Any compelling reasons to wait for the M1 Max Mini (vs. ordering M1 Max MBP now)?

[sillycyber]

The new MBP M1 Max is a beast that outperforms the current M1 Mini, without fan noise being an issue (which is a big deal).

Leads to the question, is the forthcoming Mac Mini M1 Max reasonably be expected to substantially outperform the new MBP pros?

Will the anticipated gains be enough to offset the advantages of the portability of the MBP, or would such gains be more likely much later, or in a much more expensive desktop model? (Like an M1 Mac Pro)?


Is Apple likely to use the exact same M1 Max chips, or is it thought Apple will desktop-optimize and increase the beefiness of the M1 Max chip for desktop use?

• More CPU cores?
• Increase CPU speed?
• More GPU cores?
• Increate memory bandwidth?
• Increase the single core speed?
• Increase the memory capacity?

I don't want to find out after getting the MBP that for the same price (or substantially less), I could get a Mini in a few months that trounces the M1 Max MBP in performance.

These questions are from standpoint of a software developer (XCode compilation) working mostly at a desktop with multiple monitors, doing frequent light 2D graphics work, with occasional need or interest in modest video editing or 3D rendering. Obviously in this case more and faster CPU cores would be the most noticeable improvement that might influence the decision.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

There's really no guarantee that the mini will ever have a Max-labeled chip. They could possibly be reserving those for only the Pro computers.

 

[JEuro2285]

I ordered an M1 Mini last week, there's no guarantee that they are bringing these 2 new chips to the mini. Some rumors are that they won't until the M2 comes out, but who the heck knows. They're keeping us on our toes

 

[sillycyber]

They're keeping us on our toes

The problem is, ballerinas tend to wind up broken and arthritic way too young.

 

[JEuro2285]

The problem is, ballerinas tend to wind up broken and arthritic way too young.

that is true my friend

 

[robertosh]

There's really no guarantee that the mini will ever have a Max-labeled chip. They could possibly be reserving those for only the Pro computers.

Maybe yes (sadly). The only thing that could save us is that they would need to put a Max if they want to offer the 64G option (as they offer today on the high-end intel)

 

[frou]

Maybe it's just me, but I like to avoid having to think about how well a battery is being treated/ageing, and so go with a desktop system whenever practical. Also clamshell mode is seemingly never going to be 100% bulletproof in terms of reliability.

 

[jerryk]

Thanks for asking this question. I am very seriously thinking of buying a Mini as a low-cost second desktop system, and have the same issue.

I also imagine if they were to put the Max or other high-end SOC in a Mini it would get pretty expensive.

 

[mcnallym]

I am hoping that they ship a mini with the M1 Pro/Max as would replace my MM2018 and i9900K/RX580 hack with one machine.
Currently hack and games pc share a monitor with mini on a FIT4KHeadless HDMI and screensharing so don't need a monitor from Apple.

Don't need portability as on the road then consume so iPad is perfectly fine for me.

 

[weaztek]

Leads to the question, is the forthcoming Mac Mini M1 Max reasonably be expected to substantially outperform the new MBP pros?

Will the anticipated gains be enough to offset the advantages of the portability of the MBP, or would such gains be more likely much later, or in a much more expensive desktop model? (Like an M1 Mac Pro)?

My guess is a Mini would have similar numbers-just as the original M1 Mini and M1 MBP shared so many components. I wouldn't see why they wouldn't do that again.

Portability is very much a personal choice. My preference is to come home, fire up my Mini on a large, calibrated monitor with full-sized, wired keyboard and mouse and work on my comfy chair. I can get by with my iPad, or ancient MBP if I have to go somewhere.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OP, only Apple can answer your question(s). So this is basically a thread of guesses. Here's my guess: I'm shaky that Apple rolls out MAX in Mini (though I would be VERY INTERESTED in that too). It seems plausible the next Mini gets an M2 (not Pro or Max)... better than M1 but not quite PRO or MAX.

However, it COULD. If it does, it will likely be priced accordingly (meaning along with "most powerful mini ever" will come "highest priced mini ever," probably at a relatively shocking level)... and that could get right up into the general zone of MBpro MAX pricing, minus maybe something for not also shipping a monitor/keyboard/trackpad.

To the question of will a Mac Mini with MAX have more MAX power than MAX in these MBpros? I would bet large that it will not. If Mini gets MAX, I would guess it's the very same MAX chip used here, not clocked faster, with added cores, or something else extra like that.

In another thread, someone speculated that there would be another tier beyond MAX for maybe an iMac Pro and/or Mac Pro... but my guess is that M2 MAX goes into the next Mac Pro revamp (this time next year) or maybe 2 or 4 of them linked together to work as a group (and this box might be the rumored Mac Pro Jr size instead of the size of the one available now). I would guess no iMac Pro revival but iMac 27"-32" with the same BTO config options as these MBpros.

