Such is the classic simplicity of Apple design, if you’d been abducted by aliens two decades ago and taken to the peaceful planet Zog to hang out with and learn from an enlightened species, you’d still recognize this as a Mac mini when you returned. (Though you’d probably be disappointed at the state of enlightenment here on Terra Ferma.)

The M4 Pro Mac Mini and the M4 Pro MacBook Pro—can be a daunting task. Both are powered by the innovative M4 Pro chip, delivering exceptional performance

As of Nov. 20, you can get the Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $499.99 at Costco. That's $80 off its normal price of $579.99, and the lowest price we've seen for this configuration yet.

If you’re looking to pair your Mac mini with an ultrawide display, the Dell U4025QW is one of the best options on the market. It features a 5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate packed into a 40-inch display. There’s also a vast array of ports, a matte screen finish, and more.

Dell's XPS 8960 surpasses the Mac Mini at being one of the best desktops for content creation and gaming. Plus, it's recently been discounted.

This window is beneficial during the holiday season and allows you to consider the Mac Mini as a potential Christmas gift without the pressure of immediate decision-making. In the Mac Mini, there is Apple’s powerful and newest M4 chip which includes a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.