I loved my Apple TV. But, when I upgraded to the new Mac Mini I was totally blown away. Everything was just richer; color, animation, textures, details, sounds...the whole experience went up ten levels! One thing you didn't mention is that with Mac OS you can have multiple workspaces. I can quickly toggle between Zwift at full screen and another workspace that has multiple windows for email, Slack, and work-related apps, then snap back to Zwift without missing a beat! Thanks for another great video!
Have to agree! When I race on Zwift I'm constantly forgetting the race profile or distances to sprint points, so I love having that info up and ready to be seen with a quick cmd-tab.
This pretty much describes my experience as well. The AppleTV worked well for me for the past several years, but upgrading to the Mini M4 raised it to a whole another level. No regrets for upgrading
M4 for zwift seems akin to having a Ferrari and only driving it in 1st gear. ATV every time for me. BTW, really like the pace of this video. Some tech reviewers are so breathless and rushed; this is how it should be
I had a laptop, was time to upgrade memory, and processor could not keep up-crashing all the time. I did see your video on the Mini. Got the Apple TV from Wally Mart tried it for 25 days, worked well, just was not happy with the uploading of photos, graphics, and the cumbersome remote so I returned it. I got the M4 and love it. It has been working so smooth, no issues, I like that I can have another source in for those extra long rides---the PRL FULL... I just have to get setup with more monitors and a popcorn machine. Quality review on both items.
Yes but it can heat up quick and auto dim which is really annoying even with the Ipad pro M4. Dissapointing Zwift won't optimise the game for these devices yet. Mac Mini display with a gaming monitor is so superior, crisp display and very smooth performance.
I switched to zwifting from a ATV 4k (older version) to a Mac Mini recently, and the picture quality (2160p?) and ease of use is so much better for me than on the AppleTV. BUT. I didn’t buy the thing for Zwift alone. I needed a new computer, I wanted something reasonably portable (but not a laptop again), and on that front, the Mini is near-perfect. Just pack a power and a HDMI cable, mouse, keyboard, and you can use nearly every hotel TV as a monitor to work.
Honestly it sounds like a tablet or ipad is a better option - in terms of convenience, interface, bluetooth devices supported - than either apple tv or the mac mini
iPad 12.9 is preferred option on a gooseneck arm so it’s right in front of my face. In my case my Kickr Bike is setup in my spare room which I don’t use for anything else so I’d be paying $600 for a Mac that would get used a few hours a week. Sure I could plug and unplug but that’s not how Mac’s are designed to be used. The iPad is designed to be portable. In the right circumstances I’d definitely go with a Mac and a large screen but that’s just not how my house is arranged
Went from ATV to Mac Mini - I found the extra control of the Mini better than ATV, (Mouse and keyboard vs controller). There is the ability to use a proper keyboard for messaging, You can change views by using numbers and there is even the '0' key to have a view where you zoom in/out/rotate (makes Zwift more fun) I can run a browser on the side, so can browse the web or load up TH-cam and I am using the Mini as my Plex Server as well for the rest of the house - so the old ATV is now in the living room and able to run Plex App and be served by the Mac Mini. ATV is good, but I prefer the Mini.
I use Zwift on my Vision Pro. I don’t wear it with the light seal and I do have a different headband for comfort. I can use the Zwift on the Vision Pro which is the iPad app or from my M4 Mac Minj paired in the same room. The Vision Pro can also run the companion app and entertainment such as TH-cam or other streaming for the boring endurance rides in erg mode. The lack of light seal makes it immersive enough but also allows air flow underneath solving the sweat issue.
Great review, thanks - the side by side shots with different graphics profiles help me understand that I wouldn't be missing _that_ much with Apple TV. As a compromise I'm thinking of an older generation Mac Mini since the M4 is still pretty pricey in the UK. Do the M2 Mac Minis get assigned a higher graphics profile than the Apple TV?
Great content, very informative! Just curious to find out the type of TV Monitor that would be needed for the Mac Mini to get the best experience at an affordable price?
Definitely worth the upgrade. Hate using my Apple TV compared to the computer. Never use the computer and you won’t know what you’re missing. Computer is much more immersive.
Thanks for the review. Any plans to do a comparison of ATV vs an iPad? There are several models of iPad so it would be a complicated test. I currently use an iPad mini and it works fine but I'd like to get a little bigger screen so I'm considering either ATV or just a bigger iPad. I'm leaning towards the iPay because my pain cave doesn't really lend itself to an actual TV.
