r/macmini

bit of an odd config with 512gb, but 6 were available when I bought one.

Getting my new Macmini today. I'm hoping the default O/S is Sequoia. If so how do I prevent it from updating to Tahoe during setup? If it's loaded with Tahoe, how do I get it back to Sequoia?

My Mac mini connects to my monitor but then over time (30 min-1hr later) it’ll glitch then the display will go dark but the Mac mini is still connected bc the keyboard will make noise.

I use the Apple DVI to ADC adapter and I use a mini display port to USBC adapter to go into the Mac Mini

Any idea on how to fix this?

The only problem is it says 12-16 weeks delivery time. Can I be sure that they will deliver? Will the world change before that?

I am experiencing repeated crashes and abrupt restarts on my Mac after updating to macOS 26.5 build 25F71.

The system was working normally before the macOS 26.5 update. Since the update, I have had multiple failures. Two crashes on May 21, 2026 produced full panic reports that appear to point to the internal storage path.

The panic reports include these messages:

  ANS2 Recoverable Panic
  AppleStorageFirmware
  apcie0[0]: Unexpected link down

The SSD currently installed is reported by macOS as:

  - Model: APPLE SSD AP2048Z
  - Capacity: 2 TB
  - Firmware revision: 2,973.120
  - SMART status: Verified

I also had another crash/unclean shutdown on May 22, 2026. macOS detected the unclean shutdown after reboot, but no paniclog was saved for that event.

I ran non-destructive disk checks:

  - diskutil verifyDisk disk0: partition map appears OK.
  - diskutil verifyVolume /: system volume appears OK.
  - diskutil verifyVolume /System/Volumes/Data: the Data volume was initially reported as corrupt and macOS performed deferred repairs; the check then completed successfully.

Anyone else having similar issues??

Looking into purchasing a Mac mini m2 for about $350 and would like to know if that itself is worth it or not?
Is there anything better at that price point? (Strict budget)
Also can I use virtually “any” compatible monitor with it example ONN 22” monitor 60hz. Looking for my absolute cheapest options atm. Will look into upgrading in the future but for now I need something asap and on a tight budget. TIA

Hi, sorry if this is a silly question. But I read somewhere that educational products sold at a discount don’t usually come from the standard production line, where they’re brand new; instead, they’re made from recycled parts from other returned products—for example, a Mac that was returned because it had a defective trackpad. Apple removes the defective part and sends the product to the education channel, and Apple maintains the warranty. Is this true, or did that person perhaps confuse them with refurbished products? In any case, I ordered my Mac mini with the student discount. Is there any difference, besides the price, when ordering it from the Apple Store for non-students?

Go get em!

I've been a PC gamer for decades, but now that I'm retired I'm thinking of making my crazy powerful desktop PC a games only machine with Bazzite, and getting a Mac for my spouse and me. At a quick glance, just about every app I use is optimized for MacOS.

I think the Mac Mini is the way to go, although as a longtime PC builder I find it odd that you can't actually add more RAM or drives. Looking at the ordering site, the basic unit has 16GB RAM. Knowing full well that I don't know how MacOS handles memory, that seems like a very small amount. If I'm running Fusion 360, Inkscape, GiMP, a ton of browser tabs, and sharing the machine with another user who's mostly just using it to browse the web, is 16 really enough?

I'm also a bit flummoxed that there's a 3 month wait for a computer that was launched in 2024.

Any gotchas, hints, or tips for someone who's used PC's since DOS 3.3 coming to the light side? :)

Hey everyone,

My M4 Mac Mini worked perfectly fine yesterday. I put it to sleep last night, and this morning it won't boot up.

Symptoms:

• The status LED lights up solid white.
• There is no startup chime and absolutely no display output.
• The internal fan immediately ramps up to maximum speed (sounds like a jet engine) and stays there.

What I've tried so far:

• Unplugged everything (including the monitor) and did a full power cycle / power reset.
• Tried holding down the power button to force recovery mode, but it does the exact same thing.
• Swapped HDMI/USB-C cables.

Even with absolutely nothing connected except the power cable, the fan just instantly goes to 100%. Has anyone else experienced this with the M4 yet? Is it a dead logic board? (Still under warranty, guess I'll have to visit the Apple Store).

Okay so I did the thing where I spent three weeks researching the Mac mini M4, agonized over RAM configurations, watched every YouTube comparison video twice and then the box arrived and I just stared at my desk and went "oh no."

I have no display. I own a Mac with nowhere to put my face.

Somehow in all that research I completely glossed over the fact that unlike a MacBook, this thing just sits there silently judging me until I find a screen for it. No built-in display to "figure it out later" on. It's display or nothing.

So now I'm in the rabbit hole and honestly it's worse than the Mac mini research. At least with the Mac mini there were like four configurations. With monitors there are thousands of options and everyone online has a violently strong opinion that directly contradicts the person above them.

Apple Studio Display stunning but the price makes me want to lie down. LG UltraFine people seem to love it until they hate it. Dell UltraSharp safe but am I leaving quality on the table? Every other brand "hidden gem" according to one person and "don't touch it" according to the next.

I do a mix of photo editing, everyday work and some light video stuff. Color accuracy matters to me but I'm not a full-time professional so I genuinely don't know where on the spectrum my needs fall.

For Mac mini owners who've been through this:

• What display are you running and what did you pay?
• Was it the right call or would you do it differently?
• Did you go Apple or third-party and if third-party, does it actually behave well with macOS or is there constant fiddling?
• And the big one is there anything that only became obvious after you'd been using it for a few months that no review told you?

Any actual experience beats another spec sheet right now. Feeling very lost lol 🙏