Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
It’s been a full year since the M4 Mac Mini was released — and somehow, this little desktop has become even better with time.
When it launched, I called it the best value Mac Apple had ever made. Twelve months later, with real-world use, upgrades, and price drops, I can confidently say… it’s still the best deal in Apple’s lineup.
In this video, I break down how the M4 Mac Mini holds up after a year of daily use as a creator — from video editing performance, multitasking, and external SSD workflows, to how it compares to the new M5 MacBook Pro.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, editor, or just someone looking for a reliable desktop that won’t break the bank, this might be the only Mac you really need in 2025.
Chapters
0:00 Intro – The $450 Powerhouse
0:45 Why It’s Still the Best Value Mac
2:20 Real-World Creator Workflow
4:10 Editing 4K & 6K Footage
6:05 M4 vs M5 Performance
8:00 External SSD & Storage Setup
9:45 Gaming Reality Check
11:30 One Year Later – Final Verdict
How to UPGRADE the M4 Mac mini SSD and save hundreds! (Step-by-Step Guide!):
youtube.com/watch?v=CR9UHe2VG6w
M4 Mac mini:
amzn.to/3NYBcqq
Tech discussed in todays video:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of the product links in this video/description and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me continue creating content like this. Thank you!
🛒 M4 Mac mini 2Tb Internal SSD:
amzn.to/4nCp2Tw
NEW!! OWC Express 1M2 80Gb/s Portable NVMe SSD USB4:
amzn.to/3JRIJsA
M4 MacBook Air $799:
amzn.to/3Jcd2JX
ORICO MiniMate 2TB External SSD:
amzn.to/40SL4ta
OWC 5 Port Thunderbolt Hub:
amzn.to/49Ca8cH
OWC Express 1M2 Portable NVMe Thunderbolt (USB-C) SSD USB4 Ultra Fast External SSD Drive with Aluminum Heat Sink Enclosure (Enclosure Only):
amzn.to/3CpAekA
The NVME SSD I use: Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD:
amzn.to/40VPlMK
Xbox Ally:
amzn.to/47mXQDA
Bluesound speaker:
amzn.to/3EE9i24
The Camera I use:
bhpho.to/3V77ELO
amzn.to/4bLIecg
The ND Filter I use:
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The Key Light I Use:
amzn.to/3WRZl7j
The Softbox I use:
amzn.to/3T1BVuf
#MacMini #SSDUpgrade #M4MacMini #TechTips #ContentCreation #AppleUpgrade #macOS #FilmmakerGear #DeskSetup #3rdPartySSD
It’s been a full year since the M4 Mac Mini was released — and somehow, this little desktop has become even better with time.
When it launched, I called it the best value Mac Apple had ever made. Twelve months later, with real-world use, upgrades, and price drops, I can confidently say… it’s still the best deal in Apple’s lineup.
In this video, I break down how the M4 Mac Mini holds up after a year of daily use as a creator — from video editing performance, multitasking, and external SSD workflows, to how it compares to the new M5 MacBook Pro.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, editor, or just someone looking for a reliable desktop that won’t break the bank, this might be the only Mac you really need in 2025.
Chapters
0:00 Intro – The $450 Powerhouse
0:45 Why It’s Still the Best Value Mac
2:20 Real-World Creator Workflow
4:10 Editing 4K & 6K Footage
6:05 M4 vs M5 Performance
8:00 External SSD & Storage Setup
9:45 Gaming Reality Check
11:30 One Year Later – Final Verdict
How to UPGRADE the M4 Mac mini SSD and save hundreds! (Step-by-Step Guide!):
youtube.com/watch?v=CR9UHe2VG6w
M4 Mac mini:
amzn.to/3NYBcqq
Tech discussed in todays video:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of the product links in this video/description and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me continue creating content like this. Thank you!
🛒 M4 Mac mini 2Tb Internal SSD:
amzn.to/4nCp2Tw
NEW!! OWC Express 1M2 80Gb/s Portable NVMe SSD USB4:
amzn.to/3JRIJsA
M4 MacBook Air $799:
amzn.to/3Jcd2JX
ORICO MiniMate 2TB External SSD:
amzn.to/40SL4ta
OWC 5 Port Thunderbolt Hub:
amzn.to/49Ca8cH
OWC Express 1M2 Portable NVMe Thunderbolt (USB-C) SSD USB4 Ultra Fast External SSD Drive with Aluminum Heat Sink Enclosure (Enclosure Only):
amzn.to/3CpAekA
The NVME SSD I use: Crucial T500 2TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD:
amzn.to/40VPlMK
Xbox Ally:
amzn.to/47mXQDA
Bluesound speaker:
amzn.to/3EE9i24
The Camera I use:
bhpho.to/3V77ELO
amzn.to/4bLIecg
The ND Filter I use:
amzn.to/3LokyiN
The Key Light I Use:
amzn.to/3WRZl7j
The Softbox I use:
amzn.to/3T1BVuf
#MacMini #SSDUpgrade #M4MacMini #TechTips #ContentCreation #AppleUpgrade #macOS #FilmmakerGear #DeskSetup #3rdPartySSD
