Apple M4 Mac mini and Windows mini PCs on sale

A raft of discounts on compact desktop computers has put several mini PCs and Apple’s redesigned 2024 Mac mini within reach of budget-conscious buyers, with multiple models on sale on Amazon and other retailers as of mid-September. The offers span Apple’s M4 Mac mini and a number of Windows-based mini PCs powered by Intel and AMD chips, giving consumers more low-footprint options for home offices, media rigs and small labs.

Amazon listings show the entry-level 2024 Mac mini with Apple’s M4 chip, 16 gigabytes of unified memory and a 256 gigabyte SSD priced at about $499, down from $599, reflecting a $100 or roughly 17 percent discount. Apple’s overhaul reduced the Mac mini’s footprint to roughly five by five inches and introduced front-facing ports, including USB-C connectors and a headphone jack, while the M4 chip is designed to accelerate Apple Intelligence features in macOS, the company says.

On the Windows side, several manufacturers are offering aggressive cuts. A GMKtec M3 Ultra mini PC equipped with an Intel Core i7-12700H, 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD is being promoted with a $200 coupon, and the model supports upgrades to as much as 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage. It...