To be fair, both of those other computers have significantly more memory bandwidth than the Mac mini, and both have better GPU performance. If maxing out as many GPU cores as possible is important to you, you’re probably better off with an M4 Max, which means either a MacBook Pro or waiting for an updated Mac Studio.

With the M4 Pro and Thunderbolt 5, the Mac mini supports up to three displays simultaneously at 6K resolution and 60Hz. It can also power one 6K/60Hz panel with a second screen up to 8K/60Hz or a 4K panel at up to a 240Hz refresh rate. These higher-end 8K/60Hz and 4K/240Hz display configurations require the HDMI port.

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.