AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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Users who own the M4 or M5 Pro Mac Mini often seek more storage and ports, but internal upgrades are limited. The M6 model has soldered storage that cannot be changed, while the M4 requires specialty NAND that voids warranties. Additionally, unlike the Mac Studio, the Mac Mini lacks legacy USB-A ports and an SD card slot. To solve this, several docks designed specifically for the newer Mac Mini chassis offer external SSD slots and additional connectivity options during Prime Day.

Specific models include a Satechi dock featuring front-facing USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and an SSD enclosure. Another option provides mixed USB-A and USB-C ports along with both SD and microSD slots, though these operate at 10Gbps speeds rather than faster rates. Acasis offers a unique design with ports on three sides supporting two NVMe SSDs for up to 16TB of storage via a 40GBps cable, including a 65W power brick.

Some users note that placing these docks underneath the Mini can block Wi-Fi signals if Ethernet is not used. While specialized docks exist, standard rectangular USB-C or Thunderbolt docks can provide similar advantages without the bespoke shape. A traditional Revodok example does not fit the Mac Mini on top but works with other mini PCs and laptops.