All just best guesses of course. I'd LOVE to see a Mac Mini MAX, iMac 3X" MAX and Mac Pro Jr M2 MAX. One of THOSE is likely the next Mac I buy myself.

To your other question: buy MAX in MBpro and use it both as laptop and desktop? That's a common use of laptops and these are super-power loaded. So instead of waiting 6+ months to possibly get a Mac Mini MAX (or not), you can have all of the power now and have ONE computer that covers both laptop and desktop bases.

Option B: Get one to have the power for the next 6 months and then, if Apple surprises us with even more powerful MAX chips for desktop computers, you can always sell if you want those and probably get most of the money back for a super-laptop with only 6-months of use. This is the "have your cake and eat it too" option.

 

[Boil]

Leads to the question, is the forthcoming Mac Mini M1 Max reasonably be expected to substantially outperform the new MBP pros?

Is Apple likely to use the exact same M1 Max chips, or is it thought Apple will desktop-optimize and increase the beefiness of the M1 Max chip for desktop use?

• More CPU cores?
• Increase CPU speed?
• More GPU cores?
• Increate memory bandwidth?
• Increase the single core speed?
• Increase the memory capacity?

Apparently these SoCs have no set TDP, with CPU & GPU frequencies seem to be tied to available power & cooling; meaning, if the SoC stays cool enough the speeds can rise?

There's really no guarantee that the mini will ever have a Max-labeled chip. They could possibly be reserving those for only the Pro computers.

I ordered an M1 Mini last week, there's no guarantee that they are bringing these 2 new chips to the mini. Some rumors are that they won't until the M2 comes out, but who the heck knows. They're keeping us on our toes

Maybe yes (sadly). The only thing that could save us is that they would need to put a Max if they want to offer the 64G option (as they offer today on the high-end intel)

If Apple had no plans to place the new M1 Pro / M1 Max SoCs in a Mac mini, they would not still offer the Intel Mac mini. They would have just quietly cancelled it, especially since it was an 8th Gen Intel CPU in a model that debuted in 2018. Plus, there are plenty that might want a more powerful Apple silicon Mac mini & the list is pretty much the same as those who benefit from the new Mac Book Pro laptops, creatives & coders?

And for those users who ever need to render stuff, every Mac mini you upgrade from (to a newer model) becomes a render node, make sure you order the 10Gb Ethernet option!

Thanks for asking this question. I am very seriously thinking of buying a Mini as a low-cost second desktop system, and have the same issue.

I also imagine if they were to put the Max or other high-end SOC in a Mini it would get pretty expensive.

Mac mini

• 10-core CPU (8P/2E)
• 32-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 64GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• 10Gb Ethernet port
• (4) USB-C ports
• (2) USB-A ports
• HDMI 2.0 port
• 3.5mm headphone jack

$2999


Now, here is where I think the Mac mini will go!

And first, a comment on the Mac mini foot print. I believe this has been set at 7.7" x 7.7" since the first Mac mini. The G4 Cube dimensions were 7.7" x 7.7" x 9.8". I feel the constant footprint is a tribute to Steve Jobs? Anyway...

The rumored new thinner (shorter?) Mac mini will be for the M2 SoC, because it requires less cooling (check out a tear-down video on the current M1 Mac mini, some empty space in there). The footprint would stay the same, and I would hope the PSU would stay internal, because it is a good design & the space is there.

The rumored "3x Mac minis stacked" Mac Pro Cube could be a new chassis for a M1 Pro / M1 Max powered Mac mini Pro! Same footprint, but taller for a larger PSU & increased cooling (bigger heat sink / bigger fan). This increased cooling capability will allow the use of the extra power from the PSU, resulting in higher operating frequencies for the CPU & GPU, thereby providing more performance?

The actual Mac Pro Cube would have the same dimensions as the G4 Cube (see above) and options for either a single M1 Max SoC or a dual M1 Max SoC. This dual SoC will be known as the M1 Max Duo. The quad SoC model in the tower Mac Pro will be know as the M1 Max Quadro!

 

[Fishrrman]

"Any compelling reasons to wait for the M1 Max Mini (vs. ordering M1 Max MBP now)?"

Yes.
The m1pro Mini will be MUCH better and worth waiting for.

Buy now, and I predict you will be dissatisfied after the new one is introduced...

 

[opeter]

I think, the Mac mini will get a refesh in 2022 Autumn time in the form of M2 CPU. And I have a feeling, that the M2 SoC will be still weaker, than the M1 Max.

 

[Freeangel1]

Laptops break easy.
expensive to fix.

Mac mini can still be portable with a designed bag. Can even be installed in a car as a media center with a touch screen even.

