New Mac mini M4 - Multi-Mac Setup with Universal Control: The Ultimate Productivity Hack?

[Guest /u/IHuz]

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(LEFT)Macbook 12 (Susumi's), (MIDDLE) macbook pro 14 (+external), (RIGHT)base mac mini with 4k lg and another small 120 hz screen I recently set up a multi-Mac workflow using Apple’s Universal Control, and it’s been a game-changer for my productivity. Here’s a look at my setup and why I went this route. My Setup: [iCODE]• **MacBook Pro 14” M1** – main device • **Mac Mini (M4 base model)** – handles coding and heavy tasks • **MacBook 12”** –just for testing • **Network Splitter / mac mini 2014** – hardwired to the new M4 Mac Mini to improve connectivity (Hotspot is limiting the function on the device which shares the internet) [/iCODE] Theoretically, I could link up to nine screens by adding multiple displays to each Mac. (Not tested—my budget isn’t that wild! ) I had the pain questions: if I buy the M4 Pro Mac mini, I could buy 3 base models... is this worth it? My work doesnt need it right now and I brought the base Model, so I cvan sell it later or add another Mac mini (base or even m4 pro if i really need that juice) Why I Built This Setup: [iCODE]1. **Offloading Work**: My MacBook Pro was hitting memory limits, but the cost of a 64GB upgrade was out of reach. I went with multiple Macs instead for efficient task distribution. 2. **Cost vs. Power**: Rather than one powerful device, I wanted to see if multiple Macs with Universal Control could replicate the efficiency—and it’s working well so far. 3. **Focused Workflows**: Each device has a role: • Mac Mini: Coding, IDEs, Docker • MacBook Pro: Browsing, Safari, GPTs etc • MacBook 12: 3rd Connetion testunit [/iCODE] Initial Impressions This setup is new, but Universal Control makes switching between devices seamless (provided iCloud and Handoff are configured right). I also have Synergy as a backup, but Apple’s integration is definitely smoother. Downsides The only downside is that I can’t combine all the power into one task, but this setup offloads work efficiently. Plus, the modularity of using multiple devices is oddly satisfying. TL;DR: Tried a 3-Mac setup with Universal Control to distribute tasks and save on costs. Anyone else experimenting with setups like this? Its crazy. Susu just got her first MacBook! submitted by /u/IHuz [link] [comments]