Apple explained why it moved the power button in the new Mac Mini to the bottom of the mini-PC

Reviewers liked Apple’s updated Mac Mini PC. The new M4 and M4 Pro processors in the compact computer provide a 25% and 45% increase in system performance, respectively. At the same time, the Mac Mini has a new design, thanks to which it takes up half the desk space compared to its predecessors. However, reviewers were puzzled by the relocation of the PC’s power button to its bottom. Apple explained why it decided to do this.

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In a recent interview, two senior vice presidents of Apple, Greg Joswiak and John Ternus, explained why the power button on the new Mac Mini had to be moved. According to the company’s top managers, one of the reasons is the reduced size of the Mac Mini itself. The more compact area of ​​the device required engineers to find a new optimal location for it. The bottom of the Mac Mini turned out to be the most suitable option in their minds.

Initially, you might think that placing the power button at the bottom of the mini PC will make it difficult to press when the device is on a table. However, both Apple vice presidents believe that users are unlikely to need to use the power button on a regular basis. This is the second reason why the button was moved to the bottom of the updated Mac Mini.

Most Mac users leave their systems on all the time. When inactive, computers simply go into sleep mode. Therefore, in general, the power button is only used when the system needs to be forced shut down or rebooted. According to Apple executives, in such cases, pressing the button will not create any difficulties. To do this, you just need to “stick your finger in there.” Lifting the mini-PC is also no problem. The weight of the compact computer is only 0.72 kg.

Still, the repositioned power button may complicate things a little when the new Mac Mini is mounted on the back of a display or TV. The vice presidents did not talk about this in interviews. It is possible that Apple may have simply not taken this case of installing a Mac Mini into account when making this design decision.