Apple Now Offers $100 10Gb Ethernet Add-On for Mac Mini

[MacRumors]

In addition to overhauling the iMac lineup with new M1 iMac options, Apple today quietly added a new feature to the Mac mini. Mac mini buyers can now opt to add a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port to the device for a $100 add-on.

When the Mac mini launched, there was a Gigabit Ethernet option, but no upgrade to 10 Gigabit available.

There was, however, a sign that 10 Gigabit Ethernet was coming. MacRumors discovered a mention of M1-based Mac mini logic boards with 10 Gigabit Ethernet in an internal parts list provided to Apple Authorized Service Providers.

We were not certain why those parts were listed at the time, but with the addition of 10 Gigabit Ethernet to the Mac mini, it was clear that Apple was planning to make it a consumer-available feature.

The new Mac mini with 10 Gigabit Ethernet can be ordered starting today.

Article Link: Apple Now Offers $100 10Gb Ethernet Add-On for Mac Mini

 

[JosephAW]

You can already with the Intel model, right?

 

[iDento]

I’ll let Samsung, Huawei, and sane Apple fans comment on that, I am out of here.

 

[MvdM]

Does it come with a separate power supply?

 

[Ballis]

Thats awesome! I was so dissapointed the new imac didnt ship with that but this is a good alternative!

 

[RedTheReader]

Huh… I really thought that they'd make it an exclusive feature on a future M1X variant—a "Mac mini Pro" of sorts. Glad to see that they decided to bring it to the cheaper ones!

 

[iObama]

I'm happy about this. Now if they'd just update that Thunderbolt 2 Ethernet adapter... 😭

 

[Neil Harrison]

Doh I only just got mine

 

[Lemon Olive]

Yet another reason to get an M1 mini instead of a new uMac.

 

[citysnaps]

Doh I only just got mine

Send it back.

 

[aforty]

How can they, or anyone that buys this, justify the $100 price difference for a part that costs $3 more?

 

[opeter]

Huh… I really thought that they'd make it an exclusive feature on a future M1X variant—a "Mac mini Pro" of sorts. Glad to see that they decided to bring it to the cheaper ones!

Now wait, in a few months, this Mac mini will get two additional USB-C ports and also an option for 64 GB RAM.

 

[opeter]

I'm happy about this. Now if they'd just update that Thunderbolt 2 Ethernet adapter... 😭

They will. The same case, the same M1 CPU, but with new options.

 

[koruki]

How can they, or anyone that buys this, justify the $100 price difference for a part that costs $3 more?

Can you show me where to order the part and how to install it? Or are we starting this it cost only xxx to make xxx discussion again lol

 

[oneMadRssn]

How can they, or anyone that buys this, justify the $100 price difference for a part that costs $3 more?

Show me a 10GbE card anywhere that costs $3 anywhere. Indeed, show me a 10GbE controller chip that costs $3. It's not even close to that cheap.

 

[ellsworth]

I wonder if all the Big Sur and Bluetooth issues have been quietly fixed as well?

 

[SynterX]

Great. I just bought a $150 Sonnet thunderbolt adapter to accomplish hooking my iMac Pro up to my 10G switch. I really didn't want to buy that, I wanted it builtin. Now I guess I have to consider ordering one and selling my 2018 mac mini outright. One less thing to worry about now. And I get back one TB port.

 

[jlocker]

Still think the MacBook Pro 16 with a i9 is still a better computer. 8 cores with dual thread, more memory and storage options I can still use a EGPU with a 3080 card. I want a Mac mini pro also I wish Apple was smart enough to still a Intel processor until they can get their own processors up to i9 or a AMD level processor. Think I am going to hold on to my MacBook Pro 16 for at least 4 more years unless Apple can show me equal or better value.

 

[satcomer]

Great. I just bought a $150 Sonnet thunderbolt adapter to accomplish hooking my iMac Pro up to my 10G switch. I really didn't want to buy that, I wanted it builtin. Now I guess I have to consider ordering one and selling my 2018 mac mini outright. One less thing to worry about now. And I get back one TB port.

At least you now can have things like OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub! Other Mac factories are turning out more Thunderbolt 4 hubs too!

 

[jlocker]

At least you now can have things like OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub! Other Mac factories are turning out more Thunderbolt 4 hubs too!

I bought that hub at launch and I love it with my MacBook Pro gives me three more thunderbolt ports and I needed them.

 

[RumorConsumer]

We didn’t know when but only that it would! And mine is less than 12 days Yahoo. Turns out the Apple online store has a 30 day policy or as the in-store is only 14 days. Very excited to spend this hundred bucks

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

You can already with the Intel model, right?

Yes, you can. I just looked on Apple.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Great. I just bought a $150 Sonnet thunderbolt adapter to accomplish hooking my iMac Pro up to my 10G switch. I really didn't want to buy that, I wanted it builtin. Now I guess I have to consider ordering one and selling my 2018 mac mini outright. One less thing to worry about now. And I get back one TB port.

Does iMac Pro not have 10gbit standard?

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

Does it come with a separate power supply?

I wish.

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

Huh… I really thought that they'd make it an exclusive feature on a future M1X variant—a "Mac mini Pro" of sorts. Glad to see that they decided to bring it to the cheaper ones!

Mini and Pro are two separate things. They won’t make a mini pro or a pro mini.