The correct orientation of the Mac Mini

[Stiksi]

Ok, clickbaity title aside, setting the Mac Mini up like this raised my wifi strength from under 60 % to 93 % and extended my Bluetooth range from a spotty 1 m to rock solid whole room coverage. It runs noticeably cooler and I have easy access to all the ports and the power button.

This is a 2020 Mac Mini (Edit: 2018 model, march 2020 revision, not actually a new model), the last Intel version, hence the obligatory egpu, but the basic layout of antennas and thermals seems to be pretty much the same even in the new redesigned Minis.

The reason for the wireless performance increase is, as far as I can tell, that Apple used the bottom plate as the antenna and if you place the Mini on your desk in the normal orientation, that antenna is only showing a super thin profile to your wireless router / BT device. Plopping it on its side, I have increased the relative antenna size dramatically.

The effect on thermals is less dramatic, but giving the bottom intakes easy access to open air and turning the exhaust up makes it easier for the machine to cool down, the fans don't have to work as hard.

Now, if your setup works perfectly, that's totally fine, but in my opinion, Apple should change their marketing materials because the machine just works better this way 😁

 

[dmr727]

Cool looking setup! It'd be interesting to hear if owners of the M4 Mini have similar results.

 

[pws442]

brilliant!

 

[Fishrrman]

Waiting for "real world" reports from users who actually have a 2024 Mini, oriented on its side...

 

[CharlesShaw]

Vintage mini bottom in a harness. Nice!

 

[redheeler]

If you go to all that trouble, you may as well run a wired ethernet connection to it.

 

[Stiksi]

If you go to all that trouble, you may as well run a wired ethernet connection to it.

It's 7 meters across the room, that's 15 m of cable going around the room at the floor level or about ten meters across the ceiling, which doesn't look good. And it's a lot of work to hide it so it looks nice even at floor level. It's basically double or more work than what I already did.

Plus I have the slower ethernet port, so the wifi is faster and I haven't found an ethernet wire with a black connector.

 

[SRQrws]

The previous generation Mini had documented issues with Bluetooth dropouts and diminished WiFi reception. I owned a few models in the past four years and always either stood them on their side or flipped them upside down which improved reception. The new model (which I own) has an open grill at the bottom and is elevated somewhat off the surface where it sits. I suspect this is why reception, at least for me, is better with the new one.

 

[Stiksi]

The previous generation Mini had documented issues with Bluetooth dropouts and diminished WiFi reception. I owned a few models in the past four years and always either stood them on their side or flipped them upside down which improved reception. The new model (which I own) has an open grill at the bottom and is elevated somewhat off the surface where it sits. I suspect this is why reception, at least for me, is better with the new one.

Well, that sounds like a great improvement!

 

[Timpetus]

New gen Minis show the hot air coming out the right side when viewed from the front. If this is the case, they should work best when oriented vertically on the side, so if the bottom is facing out like in the photo you'd want the ports on the right side and the front to the left.

ETA: I believe this would put the power button on the bottom right facing out, unless I'm misremembering where it is on the new Minis...

 

[arkitect]

View attachment 2453280
Ok, clickbaity title aside, setting the Mac Mini up like this raised my wifi strength from under 60 % to 93 % and extended my Bluetooth range from a spotty 1 m to rock solid whole room coverage. It runs noticeably cooler and I have easy access to all the ports and the power button.

This is a 2020 Mac Mini, the last Intel version, hence the obligatory egpu, but the basic layout of antennas and thermals seems to be pretty much the same even in the new redesigned Minis.

The reason for the wireless performance increase is, as far as I can tell, that Apple used the bottom plate as the antenna and if you place the Mini on your desk in the normal orientation, that antenna is only showing a super thin profile to your wireless router / BT device. Plopping it on its side, I have increased the relative antenna size dramatically.

The effect on thermals is less dramatic, but giving the bottom intakes easy access to open air and turning the exhaust up makes it easier for the machine to cool down, the fans don't have to work as hard.

Now, if your setup works perfectly, that's totally fine, but in my opinion, Apple should change their marketing materials because the machine just works better this way 😁

My Mac Mini 2018 has been on its side like you have yours for the past 4+ years…

It has improved both Bluetooth (the reason I turned it on its side) and WiFi.

Of course this is anecdotal, but…

 

[PsykX]

Maybe just putting legs under it, or a small pedestal in the middle that fits with the "black circle" under it, would also increase Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and allow you to press the Power Button (for M4 though) ?

 

[SamRyouji]

Seeing this, now I'm 100% certain that the MacPro Mini case is highly recommended.

 

[ed.]

I've had an M1 mini on my desk for almost three years now and because it's not my primary machine (I mostly use it as media hub), I never even bothered to check the wifi speed. My connection is 50Mbps and I pretty much get them on the MacBook Pro which is sitting next to the mini. This post made me test the connection on the mini... 18Mbps. Propped it up: 40Mbps. And it's so much easier to reach the ports! Now I just need something to stop it from toppling.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Waiting for "real world" reports from users who actually have a 2024 Mini, oriented on its side...