I ride Rouvy and FulGaz using my iPad and HDMI to a monitor. Works great and resolution seems good. I guess the FPS and resolution would depend on the monitor/TV and the iPad processor (mine is iPad Pro 2022).
Great review and comparison video Tariq! I currently use Apple TV to run Zwift and am considering the Mac mini M4 now. Do you know if the Mac mini M4 Pro would be worth upgrading to and offer a significant difference to the base M4 for Zwifting?
Good vid but failed to mention the ultra profile (ie more detail than high) which even a cheap PC from 8 years ago with a used graphics card will get, if you spec it right. . That will outperform both APTV and all silicon apples for about £130. I get ultra profile, and 75fps at 1440p from my 4th gen Xeon processor with a gtx1650. Wouldn't swap for either of these options unless space was the prime concern..which lets face it if you've room for a bike on a smart trainer you've probably got room for a pc.
No difference between the ultra profile and high profile on Mac that I noticed. I demoed this in my previous video. To your point, I agree with you if you are someone who wants to go through the process of building a pc and shopping for cheap parts on eBay. The mini is a solid choice for someone who wants to buy something that just works out of the box.
@ yeah, commented before watching all video. One other thing to consider is that with Mac Mini you can run sauce for Zwift, if you are into racing. You cannot on Apple TV. I’m actually on the fence between the two. Apple TV is just a no brainer. But is annoying to rely on phone for BLE connectivity (power + HR + zwift play). While Mac mini is more powerful, but is full blown computer, so also requires updating other software and the OS itself, not just the Zwift app.
There are rumours this week of a new bluetooth / wifi chip for the next iteration of AppleTV due out in '25. Hopefully that will sort out the blutooth channel issues.
Has anyone here put the Mac Mini up against a high-end Windows-based mini, say with a current AMD Ryzen mobile CPU/GPU architecture at a similar price level? I'm not an Apple user in any way and really don't want to make that crossover. I currently use my now 13 year old ASUS i7-based laptop at 1080p and it struggles in high rider events for obvious reasons but I can at least run other Windows low-demand programs with Zwift concurrently and would prefer to keep it that way. I know a mid-level desktop would do the same, just looking for opinions/experiences here. Thanks folks and Happy Holidays!
The Apple TV 4K is a standalone device, completely separate from the Apple TV streaming app. You don’t need a subscription to use the device itself. The Apple TV app, on the other hand, is a streaming service that does require a subscription-but you don’t need it to run Zwift or use other apps on the Apple TV 4K device. Honestly, I wish Apple had given them different names to not confuse everyone 😆
No. You are likely thinking of Apple TV+, which is a subscription streaming service (like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus). You do not need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to use Zwift on the Apple TV.
You realise you dont need to fork out $599 for the M4 Mac mini? You can get exactly the same smooth 60fps and HD performance from the base Mac Mini M1 OR M2 for much cheaper as they would be on sale in some parts. M4 is overkill at the moment and isn't needed yet.
I loved my Apple TV. But, when I upgraded to the new Mac Mini I was totally blown away. Everything was just richer; color, animation, textures, details, sounds...the whole experience went up ten levels! One thing you didn't mention is that with Mac OS you can have multiple workspaces. I can quickly toggle between Zwift at full screen and another workspace that has multiple windows for email, Slack, and work-related apps, then snap back to Zwift without missing a beat! Thanks for another great video!
Thats a great point. Love workspaces. Thanks for bringing that up.
Have to agree! When I race on Zwift I'm constantly forgetting the race profile or distances to sprint points, so I love having that info up and ready to be seen with a quick cmd-tab.
This pretty much describes my experience as well. The AppleTV worked well for me for the past several years, but upgrading to the Mini M4 raised it to a whole another level. No regrets for upgrading
M4 for zwift seems akin to having a Ferrari and only driving it in 1st gear. ATV every time for me. BTW, really like the pace of this video. Some tech reviewers are so breathless and rushed; this is how it should be
I had a laptop, was time to upgrade memory, and processor could not keep up-crashing all the time. I did see your video on the Mini. Got the Apple TV from Wally Mart tried it for 25 days, worked well, just was not happy with the uploading of photos, graphics, and the cumbersome remote so I returned it. I got the M4 and love it. It has been working so smooth, no issues, I like that I can have another source in for those extra long rides---the PRL FULL... I just have to get setup with more monitors and a popcorn machine. Quality review on both items.
iPad Pro on my wahoo desk. No TV, No keyboard, No mouse, No remote. No hassle.
