M2/MX Mac Mini

[magicMac]

Rumours are apple are working on new M2/MX chip for more cores/power for the 16" MacBook Pro and 27" iMac, probably with GPU support (eGPU or via PCI-e 4). This makes alot of sense but if you're not in the market for either of those two devices it will be intersting if Apple replace the Dark Grey / Intel "pro" mac mini with this chip as well. Anyone else hoping for this ? I just want the most performance/watt in a box which I connect my own stuff to! Not into fashion computers!

Are we likely to see this chip at WWDC in June ?

 

[Fishrrman]

With a bit of luck, you may see it in the 2022 Mini...

 

[magicMac]

With a bit of luck, you may see it in the 2022 Mini...

or never! as they like to push people to the imac's, grrrrr

but i'd like to think we are seeing a new apple now, the chips are so good do they need to lock people into their products so much ?

 

[The_Interloper]

I wonder what the pricing will be. I'm thinking the current M1 Minis will remain as lower cost options; assuming the M2 replaces the Intel i5 it should slot in at $1099 with 8gb RAM and 512Gb storage. If M2 supports more RAM, 32Gb will push it to $1699, plus more $$$ for extra storage.

 

[Binary Wizzard]

Not sure if Apple will make a "Pro" variant of the Mini. Past a certain point, with 32Gigs+ of RAM (potentially) and eGPU support, it could canibalize Mac Pro sales (which we know will cost a pretty penny).

 

[doboy]

M2 may likely end up in the higher tier model or maybe an upgrade like they did with i7.

 

[The_Interloper]

Not sure if Apple will make a "Pro" variant of the Mini. Past a certain point, with 32Gigs+ of RAM (potentially) and eGPU support, it could canibalize Mac Pro sales (which we know will cost a pretty penny).

This has given me pause for thought. If you look at how Apple is positioning their products it's all "regular" and 'Pro" versions (iPhone/iPhone Pro/Pro Max; MacBook Air/Pro; iPad/iPad Air/iPad Pro etc). I wonder if the rumoured smaller Mac Pro machine in this report is actually going to be the Mac mini Pro. So we would have:

Mac mini = M1; 8-16Gb RAM
Mac mini Pro = M1X/M2; more RAM
Mac Pro = Xeon(?)/M2/M2x; more RAM and expandability

This could mean the current Mini sticks around as the lower cost option only and the Mini Pro becomes far more expensive (£2-3k+), bridging the gap between Mini and Pro (£5k+) models. The existing M1 Mini can be maxed out to £1800, so this would make sense.

If this pans out, it could mean it'll be a lot more expensive to get the next-gen Apple Silicon chip, which may also be reserved for the pricier 16-inch MacBook Pro (14-inch stuck on M1).

 

[southerndoc]

I have no need currently for anything >M1. Yes, it's always nice to have things faster, but the vast majority of people do not need it. The minority do, but the majority frequently spends extra money on extra speed when it's not needed.

My MBA M1 is doing very very well. I'm surprised at its speed. Way more than I need. I'm connecting it to a Dell U3421WE monitor and using it as a desktop until my M1 Mac Mini arrives.

 

[Binary Wizzard]

This has given me pause for thought. If you look at how Apple is positioning their products it's all "regular" and 'Pro" versions (iPhone/iPhone Pro/Pro Max; MacBook Air/Pro; iPad/iPad Air/iPad Pro etc). I wonder if the rumoured smaller Mac Pro machine in this report is actually going to be the Mac mini Pro. So we would have:

Mac mini = M1; 8-16Gb RAM
Mac mini Pro = M1X/M2; more RAM
Mac Pro = Xeon(?)/M2/M2x; more RAM and expandability

This could mean the current Mini sticks around as the lower cost option only and the Mini Pro becomes far more expensive (£2-3k+), bridging the gap between Mini and Pro (£5k+) models. The existing M1 Mini can be maxed out to £1800, so this would make sense.

If this pans out, it could mean it'll be a lot more expensive to get the next-gen Apple Silicon chip, which may also be reserved for the pricier 16-inch MacBook Pro (14-inch stuck on M1).

I'm not sure. I think Apple is positioning the Mini as entry level and it's step up would be the Mac Pro or possibly the iMac Pro.

 

[robertosh]

I think that that would make sense. Im waiting for this at least. I did not jump on m1 mini as I prefer 32G for music production.

On the other hand, this could cannibalize the rumored “Mac Pro mini”, so that it’s my main worry.

EDIT: Just checked current intel mini and can be configured up to 64G, so it will be weird to limit mini only to 16G version. Let’s see…