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

[Abazigal]

Apple showed us their priorities when they put the M4 into an iPad before a Mac.

A lot of stuff typically come down to supply chain constraints. The iPad Pro likely sells in vastly smaller quantities than a MBA, and considering that the M4 chip is probably produced in limited quantities at first, it makes sense to introduce it in a lower-volume product like the iPad Pro.

And for someone like myself who so happens to be in the market for a new iPad, but whose MBA is still going strong, the inclusion of the M4 chip in the new iPad could not have come at a more apt time as well.

 

[Hogswarts]

Powered by an external brick.

 

[sublunar]

Only 3 USB-C ports? No mention of 10 gbs ethernet? Not for me. I'll keep my M2 Mini Pro.

You’d suspect that the configuration being tested in that case eliminated the Ethernet port and 2 usb-a ports to combine them into a single 10mb/s usb-c port. The minimum of 2 genuine thunderbolt ports would remain and the third usb-c port actually becomes a thunderbolt port if the user specifies an m4 pro model.

you do wonder if Apple would add an SD card slot in that case, would users prefer to have SD over Ethernet and 2 USB-A? I wonder if not having the SD card slot makes it easier to implement an Apple TV mode if TvOS doesn’t have to be aware of SD slots?

gigabit ethernet would be added back through ingenious use of the iMac PSU, although people needing 10 gig networking probably need to buy a dongle (I guess Apple will have sales analysis for that and the number of people looking to bring over a wired keyboard and mouse). Or they could buy a Mac Studio.

and Apple get to cut costs by presenting the same back panel for both m4 and m4 pro models. You’d suspect that we will be back to space grey or midnight for Pro model while silver is for plain m4.

 

[sir1963nz]

Make it the next ATV, Home Hub, Wireless router, Time machine, etc etc etc unit
There is zero reason not to do this.

 

[Sippincider]

Can‘t the people who have been asking for a 27’ iMac just buy this thing with a paired studio display? It’s the same thing

Not the same thing if it's hobbled: no fan, limited RAM/storage, limited bandwidth etc.

Maybe Apple can surprise and deliver a nice little dynamo, versus just another light-use client like the current iMac.

 

[keldorn]

I'd like a Big Mac mini with a side of 16 GB RAM, and some 512 GB storage as standard on the menu please.

 

[Ethosik]

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

Yes it is, this is the whole dongle hell conversation all over again. Apple could release USB-D and only put in those ports. Its not Apple's problem nothing works with it!

We are all free to complain if Apple decided to go back to Mini-Displayport instead of HDMI. When nearly every single keyboard and mouse is STILL USB-A, you should keep that port available. My USB-A ports on my Mac Studios only get used for my keyboard and mouse.

 

[SpotOnT]

Great it be smaller and less ports although $ increase. Like the last iMac upgrade.

I am still on a intel iMac 27" as been waiting 27" iMac which looks to not be coming
Looked at current Mac Mini and add a screen.
8gb soldered RAM is crap
256gb SSD a joke.
To go from 8/256 to 24/1TB is extra US$800 or 16/512gb $400.
Honestly 8gb ram over half is used by the OS.
Need at least 16GB.. Right now have 4 tabs on Safari 2.5gb memory gone
Prob could run a external SSD.. Although honestly again a joke.

Apple instead of trying to make things smaller all the time and colors .
What about think of modular.. You know a RAM slot a SSD slot.
My old white MacBook I still use for some old apps.. I could easily update the Hard Drive and RAM.

I’m pretty sure an all-in-one like the iMac is the opposite of modular.

If you want modular, you want the monitor and computer to be separate.

 

[richardk32]

Not inside a keyboard, they wear out too quickly. But you could attach it to the back of a monitor, so they could be updated independently. I'm puzzled why the USB-C ports aren't Thunderbolt 4 compatible. Or are they?

 

[JosephAW]

Remember the base iMac and Air has only has two ports.

 

[Chuckeee]

I'd like a Big Mac mini with a side of 16 GB RAM, and some 512 GB storage as standard on the menu please.
View attachment 2404167

or

Supersize to 16GB (ca-ching $200)
Supersize to 512G (ca-ching again for another $200)

Looking at Apple’s recent history, Which scenario do you think is [Unfortunately] more likely?

 

[Chuckeee]

I'm puzzled why the USB-C ports aren't Thunderbolt 4 compatible

I would suspect at least some of them are. Perhaps not all of them, especially in the base model

 

[Mr Fide]

Please make all rumours this interesting

 

[antnythr]

I just hope they finally bring a sensible 16/512 default configuration at the same price. The 3 USB-C ports would be good if they're all TB4. Hopefully the HDMI port is 2.1 as well. I think it's ridiculous to need to say it, but it also better come with ethernet by default.

