Amazon Leaks Smaller Mac Mini With M4 and M4 Pro Chips, Two Front USB-C Ports, Up to 64GB of RAM, and More

[Heelpir8]

The AppleTV doesn't even use IR, it's bluetooth.

If you're actually talking about the Mac Mini, past models have had an IR receiver.

 

[Realityck]

According to a comparison chart on Amazon's product listing for the new iMac, the new Mac mini will be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options, with up to a 14-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU. In addition, the chart indicates the new Mac mini can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM, which is double the current 32GB limit for unified memory. Storage capacities for the Mac mini will apparently continue to max out at 8TB, like the previous model.

Sounds nice, enough to grab some Mac Studio prospects with that M4 Pro with 20 core GPU and 64 GB RAM.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Steve would be pissed.

This is the same day Apple publicly launched a new feature with a waitlist. Steve has rolled so many times in his grave he has worn through the bottom of it.

 

[Algr]

How can there still be management at Apple thinking it's a good idea to give out information to other companies like Amazon?

Apple managed to prevent dumb leaks on their own site, but now let's give everything to Amazon, they're sure to keep it under wraps.

If this is to be announced tomorrow, then I don't think it will be such a big deal. Still might fire someone though.

 

[Serqetry]

We're talking about a new Mac Mini here. Not a new Apple TV.

No kidding? Yes I know that, I was doubting Apple would put a sensor on the Mac Mini that isn't even on the Apple TV... But...

And the Apple TV does have an IR receiver. See:

Apple TV 4K - Technical Specifications

View the tech specs for Apple TV 4K and the Siri Remote — including size, weight, capacity, ports, and more.

www.apple.com

Ok, I stand corrected. But I don't understand what it's for then, since it uses bluetooth. I can do everything with my Siri remote with my AppleTV behind a closed door. I know the Siri remote can output IR for controlling your TV, but I'm not sure why the AppleTV needs an IR receiver.

 

[Siliconguy]

I just wish the GPU’s could keep up with current gen Nvidia. Would make things like After Effects more enjoyable on M Series chips.

Nvidia video cards pull way more power than a mini could dissipate.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

No kidding? Yes I know that, I was doubting Apple would put a sensor on the Mac Mini that isn't even on the Apple TV... But...


Ok, I stand corrected. But I don't understand what it's for then, since it uses bluetooth. I can do everything with my Siri remote with my AppleTV behind a closed door. I know the Siri remote can output IR for controlling your TV, but I'm not sure why the AppleTV needs an IR receiver.

Universal remotes.

 

[Serqetry]

If you're actually talking about the Mac Mini, past models have had an IR receiver.

View attachment 2443499

What the hell? Why??

I've never seen one of those before.

 

[danpass]

My M1 Mini may finally have met it's match in the Insta360 Studio program and that is only recently in the past couple of months as this M1 has been rock solid since Dec 2020.

The only thing I've ever wanted more of is RAM.

 

[techfreak23]

Waiting until they bring back space gray to upgrade my 2018 Intel Mac mini…

 

[roblin]

So what are you guys going for?

Considering my option. Is there any reason to go iMac for dual display setup or Mini the way?

Mini + 2x27” Studio > iMac 24” + 27”

 

[Serqetry]

Universal remotes.

Oh. Ok, that makes sense I guess. For the Apple TV anyway.

 

[techfreak23]

What the hell? Why??

I've never seen one of those before.

Must be before your time. Most Macs had an IR receiver for the old school Apple Remotes (the white plastic one, then the silver aluminum remote before the Siri Remote). It was really only used for Keynote and for media playback.

 

[Analog Kid]

If this is to be announced tomorrow, then I don't think it will be such a big deal. Still might fire someone though.

How does Amazon figure out who to fire? Best they can do is walk out into the bullpen, point at someone randomly, and tell them to pack up. "Let your firing forever be on the conscience of whoever was responsible."

 

[dgdosen]

I can see these being a Costco impulse buy...

 

[Heelpir8]

If you're actually talking about the Mac Mini, past models have had an IR receiver.

View attachment 2443499

What the hell? Why??

I've never seen one of those before.

Yep, 2011 through 2014 models. They used to be thought of more as kind of a hobby box/media center connection point I guess. The 2014 was the first model for which the RAM and hard drives couldn't be swapped out. Everything came soldered for the first time.

Identify your Mac mini model - Apple Support

Learn all the ways to identify your Mac mini model.

support.apple.com

 

[novagamer]

I just wish the GPU’s could keep up with current gen Nvidia. Would make things like After Effects more enjoyable on M Series chips.

M4 Ultra will very likely be competitive with current-gen nvidia. I expect parity within 3-4 years at the latest for all use cases.

The low end computers will never have massive graphics capability, but they never have. The 5090 will cost $2,000-$2,500 alone, and use more power than 2 Mac Studios.

If Apple accelerates their timeline on the quad, which I think may come with M5 via stacked dies, this timeline could change drastically. But an iMac is never going to beat out a high-end PC desktop in workstation loads, and most people don’t need that power.

What Apple did with graphics performance thus far is fairly impressive, it takes a ton to break into that market even with top talent, Intel has tried multiple times for almost 20 years and hasn’t been able to pull it off.

My main complaint with the Apple Silicon architecture, outside of the security issues (that M4 resolves correctly), is that they don’t put more neural compute on the higher-end SoCs. They absolutely should so they can market their AI capability for research work, it’s absurd that you need to buy an Ultra in order to get a faster neural engine than the iPad. I don’t have a prediction whether they will address this, I want to say yes, but I’ve seen zero indication they’re moving in that direction. We’l see.

 

[thelookingglass]

I might have to trade in my current Mac mini for this new one.

 

[techfreak23]

Yep, 2011 through 2014 models. They used to be thought of more as kind of a hobby box/media center connection point I guess. The 2014 was the first model for which the RAM and hard drives couldn't be swapped out. Everything came soldered for the first time.

Identify your Mac mini model - Apple Support

Learn all the ways to identify your Mac mini model.

support.apple.com

It wasn’t just the Mac minis. The MacBooks also had them.

 

[chucker23n1]

It wasn’t just the Mac minis. The MacBooks also had them.

It started with the October 2005 iMac with iSight, which included Front Row, which morphed into the UI for the Apple TV. Eventually, Front Row disappeared, and then the IR receivers.

 

[Logic368]

Wild guess, but that black dot on the right side might be a camera. Maybe even for faceid!

 

[Smartuser]

If this is to be announced tomorrow, then I don't think it will be such a big deal. Still might fire someone though.

Historically, most leaks have happened the night before or so. The Mac mini is of course not such a big deal, but this is still beyond stupid.

 

[Rychiar]

The starting price for the base level Mac mini is $599.

Unless you're talking about the $499 price through the education store

It’s 499 on Amazon and many other sites 90% of the time I can’t even fathom why anyone would pay 599 for it

 

[roland.g]

Sounds like this puts the M4 Mac Mini with enough RAM above my M1 Mac Studio which I bought because the M1 Mac Mini was so RAM limited.

 

[creediddy]

My guess....

Mac Mini M4 16GB/256GB = $799
Mac Mini M4 32GB/512GB/1TB/2TB= $999, $1299, $1799

Mac Mini M4 Pro 32GB/1TB/2TB/4TB= $1499, $1999, $2499
Mac Mini M4 Pro 64GB/2TB/4TB/8TB= $1799, $2299, $2799

Watch these prices stick