Apple Announces Redesigned Mac Mini With M4 and M4 Pro Chips, Two Front USB-C Ports, and More

[JustinWachin]

Apple has introduced another winner. I know what I'm buying on black Friday.

Between now and then I'm going to think of how I will repurpose my M1 Mac mini. The mini family has been my home computers of choice since 2008.

 

[Think creative]

I can't decide between the 24 gig mini pro and the 48 mini. Going to dive more into local LLM's, so I suspect I need the 48 gigs.

 

[creediddy]

I disagree. IMO the availability of 64 GB RAM is the best news of all.

I have to agree with turbine...16GB is the best news for the same price as the previous gen Mini M2. A 64GB Mac Mini will cost minimum $1999. No thanks! For $599 yes way more value.

 

[whelmedjedi]

Well, helllooooo my new home server with 5x external hdd plugged in! compute server, ai server, movie tv show server, local cloud server! my everything!

edit: best news is, they made 10gbit ethernet option independent from chip option.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I have to agree with turbine...16GB is the best news for the same price as the previous gen Mini M2. A 64GB Mac Mini will cost minimum $1999. No thanks! For $599 yes way more value.

Yeah, the market size of the edge case users who need 64GB RAM, but are only buying a Mac Mini, I have to think is absolutely microscopic

 

[wideEyedPupil]

I own two Mac Minis an M1 base and an M2 Pro with 16 GB (always hitting the RAM ceiling, mainly just from Safari and/or FireFox, doesn't struggle with InDesign, AI, PS and Acrobat running (Though Acrobat is an absolute VM hog, like insane VM footprints and the Adobe app feedback forums confirm it's not just me, others see it too, FU Adobe from a user of AI 3.3 and the first versions of PS ever).

On the M2 Pro we get 4-USB-C and 2x USB-A on the back and I always have the 4 USB-C filled and often both the USA-A. I have to use my monitors as USB-A hubs for tablets and webcams etc. Even the M4 Pro model is a reduction in ports on the back by HALF! 6 down to 3 and 2 on the front, which occasionally I would like but not at the cost of rear ports.
Typically Apple taking something away, charging more and telling use we're getting "more ports" — bold face lying I reckon.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Currently have the M1 2020 and have been very happy with it but have been waiting for this.

Ordered the M4Pro with 1tb storage - I would have gone for 512gb and used the Thunderbolt 5 to add external storage but will be using those ports to drive the three monitors...

TB5 has double the bandwidth. Use the HDMI port for one display amd you still have one high-bandwidth TB5 port remaining; that is what I do with my MBP and three 4K displays. I actually wonder if one TB5 port might drive two 4K displays.

 

[840quadra]

This is an immediate preorder for me. I have been waiting for an upgrade since before the first M1 came out to have as a primary home desktop / server that is online 24/7 . My current Mid 2011 Mac mini has served me well on the Server for years, but even with OCLP and more modern updates, the limitations in the hardware are super hard to ignore / put up with anymore.

With frustrating limitations of TV OS, I may keep an eye open for base model refurbished / used models to sweep my house with more powerful capabilities down the road.

 

[djinn]

Do you even lift bro? /s

Absolutely not.

 

[creediddy]

Yeah, the market size of the edge case users who need 64GB RAM, but are only buying a Mac Mini, I have to think is absolutely microscopic

Facts...you are right. They are most likely a Studio or Mac Pro user and not Mini.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Typically Apple taking something away, charging more and telling use we're getting "more ports" — bold face lying I reckon.

It's the classic reshuffling to cut down their own costs a bit and offload the cost of replacing what you lost ... to the customer

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Yeah, the market size of the edge case users who need 64GB RAM, but are only buy a Mac Mini, I have to think is absolutely microscopic

We have to wait and see the M4 Studios which may (will) change things, but today 64 GB RAM is very much a sweet spot for folks like me doing still images and graphics. That is a very significant [also opinion-leading] market segment, hardly "absolutely microscopic."

