2024 Mac mini Teardown Reveals No User-Upgradeable Parts

Apple’s has just launched and, in true tech tradition, has been taken apart to reveal its inner workings. YouTube creator Brandon Geekabit delved into the base 16/256GB M4 model, unveiling a meticulously engineered but tightly integrated system that leaves no room for user upgrades.

The teardown starts with prying open the bottom panel—Apple keeps things sleek, with no visible screws, meaning a spudger tool is essential. This plastic base opens up to reveal a well-organized interior, showcasing the craftsmanship Apple is known for. Right at the center is a small button cell battery, crucial for keeping the system clock running even when unplugged—a rare accessible component, requiring minimal effort if it ever needs replacement.

Upon removing the fancy metal grate, it’s clear it serves double-duty: not just as a cooling vent but also as a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna. Underneath, the cooling setup is exposed—a centrifugal fan and an arced heatsink with a single heat pipe, accompanied by the Mac mini’s modest speaker.

Digging deeper, the teardown reveals an M.2 2230 SSD, though this is no ordinary SSD. Apple’s storage solution uses a unique pin layout and proprietary SSD controller, meaning standard replacement drives won’t work here. Despite being M.2-like, this custom configuration keeps users from a simple upgrade path. Some enthusiasts have even managed to solder in higher-capacity chips on Apple’s SSD boards, though an external SSD remains the most feasible solution for extra storage.

The teardown then reveals the internal power supply, located at the “top” of the machine when upright, which likely aids heat dissipation through the aluminum casing. Apple has managed to integrate this power supply with exceptional visual refinement, setting it apart from the typical cluttered appearance of most PC components—remarkable considering this part was never meant to be seen.

Finally, the teardown reaches the heatsink for the M4 chip. It’s relatively compact and likely doesn’t even need to be as robust as it is. However, Apple’s design allows the chip to sustain higher clock speeds more efficiently, distinguishing it from the fanless MacBook Air models that struggle to maintain peak speeds over extended periods.

And that’s the full picture. The 2024 Mac mini’s slick internals reveal a commitment to aesthetics and functionality but ultimately deliver a disappointing message for DIY enthusiasts—there’s simply nothing user-upgradable here. Unlike older models, which at least allowed for memory and SSD swaps, the latest Mac mini necessitates buying exactly what you need from the outset.