Apple’s best streaming device isn’t the Apple TV, it’s the Mac Mini
Apple’s best streaming device isn’t the Apple TV, it’s the Mac Mini
https://www.howtogeek.com/apples-best-streaming-device-isnt-the-apple-tv/
Publish Date: 2026-04-04 11:37:00
Source Domain: www.howtogeek.com
Got an old Mac mini or looking to pick one up? Apple’s smallest computer isn’t just a pint-sized box of tricks, it’s a very capable streaming device and media player. For many, it’s a better buy than the Apple TV 4K.
There are pros and cons to using a Mac mini for streaming and playing local media, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives—especially if you can get your hands on a used model for cheap.
The problem with the Apple TV
Credit: Nathaniel Pangaro / How-To Geek
The Apple TV 4K is a media playback solution that starts at $129 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model (and rises to $149 for the 128GB Wifi+Ethernet version). It runs Apple’s big screen-friendly tvOS, has an App Store much like the iPhone and iPad, and lets you do things like cast your device’s display to the TV using the AirPlay wireless streaming protocol.
Just like the iPhone and iPad (and unlike the Mac), the Apple TV 4K is a highly restrictive platform. Apple has the platform locked down, with most users only able to install apps from the App Store. tvOS lacks the kind of customization that you’d associate with a “proper” desktop operating system or even a rival platform like Google TV.
Instead, Apple focuses on providing a user experience that has had all the rough edges filed off. What’s more, you’ll pay somewhere in the region of what a used Mac mini would cost for this experience. While this suits many people,…
