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Can the M1 Mac Mini be solely powered by a USB-C cable via the Apple Studio Display?

HappyDude20

HappyDude20

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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Los Angeles, Ca
Just wondering if the m1 Mac mini can be powered solely by the Apple studio display so I can have a cleaner desk setup of just the studio display, m1 Mac mini and keyboard and track pad.

ie not needing a power cable going from the Mac mini to the wall outlet.
 
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Right, my ASD power my MBP M1 (but should be able to do with any MBP). But never heard it can be used also for desktop macs. Interesting thought though...
 
Apple only says that it can power "notebooks"

"The Thunderbolt port connects Studio Display to your Mac with a single cable. That same port can charge compatible Mac notebooks — and even fast‑charge a 14‑inch MacBook Pro."

www.apple.com

Studio Display

The 27-inch 5K Retina Studio Display is the perfect Mac creative partner — with 12MP Center Stage camera, three studio-quality mics, and six speakers
www.apple.com
 

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HappyDude20 said:
Just wondering if the m1 Mac mini can be powered solely by the Apple studio display so I can have a cleaner desk setup of just the studio display, m1 Mac mini and keyboard and track pad.

ie not needing a power cable going from the Mac mini to the wall outlet.
Click to expand...

That's a terrific idea for Apple's future minis.

There's no reason that a 60W USB-C can't power the mini. I have a monitor with USB-C and connect my MBA M1 (and other PCs) via that single cable, using the monitor as a docking station for video, audio, USB devices.
 
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shakopeemn said:
That's a terrific idea for Apple's future minis.

There's no reason that a 60W USB-C can't power the mini. I have a monitor with USB-C and connect my MBA M1 (and other PCs) via that single cable, using the monitor as a docking station for video, audio, USB devices.
Click to expand...
I can think of one possible reason. The listed maximum continuous power draw for the mini is 150w
 
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shakopeemn said:
... There's no reason that a 60W USB-C can't power the mini. ...
Click to expand...
And I can think of another reason: money. With the Mini's obvious lineage with Apple's portable product lines, I suspect re-engineering the design of the current Mini to work with a USB-C power supply would by no means be impossible, but it would still come at a cost.

That said: I fully expect that when Apple finally pulls a full redesign of the Mini out of their hat, it'll almost certainly include this as one of several key changes. It'll be more efficient, produce less heat, have (ahem) fewer wires... etc. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if they model the next Mini redesign in part on the current generation of AppleTV devices -- making the Mini even more mini -- and in the same vein, they could easily adapt the AppleTV to likewise operate off of a USB-C power block.

Who knows? Maybe they'll even build them around a VESA interface design, so that the Mini and the AppleTV could both just disappear into a standard mounting mechanism behind any VESA compliant monitor, truly making all of the wires practically disappear... wouldn't that be something?
 
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The notebooks are a DC connection, which is why you have a power brick at the other end. The Mini has an AC connection, which is why its a simple cable between the Mac and the wall (and why you can buy $5 replacement cables without issue).

so there’s no way the usb-c PD will ever be able to power a Mac Mini.
 
MikeDr206 said:
The notebooks are a DC connection, which is why you have a power brick at the other end. The Mini has an AC connection, which is why its a simple cable between the Mac and the wall (and why you can buy $5 replacement cables without issue).

so there’s no way the usb-c PD will ever be able to power a Mac Mini.
Click to expand...
I don't follow your reasoning. The M1-based Mini contains the same basic components that you would find in the MacBook, with the exception of that internal AC power supply. If you switch that PSU out for a DC connection, the difference between the power requirements of the two should theoretically be practically nil.

But just to verify my assumptions, I did a couple of quick searches: according to Apple's online documentation, the M1 based Mini only draws 39 watts, maximum. Seems like converting the Mini to use USB-C PD should be pretty trivial.

Mind you, that may be moot. It occurs to me that if Apple does indeed choose to swap to a "mini-brick" solution for the Mini, there's every likelihood that they will use some variation of the 144 watt brick that comes with the M1 iMacs. (The M1 iMacs max out at an 84 watt draw, for reference.)

Moving away from Intel was a game changer in more ways than one.
 
MikeDr206 said:
The notebooks are a DC connection, which is why you have a power brick at the other end. The Mini has an AC connection, which is why its a simple cable between the Mac and the wall (and why you can buy $5 replacement cables without issue).

so there’s no way the usb-c PD will ever be able to power a Mac Mini.
Click to expand...

The mini power brick is internal - but it still steps down to dc. Apple absolutely could trivially enable usb power input, but it’s very much an edge case they clearly haven’t considered.

HOWEVER - they probably don’t because it would be a support nightmare. Some usb power delivery would provide enough power. Some wouldn’t.

On a notebook it has a built in battery to cover for that. The mini doesn’t.

So while it could very well be done - doubt Apple will open that support nightmare cab of worms for the 2-3 users who want it.
 
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throAU said:
The mini power brick is internal - but it still steps down to dc. Apple absolutely could trivially enable usb power input, but it’s very much an edge case they clearly haven’t considered.

HOWEVER - they probably don’t because it would be a support nightmare. Some usb power delivery would provide enough power. Some wouldn’t.

On a notebook it has a built in battery to cover for that. The mini doesn’t.

So while it could very well be done - doubt Apple will open that support nightmare cab of worms for the 2-3 users who want it.
Click to expand...
Maximum continuous power: 155W
Click to expand...

Yeah many USB-C power supplies simply can’t provide enough power, the Mac mini could throttle to cope with the lack of power, and that would be a support nightmare for sure. My monitor only supplies 90W max so in my case that could definitely happen.

With laptops, just dip into the battery a little if under load and it’s not a big deal.
 
redheeler said:
Yeah many USB-C power supplies simply can’t provide enough power, the Mac mini could throttle to cope with the lack of power, and that would be a support nightmare for sure. My monitor only supplies 90W max so in my case that could definitely happen.

With laptops, just dip into the battery a little if under load and it’s not a big deal.
Click to expand...

Your end up with people trying to power them with type C battery banks etc.
 
Thanks for necroing this two year old thread, Fred... it's quite amusing to me to look back and realize that ...

Boyd01 said:
Some people have been predicting this for quite a few years now. Thankfully, it still hasn't happened. 🤣
Click to expand...

... it looks like at least that one aspect of my previous speculations came true, finally. The new Mini is indeed smaller, taking an obvious influence from the design of the AppleTV. 😁
 
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