Optimal accessories for the latest Mac Mini models

Hard to say without knowing what you use with your current Mac mini.

The Mac mini can be run fine without any accessories beyond a monitor, keyboard and mouse you already have and are using with your current Mac mini.

If you have several USB-A devices, you'll likely want a dock or hub. If you plan on using multiple monitors, then a Thunderbolt Dock.

click here ➜ UGREEN Thunderbolt 4 Dock 8-in-1 40Gbps TB4 Hub 3 x TB 4 Dual 4K@60Hz or Single 8K Display, 85W Charging, Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x USB A 3.2 - Amazon.com

or here ➜ Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock with 120Gbps Max Transfer, Thunderbolt Dock with 140W Max Charging, Cooling System, Up to 8K, Dual Display for TBT 5/4 - Amazon.com

Purchase a new external drive that is 2 - 3 times the capacity of your new Mac mini internal drive. Format that external drive as APFS (unencrypted), and configure for hourly time machine backups. Recommend an appropriate drive from OWC as they are known to be Mac compatible. I have no business or financial relationship with Otherworld Computing, though I am a past satisfied customer.

See den.thed's comments.

Any scanner you were using with that 2014 Mac mini likely no longer has vendor driver support for macOS Tahoe or later on the new Mac mini. I use a Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 flatbed scanner which is Apple AirPrint compatible. No need for vendor drivers as it is immediately compatible with Apple's Image Capture, or the optional VueScan Professional.

1) Do not buy a new Mac mini with less Storage Space than you currently have.

Mac - Which Mac is best for me? - Apple

Buy Mac mini - Apple

2) Most of your older USB devices will work, but you'll need some USB-A to USB-C adapters.

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PDLQ555/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z768LCW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?

3) For some helpful support articles:

Set up your Mac mini - Apple Support

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

If you need help with anything else, then you'll need to be more specific.

You may find that you need to user higher grade cables to connect external displays & drives when using macOS 26.x Tahoe which is the current version of macOS on the new Macs. And those cables should be less than one meter in length.

Ever since macOS 26.x Tahoe was released in Sept. 2025 we have seen a lot people on this forum needing to replace their manufacturer supplied accessory cables (or lower end cables/adapters they may have purchased themselves) with better quality cables. Many times the manufacturer cables included with their products such as displays & external drives are just low quality anyway.