Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | HP - Z2 Mini G1a | Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 64 GB | 24 GB |
| Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB |
| TDP | 120 W | 65 W |
| Volume | 2.7 L | 0.34 L |
Between the Z2 Mini G1a and Mac mini M4 Pro, the Z2 Mini G1a comes out ahead in ram / storage, while the Mac mini M4 Pro wins on tdp / volume. Overall, the Z2 Mini G1a scores 60.1 and the Mac mini M4 Pro scores 69.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Mac mini M4 Pro is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 9.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Z2 Mini G1a if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are ram, storage. The single most decisive one: RAM — 166.67% more. 64 GB vs 24 GB.
Pick the Mac mini M4 Pro if you care most about tdp / volume. Its strongest claims are tdp, volume. The single most decisive one: TDP — 55.00 W less. 65 vs 120.
Both ship with comparable thunderbolt, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Mac mini M4 Pro is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: HP - Z2 Mini G1a or Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro?
Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro leads the current Mars Score by 9.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare ram, storage, volume, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose HP - Z2 Mini G1a if…
HP - Z2 Mini G1a has the measurable edge on ram gb, storage gb.
Choose Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro if…
Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro has the measurable edge on tdp w, volume l.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why HP - Z2 Mini G1a wins
- ▲RAM — 166.67% more. 64 GB vs 24 GB.
- ▲Storage — 100.00% more. 1024 GB vs 512 GB.
Why Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro wins
- ▲TDP — 55.00 W less. 65 vs 120.
- ▲Volume — 2.36 L less. 0.34 vs 2.7.
Spec comparison
Core
Form & I/O
| Spec | HP - Z2 Mini G1a | Apple - Mac mini M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 2.7 L | 0.34 Llead |
| Weight | 1.99 kg | 0.73 kglead |
| TDPⓘ | 120 W | 65 Wlead |
| USB ports | 6lead | 5 |
| Thunderboltⓘ | true | true |