Multiple teardown investigations have revealed that in the new Mac mini M4 released by Apple, storage has evolved into a modular design, expanding the possibilities for user repairs and upgrades. The SSD, which had previously been soldered directly to the motherboard, is now implemented as a removable module, following Mac Studio and Mac Pro in improving repairability even in this more affordable product line.
Benefits Brought by the Evolved Storage Design
Notable improvements can be seen in the storage configuration of the base model of the new M4 Mac mini. The new Mac mini adopts a design featuring two 128GB NAND chips in the 256GB model. This represents an effort to resolve the performance degradation caused by a single chip, which was an issue with the previous-generation M2 model. Thanks to this design change, even the base model now achieves read/write speeds comparable to the higher-tier models.
Even more noteworthy is the implementation method of the storage module. The new design adopts a proprietary PCB module resembling the M.2 standard, enabling a structure that allows physical replacement. Verification by a Chinese repair shop reported that replacing the NAND chip on this module with a 2TB-capacity one dramatically improved read speeds from 2000MB/s to 3300MB/s. However, the NAND controller remains integrated into the SoC, leaving certain constraints on achieving fully unrestricted upgrades.
Repair shops in China can provide SSD upgrade on Day 0‼️ LOL. This dude upgraded a base 256GB SSD M4 Mac mini to 2TB. What he figured: original 256GB SSD speed, R 2000MB/s W 2900MB/s. Upgraded 2TB speed, R 3300 MB/s W 2900MB/s. Unlike in the past, little comprise in the base. pic.twitter.com/8T5SZDczWs
— (@ohgkg) November 8, 2024
Groundbreaking Fusion of WiFi Module Design and Cooling System
In addition to the evolution of storage, the new Mac mini employs an innovative design that integrates the cooling system with the WiFi module. The WiFi module, positioned at the bottom, plays an important role not only in communication functions but also in the product's thermal design. This module incorporates the CPU fan's air intake, and also features a mesh structure for exhausting heat.
The high-performance antenna system supporting WiFi 6E adopts a design combining either a 3×3 or 2×2 configuration with a Bluetooth antenna. Such a meticulously engineered WiFi solution is considered extremely unusual for a small-form-factor computer.
Source