 

[opeter]

If Apple had no plans to place the new M1 Pro / M1 Max SoCs in a Mac mini, they would not still offer the Intel Mac mini. They would have just quietly cancelled it, especially since it was an 8th Gen Intel CPU in a model that debuted in 2018.

Yes, but they can simply cancel it anytime as they did with the iMac Pro etc.
Without replacing it. At all.

Plus, there are plenty that might want a more powerful Apple silicon Mac mini & the list is pretty much the same as those who benefit from the new Mac Book Pro laptops, creatives & coders?

Sure there will be a powerfull (headless) desktop Mac, but that wont be the Mac mini 2022. And the cost to buy this, whatever it will be called, wil be enormous. Even the base model.

 

[Boil]

I think, the Mac mini will get a refesh in 2022 Autumn time in the form of M2 CPU. And I have a feeling, that the M2 SoC will be still weaker, than the M1 Max.

When the M2 Mac mini debuts (alongside the M2 MacBook Air, which might just be called the MacBook), it will most likely be the slimmer (shorter) model that is rumored; but I would expect a new high-end Mac mini (with a Space Gray chassis, possibly thicker / taller to allow for more thermal headroom) in Spring 2022, alongside an Apple silicon powered (M1 Pro / M1 Max / possible M1 Max Duo) 27" iMac. If no M1 Max Duo, then that might point towards a 32" iMac Pro with the Duo & Quadro SiP offerings?

Yes, but they can simply cancel it anytime as they did with the iMac Pro etc.
Without replacing it. At all.

Sure there will be a powerfull (headless) desktop Mac, but that wont be the Mac mini 2022. And the cost to buy this, whatever it will be called, wil be enormous. Even the base model.

iMac Pro not being replaced is most likely to an Apple silicon model down the line. Why go thru the trouble of getting a new Intel iMac Pro (a unit with lower sales figures than more mainstream Macs) to market when an Apple silicon version might be around the corner?

And it is pretty much an accepted thought that the iMac Pro was only there as damage control for the 2013 Trashcan Mac Pro. Apple thought it might "get away" with the iMac Pro being the top-end for Pro users, but (oddly enough) those Pro users still wanted actual on-board PCIe slots!

So once the 2019 Mac Pro showed up, and Apple knew they were going to move everything over to Apple silicon, no need for the stagnating (in relation to current hardware availabilities) iMac Pro.

As for an "enormous" cost, why would they hyper-inflate the entry cost? Why drive away sales from the beginning? Entry-level Mac Pro units (whether a Mac Pro tower, or a Mac Pro Cube, or a possible 32" iMac Pro) will start around US$5k or so, maybe a bit more for the starter 32" iMac Pro because of the screen & all that?

 

[DFZD]

In all probability M1 Max is not coming to the Mac Mini.

You want to know why I say that?

Because M1 was supposed to replace i5. M1 Pro is supposed to replace i7 and M1 Max is supposed to replace i9.

There has been an i9 Macbook since 2019. (Although it runs really hot).

Also Mac Mini never had a powerful GPU, and Apple doesn't intend to change that, the design is too cube like for that, it needs more surface area to dissipate heat.

So let's still keep our hopes up so we can get a Mac Mini with M1 Pro 10 CPU Cores and 16 GPU Cores.

 

[EntropyQ3]

The one indication that a higher end Mac Mini is coming at all is the continued sales of the higher end intel Minis. If it does, both the M1Pro and M1Max would actually fit the concept well, and offer extended RAM capabilities of the intel Minis among other things. So why isn’t it happening? Is it Apple wanting to assess demand and ensure they don’t run short on SoCs for the MBPs? (Meaning it may or may not come later depending on supply/demand of MBPs?)

I can’t get the known pieces of the puzzle to fit. Releasing a Mini is much easier than a MBP where you have to have screens, BLUs, webcams, notch software fixes, and so forth in place. From a manufacturing standpoint it makes no sense that the Minis should release after the MBPs. I can’t see their plan, which makes me suspect there may not be one.

 

[DFZD]

The one indication that a higher end Mac Mini is coming at all is the continued sales of the higher end intel Minis. If it does, both the M1Pro and M1Max would actually fit the concept well, and offer extended RAM capabilities of the intel Minis among other things. So why isn’t it happening? Is it Apple wanting to assess demand and ensure they don’t run short on SoCs for the MBPs? (Meaning it may or may not come later depending on supply/demand of MBPs?)

I can’t get the known pieces of the puzzle to fit. Releasing a Mini is much easier than a MBP where you have to have screens, BLUs, webcams, notch software fixes, and so forth in place. From a manufacturing standpoint it makes no sense that the Minis should release after the MBPs. I can’t see their plan, which makes me suspect there may not be one.

Macbooks are the bread and butter of Apple's Computer side of things. So they obviously get the most attention from Apple as well as from the Media. It was important to launch them exclusively and ensure smooth supply considering they haven't released a proper Pro macbook in over 2 years now.