Yes but it can heat up quick and auto dim which is really annoying even with the Ipad pro M4. Dissapointing Zwift won't optimise the game for these devices yet. Mac Mini display with a gaming monitor is so superior, crisp display and very smooth performance.
I upgraded after your last video and haven’t looked back.
I switched to zwifting from a ATV 4k (older version) to a Mac Mini recently, and the picture quality (2160p?) and ease of use is so much better for me than on the AppleTV.
BUT.
I didn’t buy the thing for Zwift alone. I needed a new computer, I wanted something reasonably portable (but not a laptop again), and on that front, the Mini is near-perfect. Just pack a power and a HDMI cable, mouse, keyboard, and you can use nearly every hotel TV as a monitor to work.
Is there really a choice? Value for money ATV wins every time
Honestly it sounds like a tablet or ipad is a better option - in terms of convenience, interface, bluetooth devices supported - than either apple tv or the mac mini
Some of us want a larger screen. I have my ATV set up on a 50" and I live in Watopia.
iPad 12.9 is preferred option on a gooseneck arm so it’s right in front of my face. In my case my Kickr Bike is setup in my spare room which I don’t use for anything else so I’d be paying $600 for a Mac that would get used a few hours a week. Sure I could plug and unplug but that’s not how Mac’s are designed to be used. The iPad is designed to be portable. In the right circumstances I’d definitely go with a Mac and a large screen but that’s just not how my house is arranged
Went from ATV to Mac Mini - I found the extra control of the Mini better than ATV, (Mouse and keyboard vs controller). There is the ability to use a proper keyboard for messaging, You can change views by using numbers and there is even the '0' key to have a view where you zoom in/out/rotate (makes Zwift more fun) I can run a browser on the side, so can browse the web or load up TH-cam and I am using the Mini as my Plex Server as well for the rest of the house - so the old ATV is now in the living room and able to run Plex App and be served by the Mac Mini. ATV is good, but I prefer the Mini.
Awesome video
I bought the Mac mini after your review and am extremely happy with it
Glad you are enjoying it 👍
Awesome review dude thanks for creating this great comparison 😊 Pete
Thanks for watching 🙏🏼
Wow , interesting Mac mini for Zwift with amazing graphics too
great video. Would the M1 mac mini have the same experience as the M4?
You should get the same high graphic profile and riders shadows but not sure about FPS. Will have to check on some recent logs.
I use Zwift on my Vision Pro. I don’t wear it with the light seal and I do have a different headband for comfort. I can use the Zwift on the Vision Pro which is the iPad app or from my M4 Mac Minj paired in the same room. The Vision Pro can also run the companion app and entertainment such as TH-cam or other streaming for the boring endurance rides in erg mode.
The lack of light seal makes it immersive enough but also allows air flow underneath solving the sweat issue.
Whoa… That is an interesting setup and good to know that the Vision Pro can run Zwift and the companion app.
Great review, thanks - the side by side shots with different graphics profiles help me understand that I wouldn't be missing _that_ much with Apple TV. As a compromise I'm thinking of an older generation Mac Mini since the M4 is still pretty pricey in the UK. Do the M2 Mac Minis get assigned a higher graphics profile than the Apple TV?
I would add I use the Zwift Play controllers to fully control my ZWIFT while on my Mac mini - works great and all I need during the ride.
No need to reach for that keyboard or mouse anymore 👍
Solid setup!
I would be interested in the same comparison for mywhoosh
Great review but $600? Nah, I'll stick with ATV. The nicer graphics and detail don't matter to me when I race.
Great content, very informative! Just curious to find out the type of TV Monitor that would be needed for the Mac Mini to get the best experience at an affordable price?
Most TV monitors are 60hz. So I would look for something with a high refresh rate like 120. Otherwise, you won’t get the benefits of the higher FPS.
In screen 2:10, is that Trainer Road overlay with Zwift?
Yes… it works nicely on the Mac in full screen mode.
@@SmartBikeTrainers just found one of your older videos on how to run both apps at the same time. Thank you.
I didn't know my woosh was on apple tv will download it today after work, i dont have the feature action part of my.ride like others do
Definitely worth the upgrade. Hate using my Apple TV compared to the computer. Never use the computer and you won’t know what you’re missing. Computer is much more immersive.
