High-End 'M1X' Mac Mini With New Design and Additional Ports Expected to Launch in the 'Next Several Months'

[Serban55]

Why does Apple want to turn its 'entry level' Mac into a high end one?

what do you mean?
is not turning the entry level...it will sell along side the entry level
Apple will just remove the Intel one...but it will still sell the M1 mac mini at 600$, and this newer one probably starting from 1099$-1299$ probably up to 8T ssd, 32 gb ram, hdmi 2.1, 4 usbC/4 ports, multiple monitors support etc

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

"The Mac mini is used for more basic tasks like video streaming, but many people use it as a software development machine, as a server or for their video editing needs. Apple knows that, so it kept the Intel model around."

So, the Intel model Mac Mini is more powerful than the M1 version? I don't understand the meaning of this...

 

[Blue Nova]

Maybe there is a shortage of material to make displays, rather than delay the iMacs roll out, Apple decided to use the Mac mini, it won’t need a monitor. Use your own or buy any monitor that works on Mac mini.

 

[Gnattu]

"The Mac mini is used for more basic tasks like video streaming, but many people use it as a software development machine, as a server or for their video editing needs. Apple knows that, so it kept the Intel model around."

So, the Intel model Mac Mini is more powerful than the M1 version? I don't understand the meaning of this...

The Intel version can have up to 64GB of RAM

 

[Bull 07]

Next month, December 2022?

 

[ChromeAce]

The top of the Mac Mini Max will use Smart Connectors to magnetically snap on a new Mac XDR Display in either 23” or 27” sizes, effectively turning it into an iMac Pro.

 

[BGPL]

Since they decided to neuter the iMac, the Mini is my new machine - so I'd like 10Gb Ethernet and some better GPU options. If they did that, what else could they offer as a full desktop replacement? I like ultrawides, but some folks might appreciate dual HDMI or DisplayPort.

Either way this is great news.

 

[arvinsim]

TBH, M1 is good enough already. I think what needs to be upgraded is the RAM capacity. 16GB is paltry compared to what we had with Intel.

 

[MacStreamer]

I really hate that Mark Gurman has switched to bullsh*t claims like "in the next several months" when he's too afraid to give an exact date.

Apple probably doesn't have an exact date so I seriously doubt Mark does. A report saying a product will be released in the next several months shouldn't really cause anyone to get angry.

 

[MNLondon]

This is what I have been waiting for! Mac Mini M1X!

Me too! I had a higher end Mac mini of the previous generation from 2018. I had to return it because it started to smoke after getting very hot. I have the refund, and am waiting to spend it on a Mini that can handle pro apps, without eating into the SD. I've been putting off projects waiting for this, and my 2 screens are now very dusty! ( I did try the version out there now, but I need more ports and RAM)

 

[MedRed]

The mini isn’t Apples entry level, the iMac is. Unless you mean based on price, in which it’s still the iMac. Once you account for the iMac display and peripherals what’s left over is less than a mini.

What I’d like to see is for the mini to go on a diet. They need to fit the mini in an Apple TV shell.

The mini is apple's entry level. It's $600 less than an iMac. Screens, keyboards, and mice are reusable and cheap.

 

[Gnattu]

Since they decided to neuter the iMac, the Mini is my new machine - so I'd like 10Gb Ethernet and some better GPU options. If they did that, what else could they offer as a full desktop replacement? I like ultrawides, but some folks might appreciate dual HDMI or DisplayPort.

Either way this is great news.

The 10Gbe is already a configurable option of Mac Mini M1

 

[diddl14]

On the low end, supporting macOS on the AppleTV would be a nice gimmick..

 

[colmaclean]

Mac Mini Pro or Mac Pro Mini?

 

[justperry]

The mini isn’t Apples entry level, the iMac is. Unless you mean based on price, in which it’s still the iMac. Once you account for the iMac display and peripherals what’s left over is less than a mini.

What I’d like to see is for the mini to go on a diet. They need to fit the mini in an Apple TV shell.

It is Apple's entry level, I have a trackpad, mouse and display, if I am gonna get a new entry MM than that's the cheapest I can get, so...it's entry level.


