Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Working on High-End Mac Mini With Additional Ports and More Powerful Chip From Next-Gen MacBook Pro

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
61,523
27,065


Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini, featuring a more powerful Apple silicon chip and extra ports, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

m1-mac-mini-screen.jpg

In a wide-reaching report, Gurman explained that Apple is developing a more powerful version of the Mac mini, positioned as a high-end version of the current M1 model. The new Mac mini is expected to use the same chip as the next-generation MacBook Pro.

The next-generation MacBook Pro models are expected to feature an improved version of the M1 chip with a 10-core CPU, containing eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, and 16-core or 32-core GPU options, meaning this is also what we can expect from the new Mac mini. Gurman said that this Apple silicon chip will also support up to 64GB of memory, a significant increase compared to the current maximum of 16GB.

The high-end Mac mini is also expected to feature four Thunderbolt ports on its rear, rather than the two that are available on the rear of the current Mac mini with an M1 chip, which is also a change supported by the next-generation Apple silicon chip.
Apple has also been working on a more powerful version of the Mac mini (code name J374) with the same chip as the next MacBook Pro. It's expected to have four ports versus the pair available on the current low-end version and to sit above the current entry-level M1 Mac Mini. Apple could delay or cancel the new mini's launch - as it has in the past - but eventually the company will likely replace the Intel-equipped version it now sells.
Click to expand...
When Apple introduced the M1 Mac mini last year, it retained the Intel Mac minis with two additional ports in the product lineup as a high-end option. Apple did the same with the MacBook Pro and iMac, where the M1 option replaced the entry-level version of the machine, and kept the high-end Intel models with more ports on sale.

The new high-end Mac mini is expected to replace the current Intel-based Mac mini that is still on sale, meaning that the whole Mac mini product lineup will have transitioned to Apple silicon. Gurman added the caveat that the new Mac mini may yet be delayed or cancelled, but said that the company will likely replace the current high-end Intel-based Mac mini with an Apple silicon version eventually.

Gurman also disclosed an extensive amount of information earlier this morning regarding upcoming MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Pro models.

Article Link: Apple Working on High-End Mac Mini With Additional Ports and More Powerful Chip From Next-Gen MacBook Pro
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/18/apple-working-on-high-end-mac-mini/
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Captain Trips, martyjmclean, jongleur and 4 others
S

sublunar

macrumors 68020
Jun 23, 2007
2,043
1,381
4 Thunderbolt ports would be a good thing, but there's that Qanta leak that suggests bigger MacBook Pros will have 3 Thunderbolt ports plus Magsafe charger, SD slot, and HDMI, Given that the Mini already has HDMI I think 4 Thundebolts plus 2 USB-A is a good trade off - people can add the memory card dongle of their choice later. Hopefully they will have 1 controller per port rather than retain 3 controllers and have 2 of the thunderbolt ports share 1 controller on the cheap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: madrag, macsplusmacs and NMBob
TH3D4RKKN1GH7

TH3D4RKKN1GH7

macrumors 6502a
Mar 25, 2009
755
114
Hmm, this is probably a November refresh then? Would put it a year after the initial M1 launch. May have to trade my M1 mini in for this one if the performance truly is night and day/TB4 ports all have their own controllers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: imnotthewalrus and mr_jomo
K

Keymaster

macrumors regular
Dec 15, 2003
120
402
If this is what they are putting together for the Mac Mini, then I can't wait to see what they do for the Mac Pro, and hopefully a computer between the two that isn't the iMac. You're going to see a supercomputer composed of a bunch of these Mac Minis, they just beg to be used to fill up a rack and connect them together with 10Gb ethernet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: singhs.apps, peanuts_of_pathos, StoneyG and 1 other person
I

ikkysleepy

macrumors member
Apr 10, 2014
36
17
Specs looks great for hardware, but waiting on a software solution to run vagrant, which may never happen. Also, waiting for confirmation that the I/O is not being limited for USB speeds / no more SSD write issues / Bluetooth issues / Sleep issues / etc.
 
