Apple's latest Mac mini M4 is a nearly perfect little powerhouse, except for a few annoying shortcomings. One of them is the controversial placement of the power button, one of the reasons I passed on purchasing the Mac mini M4.

Apple's designers managed to make their latest mini-desktop computer half the size of the previous model, while at the same time including more accessible ports. You can see what challenges engineers face when laying out external features in a chassis.

Two Apple executives were interviewed by the Bilibili channel “Movie Hurricane” (via IThome) to explain why the power button is on the bottom of the computer; Bilibili is the Chinese version of YouTube, and the power button is on the top of the computer.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Jozwiak and Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Tarnas emphasized that this button is easily accessible by “pinching” your finger under the mini.

In an interview, they claimed that because the Mac Mini M4 is more compact, the new placement is “the perfect place for the power button.”

In previous versions, the button was located next to a port on the back of the device.

“Frankly, most people rarely use the Mac's power button,” one of the executives added.

While we were unable to find firm numbers, several smaller surveys suggest that most people do not turn off their computers or put them into sleep mode at the end of the day. In other words, for most people, pressing the power button is not a daily or even weekly occurrence.

Still, it is inconvenient and potentially inaccessible if the mini must be placed in a confined space.

Still, there is no shortage of people doing clever hacks with 3D printing. Personal favorites, like the old PowerMac G5 created by Jerrod H at Maker World (via PC Gamer). Others have created simple extensions that allow you to tap the mini without lifting it.

The Mac mini M4 is a great computer and one of the best mini PCs available, despite the awkward placement of the power button. Our review states that “the Mac mini M4 is an excellent mini-PC, not only the smallest, but also the most powerful mini-PC Apple has ever released.”