Deal alert: The new year is here, and you might be planning to buy a new computer to help you reach all of your work and lifestyle goals. If you're considering a desktop machine, the M4 Mac Mini is a great choice. Apple's Mac Mini is a powerful (and portable) desktop model built for a variety of tasks, and you can pick one up for an absolute bargain. Right now, this little computer is available for just $500 at Amazon. That's $99 in savings (or 17%) off the normal $599 price tag.
CNET's key takeaways
The M4 Mac Mini is currently $500
It offers powerful computing in a compact package.
I bought the M4 Mac Mini after reading CNET laptop expert Joshua Goldman's review of the tiny machine. I was looking for a computer that would increase my productivity and better organize my workflow. Since then, I've found it to be the best value for the money among Apple's lineup. I would even argue that this is a more powerful computer than the MacBook Air.
The M4 Mac Mini, Apple's smallest computer, is an easy recommendation from me, as it's one of CNET's top picks for the best desktop computers of 2026. It's also our go-to for the best cheap desktop alternative to a MacBook or iMac.
The M4 Mac Mini has been my best tech investment this year
Prakhar Khanna/CNET
I've been pleasantly surprised by the value of the M4 Mac Mini and how wonderful it's been for me to work from a desk. As a freelance remote worker, I travel at least 10 days every month, so I need a portable computer. Based on my lifestyle, I should be recommending the M4 MacBook Air. However, it's the remaining 20 days of the month that I need to work harder than usual to put together new pitches, deliver approved stories, sort administrative tasks, conduct research and more. All this requires immense organization and productivity, and the M4 Mac Mini has helped make my life easier.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
... continue reading