Photo: Andreas aka Y2kbug / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
Mac mini (G4)
The cheapest Mac ever: bring your own keyboard, mouse and display.
Overview
The Mac mini was a new idea: a Mac that left out the display, keyboard and mouse so that anyone with a PC could simply plug in their own. The compact case, about 6.5 inches square and two inches tall, held a 1.25 or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB of memory and a 40 or 80 GB laptop-style drive.
The optical drive was a slot-loading unit, and the ports on the back included two USB 2.0, FireWire 400, DVI, Ethernet, modem and audio out. AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth were optional extras. Graphics came from an ATI Radeon 9200.
The tiny unit had no visible screws and was famously difficult to open. At launch Steve Jobs called it the cheapest and most affordable Mac ever.
Why it mattered
It opened a new low-price entry point for Windows switchers and began a product line that continues today.
At a glance
- Announced
- January 11, 2005
- Released
- January 22, 2005
- Discontinued
- February 28, 2006
- Launch price
- $499
- Chip / processor
- PowerPC G4, 1.25 GHz
- Storage
- 40 or 80 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Launched at $499 without a display or keyboard
- PowerPC G4 at 1.25 or 1.42 GHz
- DVI output and slot-loading optical drive
- Only 2 inches tall
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- PowerPC G4, 1.25 or 1.42 GHz
Memory
- RAM
- 256 MB (512 MB from mid-2005), expandable to 1 GB
- Storage options
- 40 or 80 GB 2.5-inch PATA hard disk
Graphics
- GPU
- ATI Radeon 9200, 32 MB
Ports
- Ports
- 2 USB 2.0, FireWire 400, DVI, 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, audio out
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
Design
- Dimensions
- 5.1 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm (2 x 6.5 x 6.5 in)
- Weight
- 1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
Availability
- Announced
- January 11, 2005
- Released
- January 22, 2005
- Discontinued
- February 28, 2006
- Launch price
- $499
Colors
- Finishes
- Aluminum and White
How it compares
More in the Mac mini family
Mac mini (Early 2006)
The first Intel Mac mini, with a Core Solo or Core Duo inside.
Mac mini (Mid 2007)
Core 2 Duo power in the same small white box.
Mac mini (Early 2009)
Nvidia graphics, FireWire 800 and five USB ports.
Mac mini (Mid 2010)
A unibody aluminum redesign with HDMI and a built-in power supply.
Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Thunderbolt and Core i5 come to the Mac mini.
Mac mini (Late 2012)
USB 3.0 and Ivy Bridge arrive in the small aluminum box.
Mac mini (Late 2014)
Cheaper but with soldered memory and no quad-core option.
Mac mini (2018)
Space Gray, six cores and four Thunderbolt 3 ports for pros.
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
The first Apple silicon desktop, at $699.
Mac mini (M2, 2023)
M2 for $599, or M2 Pro for serious work.
Mac mini (M4, 2024)
Half the footprint: a 5-inch aluminum cube with M4 and M4 Pro.
Mac mini (M6, 2026)
M6 and M5 Pro, Wi-Fi 7 and faster storage in the 5-inch cube.