Apple Stands By M4 Mac Mini Power Button

Recently, Apple unveiled a fresh lineup of product updates. Notably, the power button for the M4 Mac mini has been relocated to the underside of the device, just like the charging port for the Magic Mouse. This choice has sparked considerable discussion among users, yet Apple remains firm in its decision regarding the new button location.

In a discussion featured on the Chinese social media site Bilibili, Apple’s Greg Joswiak not only justifies this design choice but also expresses his admiration for it. He describes the new power button placement as an “optimal spot,” suggesting that accessing it simply requires tucking your finger underneath and pressing it.

However, reviews of the M4 Mac mini, including our own, indicate that accessing the button might be challenging. Users may find themselves having to lift the entire device to locate it, and the button’s placement can be confusing since it’s not apparent which side it’s on.

Joswiak additionally remarks that “you essentially never need to use the power button on your Mac,” implying that the accessibility issue may not be of great concern to Apple. The frequency with which users should turn their computers off is a widely debated topic. Nevertheless, this stance raises questions about practicality versus design aesthetics. It’s likely that someone will conduct an experiment to see the effects of shutting down the Mac mini nightly versus leaving it powered on continuously.

Joswiak suggests that the choice of power button placement may stem from the size reductions made in the M4 Mac mini. If that’s the case, it could be seen as a reasonable compromise. Nonetheless, some believe that Apple prioritizes a minimalistic design at the cost of practicality.

For users who can overlook the inconvenient placement of the power button, it’s worth mentioning that the M4 Mac mini delivers impressive performance considering its price.