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M4 Mac Mini: Everything we know so far

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M4 Mac Mini: Everything we know so far

M2 Mac Mini, released in 2023 best macs For users who prefer a portable and capable desktop computer. Now Apple is preparing to launch a new Mac Mini that makes a huge leap forward in terms of performance, power and efficiency. Cupertino technology will abandon the M3 option and move from M2 to the flagship M4 chipset. The upcoming M4 Mac Mini is expected to be the first major redesign of Apple’s most compact desktop in 14 years. Thanks to the M4 processor, the upcoming Mini could redefine what a compact desktop can do. This means we could finally see a new-look Mac Mini that looks more modern and suits consumers’ needs. Here’s everything we know about Apple’s upcoming M4 Mac Mini.

A More Compact Design

Apple hasn’t redesigned the Mac Mini in over a decade, and its current appearance dates back to 2010. Fortunately, this will change soon. Apple will offer the first design refresh to the Mac Mini since the Steve Jobs era. Yes, Apple is ready to slim down the Mac Mini for a more compact and space-saving design.

According to Mark GurmanThe upcoming Mac Mini will be Apple’s smallest desktop computer ever, so compact it’ll be nearly the size of an Apple TV. This means the upcoming Mac Mini could have a sleek, minimal aesthetic like the Apple TV. For reference, the dimensions of the M2 Mac Mini are 197 x 197 x 35.8 mm. Apple TV 4K, on ​​the other hand, is more stylish and compact with dimensions of 93 x 93 x 31 mm.

While the M4 Mac Mini is likely to have an Apple TV-like footprint, the Mini is expected to be slightly taller than the current “Mac Mini.” The height of the M2 Mac Mini is 1.4 inches, which is quite short. Therefore, a slight increase in height should not affect overall portability. Despite its reduced size, the M4 Mac Mini is expected to offer improved thermal performance. There are rumors that Apple is actively working on ways to improve cooling efficiency so that the machine can maintain optimal performance without a fan. This will not only provide quieter performance, but will also ensure that the Mini is capable of handling demanding tasks without experiencing overheating issues.

Processor

The biggest highlight of the upcoming Mac Mini will be the inclusion of the M4 processor, the latest in Apple’s custom Silicon lineup. The new Mac Mini will be introduced in vanilla M4 and flagship M4 Pro versions, and Apple will skip the M3 series entirely. This will allow for increased performance and increased power efficiency.

M4 chip debuted with iPad Pro released in May 2024. This brand new chip is built on second-generation 3nm technology, making it more powerful and capable than its predecessors. The M4 chip offers 2 times faster performance than the M2 and is claimed to be an extremely powerful chip for artificial intelligence.

The M4 chip has a 10-core CPU with ML accelerators and a 10-core GPU with ray tracing capabilities. There is also an M4 variant with a 9-core CPU, but it is speculated that Apple will not use this for the “Mac mini”, instead we might see it in the iPad Pro and future MacBook Air. The M4 chip also features a more advanced 16-core Neural Engine as well as ML accelerators, making the chip a powerhouse for AI tasks. There are currently no concrete details about the M4 Pro processor, but users will definitely have a CPU option (like the current model). As a result, we can expect faster performance and better efficiency, which is critical for a compact machine like the Mini.

5 USB-C Ports

The current M2 Mac Mini includes four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, as well as an HDMI, a headphone jack, and Gigabit Ethernet. According to Mark Gurman and several other sources, the upgraded M4 Mac Mini is likely to come with five USB-C ports, which seems like an improvement.

Gurman also stated that two of the USB-C ports will be located on the front of the new Mac mini, just like on the Mac Studio. Additionally, at least some of these USB-C ports need to be Thunderbolt 4 ports. If this turns out to be true, Thunderbolt 4 will enable faster 40Gbps data transfer speeds and dual 6K display support; This will make the M4 Mac Mini the best choice for users who need to work with high-end accessories and multiple displays.

However, Apple will remove the USB-A port to make room for the fifth USB-C port. This means you can’t use your USB-A accessories without a compatible adapter. It’s currently unclear what Apple will do with the additional ports. Apple may try disabling the HDMI port, as it did on the MacBook Pro in 2016, but this move was not well-liked. So, they had to reintroduce key ports like HDMI and card readers on the MacBook Pro in 2021.

Storage and Memory

The new Mac Mini is expected to mark an entry with multiple storage and memory configurations. The M4 Mini may start with 16GB of RAM instead of 8GB, which will support Apple Intelligence features. RAM options can go up to 32 GB or even 64 GB to serve power users. Talking about storage options, the base model may come with 256GB capacity; while the maxed out model can go up to 2TB and provide ample storage for all your files and apps.

Performance Upgrades and Additional Features

It is inevitable that the new Mac Mini, which will be released with the built-in M4 processor, will provide a significant performance increase compared to its predecessors. We can expect it to offer faster processing speeds that can easily handle everything from everyday tasks to more demanding computing tasks like video editing, 3D rendering and more. The improved 10-core GPU will also be an invaluable addition for gamers and creative professionals who need high-quality graphics. The new Mac Mini M4 will be a solid option for machine learning and AI enthusiasts, as the M4 chip is designed for AI. It looks like the Mac Mini is poised to become one of Apple’s best compact machines.

M4 Mac Mini Price Estimate

The previous rumor suggested a late 2024 or early 2025 release date for the M4 Mac Mini. A. Mark Gurman’s latest report It indicates that Apple could launch the M4 Mac mini in October 2024, along with the M4 MacBook Pros and M4 iMac. Apple also has a history of refreshing Mac hardware in the fall, which is around October or November.

So the October release date overlaps with the past date. Gurman noted that most M4 Macs have already started shipping from factories. The only exceptions are the high-end MacBook Pros and the Mac Mini with M4 Pro. He also believes that the M4 MacBook Air is planned to be released in the first quarter of 2025, and the new Mac Studio will arrive in mid-2025. However, the new Mac Pro will be released before the end of 2025.

There’s currently no clue as to how much the M4 Mac Mini will cost. However, Gurman once noted that the new Mac Mini “might be cheaper to make.” This means we could see an affordable Mini.

But considering the AI ​​features and improved RAM, we can’t rule out the possibility that the M4 Mac Mini could have a similar or even higher starting price than the M2 Mac Mini.

That’s all we know about the M4 Mac Mini. Considering all the rumors and leaks, the upcoming Mini looks like an ideal option for professionals and creatives who need a powerful yet space-saving desktop. We will update this article as new leaks become available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!