Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I will be upgrading my M1 Max to M4 Max MBP because I want the graphics speed for something approaching a PC with a 4080 Super in a small form factor. Do I use that speed? Actually yes, so that's a plus.

Does it make AAA games easier to go to Mac? Yes, because unlike some lower cost PC desktops, the PC gaming laptop market is still full of inadequate and/or expensive equipment. I'm not a gamer, but I think this is good for competition and good for Macbook Pro sales.

I think Apple showing that laptops can be your desktop AND mobile gaming platform with the same equipment might shake up the PC industry a bit more than it already does. Nvidia mobile discrete graphics may be going bye-bye sooner than expected in Windows laptops.
 
We're seemingly cheering on a smaller-size desktop that (relative size) probably matters to nearly no one and besides the price likely being at least as high, we're also paying for that smaller size with the loss of a couple of (still) useful ports (in 2024).
I've yet to see any rational argument for making the Mini smaller - it seems like pure form over function
I also don't see why the mini needs to be smaller,
There is a rational for making it smaller. But it is related to PR and marketing, nothing practical from a pure engineering perspective. Or ultimately from a user’s perspective either.

1. Part of it is to encourage new mini sales. Look at the “new shiny box”. Management just likes the sound of an advertising copy stating “Smallest Mac Ever”. It just plays better than “All new on the inside”.

2. I would not be surprised if part of the rationale is to provide improved distinction from the Mac Studio. Get away from the mini looking like a junior version on the Mac Studio (Mac Studio is a Mac mini on steroids). Helping to make the Mac Studio look more “Pro”.
 
I've been using an M3 Max MBP 128GB/1TB in clamshell mode for the last 10 odd months and now I'm thinking I should trade it in for a MacStudio M4. With 2+ years left on AppleCare, what do you reckon is a good price to sell this laptop for?


M4 Mac Studio probably isn't coming out for another 9-10 months. You would have to wait until then and look at the going rates for your laptop.
 
For example Thunderbolt 5; would make possible a 120 Hz Studio Display. Or an engine to code the open-source AV1 media codec. Or a 4K webcam in the laptops. Or a hidden webcam to attach (like Honor did)
Or...
TB4 could do a 120Hz Studio Display with no difficulty. Nothing wrong with DSC, lots of XDRs out there run with it on.

1726426841167.png
 
Pretty amazing that only in 2026 there will be a minor reason to upgrade from the 2021 M1 Pro, and even OLED and being slightly thinner are not that important as the 120hz miniled is already pretty great and the current MacBook is not that bulky.

Might not be until 2028 that performance will be an actual reason to buy a new MacBook Pro.

I'd argue that making it thinner is a clear downgrade for a workstation laptop. All that does is painting you into a corner in regards to the thermal envelope again.

The current design is more than fine.

If people want anything thinner, there's the Air. ... I guess they could release a Macbook. That could come with a M#Pro chip, be as thin as the Air but with the ports of the Pro, for the overheating affectionados out there.
 
Last edited:
Windows truly sucks. Recently assembled a pc, experience with windows is even more horrible now than ever.


Funny, I see the same responses from MacOS users wishing for the good old days of Snow Leopard when it was called Mac OS X.
 
Are we really excited about a Mac Mini physical size reduction? I see that like a new tattoo- "oooooh, ahhhhhh" at first glance and then the reaction is fully realized. Then you just live with it.

We're seemingly cheering on a smaller-size desktop that (relative size) probably matters to nearly no one and besides the price likely being at least as high, we're also paying for that smaller size with the loss of a couple of (still) useful ports (in 2024).
The Mac mini has hardly changed in 22 years. So yes, we are excited. 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2DeedleD
It’s funny how different people have their own perspective. I think the Mac mini are inexpensive for what you get especially once 3rd party retailers reduce the price. They are a lot cheaper then similar spec MacBooks
well the macbook does include a display you know....
 
What's there to update with the studio display? Also if you can spend 1500+ dollar on a monitor you really should be looking at the Mac Studio.
You can pick up a Dell 1080p LCD for 80 bucks nowadays. No need to spend insane money on an Apple LCD.
 
“No”

I don’t get the appeal of this change at all
Most people are looking for an aging design from two decades ago. The current Mac Mini is massive compared to the tiny PCs you can get so the name Mini is well old fashioned for what you get.
 
I'm waiting for the Mac mini M4, hopefully with at least 2TB of SSD storage for a reasonable price.

I'd like to see a whole redo of the Studio Display line... 24", 27", 32" with a neat way to "attach" the new smaller mini effectively making it an all-in-one if wanted. Still could work on it's own with other Macs.

Like with the AppleTV 4K, I can assume there be casings to mount the new Mac mini or Mini Studio to the back of any monitor. I've got one for one of our AppleTV 4K units that is mounted on the back of a small (19inch) TV. Easy to move the TV to any room we like. Couldn't do that with cable almost a decade ago.
 
The rumored 2026 MacBook’s OLED display and slimmer design are definitely worth waiting for.
... with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
Tomorrow is promise to no one. Sound like an interesting computer, no doubt, but good and interesting computers will always be out there in the future. M4 Pro MBP will be a good machine, too. Apple shouldn't do a base M4 MBP model however. MBP should exclusively stick to Pro and Max chips, with a fan-less MBA having the M4—stretch the gap.

(fixed typo)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Chuckeee
I also don't see why the mini needs to be smaller, with my only complaint about my M1 Mini is it doesn't have enough USB ports. Given the choice between maintaining the current size of the Mini and needing to use a hub, I would stick with the current size. It would be nice if we could get a front panel USB-A for memory sticks or USB hard drives.

A reasonable compromise would be the "Nano" form factor for the M4 processor and keeping the current size for the M4 Pro to allow for the current number of ports and the more effective cooling - the M1 Mini has been the quietest computer that I've owned.

One other hope is having a 2.5G Ethernet port as standard.
Maybe they want to widen the gap between Studio and Mini? it also feels like a way to get existing pc/monitor owners into the ecosystem.
 
my only reservation of getting a m4 pro mac mini is the ability to play triple A games at 4k / max setting vs a m4 max mac studio, given the price will almost be the same but the mac studio will have at least 2x the gpu cores. Not having to fire up a windows pc and kvm switch to it for games is a major plus. Nowdays i only have time for 1 game at most, and mac has some decent games i can play...

so will be a tough decision, continue to use my 2012 imac + wait at least another 6 months for m4 mac studio, or get the mac mini m4 pro now and lose some of the gaming performance
 
Apple shouldn't do a base M4 MBP model however. MBP should exclusively stick to Pro and Max chips, with a fan-less MBA having the M4—stretch the gap.
That makes sense but I doubt Apple would do that. Seems like Apple likes lots overlap between the models (look at iPads for example) since it make it easier to creep purchases up to a more expensive model.
 
I don't believe for a second that the nature of the power connector would affect your decision to get or not get a computer. How do power connectors affect your other appliances?
I can plug any kettle lead into a monitor. I can plug any USB-C power supply into almost any electronic device nowadays. All except Apple $4!t.
 
  • Like
Reactions: madmin
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.