What hardware do I need to set up a new Mac mini?

all you need is a bluetooth keyboard, mac mini will detect it, connect and talk to you through the built-in speaker. this is my experience setting up mac mini m4.

Unless you're using a Apple branded Bluetooth keyboard, any other Bluetooth keyboard may not connect automatically during the initial setup process.

I have a Logitech MX Keys keyboard and when I tried to setup my M4 Mac Mini last December, my keyboard didn't connect at all. In order to use a Bluetooth keyboard to connect during the initial setup process, you'd have to have your Mac Mini connected to a monitor or TV in order to get the pairing code.

If you have a wired keyboard lying around, then one of those will work perfectly, but you may need to use one that has a USB-C, or if you only have a USB-A keyboard, then you'd need to get a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

I don't recall if I was able to setup my MX Keys during the initial setup process, but you can always go to the System Settings, under Keyboard and set it up once you've gotten passed the setup and are at the desktop.

I recall asking ChatGPT prior to getting my Mac, and it too said that I'd be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard during the setup process and that the Mac would detect it automatically, but sadly, it appeared that it had hallucinated once again.

As for speakers, the Mac Mini does have a built-in speaker, so you can easily set it up using the built-in speaker, but you can connect speakers if you prefer. The only draw back is that the headphone jack is in the front though. Don't know why Apple didn't put it in the back, or at least add a second jack in the back. I primarily use mine using the built-in speaker, as I find it sounds pretty good on its own.

As for connecting a monitor or HDMI dongle, I don't think you need either as I've been running mine without either and haven't had any issues. If you wish to setup WhatsApp though, you will need to connect your Mac Mini to a monitor or TV so you can scan the barcode using your iPhone, but you only need to do this once to setup and, as of yet, I haven't had to do this again.

That is probably the only draw back of not using a monitor, if an app requires you to scan something on the screen, then you'd need to connect it to one.

The only things you may want to connect, if you want, is a microphone or webcam.

As for a microphone, I've been using a Sennheiser Game One, connected via the headphone jack in the front, that has worked perfectly fine. I've also been using my Focusrite VOCaster 2 interface without any issues.

As for a camera, you can either use your iPhone or even connect a webcam to your Mac Mini. I don't use my Mac Mini for video calls, so haven't felt the need to connect a camera to it, but I do do make Facetime calls or join Zoom meetings on occasion, hence why I use either the Sennheiser headset or VOCaster interface.

HTH!

The only thing you technically need is a wired keyboard and power. Apple fixed that ridiculous mouse bug, and I'm pretty sure the issues that used to be present if you didn't have a monitor connected are now a thing of the past as well.

Just to give you an idea, here's what I've got.

I used a USB-A 5-port hub with my old Mac. New Macs don't have USB-A, so I bought a single USB-A to USB-C adapter. I plug all my USB-A peripherals into the hub, plug the hub into the adapter, and plug the adapter into the M4. Problem solved.

I have a monitor for those times when I just need help from someone with a pair of eyeballs. I continue to use the same VGA to lightning adapter I have used for years. I connect to the monitor, keyboard, and mouse through a switchbox. The monitor cable comes in through the VGA to lightning adapter. The keyboard and mouse cables come through the USB hub.

Also coming in through the hub are a webcam, external audio, and external backup drive.

There are plenty of USB-C ports. I've got a simple cable in one for charging my iPhone. And a second external audio device plugged into another. Still, it feels like I've got two unused ports. Luxury.

I just checked, and the only other cables coming into my m4 are for power and network.

Enjoy!