Luke Miani is predicting (based on credible leaks) a new M1x Mac Mini with a minimally redesigned chassis.
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A smaller Mac mini
- Thread starter Hexley
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Well, how about this concept?
Create a new Mac Mini based roughly on the size of the current AppleTV with 4 TB/USB-C, an Ethernet and an HDMI port. Power would be via USB-C just like the MBP.
Have a stripped down version with one TB/USB port (for power) and running TVOS to be the new AppleTV.
Alternately either of these concepts could be powered by the same power supply that is used on the new iMacs, including the premium (ie: extra cost) option of putting the Ethernet port on it.
Yeah, I know this isn't going to happen, the data centers need to retain the current format (which apparently the one Miani describes will be compatible with if the ports line up) but it is fun to wildly speculate!
Now if someone can figure out how to connect a keyboard and mouse to the new AppleTV so it can be hacked to run MacOS I would be on board!
Create a new Mac Mini based roughly on the size of the current AppleTV with 4 TB/USB-C, an Ethernet and an HDMI port. Power would be via USB-C just like the MBP.
Have a stripped down version with one TB/USB port (for power) and running TVOS to be the new AppleTV.
Alternately either of these concepts could be powered by the same power supply that is used on the new iMacs, including the premium (ie: extra cost) option of putting the Ethernet port on it.
Yeah, I know this isn't going to happen, the data centers need to retain the current format (which apparently the one Miani describes will be compatible with if the ports line up) but it is fun to wildly speculate!
Now if someone can figure out how to connect a keyboard and mouse to the new AppleTV so it can be hacked to run MacOS I would be on board!
It's smaller, but doesn't look anything like an Apple TV. 
www.macrumors.com
High-End Mac Mini Said to Feature Thinner Design With 'Plexiglass' Top, Magnetic Power Port
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini with additional ports and featuring the same Apple silicon...
www.macrumors.com
It's smaller, but doesn't look anything like an Apple TV.
High-End Mac Mini Said to Feature Thinner Design With 'Plexiglass' Top, Magnetic Power Port
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini with additional ports and featuring the same Apple silicon...
It looks a lot like the first generation AppleTV... flat, white glossy top... I would not hate that design.
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The inevitable new iMac power brick is a huge step backwards imo, for a device that is already so small. Am I surprised? Nope. This is Apple and their design choices make no sense half the time.It's smaller, but doesn't look anything like an Apple TV.
High-End Mac Mini Said to Feature Thinner Design With 'Plexiglass' Top, Magnetic Power Port
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini with additional ports and featuring the same Apple silicon...
Certainly has, and seems to me that my 2009 Mini (still original form) fits into spaces (and backpacks) easier than the present form. I guess that changing from an external to internal power supply has something to do with that. I reckon the return to an external power supply that has come with the 2021 M1 iMac, will be seen across the board. That, along with the smaller space required for the M series "system on a chip" should result in a smaller form / footprint for future iterations of the Mac Mini.
As for me, a Mac Mini user since the 2005 original arrived on the scene..... Now settled in my home country, transportability is no longer the factor it was, and getting hold of a decent quality 4 or 5 K monitor is not easy where I am at. Now I am leaning toward the convenience (and the Retina display) offered by the 2021 M1 iMac as I look to replace the 2009 Mini (still with the original HDD) in due course.
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IMO, the size of the box containing the future Mini will be dictated by the number and configuration of ports. The external power supply and Mx SOC will allow for a smaller form factor, but inclusion of a decent array of ports will dictate a larger form factor that the current AppleTV box.
I wish Apple would stop making things smaller when they don't really need to be made smaller. It's a great design. That extra space could be used for even bigger heatsync/fan, multiple nvme drives, a sata bay or two..
Well said. It's utterly ridiculous in a desktop. Am I surprised? No. Look at the new iMac - it looks HORRIBLE.
Bolded mine: the issue I have is that currently the AppleTV has the power supply internally, so I see no need to have a Mac mini without an internal power supply, let alone a Mac mini with an external power supply like the new 24" iMac. But that's my personal opinion, obviously, who knows what Apple will do.
