It's Tough, But You Can Hack a M4 Mac Mini to Get Power Over USB-C
A YouTube video has demonstrated that, while tricky to pull off, it is possible to power an M4 Mac mini using a USB-C cable. This feat requires significant effort and specialized knowledge, but the results are impressive nonetheless.
The short, posted by Saad Ouache, shows an opened-up M4 Mac mini, placed upside down on a desk and with the base removed. Using a small board with a USB-C connection and wires feeding into the Mac mini, he claims to have managed to power the Mac mini using power delivery. The assembly is said to be sourced from a power bank at 12 volts, 3 amps, which feed in via some cables strategically soldered inside the case.
The Mac mini is also shown to be working, with a HDMI cable connected to the computer as well as an on-desk display. As part of the demonstration, he reconnects the main power cable to the Mac mini and disconnects the USB-C cable, effectively swapping between power sources. He then pulls out the main power cable to show the Mac mini losing power, before turning it back on again by reconnecting the USB-C cable.
The video certainly demonstrates that it is feasible for a USB-C cable to power an M4 Mac mini. However, it is being used in experimental and very specific conditions, rather than as a feature of the Mac mini itself.
So why hasn't Apple implemented USB-C as the power source for the Mac mini? The answer lies in the power requirements of the Mac mini itself. According to Apple's page for Mac mini power consumption, an M4 Mac mini with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD has a power consumption of 4 watts at idle, 65 watts at maximum.
However, this is just for running the Mac mini itself, as it can also feed power to other devices. The specifications page for the M4 Mac mini states that it can have a maximum continuous power level of 155 Watts. This means that the Mac mini requires a significant amount of power to operate, and standard USB-C cables simply don't provide enough power.
A typical USB-C Charge Cable, sold by Apple and supplied with some of its products, can operate at up to 60 watts without being a problem. However, based on Apple's usage description, it will pretty much cover the processing capabilities of an M4 Mac mini. This means that other cables on the market that can handle up to 240 watts would be necessary to power the Mac mini safely.
With the right specification of cable that can handle 240 watts, it would be feasible to power a Mac mini over USB-C. However, this would require consumers to use a cable capable of handling that level of wattage, which is not currently available.
The method demonstrated in the video is one way to accomplish making a portable Mac mini, but there are other ways to do things. For example, it is feasible to connect a power bank to the power connector, using the right cable and with a beefy enough power source.
Despite the efforts, the best option for a portable Mac is still a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. And at least on those, you could use USB-C power delivery. However, this video shows that with enough knowledge and resources, it is possible to make a Mac mini work using a USB-C cable. Whether or not this should be done in the future remains to be seen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while powering an M4 Mac mini using a USB-C cable is technically possible, it requires significant effort and specialized knowledge. The power requirements of the Mac mini itself mean that standard USB-C cables simply don't provide enough power, and alternative solutions such as connecting a power bank to the power connector are necessary.
The best option for a portable Mac remains a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, which can take advantage of USB-C power delivery out of the box. However, this video shows that with enough knowledge and resources, it is possible to make a Mac mini work using a USB-C cable.