Customize your Apple Mac mini with these 4 accessories
Give your silver Apple desktop computer more personality with these low-cost cases and covers.
Apple’s Mac mini M4 is a small, minimalist computer, perfect for sitting on top of a desk without cluttering up your space. It won’t get in your way if you don’t want it to. And yet, it remains ultra-functional with two front USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
But if you’re interested in giving the entry-level computer some personality, there are several products available that can transform the way it looks. Most of these products are $40 and under, making them cheap enough to take a chance on. Of course, if you want a retro-styled multi-port hub, that option is available too.
Spigen C1
If you have fond memories of Apple’s iMac G3 and all the translucent colors that surrounded that era of desktop computers, then the Spigen C1 is a perfect accessory for the Mac mini M4. The C1 comes in either Bondi Blue or Tangerine and retails in both colors for $33.
The C1 cover is mostly for decoration. But its PMMA, acrylic, and PVC materials should offer some protection from blemishes. Spigen also advertises dust protection with a raised stand and intake cover. Ultimately, though, I would buy this for nostalgia’s sake more than anything.
Tiga Aluminum Chassis Stand
If you’ve always wanted a Mac Pro but can’t afford its high price, the Tiga Aluminum Chassis Stand can give your Mac mini M4 that aesthetic. The Chassis Stand is CNC-machined aluminum alloy, complete with top handles.
Even if you’re not after the Mac Pro look exactly, this stand does position the computer vertically, which may be a needed space-saving feature. All of the ports are exposed in the front and back. And because the bottom fan is off the table, it may get better airflow. The stand retails for $40 and, by all accounts, is well-made, worth its price. It even has its own metal button perfectly positioned to reach the computer’s power button.
There doesn’t appear to be any wheels available for this Mac Pro case.
Elago Mac mini M4 Silicone Cover
The Elago Mac mini M4 Silicone Cover harkens back to the classic Macintosh days. The low-cost cover gives the new Mac mini M4 a retro look and some minimal protection if you are putting it in a bag or traveling with it. The top of the cover has the classic Hello cursive greeting along with a faux floppy disk drive. All of the ports remain exposed and available for use, so this can be left on during normal day-to-day use.
Wokyis M5 Retro Dock Station
The Wokyis M5 Retro Dock Station is the most expensive way to modify your Mac mini M4 computer out of the group, but it also does the most stuff. The Retro Dock Station offers extra USB-C ports, USB-A, an 8K DisplayPort, HDMI-in, and SD and microSD card readers. On the back is an M.2 SSD NVMe enclosure with support for 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 drive sizes.
On the front is a 5-inch display that can be used as a secondary display for your computer. It has ~290 pixels per inch with a resolution of 1,280 by 720. The screen can be used for video, display widgets, or photos, among other things. And, although it’s designed to sit on top of a Mac mini and connect seamlessly, it is a generic hub and monitor that can be hooked up to other computers in the future. The plastic cut-out for the ports can be put on or taken off.