The new lowest price on the M4 Mac Mini isn't at Amazon's early Spring Sale - here's where to buy instead

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

Apple's M4 Mac Mini has seen several discounts across a few retailers, including at Amazon, ahead of the retailer's Big Spring Sale. But that's not where you can find the best deal. Right now, the most significant price drop can be found at B&H Photo Video, where the base model is going for $699, the lowest it has been since its launch. You have the option to lower its price further to $499 by selecting the 256GB SSD model. If you want better hardware, the M4 Pro Mac Mini is also on sale for $1,299.

Also: The best early Amazon Spring Sale deals live now

Amazon also has the compact desktop discounted early before the Spring Sale starts next week, although the amounts aren't as steep. The M4 Mac Mini can be purchased on the platform for $529.

Also: I switched to Mac Studio M4 for two weeks - a Windows PC user's buying advice

If you want more storage space, the Mac Mini M4 with the 512GB SSD is available for $699. Be aware that these prices do not include AppleCare+. Opting for the three-year warranty plan adds an extra $100.

It is surprising to see the Mac Mini M4 on sale across multiple platforms outside a significant holiday or sales event. The current desktop system has only been around since November 2024. These are the prices you might see during a substantial event like Amazon Prime Day. Regardless, I'm happy to see the discounts because the Mac Mini M4 is a solid computer.

According to ZDNET editor Jason Hiner, the Mac Mini M4 introduced a "long-awaited redesign [to] one of Apple's quirkiest and most utilitarian products. " It's more compact than the previous generation, weighing 1.5 pounds and measuring 5 by 5 inches.

Hiner describes Apple's M4 chipset as providing "next-level performance," enabling the computer to tackle challenging workflows like music production, video editing, and other forms of content creation. These applications are boosted by the fact that the base M4 Mac Mini comes with 16GB of RAM, compared to older Mac Minis, which sported 8GB of memory. That's fine for casual usage but buckles under demanding tasks. And with the introduction of Apple Intelligence into the mix, Apple had to give its hardware a much-needed upgrade.

Also: I'd recommend the M3 MacBook Air at full price, but this $300 discount makes it a no-brainer

I recommend the Mac Mini M4 to people who want the latest Apple tech without the high cost. The M4 iMac and MacBook Pro deliver a similar experience, but prices for those devices start at over $1,000.

Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

How I rated this deal

The M4 Mac Mini is highly recommended to people and creative professionals who want some of the best hardware Apple offers but don't have a lot of desk space or the cash necessary to buy an expensive model. This compact desktop performs well thanks to its design. Plus, it delivers the next generation of Apple's AI tech.

Because of the considerable price drop, ZDNET's rating system grants this promotion a 2/5 Editor's deal rating. It's a good deal at the moment, and $30 less than what it was selling for just a few days ago, but I hope to see steeper discounts shortly.