iFixit Shares M4 Mac Mini Teardown

[MacRumors]

Popular repair site iFixit today disassembled one of Apple's new M4 Mac mini machines for a teardown video that gives us a more complete look at the inside of the device.

Compared to the prior version of the Mac mini, the M4 model is densely packed with little space between components, which is how Apple slimmed down the size so much. The M4 Mac mini measures in at 5x5 inches, down from 7.5x7.5 inches, a size reduction that makes a major difference.

The power supply module is a board that extends across the top of the case, a design that Apple has previously used for the HomePod. The power supply normally takes up a lot of space, so that's how Apple shrunk it down without compromising performance.

In the middle of the Mac mini, there's a fan that works with the redesigned thermal management system of the machine to pull in air from the environment, circulate it through each level of the Mac mini, and then vent it out through the bottom. Because the M4 Pro versions of the Mac mini need more cooling power, Apple equipped them with a larger copper heatsink than the heatsink in the standard M4 Mac mini models.

iFixit is a little late to the Mac mini teardown, which means we have seen prior videos that provided some insight into the machine's internal components. We've already learned that the Mac mini has modular storage that can technically be upgraded after purchase, and iFixit confirmed that. iFixit swapped a 512GB SSD from one M4 Mac mini to another M4 Mac mini that had a 256GB SSD, and the swap was successful.

The M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini models use different NAND modules that aren't physically interchangeable, and iFixit was not able to use an M4 SSD in an M4 Pro Mac mini, so users who plan to swap out their own storage will need to make sure to get the correct SSD for their device.

RAM for the Mac mini is tightly integrated into the M4 chip inside and is not upgradeable after purchase, and the ports are also soldered, which can make replacement difficult.

iFixit found other components in the Mac mini are simple to swap out, and the site gave the Mac mini a repairability score of 7 out of 10 thanks to the easy to remove components, swappable SSD, and the detailed repair manuals that Apple made available. iFixit says users could get at least a decade of use out of the M4 Mac mini.

Article Link: iFixit Shares M4 Mac Mini Teardown

 

[ethanwa79]

So tiny!

 

[Slix]

I wonder how long it'll be before we see third-party SSD upgrades for these.

 

[deevey]

At least it appears that you don't need virgin NAND modules in order to upgrade storage.

 

[Bytor65]

The news about these just keeps getting better.

Good Job Apple!

 

[deevey]

I wonder how long it'll be before we see third-party SSD upgrades for these.

Hopefully really soon!

 

[DavidSchaub]

… but, we have yet to see a single tear down showing the M4 Pro package or power supply?

 

[adamw]

Third party SSD upgrades would be welcome by many Mac users. Perhaps OWC will sell them...

 

[adamw]

… but, we have yet to see a single tear down showing the M4 Pro package or power supply?

Luke Miani at about 09:15 into the below video describes the difference between the SSD boards between the M4 Mac mini and the M4 Pro Mac mini. Appears that they use a different size and shape SSD board. You get to briefly see the internals of the M4 Pro Mac mini as he describes that the M4 Mac Mini's SSD will not fit properly inside a M4 Pro Mac mini...

 

[DavidSchaub]

Luke Miani at about 09:15 into the below video descibes the difference beteern the SSD boards between the M4 Mac mini and the M4 Pro Mac mini. Appears that they use a differnt size and shape SSD board. Y9u get to briefly see the internals of the M4 Pro Mac mini as he describes that they M4 Mac Mini's SSD will nto fit properly inside a M4 Pro Mac mini...

Yup, but no shots of the M4 Pro package or power supply.

 

[CrysisDeu]

Ifixit’s teardown are no longer the most detailed nor the fastest. Hope they can up their games

 

[DavidSchaub]

Luke Miani at about 09:15 into the below video descibes the difference beteern the SSD boards between the M4 Mac mini and the M4 Pro Mac mini. Appears that they use a differnt size and shape SSD board. Y9u get to briefly see the internals of the M4 Pro Mac mini as he describes that they M4 Mac Mini's SSD will nto fit properly inside a M4 Pro Mac mini...

It did at least show us the difference in heat sink plate size (57% bigger for the M4 Pro)

 

[JPack]

Let’s hope the parts, tools, and skill will quickly flow to other parts of the world.

 

[brofkand]

Ifixit’s teardown are no longer the most detailed nor the fastest. Hope they can up their games

They are a victim of the TikTok-ification of the internet. Not really worth paying them any attention anymore, sadly.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

They are a victim of the TikTok-ification of the internet. Not really worth paying them any attention anymore, sadly.

Yup, they get far more plays with far less effort, so why try harder?

 

[ZipZilla]

They are a victim of the TikTok-ification of the internet. Not really worth paying them any attention anymore, sadly.

You got that right. Tear downs and reviews are all showcasing style over substance instead of showing hard information. diabolically terrible

 

[deevey]

… but, we have yet to see a single tear down showing the M4 Pro package or power supply?

 

[icwhatudidthere]

I wouldn’t put too much hope into seeing third party upgrades any time soon. The Mac Studio still doesn’t have anyone making them and that’s been out for a few years now.

That said, right in these forums, there is a group trying to make these available, at least for the Studio. Not sure if it ever launched though.

 

[Marshall73]

Dosdude has performed a storage upgrade on his mini already. Same as the Studio though, you need blank nand chips and have to desolder the existing chips and replace then with the larger blank chips then setup the mac with configurator.

 

[deevey]

Dosdude has performed a storage upgrade on his mini already. Same as the Studio though, you need blank nand chips and have to desolder the existing chips and replace then with the larger blank chips then setup the mac with configurator.

Difference is that the storage modules, regardless of size, are interchangeable between Mini's. Unlike the studio where SSD swaps only work with units of the same capacity.

 

[JPack]

Not M4 Pro. Silver heatsink (aluminum) and widely spaced fins means base M4 chip.

 

[Chuckeee]

I wonder how long it'll be before we see third-party SSD upgrades for these.

Well using the Mac Studio as a guide (since the Mac Studio has had similar SSD memory modules since 2022).

At least 2 year, if ever. And remember the Mac Studio is more expensive so you could infer the Mac Studio owners have deeper pockets (and are able to spend more money) as compared to Mac mini owners.

 

[JPack]

I wouldn’t put too much hope into seeing third party upgrades any time soon. The Mac Studio still doesn’t have anyone making them and that’s been out for a few years now.

That said, right in these forums, there is a group trying to make these available, at least for the Studio. Not sure if it ever launched though.

Replicating the PCB will be too costly because of the surrounding chips. Realistically, the only viable service will be mail-in where customers send in their module and shops do the soldering work for customers. Those BGA315 chips are only available from China, which makes this service even more niche. No other non-Apple device uses that BGA package.

 

[vorkosigan1]

Does the cooling air both enter and exit from the bottom?

 

[picpicmac]

The power supply module is a board that extends across the top of the case, a design that Apple has previously used for the HomePod. The power supply normally takes up a lot of space, so that's how Apple shrunk it down without compromising performance.

One does not shrink a power supply simply by putting at the top. Other teardowns have shown how neatly the new Mini power supply is designed, and a great deal of engineering goes into making such things.