Tim Hardwick
Apple’s Mac mini has long been a compact powerhouse, offering impressive performance in a small frame. With rumors of a completely redesigned new model likely to be announced in just a few days, anticipation is growing for what Apple has in store.
From improved connectivity to major hardware upgrades, the upcoming Mac mini promises to bring significant improvements that will make it more compelling than ever. Here are five reasons to look forward to the next generation of this beloved small form factor desktop.
A Major Redesign
Apple is planning to introduce completely redesigned Mac mini models, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The new Mac mini will be the first major redesign of the machine since 2010 and is expected to be Apple’s smallest desktop computer yet. The shrunken machine will retain its aluminum chassis and will be comparable in size to the Apple TV, though it is expected to be taller. People working on the new device are reported to say that it is “essentially an iPad Pro in a small box.”
5 USB-C ports
According to Mark Gurman and a leaked Apple report, the next Mac mini is expected to feature five USB-C ports. Like the Mac Studio, two of those ports are expected to be located on the front. It’s likely that some of them will support Thunderbolt 4, using the same USB-C interface. However, the full set of five ports may only be available on the M4 Pro versions of the Mac mini.
M4 chip
The next Mac mini will come in M4 and M4 Pro configurations, a significant step up from the current M2 and M2 Pro models. Like the M3, the M4 is built on a 3nm process, but with improvements from Apple supplier TSMC for better performance and power efficiency. The M4 also includes an improved Neural Engine, which accelerates AI workloads. Apple says it’s the company’s most powerful Neural Engine yet, capable of performing 38 trillion operations per second, so there’s plenty of room for faster compute speeds.
16GB of base RAM
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in August that Apple has tested four new Mac models equipped with the M4 chip, and all have either 16GB or 32GB of combined memory. The adequacy of 8GB of RAM in a Mac has been a contentious issue for more than a decade. This has left Apple vulnerable to criticism from users who feel that 8GB is not enough RAM for most creative professional workflows, so the news that 16GB is likely to be the new minimum is sure to be a welcome development.
Apple Intelligence
Apple is expected to emphasize the AI capabilities of the M4 series of chips, and the first Apple Intelligence features are expected to arrive with the release of macOS Sequoia 15.1 on October 28, which roughly coincides with the expected announcement of the Mac mini. The initial release will focus on new Siri features, smart replies in Mail and Messages, priority messages in Mail, Memory Movie and Clean Up in Photos, and more, with additional features coming in phased updates over the next few months.
Release Timing
Apple is expected to unveil the new Mac mini before the end of October, with a launch in early November. In his final word on the topic, Gurman said Apple is planning an “M4 Mac launch” for next week, but he didn’t give a specific date. What are you looking forward to with the updated model? Let us know in the comments.
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