Last week the Mac Mini was a good value, attractive to many stills/graphics users - - except for the 32 GB RAM limitation of the old Mac Mini being not quite enough for a new box. Today the Mac Mini is still a good value, attractive to many stills/graphics users, but now with 64 GB RAM making it a fully acceptable choice.

 

[Serqetry]

One significant issue with the base storage capacity arises for those using DropBox... Apple now requires anything in DropBox that is also stored locally must be on the Mac's internal drive. So, if one wants instant access to large files that also reside in DropBox, the 256GB internal drive is a likely bottleneck.

Surely there is a way around that. Symbolic links maybe.

 

[tenthousandthings]

I can't decide between the 24 gig mini pro and the 48 mini. Going to dive more into local LLM's, so I suspect I need the 48 gigs.

32 maximum in the Mini. 48 only available in the Pro Mini.

 

[turbineseaplane]

With frustrating limitations of TV OS, I may keep an eye open for base model refurbished / used models to sweep my house with more powerful capabilities down the road.

If only they'd release tvOS as an App so one could pair a Siri Remote with a Mac Mini and have an Apple TV Pro (basically)

if only...

 

[IT Troll]

Any mount made for this unit will turn it around so the bottom with the power button (and the fan vent) is facing out.

And presumably a cut-out on the corner of the cage to access the power button.

 

[Yvan256]

Finally!

Posted from my mid-2010 Mac mini, which was upgraded to 16GB RAM in late 2012.

 

[creediddy]

I own two Mac Minis an M1 base and an M2 Pro with 16 GB (always hitting the RAM ceiling, mainly just from Safari and/or FireFox, doesn't struggle with InDesign, AI, PS and Acrobat running (Though Acrobat is an absolute VM hog, like insane VM footprints and the Adobe app feedback forums confirm it's not just me, others see it too, FU Adobe from a user of AI 3.3 and the first versions of PS ever).

On the M2 Pro we get 4-USB-C and 2x USB-A on the back and I always have the 4 USB-C filled and often both the USA-A. I have to use my monitors as USB-A hubs for tablets and webcams etc. Even the M4 Pro model is a reduction in ports on the back by HALF! 6 down to 3 and 2 on the front, which occasionally I would like but not at the cost of rear ports.
Typically Apple taking something away, charging more and telling use we're getting "more ports" — bold face lying I reckon.

I see your point, but most people won't need all ports. USB-A's should have been removed by Apple 5 years ago. Again Apple is notorious for being "minimalist", thus love or hate it, dongles will become Apple's way of future of controlling peripheral connectivity.

 

[TVreporter]

Great little system …

What monitor do you guys use? Studio is way out of my needs or budget

 

[turbineseaplane]

USB-A's should have been removed by Apple 5 years ago

Not on desktops .. no way -- not 5 years ago at least

Far too many things people plug in that still use USB-A -- especially on desktops

It's nice for the customer to just be able to "plug things in"

 

[iSuzan]

No on/off switch???

It is on the underside of the mac mini. Und the underside! I can't believe this.

 

[tomtad]

Finally!

Posted from my mid-2010 Mac mini, which was upgraded to 16GB RAM in late 2012.

I know. It should really have been updated when Apple Silicon came in but I guess Tim had plenty of chassis to use up. It was of course the existing size as it originally had to include a DVD drive.

 

[840quadra]

If only they'd release tvOS as an App so one could pair a Siri Remote with a Mac Mini and have an Apple TV Pro (basically)

if only...

do you remember when the Mini had an IR sensor and could use the TV remote?

I do, I still have one lol

Bring back Front Row!!

 

[creediddy]

Finally!

Posted from my mid-2010 Mac mini, which was upgraded to 16GB RAM in late 2012.

14 years and counting. Impressive.

 

[turbineseaplane]

do you remember when the Mini had an IR sensor and could use the TV remote?

I do, I still have one lol

Bring back Front Row!!

I do! I've been advocating for just that type of return

Wouldn't even really need the IR receiver anymore since the Siri Remote is BT and has IR so it can control IR stuff at least

This would be a way to make a bit of a gaming push too (far more powerful hardware that can also be an ATV)