Mac mini M4 Pro Dock — Thoughts on Beelink’s new Mate mini?

[Pf2025]

Also, for non technical users (like myself), the Beelink Mate Mini “A” appears targeted towards users with the base Mac Mini M4 with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The Mate Mini “B” appears to be targeted towards users with the Mac Mini Pro (or higher) with Thunderbolt 5 ports that can take advantage of the higher transfer speeds.

 

[NickRno77]

I’ve ordered the B version, possibly delivered by the end of the month. UK site says shipped from uk warehouse so I shouldn’t get hammered for duty and VAT ?

 

[Pf2025]

I’ve ordered the B version, possibly delivered by the end of the month. UK site says shipped from uk warehouse so I shouldn’t get hammered for duty and VAT ?

Sounds promising. I’d contact Beelink customer support if there’s any doubt on the shipping source, and potential extra cost.

I’ve never dealt with international purchases. I don’t know if I’m liable for even more cost, if the unit is defective and needs to be returned or replaced.

So, I’m just suggesting be aware of the source location. And maybe buy without ssd’s installed if shipping internationally.

Best of luck!

 

[NickRno77]

Sounds promising. I’d contact Beelink customer support if there’s any doubt on the shipping source, and potential extra cost.

I’ve never dealt with international purchases. I don’t know if I’m liable for even more cost, if the unit is defective and needs to be returned or replaced.

So, I’m just suggesting be aware of the source location. And maybe buy without ssd’s installed if shipping internationally.

Best of luck!

I contacted them about duty and vat, they replied with expected delivery but no mention of I’ve got to pay duty and vat.

I’m only getting the dock as I’ve got an SSD I am using in a ACASIS dock.

 

[pna]

Hey, I recently got a mini M4 and am strongly considering this dock. Any updates on performance or experience from those that have it?

I’m particularly sensitive to fan noise, so that’s one of my main concerns. Their tech support has told me it would ship from a US warehouse so I’d not need to worry about paying extra. Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Brian33]

Hey, I recently got a mini M4 and am strongly considering this dock. Any updates on performance or experience from those that have it?

I’m particularly sensitive to fan noise, so that’s one of my main concerns. Their tech support has told me it would ship from a US warehouse so I’d not need to worry about paying extra. Thanks for any thoughts!

Yes, I'm interested in knowing more about the fan noise, also. It seems to be a nice-looking device but if I put it on my Mini then whatever fan noise it makes will be right there on my desk. (As opposed to under the desk or on the floor.)

Also, I'm wondering why the page STILL says "Pre-order". The first post in this thread was back on May 30 so that "pre-order" page has been there for four months.

@pna if you get one I'd appreciate any feedback on the fan noise. (Though I don't know how you could conveniently quantify it.)

 

[cmichaelb]

I just received my Beelink Mate Model A.

It's a huge improvement over the Satechi I was using. Speeds seem great, audio sounds good, and has a built in heat sink for the NVME cards.

 

[cmichaelb]

Yes, I'm interested in knowing more about the fan noise, also. It seems to be a nice-looking device but if I put it on my Mini then whatever fan noise it makes will be right there on my desk. (As opposed to under the desk or on the floor.)

Also, I'm wondering why the page STILL says "Pre-order". The first post in this thread was back on May 30 so that "pre-order" page has been there for four months.

@pna if you get one I'd appreciate any feedback on the fan noise. (Though I don't know how you could conveniently quantify it.)

I have a NVME card in slot 1 and I don't hear the fan at all playing a H265 encoded 1080p movie, speakers plugged in, and 2 drives plugged into the USB A ports.

 

[cmichaelb]

Yes, I'm interested in knowing more about the fan noise, also. It seems to be a nice-looking device but if I put it on my Mini then whatever fan noise it makes will be right there on my desk. (As opposed to under the desk or on the floor.)

Also, I'm wondering why the page STILL says "Pre-order". The first post in this thread was back on May 30 so that "pre-order" page has been there for four months.

@pna if you get one I'd appreciate any feedback on the fan noise. (Though I don't know how you could conveniently quantify it.)

Ordered mine 9/25. Received it today 9/30. It came from NJ, I'm in the KCMO area.

 

[LetsCallHimSteve]

Hey, I recently got a mini M4 and am strongly considering this dock. Any updates on performance or experience from those that have it?

I’m particularly sensitive to fan noise, so that’s one of my main concerns. Their tech support has told me it would ship from a US warehouse so I’d not need to worry about paying extra. Thanks for any thoughts!

There's practically no fan noise, and the SSD(s) speed is noticeable. The dock is fantastic, I originally chose it because it was the only one with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, but now it's become the one I would recommend to everybody, so... go for it.

 

[pna]

This was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for -- little fan noise and great speed. Though I've gone through some pretty obsessive times in my life on computer noise (I once built a fanless watercooled linux box with some old car parts to get away from fan whine), and initially I was turned off from the M4 mini by reports of fan noise on these forums that seemed like a big step back from the silence of the previous form factor. It seems like they either got that figured out in subsequent updates or my model is just on the quieter side, as I've been fine with the undetectable to my ears noise floor for my base level M4. These days I can tolerate a lot more (and my hearing is probably degrading), but in response to Brian33's question about how I would test it, I'll just listen to it and see if I'm annoyed by it, as in the past it hasn't taken much.

