Next month, Apple plans to begin the transition of Macs to the new M4 chips, and one of the most anticipated new products will be the updated Mac mini. It will receive a completely new design, several versions with M4 chips, and many other improvements. Here's everything we already know about the new Mac mini.
The new Mac mini design
Mac mini first appeared in 2005, and it received a significant design update in 2010, when it switched to a solid aluminum body. This design has been in place for almost 14 years, but according to Bloomberg, things are about to change. The next version of the Mac mini will be much more compact and will have a design similar to the Apple TV.
For comparison, the dimensions of the Apple TV 4K are as follows:
- Height: 1.2 inches (31 mm)
- Width: 3.66 inches (93 mm)
- Depth: 3.66 inches (93 mm)
New Mac mini will be smaller than its predecessor, but possibly a little taller. Here are the dimensions of the current Mac mini:
- Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm)
- Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)
- Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)
Therefore, the new Mac mini will be almost half the size of its predecessor, which is a significant achievement for the most compact Mac.
Productivity
The Mac mini will be available in two variants: with M4 and M4 Pro chips . This matches the current Mac mini, which comes with the M2 and M2 Pro chips.
According to Bloomberg, the basic M4 chip for the Mac mini will be similar to the one used in the iPad Pro, while the M4 Pro version will receive improved graphics and a larger amount of unified memory. It is not yet known whether the Mac mini will be able to be configured with more RAM than current models.
Connectivity
The current M2-based Mac mini is equipped with the following ports:
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Two USB-A ports
- HDMI
- Ethernet port
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
The M2 Pro version has similar ports, but with four Thunderbolt 4.
The new Mac mini is expected to abandon USB-A and will receive five USB-C ports, three of which will be located on the back panel, and two — on the front for easy access. HDMI, Ethernet and headphone jacks will also be available, and the power supply will remain integrated.
Release date
Apple is expected to hold an event in October to launch the new Macs with with M4 chips. Sales of the Mac mini should begin in November, after the official presentation, which will probably take place near the end of October.