Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB vs GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against mini PCs at a similar price

The GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS scores 6.4/10 overall, ahead of the Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB at 5.8/10.

The Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB leads on CPU performance, efficiency and noise, ports and expansion and build and support.

The GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS leads on upgradeability and networking.

The biggest difference is upgradeability, where the GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS scores 8/10 to the Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB's 1/10.

Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Mac mini M4 suits anyone who wants a small, always-on machine with very low idle power draw. It fits users who are happy with 16GB of memory and a modest internal drive, or who will pay for a larger configuration up front. It is a better match for fixed, well-planned setups than for tinkerers who like to swap parts.

Typically about £799 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS

6.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The M6 Ultra is for buyers who want a compact Ryzen 5 mini PC with room to grow on memory and storage. Dual 2.5GbE and two M.2 slots make it a fit for homelab duties and Linux or Windows desktop use. It suits people who value expandability over the lowest idle power draw.

Typically about £549.96 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB	GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
CPU performance	25%	8/10	6/10
Upgradeability	20%	1/10	8/10
Networking	20%	4/10	7/10
Efficiency and noise	15%	9/10	5/10
Ports and expansion	10%	8/10	6/10
Build and support	10%	6/10	5/10
Overall		5.8/10	6.4/10

Specifications

Spec	Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB	GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
CPU	Apple M4: 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine	AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS: 6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.0GHz, Radeon 760M integrated graphics
Memory	16GB unified memory	2x SO-DIMM DDR5 slots, DDR5-4800, 16GB or 32GB configurations
Storage	256GB SSD	PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD, 512GB or 1TB options
Networking	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T, RJ-45)	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, dual 2.5GbE Ethernet
Maximum memory	32GB (configurable at purchase on the M4 chip)	128GB
Storage slots	not listed	2x M.2 2280, up to 8TB each
Ports	Front: two USB-C ports (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Back: Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, and three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports supporting USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) and DisplayPort	3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps), 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB4 full-function, 1x HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), 1x DisplayPort, 3.5mm audio jack
Power draw	Idle 4W, maximum 65W, measured at the wall for this configuration	19V/6.32A 120W external DC adapter; CPU TDP 35W-50W

Strengths and weaknesses

Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB

+ Idle draw of just 4W at the wall
+ 10-core M4 with 10-core GPU
+ Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI
− RAM is soldered with no upgrade slot
− Internal SSD is not user-upgradable
− Base model has only Gigabit Ethernet

Skip it if:

Buyers who want to upgrade RAM or storage later
Anyone needing faster than Gigabit Ethernet from the base unit
Users with many USB-A devices who don't want adapters

Read the full Apple Mac mini (2024), Apple M4, 16GB, 256GB review ›

GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS

+ Two SO-DIMM slots, 128GB maximum, two M.2 slots
+ Dual 2.5GbE plus Wi-Fi 6E
+ Owners report quiet running in normal use
− Idle draw about 10W, toward the upper end
− Fan clearly audible when gaming or rendering

Skip it if:

Buyers who need the lowest possible idle power for an always-on box
Anyone wanting a silent machine under sustained gaming or rendering loads
Buyers who need 10GbE, SFP+ or OCuLink

Read the full GMKtec NucBox M6 Ultra Mini PC AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS review ›

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