Why the M4 Mac mini’s Upgrade Pricing is a Major Letdown

Apple’s new M4 Mac mini has a lot going for it in terms of raw performance and efficiency, but when it comes to upgrades, things get a bit murky. Let’s break down what’s really going on with this desktop that’s so small yet so powerful—and why its upgrade pricing can make you feel like you’re getting ripped off.

The $600 Base Model: A Solid Deal

If you’ve been eyeing the Mac mini, you might be tempted by its base price of just $599. For that amount, you’re getting an incredibly compact machine with a lot of punch. The M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD are more than enough for basic computing tasks, and the performance in benchmarks rivals many higher-end PCs. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to build a similar system using new PC components for anywhere near the price of the base Mac mini.

Here’s the catch: for a small price bump to $1199, you can double the RAM and storage to 32GB and 512GB, but that’s where things get interesting.

The Bizarre Price for Upgraded Memory and Storage

Here’s where the math doesn’t add up. Upgrading from the base model to 32GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage costs $600 extra—an amount that’s pretty close to the price of the entire Mac mini. But here’s the kicker: for just one dollar less ($1198), you could buy two base-model Mac minis with the same memory and storage. Yes, you read that right. For just one dollar more than the upgrade, you could have two entire Mac minis, each with its own M4 chip, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and cooling system.

So what’s Apple trying to say? According to their pricing, the entire second Mac mini is worth—get this—negative 50 cents. In other words, they’re saying that the additional Mac mini, complete with all the high-tech components, costs less than nothing. It’s a pricing model that’s bound to make your head spin.

Why a DIY PC Build Can’t Compete (At Least Not On Price)

Now, you might think you could beat Apple at its own game by building your own PC. It seems like a fair comparison, right? A DIY PC versus the Mac mini?

So, I spent some time configuring a comparable PC build on PCPartPicker, choosing budget-friendly components to keep the cost low. I went with a Ryzen 7600X processor for $210, which offers solid performance. But even with cost-saving choices like a cheap motherboard, budget RAM, and a basic SSD, the price of the PC started to climb quickly.

When you factor in things like Thunderbolt 4 ports (a key feature of the Mac mini), I quickly realized there was no way to match the Mac mini’s ports without blowing the budget. And to top it off, I had to settle for a garbage GPU—the NVIDIA 3050—since the PC build didn’t leave room for a high-performance graphics card. In the end, my DIY PC was still way over budget and, even worse, lacked the sleek, efficient design that makes the Mac mini so appealing.

Comparing Performance: The Mac Mini vs. DIY PC

When it came to performance benchmarks, the Mac mini didn’t disappoint. In single-core performance, it consistently outperformed the DIY PC by 25-40%. And even though the PC managed to hold its own in some multi-core tests, it was clear the Mac mini had the edge in real-world usage, especially when it came to tasks like AI applications and gaming.

Another key advantage? Power efficiency. While the DIY PC was pulling around 300 watts under full load, the Mac mini only drew about 40 watts. That’s a significant difference in power consumption, and it’s a big reason why the Mac mini stands out for anyone who cares about energy efficiency and cooling.

The Real Letdown: Apple’s Upgrade Prices

As good as the Mac mini is at its base price, the real disappointment comes when you consider Apple’s upgrade pricing. If you’re hoping to bump up the memory or storage, be prepared for a serious sticker shock. Apple charges a whopping $400 to upgrade from 16GB to 32GB of RAM—and that’s the same price they’ve charged for years.

And it’s not just the memory that’s overpriced. The SSD upgrades are just as absurd. For example, going from a 256GB SSD to a 512GB SSD costs an eye-watering $200, despite the fact that these components are relatively inexpensive in the consumer market.

When you compare this to other PC manufacturers, it’s clear that Apple’s upgrade prices are way out of line. Many PC manufacturers offer more competitive pricing for similar upgrades, and you can find better deals for memory and storage without getting stuck in Apple’s walled garden.

Why This is a Problem for Customers

The real issue with Apple’s upgrade pricing isn’t just that it’s expensive—it’s that it doesn’t reflect the true cost of the components. Apple’s components are good, but they’re not magical. The memory in their latest machines is unified, meaning it’s shared across the entire system, but that doesn’t mean it justifies a 400% markup on memory upgrades.

For customers, this is a frustrating experience. You buy a Mac mini thinking you’re getting a good deal, but when you try to upgrade, you’re hit with unreasonable prices. And unlike many PCs, Apple’s storage is soldered directly to the motherboard, meaning once you’re out of space, there’s no easy way to upgrade. You’re stuck with what you bought, and you’ll have to buy a whole new machine when you need more capacity.

Final Thoughts: Apple’s Upgrade Model Needs an Overhaul

As much as we love the M4 Mac mini’s performance and its compact design, Apple’s pricing for upgrades is nothing short of ridiculous. The idea that you could pay $1199 for a machine, only to see its price double for modest upgrades, feels like a bait-and-switch.

If Apple wants to stay competitive, it needs to rethink its upgrade pricing. Offering more reasonable upgrade options—both in terms of cost and flexibility—would make the Mac mini an even more attractive option for customers. But until that happens, the Mac mini will remain a great deal at its base price… as long as you don’t need to upgrade.