Professionals
- Provides ports to the entrance of Mac mini
- Provides SSD enclosure for cheap additional storage
Cons
- 5Gbps USB, not 40Gbps Thunderbolt
- Helps SATA M.2 SSD, not quicker NVMe M.2 SSD
Our Verdict
This inexpensive and handsome hub-stand for the Mac mini gives a spread of helpful front-facing ports lacking from the Mac mini itself, and cheap inner storage–although it doesn’t assist quicker NVMe M.2 SSDs.
Finest Costs Right this moment: Satechi Stand Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure
$99.99
Suitable with: Mac mini M2 & M2 Professional 2023; Mac mini M1 2020; Mac Studio 2022
Dimension: 7.8 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
Ports:
- 1x USB-C (5Gbps)
- 3x USB-A (5Gbps)
- SD card reader (UHS-I, 104MBps)
- microSD card reader (UHS-I, 104MBps)
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Inner SSD enclosure
Whereas Apple’s Mac mini is a tiny powerhouse of a pc blessed with a spread of ports on its again, its entrance face is unhelpfully naked, devoid of even one helpful port or slot. There’s nothing however a bit of mild to indicate that it’s on. Apple actually put the “mini” in “minimal” when it got here to the head-on appears to be like of its diminutive desktop laptop.
The Mac Studio has the identical width and depth because the Mac mini however is taller. The Mac Studio additionally boasts two 10Gbps USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4 on the M1 Extremely mannequin) and an SD card reader on its entrance. On the again, the Mac Studio and M2 Professional Mac mini ports are the identical., whereas the entry-level M2 Mac mini has two fewer Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac mini fixes the mini’s naked entrance face by including 4 USB ports, each SD and microSD card reader slots, and three.5mm audio jack port. The inclusion of the cardboard readers is essential for the reason that mini lacks this entry level for cheap transportable storage. The cardboard readers are rated at UHS-I (104MBps)–312MBps UHS-II would have supplied speedier transfers, however most customers gained’t discover the distinction. A 512GB microSD card prices about $60/£50 on-line–a super-cheap means of including storage.
Satechi says that the Stand & Hub’s USB ports are knowledge solely and should not able to charging, though in our assessments we had been capable of cost an Apple Watch and iPhone moderately shortly utilizing the Stand & Hub’s USB ports.
The Stand & Hub additionally fixes one other main Mac mini limitation: the non-user-upgradeable inner storage. if you need greater than the bottom 512GB storage within the Mac mini, Apple makes you pay handsomely on the time of buy (upgrading to 1TB prices $200/£200) after which doesn’t allow you to later improve the storage your self.
Inside this mini accent is an enclosure the place you’ll be able to set up an SSD made as inner storage board for computer systems. It’s cheaper compared to Apple’s build-to-order choices–a 1TB inner SSD prices round $50/£50.
Foundry
The hub sits completely underneath the Mac mini, so making the mixed pair of units appear like a slim Mac Studio however with extra helpful frontal ports. It connects to the pc by way of an built-in USB-C cable in the back of the hub. The ports are USB reasonably than Thunderbolt and rated at 5Gbps (gigabits per second) in comparison with Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps.
One other technical facet to contemplate is the kind of SSD that the enclosure helps. The Satechi Stand & Hub helps SATA M.2 SSDs, and never quicker NVMe M.2 SSDs. NVMe M.2 SSDs (with theoretical switch speeds of as much as 20Gbps) are extra performance-driven than SATA M.2 SSDs (max 6Gbps). Nevertheless, that max 6Gbps restrict signifies that the hub’s 5Gbps USB bandwidth is okay and there’s no USB bottleneck. Many individuals don’t want blistering storage speeds and might maintain any information that want low-latency quick efficiency on the Mac mini’s personal speedy inner SSD and transfer extra archival storage on the enclosure’s SSD.
Foundry
NVMe SSD boards are extra frequent than SATA M.2 SSDs lately, so ensure you choose the right kind when buying for this accent. Putting in the SSD contained in the Stand & Hub is straightforward, and the correct-sized screwdriver and screw are included.
This stand hub additionally suits underneath Apple’s Mac Studio, so it’s a cheap means so as to add quick storage to Apple’s latest pro-level desktop, too.
If you happen to don’t want the additional cupboard space, Satechi additionally gives its Stand & Hub for Mac mini in a mannequin with out an SSD enclosure for $20 much less. We’d suggest spending the additional for the Stand & Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure as chances are you’ll end up needing the additional cupboard space later down the road.
The Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure is accessible in Silver colour solely, like the most recent fashions of Mac mini itself. The mannequin with out the enclosure can be accessible in a Area Grey colour, so will match the 2018 Mac mini mannequin, with which it’s suitable–the mannequin with the SSD enclosure isn’t suitable with the older Mac mini.
Backside line
The Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure gives a cheap repair to 2 of the Mac mini’s limitations: no front-facing ports and stuck, non-upgradeable inner storage. Including a terabyte or two by way of the SSD bay will prevent lots of in comparison with shopping for from Apple.
