Apple has finally addressed one of the most pressing issues with its Mac lineup: base storage and RAM. The new M4 Mac Mini comes with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage, a welcome change from the 8GB of base RAM on previous models. However, this upgrade only addresses symptoms, not the root problem.
The real issue is that individual memory and storage upgrades are prohibitively expensive, making it difficult for users to future-proof their devices. The cost of upgrading the Mac Mini’s RAM, which increases by $200 from 16GB to 24GB, is staggering compared to PC offerings.
At $600, the base-model M4 Mac Mini is a killer value, but upgrade options quickly become expensive and less appealing. If you can get by with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage, the Mac Mini is a great choice. However, for those who need more memory or storage, the Apple “tax” on upgrades becomes a significant drawback.
In this review, we put the M4 Mac Mini to the test, and while it delivers fast performance in a tiny form factor, its upgrade limitations make it a tougher sell.
Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/i-cant-buy-m4-mac-mini-why