Also great news on the fast shipping - my emails with tech support were vague about 'shipping within 30 days'. I just ordered the A model myself with a marginally discounted SSD on amazon and will report out.

 

[cmichaelb]

This was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for -- little fan noise and great speed. Though I've gone through some pretty obsessive times in my life on computer noise (I once built a fanless watercooled linux box with some old car parts to get away from fan whine), and initially I was turned off from the M4 mini by reports of fan noise on these forums that seemed like a big step back from the silence of the previous form factor. It seems like they either got that figured out in subsequent updates or my model is just on the quieter side, as I've been fine with the undetectable to my ears noise floor for my base level M4. These days I can tolerate a lot more (and my hearing is probably degrading), but in response to Brian33's question about how I would test it, I'll just listen to it and see if I'm annoyed by it, as in the past it hasn't taken much.

Also great news on the fast shipping - my emails with tech support were vague about 'shipping within 30 days'. I just ordered the A model myself with a marginally discounted SSD on amazon and will report out.

Other than playing Civ VII or encoding video, I never hear the fan in my base M4 Pro, 64 gig RAM model.

 

[808?]

I got a Model B on order from Amazon, they have a $30 off coupon at the moment.

 

[ProgRocker]

I just received my Beelink Mate Model A.

It's a huge improvement over the Satechi I was using. Speeds seem great, audio sounds good, and has a built in heat sink for the NVME cards.

I understood that you couldn't place the Mini on top, since it was hard to get to the power button. Could you comment on that. Are you just using the sleep function ?

 

[Brian33]

Perhaps he's using a short cable, instead of the "C-shaped" connector that Beelink provides. I think you'd want an 80Gbps USB4v2 (note the "v2") cable. I believe a Thunderbolt 5 cable would also work.

Personally, I would use a cable for sure, as it seems to me the C-shaped connectors might put more twisting stress on the Mini's ports if the two devices got out of alignment. (But I haven't seen the C connectors -- maybe they are less rigid than I imagine.)

 

[Che Castro]

Perhaps he's using a short cable, instead of the "C-shaped" connector that Beelink provides. I think you'd want an 80Gbps USB4v2 (note the "v2") cable. I believe a Thunderbolt 5 cable would also work.

Personally, I would use a cable for sure, as it seems to me the C-shaped connectors might put more twisting stress on the Mini's ports if the two devices got out of alignment. (But I haven't seen the C connectors -- maybe they are less rigid than I imagine.)

I wrote off the beelink because if I get it I would want to put it underneath, but not being able to hit the power button was a turn off , but I never thought about using a short thunderbolt 5 cable instead of the included one , that’s a great idea

Are there any thunderbolt 5 cables available shorter than 1ft

 

[Brian33]

Are there any thunderbolt 5 cables available shorter than 1ft

Good question. I did a quick search and couldn't find any 80Gbps cables (either USB4v2 or Thunderbolt 5) less than .3m / 11.8 inches. I found some interesting configurations of TB4 cables -- maybe in a year or so they'll diversify the TB5 styles.

I would think that 11.8 inches would do pretty well, though.

 

[808?]

I have mine mounted on top of my M4 Mini. No issues so far, silent and cool.

 

[Moonjumper]

Perhaps he's using a short cable, instead of the "C-shaped" connector that Beelink provides. I think you'd want an 80Gbps USB4v2 (note the "v2") cable. I believe a Thunderbolt 5 cable would also work.

Personally, I would use a cable for sure, as it seems to me the C-shaped connectors might put more twisting stress on the Mini's ports if the two devices got out of alignment. (But I haven't seen the C connectors -- maybe they are less rigid than I imagine.)

About alignment, this would only look right if aligned perfectly, but there seems to be nothing to align the dock to the Mini apart from the C-shaped connectors. I have seen similar (but lower specced) docks that have a recess for the Mini to sit into to ensure alignment. I have also seen cutouts for accessing the power button on similar devices.

 

[My macrumours username]

Ive got a shiny new - well refurb - mac mini m4 pro - on my desk, and like the look of this. I’m after something to extend the internal storage, although as I got a 1TB model that’s not urgent, and for a Time Machine backup.

The Beelink model A seems ideal. I could put something in for Time Machine now, and then put another SSD in afterwards if/when 1TB started to be a limit.

How’re you all getting on with it?

I tend to power my desk off at the wall, my monitor, dock and now my Mini, sit on an extension cable from a single power socket. The Mac Mini only turned up yesterday, so I haven’t found yet how annoying it’s going to be to lift the Mini up each time to press the power button.

 

[Tikra64]

Hey guys, are you using a M.2 with or without heatsink in the Beelink Mini?
I have heard to put it on top due to decreasing WIFI performance when put under the Mac Mini?