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Mini PCs · Head to head

GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) vs Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official GMKtec and Apple sites.
2026 verdict
Drive capacity is why the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) leads this mini PC pair on storage.
GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
Winner
GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
$649.99
Buy on Amazon USA
It is the more affordable machine, with a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, a second bay, 16 GB of DDR4 upgradeable to 64 GB and 2.5G Ethernet, running Windows 11 Pro. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) is the better reviewed, with macOS, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5X, a 512 GB SSD, speakers and an internal power supply. The Mac cannot add memory or storage later, and its 16 GB of memory is fixed. The GMKtec has no Thunderbolt and no USB4.
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FeatureGMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)Winner
Price$649.99$799.97GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
Rating4.44.7Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)
Memory TypeDDR4LPDDR5XApple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)
Storage Capacity1 TB512 GBGMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
CPU ModelIntel Core i7-1185G7M4Different strengths
Memory ConfigurationDual-channelUnified MemoryDifferent strengths
GPU ModelIntel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96 EUs, 1.35 GHz)10-core GPUDifferent strengths
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Memory Capacity16 GB16 GBTie

What the differences mean

Storage you can add

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) ships 1 TB on a PCIe 4.0 SSD and leaves an M.2 2242 SATA bay free, and its DDR4 can go from 16 GB to 64 GB. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) ships 512 GB and 16 GB of LPDDR5X, both soldered, so memory stays at 16 GB. The Mac is the one owners add an external drive to. The GMKtec is the one you open.

Operating system and Thunderbolt

The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) runs macOS and has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, two front USB-C ports and one HDMI output, plus a 16-core Neural Engine. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) runs Windows 11 Pro, has no USB4 and no Thunderbolt, and its USB-C port is 5Gbps. A Thunderbolt dock or a Mac-only app settles this in one direction. A Windows disk settles it in the other.

Ethernet and power

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) has 2.5G Ethernet and an external 100 W adapter. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) has gigabit Ethernet and an internal power supply, so no brick. Wi-Fi is 6 on the GMKtec and 6E on the Mac. Bluetooth is 5.2 against 5.3. The Mac also has speakers. The GMKtec does not. Neither has an SD reader.

Size and warranty

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) weighs 361 g and includes a VESA mount and an HDMI cable, with a one-year warranty. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) weighs 670 g in an aluminium body, includes neither a VESA mount nor an HDMI cable, and is also covered for one year. The Mac's power button sits underneath. Both are small. Only the GMKtec is meant to hang on a monitor out of the box.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) describe a machine that feels fast for what they paid, whisper quiet under load, and smaller than the box suggested, with several retiring a 27-inch iMac or a failing Windows tower. Setup is called easy even by people new to macOS, and the aluminium body gets consistent praise. The complaints are decisions they cannot undo. Unified memory and the SSD are soldered, memory can only be specified at purchase, and multiple owners bought an external drive or wished they had ordered more memory. Ports push the same group toward a dock: two USB-C ports on the front, three Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI port on the back. The power button under the chassis is the specific annoyance, and the box does not include a display, keyboard or mouse.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)
  • Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) or Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)?

The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB), because it is the more affordable mini PC and it has the larger SSD, 1 TB against 512 GB, with RAM you can upgrade. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) is the better reviewed machine if you want macOS, Thunderbolt 4 and soldered LPDDR5X.

What is the biggest difference between the M2 Pro S and the Mac Mini M4?

Windows with upgradeable parts, against macOS with soldered parts. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) has a 1 TB SSD, DDR4 up to 64 GB and 2.5G Ethernet. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5X, and no way to add storage inside.

Can you upgrade the Mac Mini M4 the way you can upgrade the M2 Pro S?

No. Memory and storage in the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) are soldered, so the 16 GB of memory cannot be upgraded later. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) has two SODIMM slots up to 64 GB and a second M.2 bay.

Does the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S have Thunderbolt like the Mac Mini?

No. The GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB) has no USB4 and no Thunderbolt. Its USB-C port is 5Gbps. The Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB) has three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI.

Who should buy the GMKtec NucBox M2 Pro S (16GB + 1TB)?

Someone who wants Windows 11 Pro, a 1 TB SSD, 2.5G Ethernet and memory they can raise to 64 GB, at the lower price, and who does not need macOS or Thunderbolt.

Who should buy the Apple Mac Mini (M4 16GB + 512GB)?

Someone who wants macOS, Thunderbolt 4, built-in speakers and an internal power supply, and who accepts a soldered 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of LPDDR5X that cannot be expanded after purchase.

Full comparison table

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