Trend alert: Folks are talking on social media sites and YouTube about using iPad as an external display for the new M4 Mac mini. Why? Well, as today’s setup user notes, the combination creates a credible mobile solution. And as others point out, it’s economical. Mac mini is a sensational value. And for a few hundred bucks more you can add an iPad (or you may already have one) and a few other inexpensive elements to make it work. But still, plenty of people see this and just say, “get a MacBook.”
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Make it a mobile setup with iPad display for Mac mini plus keyboard and mouse
X.com poster Fernando Silva (@nandoprince93) showed off his M4 Mac mini setup in a post this week (see it below). “The perfect setup does exist,” he said with a winking emoji. “Ultimate mobile setup loading …”
Basically, he’s got an M4 Mac mini hooked up to an iPad Pro in a keyboard case. He also uses a Logitech mouse. And he could toss all of that in a knapsack and go, so long as he remembers the cables connecting the gear and powering the mini.
It’s easy to do
And how easy is this to do? Very. All you need is a Mac mini (or Mac Studio), a capture card, an HDMI cable and perhaps a stand for the tablet (like Silva’s, or something else you can use to prop up the iPad next to the computer or even on top of it, as the user in the video below demonstrates (not necessarily recommended, though). Then select the iPad as a display in Settings.
Alternatively, you could simply add the iPad in Settings > Displays > Mirror or extend, so long as the computer and tablet are on the same Wi-Fi network and signed into the same iCloud account. Apple Community provides more guidance on methods if you need it. The video below demonstrates the capture card/HDMI method.
See selected comments from Silva’s post below:
The perfect setup does exist
Ultimate mobile setup loading… pic.twitter.com/BX6b3S9xlW
— Fernando Silva (@nandoprince93) November 13, 2024
Silva’s post drew a fair amount of attention, including admiring comments as well as people saying he should just get a MacBook.
- The fact that we have to think of the iPad Pro, a device costing over $1,000, as just a wireless display for the Mac Mini to get real work done, instead of demanding a better OS, should make us question why we, as users, keep accepting whatever Apple sells us.
- Using a keyboard connected to the iPad instead of the Mac means you can’t use basic shortcuts on the mini (cmd tab etc)
- I’ve been doing this with the M2 Mac Mini and iPad Pro using Luna Display. 👍
- MacBook is, not this Frankenstein 🤣 bro think he invented the wheel.
- This is just screen mirroring.
- Why not a laptop? what are the benefits of this setup over a simple laptop?
- If you need to take you Mac mini with you, you need to remember a bunch of cables, find a power supply…
- Apple has Studio Display for Mac Studio, they should also create something like Mini Display for Mac Mini. 😂
- Why not just use your M4 iPad Pro？
- Add the Apple Vision Pro to the Mini and you’ll be cooking with gas. 😎
Watch a short how-to video on using iPad as a display for M4 Mac mini:
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Computers and stands:
Input devices:
Apple's tiny new desktop features an M4 chip with 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU "built for Apple Intelligence," plus 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD storage and Gigabit Ethernet.
- Apple M4 chip is powerful
- Compact desktop design
- Headphone jack on front
- BYODKM (bring your own display, keyboard and mouse)
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually suffice). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