Lets see...
- First box - Micro Mini
- Second box - Power Brick
- Third box - Hub for all the ports the (current) mini already lacks and a smaller one won't accommodate
- Keeping the current size and adding the ports a desktop should have
I think home appliances like the Apple TV probably benefit from the power being built in. Much more convenient. When I see a TV with an external power brick I always think it's a cheap option - that view may be outdated though.
The current 2018 Intel Mini (and I guess the M1 mini) is fine for data centres but accessing the internal PSU to replace it is a bit fiddly from looking at various tear downs. Regardless of what people think of adding an external power supply it's far more convenient to replace an external PSU if replacement is required and the data centre guys will be all for minimising down time. And Apple might be able to mitigate having to stock low numbers of an unpopular (but important) part by using economy of scale by re-using the iMac power brick streamlining the parts bin.
And if Apple can engineer it, the ethernet version of the iMac brick could be used to provide Gigabit networking without taking up an existing port, allowing the built in port to be upgraded to 10 Gig with ease.
The iMac PSU (both variants, with or without ethernet) would be fine for both the 24" iMac and a Mac mini (including a more powerful variant) if Apple were looking to re-use that unit for supply chain and convenience purposes. And it makes sense if the Mini was going to be coming in even a subset of colours like the iMac low end SKU.
Clearly, a desktop costing four figures and needing a power brick isn't a "cheap option"...
I can see using an external power supply for several reasons:
- Less internal heat generation
- More internal space for circulation and heat dissipation
- More room for internal components (or reducing case size)
- Externalizing more connections to provide a cleaner aesthetic
Applying these to the Mac Mini is a different story. Discounting the bulk users it would be right up Apple's alley to create a headless desktop computer in a smaller box than the Mini is right now. With the M1 they probably could and keep the internal power supply but imagine how small they could make it with an external supply?
I am also a big fan of the Intel NUC series, I have a couple and they work great. Some of these are much smaller than the Mini, and even the HC one that is a real powerhouse is roughly the same size with huge numbers of I/O, supports up to 6 4K monitors, easily installed RAM and storage. The power brick is almost as big as the computer however so the overall size is much larger. My other NUC however is about the same dimensions as an Apple TV albeit a tad taller to accommodate a 2.5 drive bay. It uses a wall-wart power cord.
On the other hand, just because they CAN doesn't necessarily mean they SHOULD make the Mini smaller. The individual market is probably smaller than the server farm guys and they apparently prefer the form factor as it is so I suspect that is what we are going to get. I would be fine either way as long as it has sufficient I/O.
A Mac mini chassis designed for the low-end Mn-series could be made smaller, but I would still want active cooling...
Tear-down video of the M1 Mac mini desktop shows a decent amount of dead space within...
Tear-down video of the M1 Max MacBook Pro laptop shows a larger overall SoC package size...
I feel the current Mac mini chassis should be okay (with the heat sink / cooling fan beefed up as much as possible within the space allowed) for the M1 Pro / Max SoCs, a taller variant would be needed for a possible M1 Max Duo Mac mini Pro model; more space for a larger heat sink & cooling fan(s)...
Would also allow room for more ports; (6) TB4 (USB-C), (4) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-A), (2) 10Gb Ethernet (RJ-45), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm/optical audio output...
Tear-down video of the M1 Mac mini desktop shows a decent amount of dead space within...
Tear-down video of the M1 Max MacBook Pro laptop shows a larger overall SoC package size...
I feel the current Mac mini chassis should be okay (with the heat sink / cooling fan beefed up as much as possible within the space allowed) for the M1 Pro / Max SoCs, a taller variant would be needed for a possible M1 Max Duo Mac mini Pro model; more space for a larger heat sink & cooling fan(s)...
Would also allow room for more ports; (6) TB4 (USB-C), (4) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-A), (2) 10Gb Ethernet (RJ-45), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm/optical audio output...
Zero interest in a smaller mini.