 

[Populus]

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)

Exactly THIS. Both the Mini and the Mini Pro will likely share the same case and as many components as possible. Only difference will be number of ports and, maybe, the M4 Pro variant will have a copper heatsink instead of the aluminum one in the regular M4 model.

 

[Populus]

Hope they improve the BT and WiFi reception, this has been an issue with the current Mac mini design.

Pretty obvious the USB-A ports will get deleted. Just based on the trend with new computers in general. It would be real nice if they placed At least one of the USB-C ports on the front.

Interesting that the Ethernet port was not mentioned. Might also go away or perhaps on an external power brick like the current iMac. Physical ethernet ports are also be coming much less popular in general and this would help provide additional differentiation to the Mac studio line. Shame to see the 10GB port go, But that was sort of an odd feature to see on a mini.

Using an external power brick (or even just USB-C for power) is not a terrible idea for a desktop. It reduces heat in the box. And it greatly simplifies failed power supplies. Since I had two iMac that died because of PSU failures, sticking the power supply on a box that is just sitting on the floor that I can just replace is OK

I fully agree with you.

Hey Chuckeee, by the way, do you think Apple will let us buy a spare power brick, in order to have one in the places we wish to connect our M4 Mac mini? Because I’m not sure if they sell spare iMac power bricks…

 

[indent]

I’m pretty sure an all-in-one like the iMac is the opposite of modular.

If you want modular, you want the monitor and computer to be separate.

I upgraded my RAM easily on my iMac.. Hard Drive was a bit more work to do although it was not soldered on the board. I love to upgrade my mac to a newer one although US$200 for 8gb extra is a joke. Actually it is AUD$300 for extra 8gb and another AUD$300 for a 512gb SSD..
Should be standard 16gb/512gb or a few hundred extra not almost the price of the Mac Mini again

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Why not stick a fan on it and keep the throttling down?

How do you know there won't be a fan? How do you know there will be throttling?

 

[Cape Dave]

Is it silent? My M1 mini was SILENT. Nothing I ever did caused the fan to spin up.

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

I have an M2 Pro 32GB Mini and I'm desperate to upgrade as my AI projects bring it to its knees. I'm sorry to see that the Studio is not a priority.

 

[QuietGamer]

Time to replace my 2018 Mini and get rid of Intel.
Hopefully it will work better than my current Mini, especially online. Facebook on safari is torture

It is no better on a M2 Air 16/1TB, a M2Pro Mini 16/1TB with the studio monitor either. My bride is still using a '18 i5 16/1TB mini with a Black Magic eGPU with the LG 4k monitor and it is subpar there also. Safari and FB just don't play well together.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

I’m guessing that Apple puts the Ethernet port on the external power supply, and uses the same iMac power Supply. It made sense to Apple for the iMac when everyone else was like “what?” I believe that it’s going to make just as much sense for Apple to make the power supply a separate component for the Mac Mini.

Power supply generates a lot of excess heat they have to handle, somehow. Excluding it would make a lot of sense, especially if they want to exclude the fan. The MacBook Air has neither a fan or a power supply. I expect these to be the same.

The most common repair for the Mac Mini is the power supply, integrating the power supply into the computer means “Genius Room repair, versus the ability to swap the power supply out in 10 minutes if external.

The 2005-2009 Mac Minis had external power supplies, so it would not be a surprise if they were not integrated here as well.

From a cost perspective, you make sense. On the other hand, IMO, I hate external power supplies as they take up too much room at the mains outlet or surge suppressor. I'm also not a fan of the ethernet port in the power supply situation - EiPS for short

 

[oldMacGenius]

Not sure how powerful of a Mac mini could be powered by the Apple 140w usb c pd charger if that’s what you mean. Would make it very compact for sure but doubt it could keep up with a power draw from m4 pro.

G4 Early / Mid / Late 2005 - 85W Power Adapter

Yonah, Merom, Penryn Early / Late 2006, Mid 2007, Early/Late 2009 - 110w Power Adapter

Unibody Design - Mid 2010 / Mid 2011 / Late 2012 / Late 2014 - Built in 85w Power Supply

Space Gray Unibody Design - 2018 - Built in 150w power supply

Apple Silicon - M1 / M2 - built in 150w power supply

Apple Silicon - M2 Pro - 180w power supply

Indeed, Apple is going the wrong direction in regards to power consumption. However, they have historically been able to achieve power consumption levels that were lower than today using less efficient process nodes. Likewise there is now specifications for 200w PD as some machines with discrete graphics cards require more power.

 

[oldMacGenius]

From a cost perspective, you make sense. On the other hand, IMO, I hate external power supplies as they take up too much room at the mains outlet or surge suppressor. I'm also not a fan of the ethernet port in the power supply situation - EiPS for short

I hear you and I agree. This is a great product for self service, assuming Apple encloses the internal power supply in metal.

 

[arvinsim]

Now it all comes down to the price. This has the potential to reach budget customers if they price it right.