Apple
Mac mini (M4)
$599
Released 2024-11
Best Mini Pcs · head-to-head
Mac mini (M4) vs Minisforum UM790 Pro
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Minisforum UM790 Pro is cheaper at $351. Every spec and price links to its source.
Minisforum
Minisforum UM790 Pro
$351Cheaper
Released 2023-07
Which is better: the Mac mini (M4) or Minisforum UM790 Pro?
The Minisforum UM790 Pro wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Minisforum UM790 Pro is the cheaper at $351. The Minisforum UM790 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) | Minisforum UM790 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $599 | $351 |
| Brand | Apple | Minisforum |
| Released | 2024-11 | 2023-07 |
| CPU | Apple M4 (10-core, 4P+6E) | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (8C/16T, up to 5.2 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 6E |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) | 2.5 GbE |
| 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 USB4 (front), 2x HDMI 2.1 (rear), 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (rear), 1x 3.5mm audio |
| Dimensions (mm) | 127 x 127 x 50 | 130 x 126 x 52.3 |
| Release year | 2024 | 2023 |
Sources — Mac mini (M4): support.apple.com (verified 2026-06-15). Minisforum UM790 Pro: store.minisforum.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Mac mini (M4) and Minisforum UM790 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 Minisforum UM790 Pro AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (8C/16T, up to 5.2 GHz)
- Max RAM (GB): Mac mini (M4) 32 vs Minisforum UM790 Pro 64
- Storage type: Mac mini (M4) NVMe SSD (proprietary, soldered) vs Minisforum UM790 Pro M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe (dual slots)
- Wi-Fi standard: Mac mini (M4) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Minisforum UM790 Pro Wi-Fi 6E
- Ethernet: Mac mini (M4) Gigabit Ethernet (configurable to 10 GbE) vs Minisforum UM790 Pro 2.5 GbE
- 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 Minisforum UM790 Pro 2x USB4 (front), 2x HDMI 2.1 (rear), 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (rear), 1x 3.5mm audio
- Dimensions (mm): Mac mini (M4) 127 x 127 x 50 vs Minisforum UM790 Pro 130 x 126 x 52.3
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.
Minisforum UM790 Pro
Two whitelisted outlets reviewed this exact model hands-on: Notebookcheck (Ryzen 9 7940HS / Radeon 780M, July 2023) and TechRadar (Aug 2023). Both praise the fast 7940HS, the capable Radeon 780M iGPU, quiet and effective cooling, extensive connectivity (USB4, dual HDMI 2.1, up to four displays) and the compact metal chassis with a bundled VESA mount. Both note the plain design and constrained upgradability; Notebookcheck additionally flags weak 5 GHz Wi-Fi, the lack of an SD card reader, screws awkwardly hidden under the rubber feet, and that the 780M still stops short of a true gaming PC, while TechRadar calls the SSD speeds merely decent. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Fast Ryzen 9 7940HS with strong, sustained multi-core performance; Quiet operation with effective cooling; Extensive connectivity: USB4, dual HDMI 2.1, up to four displays.
Flagged: Plain, unexciting design; Awkward maintenance / limited upgradability (screws hidden under the rubber feet); Radeon 780M still falls short of a true gaming PC.