M4 Mac Mini to Become Apple's Smallest Ever Computer With Complete Redesign

[theluggage]

Why does anyone need a USB-A port at this point? I have a couple USB-A things (which will eventually get phased out) that I plug into my M1 iMac, and I just use a couple adapters. They sit on the end of the cable and I never even have to see them.

A bigger deal is simply the number of ports. Going all-USB-C has tended to result in fewer ports overall - especially since USB-C ports often have to serve as display, networking and even power ports.

A Mini with 2xTB4 plus 2xUSB-C/3.2 (a M4 Pro Mini could just have 4 TB4), Ethernet and HDMI would be OK - but that’s getting awfully crowded on the back of an Apple TV box.

 

[nathansz]

Current Mac mini doesn’t have any battery.

No cmos?

 

[Ethosik]

They'll eliminate the USBA ports. Those take up 1/4 of the backplate width. USBC only. Doh!

No USB-A no buy for me. Wired keyboards and mice for the most part (every one I looked at) still don’t use USB-C.

 

[Chuckeee]

A Mini with 2xTB4 plus 2xUSB-C/3.2 (a M4 Pro Mini could just have 4 TB4), Ethernet and HDMI would be OK - but that’s getting awfully crowded on the back of an Apple TV box.

Don’t forget power.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

So they put the Mini in the TV chassis. Will they then put the Studio in the Mini chassis?

No.

Apple always moves towards more and more product segmentation -Increasing the size and difference between Mac mini and Studio provides better product segmentation if the Studio keeps its size and the mini becomes smaller.

Mac mini was only "mini" sized before Mac Studio dropped. But with the redesign, it will become mini again.

 

[ttyRazor]

Ever since apple Silicon I figured they could make an Apple TV sized Mac Mini, but the downside would be the ports. Hopefully the 3x usb-c mentioned aren’t the only ports on this thing. At least keep wired Ethernet ffs

 

[ButtMcManus]

In other words, a 13" MacBook Air, that just happens to include a keyboard and trackpad.

Yeah but I’d prolly just carry this between home and Canada or France. I can have my full workstation or plug into tv and not have to keep my laptop tied down. I loathe a laptop connected to monitors. I’d rather have it on the balcony or on the couch

 

[secretanchitman]

Interesting. As long as they keep the option for 10Gb Ethernet on the damn thing, I will be happy and order an M4 Pro Mac Mini.

I don't see why not when even the Apple TV ($149) has it!

 

[ttyRazor]

I'm betting it will have a fully internal power supply like the Apple TV.

They could also use a brick like the iMac and have a place for the Ethernet port if it doesn’t fit on the back, although I doubt they’d have a 10Gbps option with that.

 

[Gloor]

sure, super silly idea.

I have Apple tv for around $99 in the living room and Mac Mini around $999 in my office on the desk.

Now you want me to do what ? Watch AppleTV on a screen in the office or move my office to the living room and work on the tv?

/ facepalm

Apple can simply trim its hardware category. Merge AppleTV with MacMini and make TVOS an app like FrontRow available on all devices. Reduce the footprint and price and now you don’t have to concern oneself with Axx chips and put the effort and money into Mxx chips. If the M4 MacMini has mounting magnets placed where the feet would be it can be a convenient option to mount it on the rear of a TV or on the wall with a metal plate.

 

[lenningj]

Smallest and most expensive mac mini ever ;/

 

[crsh1976]

What real advantage is there to it being smaller? You still need monitor, keyboard etc.

Sure, but the current M2/M2 Pro logic board with integrated RAM and storage is roughly the same height and width as an iPhone - the Mac mini enclosure is mostly empty nowadays, even with proper cooling.

I do wonder though if smaller = fewer ports, but looking at some of the smallest mini PCs available, that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[ignatius345]

A bigger deal is simply the number of ports. Going all-USB-C has tended to result in fewer ports overall - especially since USB-C ports often have to serve as display, networking and even power ports.

A Mini with 2xTB4 plus 2xUSB-C/3.2 (a M4 Pro Mini could just have 4 TB4), Ethernet and HDMI would be OK - but that’s getting awfully crowded on the back of an Apple TV box.

