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

[Justin L Franks]

8 Firestorm / 2 Icestorm cores is a strange configuration. I would expect the M1X Mac Mini to have a 12-core layout (8 Firestorm / 4 Icestorm), and options for 12 or 16 GPU cores. I don't think 64 GB of RAM will be an option either, 32 GB will probably be the maximum, with 64 GB becoming available when the M2 models come out.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

I bet these internals are going power this new Mini, the new 14/16inch Macbook Pro and 27inch iMac. Just like the did with the current M1 that power 3 computers and a iPad.

Then one more round for the Mac Pro and maybe a iMac Pro replacement? Then they ramp those 3 lines every so often.

 

[incoherent_1]

After seeing the Mac Mini so close to the brink of death over the last 10-15 years, it’s really great to see it getting attention lately.

 

[cmaier]

8 Firestorm / 2 Icestorm cores is a strange configuration. I would expect the M1X Mac Mini to have a 12-core layout (8 Firestorm / 4 Icestorm), and options for 12 or 16 GPU cores. I don't think 64 GB of RAM will be an option either, 32 GB will probably be the maximum, with 64 GB becoming available when the M2 models come out.

These aren’t firestorm/ice storm cores.

 

[mdgm]

I don't think 64 GB of RAM will be an option either, 32 GB will probably be the maximum, with 64 GB becoming available when the M2 models come out.

If that's the case that would probably encourage me to wait for the models that can have 64GB RAM. I want to have lots of RAM to minimise the swapping and SSD writes that occur as the SSD is not replaceable.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Hopefully, we will see a redesign that helps solve the BT problems.

 

[JLOAKS]

I am content with the M1 I just ordered. If you play the "next model is going to be better" game you will never buy anything from Apple...

I love playing the "feel like I just purchased an outdated model" game though.

 

[jaster2]

This is what I’m waiting for. More ports. More power. Small footprint.

 

[SFjohn]

HDMI 2.1, 120Hz HDR with eARC and Atmos support - finally rebuild my HTPC rig.

(I think the Atmos is a given - per Apple Music spacial audio).

Oh...and make it black dammit. (ala Mac Mini Pro) Not grey. Black!

HDMI 2.1 is an instant buy for me!

 

[ElectricPotato]

huh, no white bezel?
even underneath the mini?

That is where the power cable goes, magic mouse style. Courage!

 

[bkaus]

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

 

[TheHammer]

Yes! This will be my new rig, no more iMacs. Please offer 10Gb Ethernet!

They already do on the M1 (as of a few weeks ago)

 

[donguevas]

Will Apple ever do a mac with multiple processors or would it be too complex?

We did years ago. Now multiple processors are called multicore. Same thing but instead of sep processors they reside on the same die.

 

[donguevas]

what for? there are almost no apps for Win ARM... and in two years from now, Macs will have all the apps available, cause it is getting total success...

Win for Arm has an emulation layer that lets it run win32 and 64 apps from x86 days.

 

[omenatarhuri]

So many Mac rumours! What a great day!

 

[theorist9]

Hoping they make a reasonably priced 32 inch 4k or 5k display for $1000 or below. Basically whatever display they use for the next iMac, I hope they release the display on its own so Mac mini users will have an Apple display for it. Crazy the only monitor they currently sell starts at $5000. Don’t know why they want to lose that business. Anyone buying a Mac mini is having to buy a display from a competitor because they surely aren’t pairing a Mac mini with the XDR display

Apple won't make a 4k or 5k 32". All Apple displays have a "retina" pixel density. For laptop screens and larger, this means ~220 ppi (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_display). To achieve this in a 32" requires 6k. Indeed, that's precisely why the 32" XDR is 6k. Thus if they do produce a consumer-grade 32", it's going to be 6k as well.

Furthermore, given that they've abandoned native subpixel rendering in all OS's after High Sierra, I find that MacOS *requires* ~220 ppi for text to look sharp in Mojave and beyond.

It's possible Apple may not offer any consumer-grade standalone display at all, in which case your best value option (assuming you need to replace your desktop at the same time) will be the replacement for the 27" iMac, which I'm guessing will be 30-32".

 

[imamacperson]

Hopefully Apple can make it the size of a AppleTV. That would be awesome!

 

[theorist9]

Hopefully Apple can make it the size of a AppleTV. That would be awesome!

If they did that, and if they plan to do what the rumor says and offer MBP-class chips, they'd probably need to split the Mac Mini into two different form factors, since they might still need the larger (current) one to accommodate the thermals of the higher-end chips. Plus there are Mac Mini server farms that buy a lot of Minis and rely on the Mini keeping its current form factor:

 

[cupcakes2000]

What is absurd nowadays is to have a machine that always consumes much energy resources just because it has a very capable processor and GPU. So, containing eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores for word processors and browsers is the way to go. MacMini needs to be ready for the real paradigm of the professional editor, 3D graphics or post production photographer: that person needs to keep working wherever he/she has to go whether it is a long weekend, holidays or business travels. And that person does not want a computer always sticked to a big screen. Not always necessarily. But that person needs a bit more power (and cooling) than he/she can get from a portable laptop computer. And that person also wants to QUICKLY connect whatever he/she needs so, please, Apple, let the new MacMini have an SD card reader and, if possible, make the possibility to make a Mac Mini work SMOOTHLY with your own Motion software as well as making quick proxies from 4K video coming from SD cameras. Spending about $3200 to $4200 for a computer that would have these primary characteristics would be worth for any "prosumer editor". Worth and long waited. Is there anyone disagreeing with what I have just written?

As you asked- yes I disagree with the fact that it would need an SD card reader. I’m one of these people you’re talking about and none of my cameras even use SD cards as their primary card. Everyone I know (personally at least) within the photograph industry uses external fast multiple card readers.

 

[Stephen.R]

Hopefully Apple can make it the size of a AppleTV. That would be awesome!

Unless of course you happen to like plugging things into it.

The M1 version already dropped two TB3 ports - are you suggesting they should just drop them all, and opt for this:



Or perhaps take a page out of OWC's design book, and go for the 'three sides' approach, like a hub:

 

[kk200]

Mac Mini with 2 decent displays is a more suitable approach for me.

 

[Stephen.R]

I capitalized ”Silicon” in my comment thinking people would understand the context. I mean, this is a site called “Mac Rumors” so I assume people would understand that when we say “Silicon” in relation to the new chips that they would automatically understand that the context is “Apple Silicon”. Apparently some people aren’t getting it, though. Oh well!

I'd probably agree with you, if you'd said "their Silicon". Relying on the capitalisation of a proper noun but then missing out half the name that actually makes it unique defeats the purpose.



Welcome to ACME Corp. Your colleagues on this project are Mike Smith and John Smith. You'll be reporting to Smith.

 

[ds2000]

I am content with the M1 I just ordered. If you play the "next model is going to be better" game you will never buy anything from Apple...

While the CPU is better than my 8 year old MBP, I need the extra memory. I often run VM's for development work, although with Docker on my NAS its getting less important. I'll be going top spec 16" as I did with the 15" 8 years ago. I hope its out soon as I stupidly dropped my current one and have a crack on the screen thats getting bigger

 

[BigKahunaBurguer]

Named ‘MacMini Pro’ Maybe? this will be the chosen one! (if true) 🙌

 

[tyrone841]

What irritated me on the M1 Mac Mini was the abysmal speaker. I mean they put really good speakers into the MacBook Pros (at least for their size). But the Mac Mini sounded like a speaker made out of a pringles box. I don't need over the top hi-fi, but at least give them the MacBook Pro Speakers. The Mini housing has more than enough free space as we've seen.