Apple has caused a stir with its new Mac Mini by moving the power button to the bottom of the device. Greg Joswiak and John Ternus, high-ranking managers at Apple, explained this decision as a necessity, as the new model is only half the size of its predecessor. The button has therefore found the “most suitable place” on the underside, which irritates some users, but was technically necessary according to Apple.
The most important facts in brief
- New position of the power button on the bottom of the Mac Mini
- Apple cites the smaller housing as the main reason
- Comparison drawn with the controversial charging position of the Magic Mouse
- Placement of the button is controversially discussed by users
The design decision in detail
Apple’s design decisions often follow a strict minimalism, which can occasionally cause comfort concerns. The best example is the Apple Magic Mouse (approx. € 68). Here, Apple simply placed the charging port on the underside. This is the worst possible location for a computer mouse, as it prevents it from being used while charging. The choice of location is probably purely for aesthetic reasons.
Apparently, Apple does not want to disfigure the clean design of the mouse with a charging port. Buyers of the Mac Mini (€ 761.41 *) are currently reminded of the tech company’s questionable design decision. Apple has unceremoniously placed the power button on the underside of the mini PC, which went on sale at the end of October 2024. To switch the device on, it has to be lifted slightly, which seems impractical for many users in everyday life.
Reactions from Apple
The two Vice Presidents of Marketing and Engineering, Greg Joswiak and John Ternus, have now defended the choice of location to Chinese tech media. According to them, there was no alternative to the new placement of the power button. In view of the drastic reduction in the size of the housing and the optimized design of the mini PC, there would have been no other option. However, this should not cause any real problems in practice.
Apple emphasizes that the power button is hardly needed on the Mac Mini anyway. In view of the low energy consumption, the Mini PC can also remain in standby mode permanently without any problems. There may well be something to this claim. However, it doesn’t quite fit in with Apple’s other corporate philosophy. After all, the company is committed to clean design and sustainability. It should be possible to switch a device off without any problems.