But...I won't buy the entry level MM, I go for M1X.

 

[mikethemartian]

"The Mac mini is used for more basic tasks like video streaming, but many people use it as a software development machine, as a server or for their video editing needs. Apple knows that, so it kept the Intel model around."

So, the Intel model Mac Mini is more powerful than the M1 version? I don't understand the meaning of this...

Well for one thing the Intel model can handle 64GB of main memory.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

So there are going to be yearly refreshes of Mac Minis now? 😆

Doesn't surprise me. Apple will refresh their silicon annually and likewise refresh the entire product line with said silicon.

 

[boak]

This is just replacing the Intel Mac Mini in the current lineup, no?

 

[scottwxx]

More powerful CPU is welcome but what I really need is more ports and internal expansion: user replacable RAM and storage. Two SO-DIMM and two M2 slots can't take up that much space! Double the height if required and it's still small enough! During the Intel days that expansion list would have included a dedicated GPU but the M1 has solved that problem with its graphic cores.

For ports, an SD card slot and 2 graphics output (HDMI or DP) would be awesome, since Apple still paradoxically refuse to support MST through USB-C in macOS.

 

[boak]

I think there will be 3-4 variants of the M1X with varying core counts

 

[Ethosik]

Why does Apple want to turn its 'entry level' Mac into a high end one?

Apples making a big change where you don't need to sacrifice performance for the form factor you want. Want a small device and you have your own monitors and keyboard? Get a Mac mini. Want an all in one? Get an iMac. Want a laptop without a fan? Get a Macbook Air.

The M1 competes with my 2019 i9 iMac. My $1,200 Mac mini beats my $4,600 iMac in some critical tasks. Just think how many products have the M1 chip. If only iPadOS was improved greatly.

People really need to stop thinking Pro computers are locked to the $50,000 variants. Why aren't people complaining to no end about the Surface Pro? I get FAR LESS performance out of that than a Macbook Air due to its horrible performance. And it has Pro in the name.....

 

[sesnir]

It is Apple's entry level, I have a trackpad, mouse and display, if I am gonna get a new entry MM than that's the cheapest I can get, so...it's entry level.


But...I won't buy the entry level MM, I go for M1X.

M1 iMac is entry level. And if you don’t have a display, keyboard, mouse, get an iMac it’s all included. Entry level. The unreleased big iMac is not entry level.

The M1 Mac Mini is also entry level. The high-end M1X is absolutely not.

The cheap iPad not-Pro and not-Air is also entry level.

Do you get what entry level means now?

 

[katewes]

Why does Apple want to turn its 'entry level' Mac into a high end one?

It is a fallacy that the Mac Mini is restricted to being an "entry level" Mac.

Sure, it might have started out that way many years ago - but times change.

The Mac Mini should now be seen as a desktop computer for anyone who wants to Mac that has an external monitor, without being restricted to an all-in-one, and who doesn't want to spend upwards of USD$6,000 on such a desktop.

Do you have any familiarity with building PC's from parts? The current Mac Pro starts at USD$6,000 - whereas in the PC world you can get a very competent PC - e.g. Ryzen 5900X, NVidia 3080, 32GB RAM for around USD$3,000 to $4,500.

So the high end Mac Mini should be the Apple equivalent for people who want a desktop computer, with external monitor, in that price range.

If we follow your logic, of never departing from the original notion of the Mac Mini being only entry level, then you realise that means that anyone who wants a desktop Mac with external monitor would be forced to start at the price of USD$6,000. Surely that is not for everyone.

 

[Ethosik]

People expect a new model to replace an old model at the same price point or close to the same. As is generally what happens with model updates.

This is for the higher end Mac mini - which still offers Intel today.

 

[smithdr]

Hi All:

I have a big interest in an M1X (or what ever they call it) Mac Mini.

Recently, I have been experimenting with screen sharing an M1 Mini to an MBA for video editing using FCP. Works great. 5x faster than a 2016 MBP15. Only issue is that I get no sound to the MBA using Screen Sharing.

In any case, I am strongly considering purchasing an M1X Mini instead of a far more expensive laptop. This way, I can change out the Mini more frequently to keep up with the technology.

Don