You know that thrill you get right before doing something a little reckless? Well, that was me last Friday, holding a brand-new Mac Mini M2, fully aware that its shiny, much more powerful successor is set to drop this week. Yes, I committed the cardinal sin of tech shopping: buying right before the launch of the next model. But here’s the twist—I don’t regret it… yet.
Why I Couldn’t Resist the Mac Mini M2
I’ve been eyeing the Mac Mini forever, and testing laptops and desktops is my job, but somehow this iconic mini machine always slipped through my hands. So, when I heard Apple was going all-out on the Mac Mini’s redesign, potentially ditching those beloved USB-A ports, I knew it was now or never.
And let’s be honest, Apple rarely does discounts. Why hold out for a “newer, smaller, portless” model when I could grab the last of the USB-A generation?
Putting Apple’s 8GB RAM to the Test
Apple claims that 8GB of RAM is “more than enough” for the average user, and I wanted to see for myself if that was true. With the new M4 models reportedly coming with 16GB as the standard, this was my last chance to experiment with the 8GB base model and see if Apple’s bold claim held up.
So far, I’ve survived. I can work in Chrome (with an alarming number of tabs open), handle my emails, and hop on video calls without the dreaded spinning beach ball. Sure, the Activity Monitor shows I’m running near capacity, but it’s handling the load—barely. There’s a definite thrill in pushing this machine to its limits. Before you cancel me yet for using Chrome on macOS: actually, on my M1 MacBook Pro I exclusively use Safari. The aim of this desktop setup is to replicate the work flow of my PC, thus Chrome. I will gradually phase out Chrome completely from my Mac Mini.
A Trip Down Memory Lane (and the History of the Mac Mini)
To truly appreciate this little machine, you have to understand its legacy. First launched by Steve Jobs in 2005, the Mac Mini was a revolution: a tiny desktop for a new era of BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse). Unlike Apple’s other computers, the Mini encouraged people to switch to Mac without abandoning all their accessories. And though it’s evolved a lot since then—bye-bye disc drive, hello aluminum unibody—the design has stayed true to Jobs’s vision of simplicity and versatility.
But come next week, that’s all about to change. Rumor has it the M4 Mini will resemble the current Apple TV in size, with a possibly taller profile, kind of like a mini Mac Studio. And those front-facing ports might finally make an appearance. Progress? Maybe. But I’ll miss the classic design.
When Fewer Ports Isn’t Progress (RIP, USB-A)
Now here’s where things get controversial: the rumored M4 Mini is supposed to go all-in on USB-C and Thunderbolt, cutting USB-A out of the picture. Don’t get me wrong, I love USB-C’s versatility. But I also love the simplicity of USB-A—no unpairing, no repairing, just plug-and-play.
For people like me who constantly swap between machines, the simplicity of a USB-A dongle is hard to beat. The M2 Mac Mini lets me stick with that setup, which is a big reason I decided to jump the gun.
Port Problems? Bring in the Hubs
Of course, there’s a limit to the Mini’s built-in ports, so I kitted mine out with a Satechi Mac Mini Hub. Not only does it add USB-A and USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and microSD/SD card readers, but it even has an optional M.2 SSD slot underneath to expand storage. Now I’m set up with everything I need for my dual-monitor dream team.
And here’s the kicker: I get to keep my dongle-free setup while only sacrificing one Thunderbolt port. Take that, M4.
The Big-Screen Test
I’m finally experiencing macOS on a big screen, something I’d only tried on my 16-inch MacBook Pro before. I’ve paired the Mini with a 27-inch ultrawide monitor, and the difference is astounding. Suddenly, macOS’s native window snapping feels like a revelation. I can stack and arrange windows with the kind of precision I’ve missed on smaller screens.
For added productivity, I pulled in my go-to keyboard, the Logitech MX Master S Keys, and the Logitech G Pro X Superlight Mouse, both of which make switching between my Windows and Mac setups seamless. And it’s amazing—except for the looming fear that next week, this “vintage” model might look a lot less appealing.
The Regret That Might Hit… but Hasn’t Yet
So, did I make a mistake buying the M2 Mini with its expiration date set for just days away? Maybe. But right now, I’m content, especially considering my love for ports and the unique design that might soon be history.
Apple has one chance to make me change my mind—and that’s to drop an absolute bombshell at the M4 launch. Until then, I’m content with my defiant little purchase, embracing a machine that’s served faithfully for nearly two decades.
Would I still return it if the M4 is a game-changer? I’m giving myself a few more days to decide. But in this moment, I’m sticking with my rebellious Mac Mini M2, savoring the last of the USB-A days, and enjoying this nod to Apple’s past before the future crashes the party.