But aren't USB-C ports more compact? Seems to me it would be easier to just put in as many of them (in whatever 3.2/TB4 mix) as workable and call it a day.

I know it's going to take many years to phase out USB-A, but it's an inferior port and it's never going away if they keep building it into things.

 

[DrRadon]

My wish would be something like this as Apple TV, just to sneak in baldurs gate 3 and whatever else will run a+ on m chips. I suppose on could always just use a Apple computer for streaming whatever onto a tv anyway.

pricepoint 700-1000?

 

[Quackington]

I guess this means fewer ports?

 

[Mizouse]

If it has the same IO as the current Mac mini I don’t mind the smaller footprint.

Hopefully front facing USBC and UHSII SD reader? I hate that the Mac Studio has them but not the mini.

 

[coachgq]

I'm a huge fan of my M2 Pro mini. Don't see the need to make this upgrade just yet. Some people will be happy to jump on it though.

 

[asdfjkl;]

Sorry, but same size as Apple TV 4K but maybe taller makes no sense. Apple TV 4K barely has room for 3 connections: power, Ethernet, and HDMI. No way there’s enough space to have a usable number of ports. If this “upgrade” leaves us with a measly 3 thunderbolt ports then they might as well discontinue the mini.

 

[citysnaps]

I wonder how many things Tim Cook will remove from the current design in order to save manufacturing costs, and then not pass those savings on to consumers. Instead of lowering prices, and also instead of keeping prices the same, it won't be surprising if Cook actually raises prices.

And if all that happens, sadly, many Apple fans will still praise Cook's anti-consumer decisions.

Perhaps you haven't noticed prices have increased on many consumer items, including tech, across the board over the last few years?

The good news is there's a lot of competition out there. If you're unhappy with how Apple chooses to do business and not being satisfied with the value they offer, simply choose another tech vendor that you believe offers better value for your money. Easy.

 

[Gloor]

so you get an adapter for all those. USB - A needs to be phased out. The sooner the better.

People wanting ancient tech around are not helping anything. If Apple listened to those we would still have floppy discs etc.

Time to move on. (I also have a lot of USB-A cables etc. but I understand progress so I'll be ok to be in the transition period for a bit)

USB-C is the future. One cable for everything. Can't beat that. stuff the USB-A = RIP

Tons of things still use USB-A sold new today, plus older tech that people still have around. Right now plugged into my M1 Studio I have a wired USB-A keyboard, the USB-A dongle for my Logitech mouse, 2 different USB3 drives, and then some other stuff attached to docks through a single USB-C port. Honestly I have very little USB-C stuff in my life right now other than my iPad Pro.

 

[dominiongamma]

No USB-A no buy for me. Wired keyboards and mice for the most part (every one I looked at) still don’t use USB-C.

That’s not Apple’s problem that companies chose not to adopt usb c when they had nearly a decade to do so

 

[johannnn]

My guess:

M4 Mini: 2 USB-C ports, fanless

M4 Pro Mini: twice as tall, 4 UCB-C ports, fan

 

[Gloor]

Wrong guess.

Apple won't do 2 designs for Mac Mini - it will be one simple design that works for M and M Pro variants. The only difference will be the ports but fan will be in! (bookmark this for later)

My guess:

M4 Mini: 2 USB-C ports, fanless

M4 Pro Mini: twice as tall, 4 UCB-C ports, fan

 

[polyphenol]

I've got an M1 mini 8GB/256GB - and it really isn't enough memory or storage. Size matters not a jot - simply need enough memory and storage, say, 16 + 512 minimum.

The question actually becomes whether I should get a refurb M2 mini or a new M4? Price is bound to be the critical factor.

Interestingly, there have been almost no minis on refurb (UK) recently. And few Studios.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

The complete rumour says this

"The new Mac mini is slated for release later this year and will be “far smaller than its predecessor” with a new form factor similar to the Apple TV, the report explains.

The new Mac mini will be available in two configurations, one with an M4 chip and one with the M4 Pro chip. Apple has reportedly tested models with “at least three USB-C ports on the back” alongside the power cable and an HDMI port.

The M4 Pro version of the Mac mini will also be configurable with more RAM and more powerful graphics.

I hope they don't move to an external power supply like the older models (2008). That model had a BRICK.