Orico MiniMate Is A Cost-Effective Way Of Adding Storage And USB-A To A Mac Mini M4

The Orico MiniMate is a way to add extra storage and some much-needed USB-A ports to Apple’s baby.

ORICO

The Mac mini M4 is probably the hottest and most popular computer Apple has launched in quite a while. The Mac mini M4 is the cheapest way to get into Macs and it’s packed with power and features for the money.

However, when it comes to storage, it’s a different story. Apple charges a lot for prices extra storage on Macs. Expanding the Mac mini M4’s storage beyond the measly base 256GB SSD is eye-watering.

Computer storage brand Orico has a solution to the cost of Apple SSDs in the form of the new MiniMate. This docking station has a 1TB SSD built in and can be a cheaper option than paying the $400 Apple charges to upgrade the Mac mini M4 from 256GB to 1TB.

Built-In Fan For Extra Cooling

The Orico MiniMate can be placed on top of the Mac mini M4 and it doesn’t impede the airflow into the computer’s fan, unlike some docking stations that sit underneath the Mac mini. Also, the MiniMate’s design doesn’t interfere or block the Mac mini M4’s Wi-Fi signal.

The aluminum Orico MiniMate also functions as an 8-in-1 hub and comes with a 5Gbps USB-A port, three USB 2.0 480Mbps ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 3.5mm microphone input, plus slots for SD and MicroSD memory cards.

The MiniMate also has a USB-C port for connecting it to the host device, plus it comes with a USB-C power input. While the MiniMate can function with host power but with a USB power source into the 5V port can add extra juice to the MiniMate and give it a power boost for when every port is in use.

Inside the MiniMate there is a 2.5-inch SSD with a maximum data transfer speed of 5Gbps. That’s a bit slower than the more usual 10Gbps that many hubs and docks offer, but it’s fast enough for using the SSD for archive storage and backing up data. It may not be fast enough for editing video directly from the MiniMate’s SSD, but it’s swift enough for general office use.

The MiniMate is a plug-and-play device that works with iOS, Windows, macOS and Android devices, making it suitable for laptops, tablets, smartphones and more. Included in the box is a short USB-C to USB-C cable and a dual USB-C to USB-A/C cable for hooking up any peripherals.

The SSD can store up to 1TB of data and is actively cooled by a built-in fan, which turns on when the temperature inside the MiniMate increases. The fan operates at less than 35dB, so users shouldn’t notice when it’s working and the SSD will be kept cool.

Rear Headphone Jack

One of the features that Mac mini M4 users will appreciate about the MiniMate is its 3.5mm headphone jack at the rear. The Mac mini M4 has a headphone jack on its front panel, but if you want to permanently connect a pair of studio monitors or desktop speakers, then having a cable permanently plugged into the front will look cluttered and untidy.

The Orico MiniMate may not be the fastest docking station on the market and it doesn’t offer a video output or Thunderbolt compatibility, but it is an efficient and cost-effective way of adding extra storage to a Mac mini M4, as well as much-needed USB-A ports and a couple of memory card slots.

Pricing and Availability:

The Orico MiniMate 1TB for the Apple Mac mini M4 is available now from Amazon and priced at $109.99. Forbes readers can get a 10% discount until the end of August by using the code MINIMATESE1, reducing the price to $99.99. Other sizes and speeds of MiniMates are also available.

Tech Specs:

• Storage capacity: 1TB.
• SSD interface: USB 3.0.
• SSD form factor: 2.5 inches.
• Ports: USB A x 4, 3.5mm headphone, 3.5mm microphone, microSD and SD slots.
• System compatibility: iOS, Windows, macOS and Android.
• Warranty: 3 years.