More robust I/O capabilities? Yes.
M.2 SSD? Yes.
Increased performance and RAM capacity? Yes.
Improved, silent cooling design for the increased power draw? Yes.
Smaller chassis? No.
Brings no benefit, only difficulties in cooling and cramped connectivity. It’s not a laptop, it’s a mains powered computer with a bunch of stuff connected to it. Design it with integrity for what kind of device it actually is rather than crippling it to fit, for instance, an iPad design ethos.
More robust I/O capabilities? Yes.
M.2 SSD? Yes.
Increased performance and RAM capacity? Yes.
Improved, silent cooling design for the increased power draw? Yes.
Smaller chassis? No.
Brings no benefit, only difficulties in cooling and cramped connectivity. It’s not a laptop, it’s a mains powered computer with a bunch of stuff connected to it. Design it with integrity for what kind of device it actually is rather than crippling it to fit, for instance, an iPad design ethos.
I agree, there is no need to shrink the case size any further. The current case size provides a great mix of space for I/O, cooling and internals. I think it is inevitable however that Apple will want to shrink it down in some fashion for aesthetics.
While I have postulated ways that they could (external P/S etc.) what I would prefer for them to do is keep the existing or even add additional I/O to the upcoming designs, along with the SOC upgrades. A list of things they could do without much fuss includes:
While I have postulated ways that they could (external P/S etc.) what I would prefer for them to do is keep the existing or even add additional I/O to the upcoming designs, along with the SOC upgrades. A list of things they could do without much fuss includes:
- Fix the darn Bluetooth once and for all.
- Add an internal M.2 slot so one can add additional storage themselves. Yes, it would not be as fast as that on the main board but it would be easy to add and useful for the consumer.
- Add an SD Card slot, USB-A and USB-C port to the front panel, or even the side (near the front). Have this basic I/O easily accessible can be done without ruining the aesthetic appeal and make life so much easier for us.
- While you are at it add a headphone jack to the front for quick access. I actually choose speakers that have a headphone jack on them since the rear panel one is hard to get at. On my older pair the jack was on the wrong side so I had to reverse the speakers to avoid wires getting in my way during streams, that was more important to me than having the speaker audio coming out the right way. I now use wireless headphones but need a dongle since the Bluetooth sucks so bad my AirPods aren't reliable.
- Fix the darn Bluetooth once and for all.
- Relocate the power switch to someplace where we can find and access it.On the side near the front would be fine, just get it off the rear panel and let us turn on the darn thing without being a gymnast.
- Add more I/O. Don't just move some of the ports to the front, add them. While you are at it add a couple more USB-A and C ports. They don't have to be the latest and greatest TB speeds, 4 TB4 and 2 USB-A 3.x ports are fine, but add a few extra ports for things that do not need to be high speed.
- Have some of the USB ports remain powered when the computer is off. Let us charge our phones, watches and AirPods off it.
- Add wireless charging to the top panel. Let me park my phone on top of the computer overnight and charge it up. Make sure that they remains powered when the computer is off as well.
- Fix the darn Bluetooth once and for all.
- Give us a Magic Mouse with a charging port that allows us to use it while charging. Put the lightning port on the forward facing side like the keyboard has. Since the mouse usually needs to be charged more often than the keyboard anyway it just makes sense. This has to be Apple's biggest (and easiest to fix) design flaw existing. My MX Master3 has this and I forget that it is plugged in sometimes.
- Add a second Ethernet jack, perhaps as part of the higher tier model. I don't need it but there are use cases for it from others. In fact the added I/O and wireless charging can all be part of the higher tier model.
- Fix the darn Bluetooth once and for all.
my only beef with the mini since 2012 is the power chord protracts too much in the back.
but this also give ample room for the usb, HDMI and easy access to the sd card.
seems to me the Mac mini is an incredible computer that looks beautiful and perform well!
but this also give ample room for the usb, HDMI and easy access to the sd card.
seems to me the Mac mini is an incredible computer that looks beautiful and perform well!