iFixit Shares M4 Mac Mini Teardown
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.