C

citysnaps

macrumors G4
Oct 10, 2011
10,950
23,531
This is what I'm really waiting for. For X-Plane 11 (and 12 someday).

Right now I run it on my M1 MBA and it runs very well, which was a huge surprise. Just need more ports for multiple displays and controls. And the processing boost will be nice going forward. Hooking (and de hooking) everything up to my MBA is kind of a pain.
 
S

subjonas

macrumors 601
Feb 10, 2014
4,880
4,952
I’m wondering how many variants of the M1 chip there will be. Will the higher end larger iMac also use this chip? Or will it be called an iMac “Pro” and get an even stronger chip? I assume the Mac Pro will not share the MacBook Pro chip but get something considerably stronger. Also wondering about that smaller Mac Pro rumor awhile back, what chip it will use.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crjackson2134 and ElectronGuru
S

Sasparilla

macrumors 68000
Jul 6, 2012
1,918
3,291
Oh this sounds awesome! Will definitely sell well (basically the larger MacBook Pro without the laptop part) if this pans out.
subjonas said:
I’m wondering how many variants of the M1 chip there will be. Will the higher end larger iMac also use this chip? Or will it be called an iMac “Pro” and get an even stronger chip? I assume the Mac Pro will not share the MacBook Pro chip but get something considerably stronger. Also wondering about that smaller Mac Pro rumor awhile back, what chip it will use.
Click to expand...
Seems like with making SoC items the fewer, the better / more profitable. I would expect the 27 inch iMac to use what the larger MacBook Pro uses - same as this rumored high end Mac Mini. Basically 2 SoC's covering nearly every Mac sold (except Mac Pro).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: macsplusmacs
Marco Klobas

Marco Klobas

macrumors 6502
Jul 14, 2017
398
742
Italy
There were rumors about a Mac Pro mini (or whatever will be named).

I'm wondering how does this fit with it. Years ago Mac minis and Mac Pros were lagging, now it seems there will be almost an abundance of choices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anson_431 and ElectronGuru
D

doboy

macrumors 68040
Jul 6, 2007
3,749
2,898
EugW said:
It's fine that you're content, but people who need would be smarter to wait a few months than to spend money on a model that is insufficient for their needs.
Click to expand...
Few months? You could be waiting until Nov or possibly longer if delayed. No one knows so if someone needs a computer then not much choice.
 
D

doboy

macrumors 68040
Jul 6, 2007
3,749
2,898
Marco Klobas said:
There were rumors about a Mac Pro mini (or whatever will be named).

I'm wondering how does this fit with it. Years ago Mac minis and Mac Pros were lagging, now it seems there will be almost an abundance of choices.
Click to expand...
This is probably it. Mac Mini was rarely updated in the past so I guess this is a welcomed change, unless you buy one shortly before the update :)
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Nihilvor, tubular, George Dawes and 2 others
Moonjumper

Moonjumper

macrumors 68030
Jun 20, 2009
2,737
2,906
Lincoln, UK
This could be my next computer to replace my current Intel iMac. That way I can have monitors with good ergonomics, and I can still use the monitors when it is time to replace the computer. I would have already had a Mac Mini if Apple had a decent option on Intel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1258186
imnotthewalrus

imnotthewalrus

macrumors 6502a
Nov 20, 2015
923
2,058
earth
jz0309 said:
but of course they are. There's only the M1 right now, over the next months/years there will be more processors that will make it into the various models ... this is another bogus report for this guy ...
Click to expand...
I agree; even Gurman has no confidence the mentioned launch will happen. Feels like clickbait.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr.Paul
EugW

EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
13,385
10,780
doboy said:
Few months? You could be waiting until Nov or possibly longer if delayed. No one knows so if someone needs a computer then not much choice.
Click to expand...
Even if you need a computer, it's often not a smart decision to buy something that is insufficient for your needs, just because it's the new shiny.

It really an individual decision. While you say is true for you, it's not true for everyone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1258186 and ingambe
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom