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M4 Mac mini - Bluetooth connection issues finally fixed?

EugW

EugW

macrumors P6
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
15,967
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Earth (for now)
For the most part my Bluetooth was OK with my 2014 Mac mini and 2020 M1 Mac mini, but very recently with the M1, I had started to get some Bluetooth dropouts with my AirPods. I don't know what changed, aside from upgrading to macOS 15 Sequoia. The Mac mini was about 4-5 feet away so distance was not a major factor.

I've since switched to the M4 Mac mini and I haven't experienced any dropouts since. The Mac mini is only 2 feet away now so I suppose it could be distance, but I wonder if Apple's design change has fixed the Bluetooth issues once and for all.
 
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With your iPods? What are you doing with a connection between those music players and your Mac mini?

I haven't had many issues with BT on either of my Mini computers, though I have a huge delta between them.

- Mid 2011 i5 has always had solid bluetooth
- M4 Pro Mini has been good so far, but I only use a keyboard.
 
I recently fixe my bluetooth issues with my M1 Mac Mini by turning the computer on its side.

I have Beats Studio Pro bluetooth headphones and was getting popping and skipping sounds while trying to watch movies sitting about 10 feet away from the Mac Mini.

After searching the internet, I finally found some posts indicating that the antenna for the bluetooth and wifi are in the bottom base of the Mac Mini, so to get the best performance, you need line of sight from your bluetooth device and the bottom of the Mac Mini.

Although the Mac Mini can balance on its side, I ordered a stand to hopefully make this setup more mechanically stable.
 
2011 Mac Mini and M4 Pro Mini, I have zero issues with both mice, keyboard and headphones for both. I suggest you look to your environment, on what could be causing disturbances to the electromagnetic sprectrum in the BT range.
 
With my M1 mini, mounted on its side, I had BT cutouts with my AirPods Max, but only when my Belkin iPhone/Watch charger was switched on and charging. Its a couple of feet away from the Mac mini.
TheAirPods Max would be fine normally, but would cut out at about 20 feet away when charging the iPhone or watch.

Now with a M4 Pro mini, also mounted on its side, I get perfect reception when charging, all round the house, at the far wall or two floors down.
Much better...
 
I haven't had any issues yet with the M4 Mac mini.

I would get intermittent issues with bluetooth dropping on my 2018 Mac mini. This included loosing connection on my Magic Keyboard and Logitech MX Anywhere 3 mouse.
 
It turns out they at least must have fixed the Apple mouse and keyboard bluetooth issues. I'm using the older AA battery-powered bluetooth keyboard and magic mouse, and they both work really well. I've had zero issues with the M4 mini compared with my mom's M2 mini. I think the fact that the design lifts it up off the table a bit may have solved some connection issues.
 
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