Last year’s most exciting computer launch for me had to be the new Apple Mac mini M4. This tiny computer is packed with processing power and is not much larger than an Apple TV. The baby Mac mini is even sensibly priced and should attract lots of new users to the macOS platform looking for an affordable Mac.
Like all small computers, the Mac mini M4 is bound to attract accessory manufacturers looking to sell docks, hubs and stands for expanding Apple’s new baby. One of those accessory companies is storage specialist Orico. The brand will be announcing four new products designed exclusively for the new Mac mini M4 and those products will be on show at the upcoming CES 2025 show in Las Vegas next week.
The Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series has been designed to leverage the potential of Apple’s new Mac mini M4. The range offers stylish and cost-effective ways of extending the Mac mini M4’s storage and connectivity. The products are bound to appeal to graphic designers, video editors, content creators or anyone working from home who wants enhanced productivity.
The new Orico MiniMate is a cost-effective external storage option that boosts the storage capacity of the Mac mini M4 while blending in seamlessly with Apple’s sleek design. The MiniMate can be fitted with solid-state storage ranging from 512GB to 4TB. The size and finish of the MiniMate match the Mac mini M4 perfectly because it has identical dimensions for a seamless stacking fit.
The MiniLink is the second product from the Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series and as well as providing extra storage options, it also provides a selection of extra ports with transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, freeing up the Mac mini from its port limitations and boosting its efficiency.
With nine expansion ports, including three USB-A 10Gbps, SD and microSD card slots, the MiniLink also has an M.2 NVMe SSD bay for adding storage up to 4TB. With ultra-fast 40Gbps SSD speeds, the MiniLink matches the Mac mini M4 perfectly with a cohesive-looking finish.
The Orico MiniDock is a 10-in-1 Dock Stand designed for the new Mac mini M4 which mounts the Mac mini vertically on top of the dock and saves desk space while boosting the connectivity of Apple’s new Mac mini M4. The vertical design of the MiniDock reduces the footprint by 45% and makes it much easier to turn on the Mac mini because the power button is normally on the underside.
The comprehensive connectivity offered by the MiniDock includes ports for USB-A, USB-C and HDMI, plus SD/TF card slots. There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port for maximum compatibility. The MiniDock supports DIY SSD expansion using M.2 NVMe SSD which can expand storage by up to 8TB. Users can configure their Mac’s storage options to suit their needs.
Finally, the MiniTower is the fourth product in the Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series and it has been designed for professionals working on video editing, audio production and graphic design. The Orico MiniTower offers hybrid storage expansion with a choice of SSD options up to 8TB and up to a further 48TB of space using traditional hard drives.
The MiniTower can be configured to work as a RAID drive in RAID 0, RAID 1 or normal mode for enhanced data safety. With USB-A ports and SD 3.0 slots for handling large file transfers. The MiniTower is ideal for ingesting large amounts of video files.
Thanks to multi-system compatibility, the MiniTower can work with macOS, Windows and Linux for those users with diverse workflows. The MiniTower is also ideal for creators who need a lot of high-speed storage options beyond the SSD offered by Apple when ordering a Mac mini M4.
Pricing & Availability: The new Orico MacMini Upgrade Series will launch at CES 2025. Prices start from $99 / £90 /€99 for the MiniMate with 512GB, but the cost of each unit depends on how much storage is ordered.
