Why would you want a mini PC you have to partially build yourself when Apple will hand you a finished one for $599? That’s the question hanging over the recently launched Minisforum MS-03, and honestly, the answer says a lot about what kind of computer person you are.
Minisforum launched the MS-03 as the follow-up to its MS-01, which quietly became a favorite among home lab tinkerers over the past couple of years. The MS-03 keeps the tiny footprint of its predecessor, but gives people who run Proxmox clusters and local AI models the memory, storage, and networking to actually do that comfortably.
Meanwhile, the Mac mini M4 is chasing something else entirely — it wants to be the computer you buy once and stop thinking about.
Both machines start around the same price. Both fit in one hand. Beyond that, they’re barely playing the same sport.
1. Price and what you get
The Minisforum MS-03 is sold as a barebones PC, starting at $759 with the Core Ultra 5 336H processor. The higher-end Core Ultra 9 386H version starts at $999.
The reason we mentioned barebone is that these prices don’t include RAM or storage. You have to buy and install those yourself. That means the final price can be quite a bit higher depending on how much memory and storage you want.
The Mac mini M4 is much simpler. The base model costs $599 and comes with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage. Everything is already installed, so you can take it out of the box, plug it in, and start using it.
That’s one of the biggest advantages of the Mac mini. You don’t have to worry about finding compatible parts or opening the computer before you can use it.
2. The MS-03 offers much more room to upgrade
So why would anyone choose the more complicated MS-03? The answer is expandability.
The higher-end MS-03 with the Core Ultra 9 386H can support up to 128GB of DDR5 memory running at up to 7,200 MT/s. It also has three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs and a PCIe x16 slot that can support a low-profile GPU using up to 75W of power.
This makes the MS-03 particularly interesting for people who want to run home servers, Proxmox setups, local AI models, NAS systems, or other projects that need plenty of memory and storage.
The Mac mini M4 doesn’t even try to compete on that front, and it doesn’t need to. Apple’s M4 chip is more than powerful enough for everyday work, photo editing, and even video timelines without much strain.
But there is very little room to upgrade it later. The RAM and internal storage you choose when buying the Mac mini are what you will have for the life of the computer. You can always add an external SSD for more storage, but you can’t open the Mac mini and add more memory later.
3. The Mac mini can run AI locally too
The Mac mini M4 shouldn’t be written off if local AI is part of the reason you’re buying a small desktop. Apple says the M4’s Neural Engine can run Apple Intelligence on the device, without sending everything to the cloud. The chip also has a 16-core Neural Engine and up to 32GB of unified memory, giving it plenty of hardware for many AI workloads.
But there’s an important difference between Apple’s approach and what the MS-03 is built for. Apple’s local AI focus is mainly tied to Apple Intelligence and optimized apps, while the MS-03 gives you the flexibility to install Linux, run local AI tools, add more RAM, use multiple SSDs, or even install a dedicated GPU.
Apple also says its system can use Private Cloud Compute for more complex requests, so not every AI task necessarily stays on the Mac itself. That makes the Mac mini a capable local AI machine, but not necessarily the better choice for someone who wants to experiment with different open-source models and build a dedicated local AI server.
That’s where the MS-03’s upgradeable hardware becomes more important. If you simply want AI features that work without much setup, the Mac mini is the easier option. But if you want to experiment, run different models, and keep upgrading the hardware as your AI needs grow, the MS-03 gives you much more freedom.
4. MS-03 pulls ahead in networking too
The biggest difference between the two computers may be their networking options. The MS-03 comes with two 10Gbps SFP+ ports, a 10Gbps Ethernet port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two USB4 ports, and Wi-Fi 7.
For a normal desktop, that’s probably more networking than most people will ever need. But for a home lab or server, it can be extremely useful.
Meanwhile, the Mac mini M4 is much simpler. The base model comes with Gigabit Ethernet, while 10Gbps Ethernet is available as an upgrade. It also has Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6E.
For normal home and office use, the Mac mini’s networking is more than enough. But if you’re building a home server or moving large amounts of data across a local network, the MS-03 has a major advantage.
5. Windows and Linux vs macOS
Then there’s the software question, which honestly might matter more than any spec on this list. The Mac mini M4 runs macOS and benefits from Apple’s wider ecosystem. If you already use an iPhone, features such as easy file sharing, iPhone integration, and other Apple services can make the Mac a more convenient choice. You also get access to software such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, which can be a major reason to choose a Mac if you are close to editing photos or videos.
The MS-03 is more open. You can run Windows or Linux and use the computer however you want. You can install Proxmox, turn it into a NAS, create a home server, run virtual machines, or even set up multiple operating systems. This freedom is a big part of the MS-03’s appeal.
6. Which one should you buy?
The Minisforum MS-03 makes more sense if you like building and upgrading your computers. Its support for up to 128GB of RAM, multiple SSDs, a dedicated GPU, and extremely fast networking gives it far more flexibility than the Mac mini.
It is especially attractive for home lab users, developers, server builders, and anyone who wants a small computer that can grow with their needs.
The Mac mini M4 is the better choice if you want something simple and ready to use. It offers plenty of performance for everyday work and creative tasks, while macOS and Apple’s ecosystem make it an easy choice for existing Apple users.
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