Apple
Mac mini (M4)
$599Cheaper
Released 2024-11
Best Mini Pcs · head-to-head
Mac mini (M4) vs Beelink SER8
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Mac mini (M4) is cheaper at $599. Every spec and price links to its source.
Beelink
Beelink SER8
$629
Released 2024
Which is better: the Mac mini (M4) or Beelink SER8?
The Beelink SER8 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Mac mini (M4) is the cheaper at $599. Get the Beelink SER8 for the stronger spec sheet, the Mac mini (M4) to spend less.
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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) | Beelink SER8 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $599 | $629 |
| Brand | Apple | Beelink |
| Released | 2024-11 | 2024 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) | AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8C/16T, up to 4.9 GHz) |
| Max RAM (GB) | 32 | 64 |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) | M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe (dual slots) |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (Intel AX200) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) | 2.5 GbE (single port) |
| Ports summary | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (rear, 40 Gbps), 2x USB-C / USB 3 (front, 10 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio | 1x USB4 (40 Gbps, rear), USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB-A 2.0 (rear), 1x USB-C (front), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio |
| Dimensions (mm) | 127 x 127 x 50 | 135 x 135 x 44.7 |
| Release year | 2024 | 2024 |
Sources — Mac mini (M4): support.apple.com (verified 2026-06-15). Beelink SER8: bee-link.com (verified 2026-06-23).
What's the difference between the Mac mini (M4) and Beelink SER8?
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 Beelink SER8 AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (8C/16T, up to 4.9 GHz)
- Max RAM (GB): Mac mini (M4) 32 vs Beelink SER8 64
- Storage type: Mac mini (M4) NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) vs Beelink SER8 M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe (dual slots)
- Wi-Fi standard: Mac mini (M4) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Beelink SER8 Wi-Fi 6 (Intel AX200)
- Ethernet: Mac mini (M4) Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) vs Beelink SER8 2.5 GbE (single port)
- 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 Beelink SER8 1x USB4 (40 Gbps, rear), USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB-A 2.0 (rear), 1x USB-C (front), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio
- Dimensions (mm): Mac mini (M4) 127 x 127 x 50 vs Beelink SER8 135 x 135 x 44.7
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.
Beelink SER8
Two whitelisted hands-on labs (Notebookcheck, TechRadar) both benchmarked the Ryzen 7 8845HS SER8 and recommend it as a premium, quiet metal mini PC with strong CPU performance for around $650. Both flag weaker-than-expected Wi-Fi, no VESA mount, and a price premium over identical-platform rivals. RTINGS and PCMag reviews were not found. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Premium unibody metal chassis with Mac Mini-like design that looks more expensive than it is; Strong Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU performance, essentially matching the pricier Ryzen 9 8945HS; Quiet cooling under load.
Flagged: Weaker-than-expected Wi-Fi from the older Intel AX200 module (Wi-Fi 6, not 6E); No VESA mounting option; Priced at a premium over rivals using the identical platform (e.g. GMKtec K8/K6).