Apple
Mac mini (M4)
$599
Released 2024-11
Best Mini Pcs · head-to-head
Mac mini (M4) vs Asus NUC 14 Pro
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Asus NUC 14 Pro is cheaper at $434. Every spec and price links to its source.
Asus
Asus NUC 14 Pro
$434Cheaper
Released 2024-03
Which is better: the Mac mini (M4) or Asus NUC 14 Pro?
The Asus NUC 14 Pro wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Asus NUC 14 Pro is the cheaper at $434. The Asus NUC 14 Pro both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Mac mini (M4) | Asus NUC 14 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $599 | $434 |
| Brand | Apple | Asus |
| Released | 2024-11 | 2024-03 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) | Intel Core 3 100U (base); up to Core Ultra 7 155H |
| Max RAM (GB) | 32 | 96 |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) | M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe + M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 + 2.5" SATA (tall chassis) |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (Intel AX211) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) | 2.5 GbE (Intel I226-V) |
| Ports summary | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (rear, 40 Gbps), 2x USB-C / USB 3 (front, 10 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (rear, DP2.1/USB4), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 (front), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (front), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (rear), 1x USB-A 2.0 (rear), 2x HDMI 2.1 (rear) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 127 x 127 x 50 | 117 x 112 x 54 |
| Release year | 2024 | 2024 |
Sources — Mac mini (M4): support.apple.com (verified 2026-06-15). Asus NUC 14 Pro: asus.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Mac mini (M4) and Asus NUC 14 Pro?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- CPU: Mac mini (M4) Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) vs Asus NUC 14 Pro Intel Core 3 100U (base); up to Core Ultra 7 155H
- Max RAM (GB): Mac mini (M4) 32 vs Asus NUC 14 Pro 96
- Storage type: Mac mini (M4) NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) vs Asus NUC 14 Pro M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe + M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 + 2.5" SATA (tall chassis)
- Wi-Fi standard: Mac mini (M4) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Asus NUC 14 Pro Wi-Fi 6E (Intel AX211)
- Ethernet: Mac mini (M4) Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) vs Asus NUC 14 Pro 2.5 GbE (Intel I226-V)
- Ports summary: Mac mini (M4) 3x Thunderbolt 4 (rear, 40 Gbps), 2x USB-C / USB 3 (front, 10 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio vs Asus NUC 14 Pro 2x Thunderbolt 4 (rear, DP2.1/USB4), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 (front), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (front), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (rear), 1x USB-A 2.0 (rear), 2x HDMI 2.1 (rear)
- Dimensions (mm): Mac mini (M4) 127 x 127 x 50 vs Asus NUC 14 Pro 117 x 112 x 54
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Mac mini (M4)
Three testers - Notebookcheck, Tom's Guide and TechRadar - each ran the base M4 Mac mini (not the M4 Pro) through their own benchmark suites and all three recommend it. Geekbench 6 single-core landed at 3,838 on all three, and multi-core at 14,838 on the two Future-owned outlets versus 15,072 at Notebookcheck. All three independently measured the same 5 x 5 x 2-inch chassis and all three fault the power button Apple moved to the underside. Only Notebookcheck instrumented power and acoustics, recording 2.6-2.7 W at idle against a 62.5 W peak. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Radically smaller 5 x 5 x 2-inch redesign, measured identically by all three; M4 delivers class-leading single-core speed and effortless everyday performance; 16GB of RAM now standard on the base model, double the M2's.
Flagged: Power button moved to the underside, unreachable without lifting the machine; Expensive RAM and SSD upgrade pricing; No user-serviceable upgrades or repairs.
Asus NUC 14 Pro
Three whitelisted hands-on reviews — Notebookcheck, Tom's Guide and TechRadar — benchmarked the Asus NUC 14 Pro (Intel Core Ultra, 2024). All three highlight its uncommon dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and strong CPU/Arc iGPU performance for the tiny footprint, and all three flag the high price / weak value versus cheaper similarly specced rivals. The plastic case, missing 3.5mm audio jack and fan noise/thermals under sustained load draw the main criticism. Every quote and benchmark listed was verified as a literal match against the fetched source text. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, rare among mini PCs in this class; Strong CPU and Arc iGPU performance for the compact size; Expandable storage/RAM with easy, near-tool-free internal access.
Flagged: Plastic case rather than metal, unremarkable build; No 3.5mm audio jack anywhere on the unit; Expensive / weak value versus similarly specced rivals.