Satechi, renowned for its premium tech accessories, is releasing an updated Mac mini hub designed specifically for the M4 model. Mirroring previous iterations, this hub expands storage and connectivity while maintaining optimal airflow, wireless signal strength, and performance. While aesthetically pleasing, the hub’s design inadvertently underscores a design quirk of the M4 Mac mini: the awkwardly placed power button.
Previous Mac mini models featured a rear-mounted power button, easily accessible even when nestled within a Satechi hub. However, the M4’s bottom-placed power button presents a potential inconvenience for users of this new accessory. While the frequency of powering down a Mac mini varies, the necessity of lifting the device from the hub each time could prove cumbersome. The power button’s location is already somewhat awkward, and the addition of a hub may exacerbate this issue.
A press photo of Satechi
Despite this potential drawback, Satechi’s new hub boasts impressive features. For users needing additional storage, the hub supports up to 4TB with 10Gbps speeds, offering a convenient and cost-effective solution. Complementing the Mac mini’s two front-facing USB-C ports, the hub adds three USB-A ports and an SD card slot. While newer devices utilize USB-C, the inclusion of legacy USB-A ports caters to users with older peripherals, a thoughtful addition given the M4 Mac mini’s omission of USB-A ports altogether.
Satechi also plans to release a version of the hub without storage expansion, catering to those primarily seeking additional connectivity options.
Both the Mac mini and the hub strive for minimalism and a clutter-free desktop experience. However, the need to lift the Mac mini to access the power button seems to contradict this design philosophy.
Satechi has not yet revealed any solutions to mitigate this design quirk. For those unfazed by this minor inconvenience, the hub is slated for release in Spring 2025.
