At first glance, the new M4-powered Mac Mini is an enticing little powerhouse. That is until you realize that the US$599 model comes with a pitiful 256 GB SSD. Creative machine? Sure, but creative types don’t do measly. Even the US$799 option with 512 GB storage feels like Apple whispering, “Wanna upgrade?” And if you do? Brace yourself for an extra US$200-US$600 investment, depending on how fancy you want to get.
Enter the Orico MiniMate 40 Gbps External SSD, here to save you from the storage blues. Much like the Satechi Type-C aluminum stand and hub for the older Mac Minis, this nifty device is designed to stack seamlessly with the M4 Mac Mini. Only this time, instead of sitting below, it plops right on top. Which begs the question: is it a good idea? I don’t know. It kind of feels like it isn’t. I could be wrong, though.
The Orico MiniMate is a neat little package at 127 x 127 mm with a slim 25 mm profile. It’s dressed in the same silver suit as the Mac Mini, promising transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps—or at least that was what it promised to deliver. But let’s be real here: while it looks seamless from the front, a USB-C cable still snakes its way out the back, shattering the illusion just a tad. Not that you’d notice—how often are you peeking back there, anyway? But it will help if you find yourself a super short USB C cable.
No Mac Mini? No problem. This overachieving storage solution supports Windows, Linux, HarmonyOS, Android, iOS, and macOS alike. It also boasts MCU and PRTL flash technology along with a five-layer cooling system for keeping things chill. You can snag it in sizes ranging from 512 GB to a gargantuan 8 TB, with prices spanning from US$139.99 to US$999.99. Just don’t get too excited about the extremes—last check, the 512 GB and 8 TB options were sold out. Because, apparently, when storage is this extra, everyone wants a piece.
Images: Orico.