I thought I saw someone on Reddit mention that reported temps dropped with the M4 Mini on its side rather than on the base. I don’t have time to find the thread now but it was in the r/macmini subreddit.

Edit: Here's the thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/macmini/comments/1guiaoj

 

[Stiksi]

New gen Minis show the hot air coming out the right side when viewed from the front. If this is the case, they should work best when oriented vertically on the side, so if the bottom is facing out like in the photo you'd want the ports on the right side and the front to the left.

ETA: I believe this would put the power button on the bottom right facing out, unless I'm misremembering where it is on the new Minis...

That actually sounds ideal. I’ll probably get a new mini to replace my 2015 iMac in the next year or two. If it works best on its side, that means you won’t lose any access even when it’s standing free on your desk. No need for diy rigging like I’ve done 👍

 

[Stiksi]

I've had an M1 mini on my desk for almost three years now and because it's not my primary machine (I mostly use it as media hub), I never even bothered to check the wifi speed. My connection is 50Mbps and I pretty much get them on the MacBook Pro which is sitting next to the mini. This post made me test the connection on the mini... 18Mbps. Propped it up: 40Mbps. And it's so much easier to reach the ports! Now I just need something to stop it from toppling.

I made mine from stuff I had lying around, but you can also buy stands made for the Mini. Or just tape and a book end 😀

 

[klasma]

View attachment 2453280

It’s not clear that your photo isn’t a top-down view, so I was a bit confused at first.

 

[Stiksi]

It’s not clear that your photo isn’t a top-down view, so I was a bit confused at first.

Ah, I didn’t think of that, sorry. No, it’s on the shelf of a bookcase. My home setup got assigned a corner of our bookcase, no space for an actual desk. Small apartments 😅

 

[jmonster]

I'm a little bummed to see that it makes such a big difference, I just realized the antenna was on the bottom recently when looking at the M4 and.. what???... that seems like a terrible decision? I'm surprised they didn't make it a ring around the shell or in the Apple logo

 

[Stiksi]

I'm a little bummed to see that it makes such a big difference, I just realized the antenna was on the bottom recently when looking at the M4 and.. what???... that seems like a terrible decision? I'm surprised they didn't make it a ring around the shell or in the Apple logo

They probably would have if it was an option. It’s a tiny machine and it has a lot of components that can cause interference. Or it could be a manufacturing reason, usually with Apple it’s either cost or appearance. Minimalism has a price and if it isn’t paid in money, it’s paid in functionality.

I love the mini but like you, I think some of the decisions they’ve made to get the appearance they want are mad. But it’s so funny that they’re so single-mindedly fixed on making it look a certain way and then if you plop it onto its side, it just works better. Just imagine how they would react if everyone started setting their macs on their side.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

They probably would have if it was an option. It’s a tiny machine and it has a lot of components that can cause interference. Or it could be a manufacturing reason, usually with Apple it’s either cost or appearance. Minimalism has a price and if it isn’t paid in money, it’s paid in functionality.

I love the mini but like you, I think some of the decisions they’ve made to get the appearance they want are mad. But it’s so funny that they’re so single-mindedly fixed on making it look a certain way and then if you plop it onto its side, it just works better. Just imagine how they would react if everyone started setting their macs on their side.

I believe it is more of a "cost" issue than anything else. A redesign and produce measure takes more time to implement, and "time is money." Just look at the mouse charging port that's located at the bottom of the mouse, and the power button of the M4 Mini. Making the new Mini smaller makes it cheaper to build. The lesser amount of materials, the cheaper each unit becomes. Just imagine the total savings in every 5,000 units built

But if the Mini's USB works better when it is placed on the side, it should not be very difficult to build a small wooden or plastic cradle to support it on its side. This would also take care of the power button issue some people are having. I do turn my photo-editing iMac off for days sometimes, since I don't need to use it for photo editing or printing. I will do the same with the M4 Mini.

 

[Ifti]

My OCD is triggered because the 'Mac Mini' text is upside down!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

This is likely how Apple designed it for server farms. Easier access to power button and better cooling

 

[Stiksi]

My OCD is triggered because the 'Mac Mini' text is upside down!

First thing my son noticed as well. You get used to it, unless it’s actual ocd, in which case it’s a little bit more tinkering to flip it. The little stubs that attach the base plate to the chassis are in a triangle shape around the edge, so they need to be moved or taken off and replaced with a different kind of attachment. Magnets are out, unfortunately.

I thought about sanding it off, but the dust the plate gives off is a bit offputting. I don’t know what’s in it, but it’s not like other plastics I’ve worked with.

The other idea I had was leaning into it and painting the indented text white. It could look cool like that too.