I know Apple stated it will take them 2 years to fully convert their entire Mac line up to ARM based processors. What is your opinion on when the Mac Mini will get the ARM Treatment? Do you think it will be one of the first, or one of the last ones at 2 years away? I am hoping it's one of the early ones since Apple didn't update the processors in the 2020 mini to the 10th Gen this year, plus the unveiling of that prototype device - just maybe.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Do you think the ARM Based Mac Mini will come Sooner or Later?
- Thread starter SteelBlueTJ
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Quite a few people in the Apple Silicon forum feel that a Mini will be one of the first releases. Personally, I'm not convinced (and don't really care, since I just got a new Mini 
)
Also see this long thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/whos-excited-for-an-arm-mac-mini.2244140/
)Also see this long thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/whos-excited-for-an-arm-mac-mini.2244140/
Just guessing of coarse (and a bit of wishful thinking), but since Apple introduced AS via a functioning Mac Mini, I would think not only we’re they announcing AS but also previewing the coming AS powered Mac Mini. Well, sounds plausible anyway😁
I just hope they power it with a chip that easily outperforms my i7 Mini, if anything just to so show off that an A15 is just the beginning of a powerful (as compared to Intel) AS lineup to come.
I just hope they power it with a chip that easily outperforms my i7 Mini, if anything just to so show off that an A15 is just the beginning of a powerful (as compared to Intel) AS lineup to come.
Last edited:
IMO, the Developer Mini tells us nothing about what will actually be released or when it will ship. They went with a mini because it was cheap and easy to slap together from existing parts - no battery, screen, keyboard or trackpad.
It’s also almost certain that any ARM Mini would be very different than what was sent to developers. I doubt they got a finished consumer product.
Im guessing that it would be one of the first macs to be released with AS
Im patiently waiting hoping things turn out soon
Im patiently waiting hoping things turn out soon
The Mac mini is the easiest Mac to update , they would of done it this year with intel like the iMac , so I’m guessing it will be get the arm chips this year or next year
While that is true at least in part, I think that the DTK could be serving as a form factor test in addition to a development platform. Part of the developer agreement relates to telemetry collection, and I would wager that hardware performance such as system temps, hardware faults, etc. would be tracked in addition to the software-based data collection that takes place already.
The first AS Macs will be running a variant of the upcoming A14 processor - the DTK runs the A12z. My guess is that they are running a heavily modified version of the iPad logicboard inside the machine, possibly something frankensteined into existence. The fact that Apple has expressly prohibited disassembly of the DTK gives some credence to the frankenstein theory, at least in part.
2nd generation ARM processors in the mini will be awesome. By that time Apple should have worked out any glitches and 3rd party developers will have had more time to optimise their apps. In the meantime there is much to enjoy with the current mini. I appreciate the situation is tricky though for those with aged computers.
Wasn't tricky for me in the least. After two months I'm delighted with my 2018 Mini. The main motivation in upgrading was running expensive legacy Windows software in Parallels. That has worked far better that I ever hoped, it literally runs circles around my 8-year-old Windows dual core i5 PC. That is just not going to be possible on an ARM Mini.
And I'm also running Sierra and Mountain Lion VM's, which gave new life to over $3000 of legacy Mac CAD, 3d and database software. So if you are running an old Mac with expensive 32-bit apps, an ARM Mini may not be a good solution. My understanding is that Rosetta will not support 32-bit apps.
After two months I'm delighted with my 2018 Mini. The main motivation in upgrading was running expensive legacy Windows software in Parallels. That has worked far better that I ever hoped, it literally runs circles around my 8-year-old Windows dual core i5 PC. That is just not going to be possible on an ARM Mini.And I'm also running Sierra and Mountain Lion VM's, which gave new life to over $3000 of legacy Mac CAD, 3d and database software. So if you are running an old Mac with expensive 32-bit apps, an ARM Mini may not be a good solution. My understanding is that Rosetta will not support 32-bit apps.
Last edited:
I am very relieved that Windows compatibility is not a requirement for me these days. The original plan was to hold out with the Mac Pro until a suitable ARM replacement appeared, but I cannot risk potentially losing a couple weeks waiting for a custom build replacement, followed by time needed to migrate data and set it all up.
After speaking to a couple App developers I was reassured that nobody will be rushing to drop support for Intel in the first 4-5 years, because the user base is just too large. Time will tell how Apple and independent developers handle the transition.
After speaking to a couple App developers I was reassured that nobody will be rushing to drop support for Intel in the first 4-5 years, because the user base is just too large. Time will tell how Apple and independent developers handle the transition.