# Mac mini (M4) vs GMKtec NucBox K8: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Mac mini (M4) (Apple) and GMKtec NucBox K8 (GMKtec) among mini pcs. GMKtec NucBox K8 is the cheaper of the two at $359.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Mac mini (M4) | GMKtec NucBox K8 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $599 | $359.99 |
| Brand | Apple | GMKtec |
| Released | 2024-11 | 2024 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T, up to 5.1 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 (MediaTek RZ616) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) | 2.5 GbE (dual, Realtek 8125) |
| 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, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB-A 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort, 2x 2.5 GbE RJ45, 3.5mm audio |
| Dimensions (mm) | 127 x 127 x 50 | 128.8 x 127 x 51.8 |

## Key differences

- CPU: Mac mini (M4) Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) vs GMKtec NucBox K8 AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8C/16T, up to 5.1 GHz)
- Max RAM (GB): Mac mini (M4) 32 vs GMKtec NucBox K8 64
- Storage type: Mac mini (M4) NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) vs GMKtec NucBox K8 M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe (dual slots)
- Wi-Fi standard: Mac mini (M4) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs GMKtec NucBox K8 Wi-Fi 6 (MediaTek RZ616)
- Ethernet: Mac mini (M4) Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) vs GMKtec NucBox K8 2.5 GbE (dual, Realtek 8125)
- 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 GMKtec NucBox K8 1x USB4, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB-A 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort, 2x 2.5 GbE RJ45, 3.5mm audio
- Dimensions (mm): Mac mini (M4) 127 x 127 x 50 vs GMKtec NucBox K8 128.8 x 127 x 51.8

## What reviewers say

**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.)

**GMKtec NucBox K8** — Only one whitelisted tester, TechRadar, hands-on reviewed the exact base NucBox K8 (Ryzen 7 8845HS). TechRadar calls it the fastest AMD-powered NUC it had tested, praising CPU power, dual M.2 Gen4 slots and dual 2.5GbE LAN at a competitive price, while flagging the all-plastic silver build, awkward internal access and lack of Thunderbolt with only one of the CPU's two USB 4.0 ports exposed. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Mac mini (M4): https://support.apple.com/en-us/121555 (support.apple.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- GMKtec NucBox K8: https://www.gmktec.com/products/amd-ryzen-7-8845hs-mini-pc-nucbox-k8 (gmktec.com, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/mini-pcs/apple-mac-mini-m4-vs-gmktec-nucbox-k8/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Mac mini (M4) ($599) vs GMKtec NucBox K8 ($359.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/mini-pcs/apple-mac-mini-m4-vs-gmktec-nucbox-k8/
License: CC BY 4.0.