Apple has introduced a new Mac Mini for 2024, which offers a more repairable design with removable storage. The iFixit team recently tore down the device to reveal that it features replaceable SSDs and a slightly more modular design.
The latest Mac Mini model is smaller than its predecessors and comes equipped with M4 or M4 Pro chips, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet ports on the back, and USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the front. The device’s inner components can be accessed relatively easily, making it easier to replace parts such as the lithium battery.
A key feature of the new Mac Mini is its removable SSD, which requires only one screw to be undone to access. Higher-capacity SSDs can be fitted and set up using Apple Configurator or by replacing the existing storage with a new one, while also allowing for secure destruction of the old drive without having to replace the entire system.
However, there is a catch: the SSD card is currently in a proprietary Apple format, which may make aftermarket upgrades more complicated. Despite this, iFixit praises the move as a step in the right direction towards making computers more repairable and user-friendly.
The iFixit team has given Apple’s new Mac Mini a provisional repairability score of 7 out of 10, citing design improvements and expected follow-through with parts and documentation. The organization is cautiously optimistic about future developments, but also acknowledges that there may be some challenges ahead.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/13/ifixit_mac_mini_teardown