x/nxpc · 
August 10, 2026 — Remember when the M4 Mac Mini launched at $599 and we all collectively lost our minds at the value? Yeah, those days are over. Apple quietly discontinued the 256GB model in May 2026, and the new entry-level Mac Mini now starts at $799 USD with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Meanwhile, across the aisle, Windows mini PCs from Beelink, Minisforum, and GMKtec are delivering better specs for less money — often with upgradeable RAM and storage to boot. Let's break this down.
Don't get me wrong — the M4 Mac Mini is still a phenomenal little machine. The base M4 chip packs a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, Apple's unified memory architecture screams, and the thing draws so little power you'll barely notice it on your electricity bill. It's also dead silent.
But at $799 USD starting price, the value proposition has shifted. The M4 Pro model with 24GB RAM and 512GB storage runs $1,399 USD on Apple.com, and Amazon third-party sellers list it around $1,491.50 USD. The 24GB/512GB M4 (non-Pro) goes for $1,317 USD on Amazon.
Here's what Apple's 2026 Mac Mini lineup looks like:
| Model | CPU | RAM | Storage | USD Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini M4 (base) | 10C/10C | 16GB | 512GB | $799 (Apple) |
| Mac Mini M4 (24GB) | 10C/10C | 24GB | 512GB | ~$1,317 (Amazon) |
| Mac Mini M4 Pro | 12C/16C | 24GB | 512GB | $1,399 (Apple) / ~$1,492 (Amazon) |
And remember: none of this is user-upgradeable. Buy what you need up front or regret it forever.
If you want to see what value looks like in August 2026, look no further than the Beelink SER8. Armed with AMD's Ryzen 7 8745HS (8C/16T, up to 4.9GHz) and Radeon 780M graphics, these little boxes are absurdly well-priced.
| Configuration | RAM | Storage | USD | CAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SER8 8745HS | 16GB DDR5 | 512GB SSD | $599 | — |
| SER8 8745HS | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD | $859 | $1,179 |
| SER8 8845HS | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD | $939 | — |
Let that sink in: the base Beelink SER8 with 16GB/512GB costs $599 USD — the same price the Mac Mini used to be, and $200 less than what Apple charges now. You're getting 8 Zen 4 cores, Radeon 780M graphics (which handles light 1080p gaming surprisingly well), USB4, Wi-Fi 6, 2.5G LAN, and triple display support.
Step up to the 32GB/1TB SER8 at $859 USD and you've got double the RAM and double the storage of the $799 Mac Mini — for only $60 more.
The Minisforum UM890 Pro takes things up a notch with the Ryzen 9 8945HS (8C/16T, up to 5.2GHz):
The barebone option is particularly compelling for home lab enthusiasts — grab the UM890 Pro barebone, drop in 64GB of DDR5 SODIMMs and a 4TB NVMe drive, and you've got an absolute beast of a Proxmox node for under $1,000 total.
At the top end, things get wild:
GMKtec EVO X3 ($3,600+ USD): AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 16 Zen 5 cores, 128GB LPDDR5X, up to 4TB SSD, and a staggering 126 TOPS of AI compute. This isn't just a mini PC — it's a local AI workstation that fits in your hand. ETA PRIME just dropped a first-look video on August 5th.
ASUS ROG NUC 16 (~$4,000-4,500 USD): Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus + RTX 5080 Laptop GPU in a 3-liter chassis. The 20th Anniversary Edition even packs an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. It's a full-fat gaming rig the size of a thick sandwich.
At these prices, you're not cross-shopping with the Mac Mini — you're comparing against the Mac Studio. But the fact that Windows mini PCs can now scale from $259 (Beelink SER3) to $4,500 (ROG NUC 16 20th Anniversary) in the same form factor is genuinely remarkable.
Let's line up what ~$800 gets you on each side:
| Feature | Mac Mini M4 (base) | Beelink SER8 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 USD | $599 USD (16GB) / $859 USD (32GB) |
| CPU | M4 10C/10C | Ryzen 7 8745HS 8C/16T |
| RAM | 16GB unified (soldered) | 16-32GB DDR5 (upgradeable SODIMM) |
| Storage | 512GB (soldered) | 512GB-1TB PCIe 4.0 (upgradeable M.2) |
| GPU | 10-core Apple | Radeon 780M (12 CU RDNA 3) |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro |
| Ports | 3x TB4, 2x USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet | USB4, HDMI, DP, 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6 |
| Upgradeability | ❌ None | ✅ RAM + SSD |
| Power Draw | ~40W peak | ~65W peak |
The Mac Mini wins on single-core performance, power efficiency, and that sweet macOS experience. But the SER8 gives you upgradeable RAM and storage, more cores, and $200 in your pocket. For home labbers, tinkerers, and anyone who might want more RAM down the road, the choice is obvious.
Let's convert everything to loonies:
| Product | Config | USD | CAD (Amazon.ca) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini M4 | 16GB/512GB | $799 | ~$1,099 (est.)* |
| Mac Mini M4 | 24GB/512GB | ~$1,317 | $1,699 |
| Mac Mini M4 Pro | 24GB/512GB | $1,399 | $2,299 |
| Beelink SER8 | 32GB/1TB | $859 | $1,179 |
| Minisforum UM870 Slim | 16GB/512GB | — | $840 |
| GMKtec K8 Plus | 32GB/1TB 8845HS | — | $1,099 |
*Mac Mini M4 base 16GB/512GB pricing on Amazon.ca was unavailable at press time; price estimated from Apple Canada conversion.
The Mac Mini M4 Pro at $2,299 CAD is a particularly tough sell when you can get a GMKtec K8 Plus with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and OCuLink for $1,099 CAD — less than half the price.
Buy the Mac Mini M4 if: You're deep in the Apple ecosystem, you value silence and efficiency above all else, and you won't need to upgrade RAM or storage in the next 3-5 years. macOS is genuinely great, Apple Silicon single-core performance is still class-leading, and the whole package "just works."
Buy a Windows mini PC if: You want more hardware for your money, you plan to run Docker containers or Proxmox, you might want 64GB of RAM someday, or you just enjoy the freedom of swapping out an SSD. The Beelink SER8 at $599 USD is the value king right now, and the Minisforum UM890 Pro barebone at $463 USD is a home labber's dream.
The bottom line: Apple's price hike from $599 to $799 has opened the door wider than ever for Windows mini PCs. At every price point from $300 to $1,000, the Windows side is delivering more cores, more RAM, more storage, and more flexibility. The Mac Mini is still a great computer — it's just no longer the value champion it was at launch.