I think they will quietly release the Mac Mini high end models with M1 Pro chips, sometime before March.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I just don’t see the Mini getting the Max chip. The mini is a budget Mac and Apple treats it as such. What I think is more plausible is the Mini getting the M2 chip next year and that’s if Apple decides to release it.

 

[Boil]

I just don’t see the Mini getting the Max chip. The mini is a budget Mac and Apple treats it as such. What I think is more plausible is the Mini getting the M2 chip next year and that’s if Apple decides to release it.

The maxed out Intel Mac mini that is still on the Apple Store is not a budget model...

3.2GHz 6-core 8th Gen (Coffee Lake) Intel i7 CPU
64GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM
2TB SSD
10Gb Ethernet
$2999

Once M1 Pro / M1 Max powered Mac minis are released this 2018 model Mac mini will be removed from the Apple Store...

The rumored slimmer (shorter) Mac mini would be for the Mn-series models, the current Mac mini dimensions (maybe even a little taller; bigger heat sink, better fan, more thermal headroom for increased performance) for the Pro / Max models...

I would expect the M1 Pro / M1 Max Mac minis to debut alongside the new 27" iMac sporting the same SoCs...

The slimmer model Mac mini would debut alongside the new 12" & 14" M2 MacBooks (replacing the current M1 powered 13" MacBook Air & 13" MacBook Pro models), probably for the Back to School season...

There are plenty of macOS users who want a powerful desktop Mac, not an AIO or laptop, but also not at the higher cost of a Mac Pro / iMac Pro /Mac Pro Cube...

Mac mini / M1 Max SoC

• 10-core CPU (8P/2E)
• 32-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 64GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• 10Gb Ethernet port
• (4) USB-C ports
• (2) USB-A ports
• HDMI 2.0 port
• 3.5mm headphone jack

$2999

 

[EntropyQ3]

The maxed out Intel Mac mini that is still on the Apple Store is not a budget model...

3.2GHz 6-core 8th Gen (Coffee Lake) Intel i7 CPU
64GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM
2TB SSD
10Gb Ethernet
$2999

Once M1 Pro / M1 Max powered Mac minis are released this 2018 model Mac mini will be removed from the Apple Store...

The rumored slimmer (shorter) Mac mini would be for the Mn-series models, the current Mac mini dimensions (maybe even a little taller; bigger heat sink, better fan, more thermal headroom for increased performance) for the Pro / Max models...

I would expect the M1 Pro / M1 Max Mac minis to debut alongside the new 27" iMac sporting the same SoCs...

The slimmer model Mac mini would debut alongside the new 12" & 14" M2 MacBooks (replacing the current M1 powered 13" MacBook Air & 13" MacBook Pro models), probably for the Back to School season...

There are plenty of macOS users who want a powerful desktop Mac, not an AIO or laptop, but also not at the higher cost of a Mac Pro / iMac Pro /Mac Pro Cube...

Mac mini / M1 Max SoC

• 10-core CPU (8P/2E)
• 32-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 64GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• 10Gb Ethernet port
• (4) USB-C ports
• (2) USB-A ports
• HDMI 2.0 port
• 3.5mm headphone jack

$2999

I hope you’re right. (And while I’m hoping, I might as well hope for saner pricing on RAM and storage as well.) As it stands, the M1 Mini is the only AS stationary mac for sale, and that is unfortunate. It’s nice for what it is, definitely, but it is also very much a first generation product. I’d like something a bit more solid as a platform for my future MacOS computing. (As my mobile computing needs are covered by iOS devices, laptops are redundant for me. Since Apple has been pushing that particular transition, it’s a bit odd that they don’t want to complement their mobile offerings with stationary to-be-connected-to-stuff computers.)

 

[opeter]

The maxed out Intel Mac mini that is still on the Apple Store is not a budget model...

Well, maybe it is still sold on the official Apple Store, but here, where I live not a single premium reseller and other stores (that sell Apple stuff) have/sells the Intel Mac minis anymore and you cannot order one. At all.

They only have the standard M1 models with 256 or 512 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM. If you want more (like 16 GB of RAM), than there is the CTO/BTO option, but you have to wait for 2-3 weeks at least.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

The maxed out Intel Mac mini that is still on the Apple Store is not a budget model...

$2999

Sure, but that's not the purpose behind the Mac mini at least to Apple. The idea behind the mini and why it came about was to provide a low cost entry path into the Mac world. In the beginning it was a hit, then sales cooled off. Apple began to cool off as well with subsequent upgrades and now we are getting on average an upgrade every two years. I seriously doubt $3000 Mac mini's are flying off the shelf or sell in greater quantities than the base model M1 mini for $699 which at times can be had for $599 on Amazon.

I'm still of the belief and I could be wrong that we'll see the M2 mini appear before an M1 Max mini.