When it was introduced during the white plastic heyday of peak iPod-era Apple, the Mac mini was pitched as the cheapest way to buy into the Mac ecosystem. It was $499. And despite some fluctuation (as high as $799 for the entry-level 2018 mini, $599 for this year's refresh), the Mac mini has stayed the cheapest entry-level Mac ever since.

Apple has updated its Mac mini once again, bumping the compact Mac up to M4 Apple Silicon as part of a total redesign. Here's what's changed since the last update, the M2 Mac mini.