you have this sort of disposable money. Just thinking out loud what this is for.
 
In my mind Apple Mac lineup is weird, normally technology filters down the range, buy it's the opposite with Apple M chips.
The bottom of the range mini has M4 pro, next up iMac M4 then Studio and Mac Pro still at M2, the more you pay the weaker the CPU
 
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Tulipone said:
Thank you for this, I had not previously seen that and it doesn't look like it should be on my list.
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If you find a decent one please let us know.i love my 5k 27 iMac and am thinking of getting a mini but all the reviews I read on monitors other than the apple one put me off
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
If you find a decent one please let us know.i love my 5k 27 iMac and am thinking of getting a mini but all the reviews I read on monitors other than the apple one put me off
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Me too - and I have just cancelled the M4 iMac. Decided to make a better decision rather than a fast one. When asking Apple they just point you towards their £1500 monitor and that is really not an option for me.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
I've parted ways with apple a while back, so looking at this the mini with M4 Pro cpu sort of looks OK, all the rest definitely meh... That's £1.4k and they will get you to upgrade that pathetic SSD and ideally RAM.
imac doesn't even get pro option, and is substandard (for 2024) 24", but tries to make up for it with ridiculous bezel colors. And they cost like the pro mini version right of the bat. You probably buy this sort of thing for your kids at school if you have this sort of disposable money. Just thinking out loud what this is for.
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Is there anything that makes you happy?
 
Looks like neither the new Mac Mini nor the new iMac have a SD card slot. :( You need to go to the Mac Studio for that...
 
To me the main problem with the Mac mini, is the availability of decent monitors to attach to it. By the time you have specced up a monitor as good as the one in the iMac, you are well past the cost of the equivalent iMac. 4K on macOS either gives you tiny icons, decent size icons but with scaling or the equivalent of 1080p screen space if you use 2x scaling (this option looks the best if you can put up with the lack of space). macOS works much better with higher resolution screens, but aside from the iMac and Apple's display there aren't many available.
 
Craikeybaby said:
To me the main problem with the Mac mini, is ….. but aside from the iMac and Apple's display there aren't many available.
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Me also. The more I look the more I don’t see anything without issues. I had hoped WEX in Norwich would have a display, but no. No one actually seems to have any number of displays on display.
 
Craikeybaby said:
To me the main problem with the Mac mini, is the availability of decent monitors to attach to it. By the time you have specced up a monitor as good as the one in the iMac, you are well past the cost of the equivalent iMac. 4K on macOS either gives you tiny icons, decent size icons but with scaling or the equivalent of 1080p screen space if you use 2x scaling (this option looks the best if you can put up with the lack of space). macOS works much better with higher resolution screens, but aside from the iMac and Apple's display there aren't many available.
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But when you upgrade the Mac a few later you only have to replace the mini instead of paying for a perfectly good display again.

I have a BenQ 4k display and run it at 2560x1440. I think people get too hung up on 2x scaling because of youtubers. I really don't see a problem running the resolution I do. Everything is perfectly crisp and I have plenty of space on the display without the text being stupidly small.
 
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I'd rather have a good display that is built into the hardware than an OK display that I keep using on multiple systems, especially given the longevity of modern Macs.
 
Interestingly to me,in curry’s looking at the apple 27 display versus 23.5 iMac didn’t look so different externally because of lack of big bezel on the studio display,I know it’s about 20% screen estate more but having had the m1 Mac when it came out I preferred it to a mini with a mid priced lg screen I paired it with.
Think I may go 24 iMac for updated everything software wise and after editing send all photos to the 27 iMac to view. Elliot,which benq screen do you use?
 
I find it odd that the Mac mini can have a pro option M4 but the iMac cannot, or why the Mac Pro can get the top of the line M4. Presume that this indicates iMacs are not considered pro standard machine?
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Interestingly to me,in curry’s looking at the apple 27 display versus 23.5 iMac didn’t look so different externally because of lack of big bezel on the studio display,I know it’s about 20% screen estate more but having had the m1 Mac when it came out I preferred it to a mini with a mid priced lg screen I paired it with.
Think I may go 24 iMac for updated everything software wise and after editing send all photos to the 27 iMac to view. Elliot,which benq screen do you use?
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I have the SW271C which I believe has now been replaced by the SW272U.
 
Tulipone said:
I find it odd that the Mac mini can have a pro option M4 but the iMac cannot, or why the Mac Pro can get the top of the line M4. Presume that this indicates iMacs are not considered pro standard machine?
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Non of the above. They just need something to release in 6 months time.
 
lindsay said:
FWIW I moved from iMac to Mac mini a few years ago and have never regretted it.
a) more flexible in terms of replacement of screen or computer
b) less heavy to move around when I rearrange the desk/room
c) Cheaper (arguably)
d) less of a wrench if I decide to upgrade computer leaving a redundant perfectly good screen as in the iMac

I must look at the Apple announcements.
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I did very similar to this earlier this year, but to a used Mac Studio (a big Mac Mini really) sourced from here and don’t regret it.
 
IMO, unless you spend a little more on the screen, the Apple monitors are difficult to beat. The M4 iMacs are great but 24" is very modest for photo/video work.
 
