With the 2024 Mac mini, Apple has made a small but noticeable change in design. The new models now have the power button on the bottom of the device. The new model has been widely praised for its more compact design and powerful M4 Pro chip, but it has also been widely criticized for the different placement of the power button. So why did Apple make such a styling change?

Apple explains why the new Mac mini 2024 has the power button on the bottom

While this design change raised questions for many, Apple’s senior executives Greg Joswiak and John Ternus explained the rationale behind the decision. According to Apple, the new Mac mini takes up 50% less space than previous generations.

Making the device so small required the button to be placed in an optimal position, which led them to the bottom. Joswiak and Ternus argue that moving the power button to the bottom will not negatively affect the user experience.

Because most users rarely need a full shutdown or power-on, usually keeping the Mac mini in sleep mode. In this case, the button doesn’t need to be pressed often, so its location at the bottom isn’t a big problem. If the button is needed, users are said to just need to place their fingers lightly on the bottom.

Of course, this button placement may pose a challenge in some usage scenarios. For example, users who mount the Mac mini behind the monitor may find it difficult to access the power button. However, Apple executives didn’t dwell on this detail and it’s likely that this use case wasn’t a primary consideration in the design process.

Weighing 0.72 kg, the Mac mini is designed to be a lightweight and portable device, so easy accessibility for tabletop use seems to have been prioritized. What do you think about this? You can write your opinions in the comments section below.