What the M4 Mini Mac Is
The Apple M4 is an ARM-based system on a chip made by Apple. It combines a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP) on one chip. Apple sells the M4 in the Mac mini (2024), which is a macOS computer. The M4 is an Apple chip. It is not an Intel, AMD or ARM part sold to third-party manufacturers, and the Thinvent range does not include it.
Key Specifications of the Apple M4 Mac mini
The Apple support documentation lists two tested configurations of the Mac mini (2024). The first uses the Apple M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory and 512GB storage. The second uses the Apple M4 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and 512GB storage. Apple's technical specifications list the full set of options for both chips.
How the Mac mini Compares With Thinvent Mini PCs
The Mac mini runs macOS. Thinvent mini PCs run Windows 11, Ubuntu Linux, or Thinux embedded Linux, depending on the model. The table below compares the Mac mini configuration with Thinvent models that have similar memory and storage.
| Feature | Apple Mac mini (M4) | Thinvent Aero Mini PC (Core i3-1215U) | Thinvent Aero Mini PC (Core 5 120U) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4, 10-core CPU | Intel Core i3-1215U, 6 cores, up to 4.4 GHz | Intel Core 5 120U, 10 cores, up to 5.0 GHz |
| Memory | 16GB unified | 8GB DDR4 | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Wireless | Apple wireless | No WiFi | Dual Band WiFi |
Use Cases
Mini PCs suit kiosks, digital signage, point-of-sale terminals, factory floor monitoring, and office desktops where space is limited. The choice of processor, memory, storage and operating system depends on the software the workload needs. A macOS-only application needs a Mac. A Windows or Linux application can run on a Thinvent mini PC.
Thinvent Mini PCs and Industrial PCs
Thinvent builds industrial computers, mini PCs, thin clients and all-in-one PCs for customers worldwide. The range includes Intel Core i5-1240P, Core i3-1215U, Core 5 120U and N100 and N95 processors, and ARM Cortex A53 and A55 processors in thin clients. Models include the Aero Mini PC, Treo Mini PC, Industrial PC IPC1, IPC3 and IPC5, and Micro 5 and Micro 6 Pro. Windows 11 and Linux models are available, and some models include Dual Band WiFi.
