Mac Mini M4: Apple hides the Start button.

Apple announced its Mac Mini M4 with a new design, inspired by Mac Studio, the manufacturer’s workstation. Conclusion: The Mac Mini M4 is really small, with a volume of 0.8 liters and a footprint half the size of its predecessor.

A magic mouse effect

Mac Mini users remember the positioning of the power button, which is perfectly integrated into the rear right corner of the case. The surface of this button perfectly matches the radius of curvature of the case for the most precise integration.

Personally, I always wondered why Apple took such care to integrate the button, taking the exact angle of the aluminum chassis. Why not just place it on a flat surface?

A start button on the bottom of the case

Finally, Apple moved the Mac Mini M4’s power button to the bottom of the case. So you have to pick up the Mac Mini every time you want to start it, as shown in the brand’s promotional video at 28 seconds into the tweet below.

Very little interior space

We can legitimately wonder how the brand could have reached such a decision. Apple is known for improving the user experience, putting thought into every interaction. The only plausible explanation probably comes from the extremely reduced space inside the chassis, which, remember, went from 1.36 liters to 0.8 liters, a reduction of about 41 percent.

Users now have to reflexively press down on the bottom left corner of their Mac Mini to turn it on. A good way to avoid inappropriate collaborations, say brand defenders.