The 2024 Mac Mini is Apple’s latest attempt at packing powerful computing into a sleek, space-saving form factor.
Alongside an upgrade to the new M4 Pro processor, the Mac Mini has physically shrunk in size, now taking up less than half the space of its predecessor.
But with this change, Apple has made a surprising design choice: the power button is now located on the bottom of the device.
Many users have questioned why Apple would place a primary button in such an unconventional spot, raising concerns about ease of access.
In an interview, Apple’s senior vice presidents, Greg Joswiak and John Ternus, shared insights into this design decision.
As it turns out, the smaller size of the 2024 Mac Mini left limited room for conventional button placement, and according to Apple, the bottom turned out to be the best option.
A Compact Design Brings New Challenges
With each Mac Mini generation, Apple has aimed for a compact, minimalist look. The 2024 Mac Mini’s smaller footprint, a considerable reduction from its previous size, reflects that approach.
However, shrinking the device to this extent required design adjustments that affected the button layout.
According to Joswiak and Ternus, the new compact design demanded that each component be positioned with extreme care, and the power button “had to be placed where it would fit best.”
The bottom of the device became the most viable location due to this constraint.
Apple’s team argues that, for most users, the new button placement shouldn’t cause a major inconvenience. Generally, Mac Mini users keep their device on, switching it to sleep mode when not in use, which means the power button doesn’t see frequent use.
Also Read: First-ever for Apple: iPhones dominate top spots in 2023 best-selling Smartphones
Joswiak and Ternus pointed out that the button is primarily needed for occasional functions like a forced restart or shutdown, which are rare for most people.
They described accessing the button as simply needing to “tuck your finger in there,” suggesting that this slight inconvenience is a fair trade-off for a smaller device.
Accessibility Concerns for Mounted Setups
One possible downside to the new design is for users who mount the 2024 Mac Mini behind a monitor or TV. The bottom power button could make it tricky to reach in these setups.
Apple hasn’t directly addressed how the new placement might affect those who use mounting solutions. The question remains whether this scenario was fully considered in the design process, but for users who rely on mounting, this could be a limitation worth noting.
Summary of Apple’s Power Button Rationale
Apple’s decision to move the power button to the bottom of the 2024 Mac Mini aligns with its goal of minimizing the device’s size while maintaining high performance.
Though unconventional, Apple believes this new position is a logical trade-off given the reduced need for regular button use. However, if you’re mounting your Mac Mini or prefer more accessible button placement, this design could be a factor to consider.
I knew they would give a bs reason like this.
😂😂, typical Apple behavior