New M1 Mac Models Feature Thunderbolt 3 Ports, Not Newer Thunderbolt 4

[jrlcopy]

USB 3.1 Gen 2 = USB 4 now?

ugh alright then... confusing it is.

USB 4 specs and features: Everything you need to know about the new double-speed USB

USB 4 is here - here's what it's all about.

www.pocket-lint.com

 

[dannys1]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

Wait until 2024...there's always something better around the corner.

 

[dannys1]

That’s not what it says when checking out in the Apple Store...

i mean it does - it just means USB 4 and Thunderbolt. It doesn't state what version of Thunderbolt, but it's Thunderbolt 3. I don't think this is a big deal really though.

 

[ruka.snow]

Lightroom or Capture One ARM will push me over, these machines are looking very strong in image editing if Apples benchmarks are to be believed.

 

[vipergts2207]

These are appearing more and more gimped as details come out. Hopefully the 16" MBPs aren't gimped.

 

[Saturnine]

I think the bigger issue (at least for me!) is that it only has two of them! The Intel MacBook Pro’s had four.

 

[typecase]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

The Mac Mini to me feels very proof of concept due to the inability to upgrade the RAM beyond 16GB and the removal of 2 thunderbolt ports. This could be a powerful machine if it had expandable memory or a hard drive (like some of the earlier minis allowed) but now is limited to the web-browsing, movie watching crowd. The 16GB memory limitation feels harsh and this holds true for the laptops also. ARM is not going to solve big data memory issues. I wish these machines were accompanied by a nice price drop also as they don't have to pay Intel for the chips but the R&D cost is probably baked into the cost of these machines.

 

[kovalchuk71]

Will come.
iMac 24-inch.
5K.
M2.
Q2/2021

View attachment 1658549

I just with they'd get rid of that thick bezel and give the user another inch of screen space. It's 2020. I realize that it's a computer and not a TV, but they could still put a 1/8"-1/4" bezel on it and make it look nice.

 

[bernoulli]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

I can see big improvements in 2024 or even 2025.

 

[genovelle]

The Mac mini models with M1 chips, priced at $699 and $899

Overpriced, underpowered garbage.

Hey. Watch you mouth. I have a mini that runs fairly well. I realized it feeling slower lately, but then it hit me that it was 8 years old. In the world of PCs with a 2-3 year lifespan, that is amazing

 

[bernoulli]

Don't worry, M1 chip will improve TB 3 just as it improves the facetime camera.

But will it improve my autism?

 

[Veinticinco]

Quelle surprise 🙄

 

[mcdawg]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed?

 

[turbohatq]

Only 2 USB Cs? My 2019 MBP is sitting in a cradle on my desk with one port used for power, one used for USBC->HDMI and one used for USBC->USB for a document camera. I couldn't manage hub less with 2x ports

 

[gugy]

I am excited to see the performance benchmarks. Still, I am waiting for the 16" MBP and iMac 32"? to jump into the bandwaggon.

 

[IAmTheCoolest]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

I definitely get that feeling and if they were't that's even worse. Why would I want my ports cut in half on a pro level machine? They basically just added a chip and nothing else. No other real improvements and then they took things away. At least put one usb on each side if there is now only 2.
I was really hoping for a remake like they did with the 16 inch.
Was also sad to see the MacMini back to only being available in silver.

 

[IAmTheCoolest]

Only 2 USB Cs? My 2019 MBP is sitting in a cradle on my desk with one port used for power, one used for USBC->HDMI and one used for USBC->USB for a document camera. I couldn't manage hub less with 2x ports

Yes, so annoying! And now I get to cram all my stuff onto one side.

 

[IAmTheCoolest]

Will come.
iMac 24-inch.
5K.
M2.
Q2/2021

View attachment 1658549

Sure will. bigger screen, less ports, same everything else. 😂 Thats how I feel after this event.

 

[itsmilo]

I personally haven’t used a thunderbold device in my life so I am fine with usb-c

 

[jayducharme]

I love the direction of the M series, but I'm now relieved there wasn't a 16" MBP announced. Would hate to have that machine limited to Thunderbolt 3, 16GB of ram, and other old specs.

It seems as if all the announced machines were solely consumer-grade. The new mini is nothing like the 2018 model, where Apple specifically aimed for the prosumer market (and as a server replacement). And I'll bet the silver chassis was done on purpose; Apple was using the space grey aesthetic for their "pro" line. I'm guessing that in late 2021, we'll see the first entries into prosumer territory, most likely with iMacs. For now, I'll wait to see the reviews and benchmarks on the new mini, to see if it would be suitable for my work. Who knows? Maybe it'll be all I need.

 

[jonnysods]

Well, you need to have a new feature to introduce with the M2 late next year.

I wonder how often they will update the Mac processors? Every 1 year? Every 2?

 

[harmoniumfarfisa]

You want ports, you buy the iMac. Hasn't that been the case for a while?

They've all got the same chip now, and we're at that point where the new lower end machines will potentially out perform the more expensive computers, or if not, have chips being phased out by Apple. But again, not the first time we've seen that.

It's a stupid way to differentiate products, but that's what Apple has done in the past too. There are generations of the MacBook Pro with 2 useless Thunderbolt v.1 ports and 2 USB3 ports.

 

[carestudio]

Glad that I can keep using my beloved Caldigit TS3 Plus dock with the new M1 Macs. It's been working so great for 2 -3 years. Dont like to keep buying new thunderbolt accessories and usb dongles while the USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 can work together and both are 40G.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

I think Apple is going to have a very difficult time developing chips which are suitable for high-end machines; hence the TWO YEAR timeframe. The presentation was underwhelming and lacked anything other than what a cheerleader could script.

 

[Apple Desktop Bus (ADB)]

Anyone get the feeling that these were rushed? They're more like proof-of-concepts. I guess I'll wait a bit to see what's in store for 2021. Or maybe 2022. Or I bet there'll be big improvements for 2023.

Not at all. There aren't even any Tiger Lake machines out yet, which is required for Thunderbolt 4. So it's not as if it'd be available on Intel either.