Thanks for the review. Any plans to do a comparison of ATV vs an iPad? There are several models of iPad so it would be a complicated test. I currently use an iPad mini and it works fine but I'd like to get a little bigger screen so I'm considering either ATV or just a bigger iPad. I'm leaning towards the iPay because my pain cave doesn't really lend itself to an actual TV.
I ride Rouvy and FulGaz using my iPad and HDMI to a monitor. Works great and resolution seems good. I guess the FPS and resolution would depend on the monitor/TV and the iPad processor (mine is iPad Pro 2022).
Great review and comparison video Tariq! I currently use Apple TV to run Zwift and am considering the Mac mini M4 now. Do you know if the Mac mini M4 Pro would be worth upgrading to and offer a significant difference to the base M4 for Zwifting?
For Zwift, the basic Mini is so good. The return on investment isn’t worth it to get the Pro.
@@SmartBikeTrainers ah ok, thank you! I'd use either for more than Zwift (sorry I didn't specify that) but good to know. Thank you!
Please do the same performance comparison for mywhoosh!
I wonder if people actually use an iPad or a tablet with a stand & plugged in so it doesn’t as you zwifting?
Good vid but failed to mention the ultra profile (ie more detail than high) which even a cheap PC from 8 years ago with a used graphics card will get, if you spec it right. . That will outperform both APTV and all silicon apples for about £130. I get ultra profile, and 75fps at 1440p from my 4th gen Xeon processor with a gtx1650. Wouldn't swap for either of these options unless space was the prime concern..which lets face it if you've room for a bike on a smart trainer you've probably got room for a pc.
No difference between the ultra profile and high profile on Mac that I noticed. I demoed this in my previous video. To your point, I agree with you if you are someone who wants to go through the process of building a pc and shopping for cheap parts on eBay. The mini is a solid choice for someone who wants to buy something that just works out of the box.
Didn’t you cover the same topic one month ago?
That was my impression on the Mac Mini M4. Here I’m doing a comparison between the mini and Apple TV :)
@ yeah, commented before watching all video.
One other thing to consider is that with Mac Mini you can run sauce for Zwift, if you are into racing. You cannot on Apple TV.
I’m actually on the fence between the two. Apple TV is just a no brainer. But is annoying to rely on phone for BLE connectivity (power + HR + zwift play).
While Mac mini is more powerful, but is full blown computer, so also requires updating other software and the OS itself, not just the Zwift app.
how does the mac mini work with Mywhoosh?
It works well. MyWhoosh is capped at 30fps so that’s all you gonna get:
th-cam.com/video/oLoL_zb2Ins/w-d-xo.html
There are rumours this week of a new bluetooth / wifi chip for the next iteration of AppleTV due out in '25. Hopefully that will sort out the blutooth channel issues.
That would be great to see 🙏🏼
Has anyone here put the Mac Mini up against a high-end Windows-based mini, say with a current AMD Ryzen mobile CPU/GPU architecture at a similar price level? I'm not an Apple user in any way and really don't want to make that crossover. I currently use my now 13 year old ASUS i7-based laptop at 1080p and it struggles in high rider events for obvious reasons but I can at least run other Windows low-demand programs with Zwift concurrently and would prefer to keep it that way. I know a mid-level desktop would do the same, just looking for opinions/experiences here. Thanks folks and Happy Holidays!
I have a mini PC that I will be running some tests on. So stay tuned for that one.
@@SmartBikeTrainers Thanks Tariqh, that's excellent! - Bob (Toronto Canada)
Isn’t there also a monthly fee for the Apple Tv, on top of the monthly Zwift fee?
The Apple TV 4K is a standalone device, completely separate from the Apple TV streaming app. You don’t need a subscription to use the device itself. The Apple TV app, on the other hand, is a streaming service that does require a subscription-but you don’t need it to run Zwift or use other apps on the Apple TV 4K device. Honestly, I wish Apple had given them different names to not confuse everyone 😆
No. You are likely thinking of Apple TV+, which is a subscription streaming service (like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus). You do not need to subscribe to Apple TV+ to use Zwift on the Apple TV.
You realise you dont need to fork out $599 for the M4 Mac mini? You can get exactly the same smooth 60fps and HD performance from the base Mac Mini M1 OR M2 for much cheaper as they would be on sale in some parts. M4 is overkill at the moment and isn't needed yet.