x/nxpc · 
You want a tiny computer that disappears under your monitor. Maybe you're done with a full tower humming under the desk, or you just realized a 5×5-inch box now packs more AI muscle than a workstation from two years ago. Here's the thing that's quietly reshaped the "mini" market in 2026: memory is the new battleground. Apple's M4 Mac mini and AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PCs are fighting over the exact same prize — a shared pool of ultra-fast RAM that both the CPU and GPU (and now a 50-TOPS NPU) can chew on at once.
So which one do you actually buy? Let's geek out on the numbers.
For years the Mac mini's killer feature was quiet. It sipped power, made zero noise, and ran Final Cut or Xcode without breaking a sweat. But in 2026 there's a new sheriff: AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395, a 16-core Zen 5 chip with a Radeon 8060S iGPU and — critically — up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X-8000 memory shared across the whole system.
Why does that matter? Because local AI (LLMs) eat memory for breakfast. A 70-billion-parameter model needs roughly 40–50GB of RAM just to load in a reasonable quantization. The base Mac mini M4 tops out at 32GB — it physically cannot fit a 70B model. A 128GB Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC can, and still leaves room to breathe.
That single spec flips the "Mac mini is the obvious choice" narrative on its head.
| Spec | Apple Mac mini (M4) | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (e.g. GMKtec EVO-X2) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 10-core (4P + 6E) | 16-core Zen 5 (16C/32T) |
| GPU | 10-core Apple GPU | Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5, 40 CU) |
| NPU | 38 TOPS | 50 TOPS |
| Max unified memory | 32GB (M4 Pro: 64GB) | 128GB LPDDR5X-8000 |
| Memory bandwidth | ~120 GB/s (M4 Pro ~273 GB/s) | ~256 GB/s |
| Power under LLM load | ~20–30W | ~60–100W |
| Upgradeable RAM/storage | ❌ Soldered, locked at purchase | ⚠️ RAM soldered, but 2–4 M.2 slots + OCuLink/USB4 for expansion |
| OS | macOS (Metal, MLX) | Windows / Linux (ROCm, llama.cpp, Ollama) |
The headline is bandwidth vs. capacity. Apple's M4 Pro has a slightly higher bandwidth ceiling (273 GB/s), but AMD lets you buy way more memory for the money. And for big local models, raw capacity is what decides whether the thing runs at all.
(Note: these are directional figures from multiple reviewers, not a single identical benchmark suite — treat them as ballpark, not gospel.)
The power story is equally telling. Apple runs LLMs at a laptop-like 20–30W; the AMD boxes pull 60–100W under load. Apple wins efficiency-per-watt every single time. AMD wins "models I can actually fit."
Here's the part where it gets fun for us Canadians. I pulled live pricing from Amazon (US and CA) and Apple's Canadian store on August 24, 2026.
| Product | Config | USD | CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac mini M4 (Apple direct) | 16GB / 512GB | $799 | $1,099 |
| Mac mini M4 (Amazon US, 256GB scarcity) | 16GB / 256GB | $1,049.99 | — |
| Mac mini M4 Pro (Amazon US) | 24GB / 512GB | $1,569.99 | — |
| GMKtec EVO-X2 (Amazon) | 395 · 64GB / 1TB | $1,999.99 | $3,157.28 |
| GMKtec EVO-X2 (Amazon) | 395 · 64GB / 2TB | $2,100.00 | $2,999.00 |
| GMKtec EVO-X2 (Amazon) | 395 · 128GB / 2TB | $3,649.99 | $5,099.00 |
| Minisforum MS-S1 MAX (Amazon) | 395 · 64GB / 2TB | $2,599.00 | $3,719.99 |
Two big takeaways:
Buy the Mac mini direct from Apple, not Amazon. Apple quietly pulled the 256GB model in 2026, so the base config is now the 512GB at $799 USD / $1,099 CAD — yet Amazon US lists a 256GB unit at $1,049.99 because it's become scarce. Third-party sellers are price-gouging old stock. Don't fall for it.
Price-per-GB of memory favors AMD at the top end. A 128GB EVO-X2 runs $3,649.99 USD (~$28.50/GB). A 64GB M4 Pro costs more per GB once you factor that 70B models simply won't fit on the Apple side at all.
Buy the Mac mini M4 if: you live in macOS (Final Cut, Logic, Xcode), you want a dead-silent 30W box that sips power, or you just need a fast daily driver for web, dev, and 7B-class local AI. It's still the best value tiny desktop for most people — $799 USD for M4-class performance is absurdly good.
Buy a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC if: you're building a home LLM server, you want a Windows/Linux x86 box with real expansion (2–4 M.2 slots, OCuLink for an eGPU, dual 10GbE on the Minisforum), or you specifically need to run 70B+ models locally. This is the machine that replaces a desktop for AI tinkerers — ETA PRIME has been hammering this point all year, and the EVO-X2/EVO-X3 lineup is the current darling.
The honest TL;DR: Apple still owns efficiency, build quality, and the macOS ecosystem. AMD owns raw AI capacity and upgradeability. In 2026, "mini PC vs Mac mini" is no longer a debate about who's faster — it's a debate about what you're trying to run. And if that's a big local model, Apple is now the one playing catch-up.
Pricing captured live on August 24, 2026. Amazon prices fluctuate; Apple direct pricing is MSRP.