Every time Apple releases a new product, some people rush to online corners like Reddit, Threads, and X to complain about the latest design choices. The case with the new Mac mini is no different. Although the device features a miniature and sleek build, many vocal critics have focused on the repositioned power button that now resides on its underside. It’s classic Apple: design something beautiful and impressive, but all anyone wants to talk about is a head-scratching decision.

I am here to tell you that these complaints are completely unfounded. Let me explain.

Hidden by design

Believe it or not, the power button is mostly useless on modern Macs. Yes, you need it to turn it on when you first unbox it. However, if you use your computer correctly, you will rarely need to rely on it beyond this point.

Unlike older PCs or other brand machines, you’re supposed to keep your Mac on at all times. Newer versions of macOS running on Apple’s M-series chipsets are extremely efficient and are not designed to be shut down daily or even regularly.

Apple

I keep my MacBook Air M2 on overnight and its battery percentage almost never drops while hibernating. macOS automatically puts all unnecessary tasks to sleep, ensuring that no intensive background activity drains its power when not in use, and Apple silicon is extremely efficient. So leaving your Mac on all night won’t significantly increase your electricity bill or make your Mac wear out faster.

If your Mac mini M4 is running or lagging for some reason, that’s what the restart (software) option in the Apple menu at the top left is for. Unless your computer completely freezes (and this shouldn’t happen regularly on M4 Macs), you won’t need to press the bottom button.

Beyond the harsh criticism, a group of creative minds stood up to solve this staggering problem. Because getting under your Mac mini from time to time is obviously a horribly inconvenient task, they’ve designed an ingenious accessory that snaps into place on your behalf. The 3D printed add-on acts as an extension of the power button, allowing you to press it by applying pressure to the top surface of your Mac. It would have been great if you had to press this button daily, but that’s not the case.

So the end result is a cheap piece of junk sitting on top of a premium, aesthetically pleasing smart box – in an almost insulting way. While I understand that the majority of these users do it as a joke, I’m convinced that there are a few people who will unironically tarnish their beautiful Mac mini with a 3D printed accessory.

The Mac mini M4’s power button serves a similar purpose to the hidden reset buttons found on countless gadgets, usually hidden behind a small pinhole. Luckily, on your Mac, you won’t need a paperclip to press it down, just an inconvenient slight lift.

Also leave the Magic Mouse alone

Since Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2 in 2015, people also attacked its loading port located downstairs. And since the iPhone maker hasn’t overhauled its design with the latest USB-C upgrade, tired memes have resurfaced. Well, I’m here to bravely declare that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way the Magic Mouse charges.

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While, yes, you obviously can’t use the Magic Mouse while it’s charging, most people don’t seem to be aware of how quickly it recharges its battery. Plugging it in for just a few minutes can give you 8-9 hours of use. So even if you somehow miss the low battery alerts, it can help you get through a workday while you brew your coffee.

Meanwhile, a full charge, which only takes about two hours, can last you about a month’s use. No matter how hard you work, I’m pretty sure you can put in a few hours every couple of weeks.

The Apple Watch is also useless when charging, but we don’t hear anyone complaining about that. Not all gadgets are designed for continuous use. The Magic Mouse follows Apple’s modern, sleek design language and is not marketed or intended to be the most practical or ergonomic option. Fortunately, macOS supports thousands of third-party mice with distinct designs and features that meet every expectation and need. So you’ll never have to see a Magic Mouse charging with its belly exposed if it bothers you that much.

These arguments are exhausted

In an interview published this week on Chinese video sharing site BilibiliApple vice presidents Greg Joswiak and John Ternus blamed the power button fiasco on the Mac mini’s size and defended the location as being in the most convenient position. This isn’t just company talk: Reviews of Magic Mouse and the M4 Mac mini mostly come from ignorant users or those who have never gotten their hands on one. If they had known how these devices worked, all their arguments would collapse before their eyes.

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Yes, the Mac mini’s power button is placed in an unintuitive place. But once you realize you don’t need to press it every day, its location starts to make sense. Likewise, the Magic Mouse can look memorable when charging on his back. However, taking into account its long battery life and fast charging justifies this design choice. And of course, both products look cleaner because they hide those “imperfections” on their hidden sides.

Apple is far from perfect. But instead of focusing on trivial details, let’s focus our collective feedback on bigger flaws that we think the company should fix, like why doesn’t the Mac mini come in Space Black?