Since Apple axed the 27inch iMac, it seems that the iMac is mostly aimed at the low-mid budget/student market, hence not offering the M4 Pro chip in it.
I've replaced 2 of the 2017 27inch iMacs at work in the last 2 years with a Mac Studio M1 Max and a Mac Mini M2 Pro. These are setup with HP and Dell 27inch screens and had no complaints about colours from the designers that use them.
 
I think that my concern is that I know how good the iMac screen is and don’t want to regret getting a monitor that I’m not going to like. Apple point me towards their £1500 version - a pretty hefty price tag for me. Dell have suggested a UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C hub monitor - U3223QE for £750 that seems more priced within my means.
 
Tulipone said:
I think that my concern is that I know how good the iMac screen is and don’t want to regret getting a monitor that I’m not going to like. Apple point me towards their £1500 version - a pretty hefty price tag for me. Dell have suggested a UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C hub monitor - U3223QE for £750 that seems more priced within my means.
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I personally strongly suggest you exit the hardcore mac fanatics club before you become one of them, and a lot poorer at that.
 
Tulipone said:
I’m well past the point of that return. Had an iMac since 2009 and have no intention of buying a Windows PC again. I have to use them at work but would rather not.
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Agree went apple in 2011,never looked back
 
Tulipone said:
I’m well past the point of that return. Had an iMac since 2009 and have no intention of buying a Windows PC again. I have to use them at work but would rather not.
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Chris, went in again to curry’s got same photos up on the 24 and 27 studio side by side, the 24 looked a little crisper,well both looked great but I actually preferred the 24 just with the 10 mins I spent there, the 27 also as I mentioned somewhere without the iMac 5 k bezel didn’t look xtra large versus the 24. Anyway I went home and pre ordered the green 24, coming next Friday from John Lewis with 2 yr guarantee.im actually going to give my bro my 27 , don’t need it now.
 
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My thinking is there's benefits and draw backs to both. I've be in the same situation when my current laptop gets too old....for me, I like the mac mini idea as I can get a bigger monitor than what I have, but I lose portability.
 
FWIW I have the BenQ PD3205U and it is a great monitor, arguably not as good as an Apple Display which my son has nut you have to draw the line somewhere.
Linky here for those that are curious.
 
rd6743 said:
My thinking is there's benefits and draw backs to both. I've be in the same situation when my current laptop gets too old....for me, I like the mac mini idea as I can get a bigger monitor than what I have, but I lose portability.
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I went through this thought process when I replaced my 2014 MBP. A Mac Mini, screen etc and an iPad for portability, was my alternative to the 16" M1 MBP. Would have been cheaper, too. I didn't do it for two reasons: lack of space on the desk for a larger screen (and lack of availability of decent smaller screens), and the iPad would be quite restrictive away from home, as I use Capture One Pro (there is an iPad version but it's a subscription, and it wouldn't give me remote access to my Catalogue anyway).
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Agree went apple in 2011,never looked back
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I was in this exact situation in 2021 as apple was ditching intel. I'm 100% apple free today and couldn't be happier with this decision financially
 
I think my Dell could give Captain Scarlet a run for his money. But when it finally does join the choir invisible Apple is on my radar. I'm not entirely sure I like the way Windows is going.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
I was in this exact situation in 2021 as apple was ditching intel. I'm 100% apple free today and couldn't be happier with this decision financially
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I just took the SSD drive out of my old (last) Windows PC ready to take it to the tip. I'm now Windows free and ready to trade in my iMac against a new one. Or Mac Mini. Still dithering over over that.
 
Tulipone said:
I just took the SSD drive out of my old (last) Windows PC ready to take it to the tip. I'm now Windows free and ready to trade in my iMac against a new one. Or Mac Mini. Still dithering over over that.
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Good for you. I just couldn't live with 256 or 512gb ssd when I now have 2TB inside, want 4TB and outside I have close to 20tb
 
I have an external 2Tb Crucial USB-C SSD drive and that is fast - even with my old 2019 iMac and would always get the 1Tb internal SSD. With USB-C or Thunderbolt external storage I’m not wholly convinced excessive internal storage is needed other than ‘enough’ plus a chunk for a swap drive.
 
Tulipone said:
I have an external 2Tb Crucial USB-C SSD drive and that is fast - even with my old 2019 iMac and would always get the 1Tb internal SSD. With USB-C or Thunderbolt external storage I’m not wholly convinced excessive internal storage is needed other than ‘enough’ plus a chunk for a swap drive.
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1tb is a bare minimum for today. "Today" is the KEY word here. Most of our photography and video apps are bloating like crazy with all the AI models data, whether you choose to use that functionality or not. If you use Topaz that is now ridiculously large, quadruple of what it was last year. Unreal engine.... huge, any games if you download are almost into hundred of GB each. Now OS are also bloating with AI crap. Then if you start playing with video, which likes fast storage, you will fill 1TB in just a day or two. I have a bit of a task of cleaning my Resolve libraries from clips I didn't use just to claw back some space. It will be hard unless you just use it as a spreadheet and email pc.

If you are lucky that external drive will sustain 1000MB/s actual speed. My internal drives run at 7000MB/s or so. That's gen4 nvme, I only have nvidia 3060TI graphics at the moment but I think it will be still faster than any of these macs
 
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