The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[Apple fanboy]

More likely that most usb C monitors offer additional ports. But could be the demographic of most users. If you use a BT keyboard and mouse, what else do you need? I use all mine, but then I could work around if needed. I already use a multi adapter in one of my USB C ports.

 

[mlykke]

Yea in a way it seems like a step backwards. But I wonder with the M1 chip and 16GB memory it will effectively perform similar to the previous gen i5/i7 w/ 32gb?

For single applications it won't make much difference, but having 32+ GB of ram is needed for heavy multitasking. The M1 can't change that fact.

 

[mlykke]

More likely that most usb C monitors offer additional ports. But could be the demographic of most users. If you use a BT keyboard and mouse, what else do you need? I use all mine, but then I could work around if needed. I already use a multi adapter in one of my USB C ports.

How about a bunch of external drives, a graphics tablet etc.

 

[Apple fanboy]

How about a bunch of external drives, a graphics tablet etc.

Typical user probably doesn’t have all that. I have one external drive for TM. I keep everything else internal on my 2TB drive.
My Loupedeck and printer use the other ports. I would find work arounds if I needed to.

 

[mlykke]

Typical user probably doesn’t have all that. I have one external drive for TM. I keep everything else internal on my 2TB drive.
My Loupedeck and printer use the other ports. I would find work arounds if I needed to.

No, and most users don't buy the Mac Mini. They do a lot to indicate it's for developers, creatives etc. The type of users that will often need more than 2 ports with one being taken by the monitor. In any case it's a downgrade in ram and connectivity. Makes the Apple silicon update seem bittersweet - An interesting chip, but a major downgrade in ram and ports. Not to mention going away from space grey although thats less important.

 

[ondert]

What about eGPU support?

 

[Jorbanead]

Yea in a way it seems like a step backwards. But I wonder with the M1 chip and 16GB memory it will effectively perform similar to the previous gen i5/i7 w/ 32gb? Kind of like a "less is more" type thing?

They’re still selling the i5/i7 mini on their website. This seems like a replacement for the i3 mini. I predict an M1X mini that’ll replace the i5/i7 version. It’ll come with 4 TB ports and up to 64gb ram with the space gray finish.

More likely that most usb C monitors offer additional ports. But could be the demographic of most users. If you use a BT keyboard and mouse, what else do you need? I use all mine, but then I could work around if needed. I already use a multi adapter in one of my USB C ports.

This is the demographic for the i3 mini users. Those who bought the i7 mini because it was marketed as a “pro” machine definitely use all the ports. I’m current using every single port on my mini and I even have two expansion hubs.

I am an audio engineer and video editor. I have many external drives, eGPU, interface, two monitors, keyboard, mouse, two pianos all connected.

 

[mlykke]

And don't forget that the unified ram will also mean the GPU will share the system ram. So you won't even have the full 16 GB available for the system and apps.

 

[Apple fanboy]

They’re still selling the i5/i7 mini on their website. This seems like a replacement for the i3 mini. I predict an M1X mini that’ll replace the i5/i7 version. It’ll come with 4 TB ports and up to 64gb ram with the space gray finish.




This is the demographic for the i3 mini users. Those who bought the i7 mini because it was marketed as a “pro” machine definitely use all the ports. I’m current using every single port on my mini and I even have two expansion hubs.

I am an audio engineer and video editor. I have many external drives, eGPU, interface, two monitors, keyboard, mouse, two pianos all connected.

Same but your average mini user isn’t buying the i7 maxed out RAM and HD. They are buying the entry level one.

 

[Maximara]

Where did all the USB-C ports go? You're left with one after said 6K Monitor, out of the price range of the target customer. Always the weirdest choices on new Mini releases, even ones as important as this.

Real specs please. Store is obviously down.

Store and Page with specs are up. With 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 what exactly are you going to need the 2 removed USB-Cs that isn't handled by a USB hub?

 

[saulinpa]

Store and Page with specs are up. With 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 what exactly are you going to need the 2 removed USB-Cs that isn't handled by a USB hub?

Multiple monitors. They don't go into details but sounds like only one monitor is supported on the TB ports.

 

[xgman]

Well this is a great start. Doesn't look like there will be a mini pro, but if they step these specs up for the imac and beyond, it could be very interesting. Lots of potential next year I think.

 

[Micky Do]

Once again, a new Mac Mini has come...... New Mac Minis will almost certainly continue come.......

Reckon I'll get one.

And there will almost certainly be naysayers continuing to predict its demise, as there have been since 2007!

 

[Boyd01]

Looks pretty cool, I'm surprised, didn't expect to see a Mini so soon. Apple sure did a good job of concealing it! I wonder if they figure that swapping will be acceptable with the faster SSD (3400MB/sec). Otherwise, 16gb RAM seems really limited. Also too bad that 2tb is the largest internal SSD.

Unfortunately, they won't meet my needs with Windows and MacOS Mountain Lion virtual machines. I'm very happy with my maxxed out 2018 Mini, but these certainly show a lot of promise.

 

[Micky Do]

Well this is a great start. Doesn't look like there will be a mini pro, but if they step these specs up for the imac and beyond, it could be very interesting. Lots of potential next year I think.

If you want a pro, get a Mac Pro.....

 

[xgman]

If you want a pro, get a Mac Pro.....

ha.. my pro doesn't translate to those particular dollars..

 

[dogslobber]

And don't forget that the unified ram will also mean the GPU will share the system ram. So you won't even have the full 16 GB available for the system and apps.

Only a minuscule 16GB in this day and age.

 

[MiniApple]

Yay, an exciting first step with M1!

I fist pumped when the animation started showing a circle typical of the Mac Mini 😀

the little cheaper price is appreciated, would have liked it for 599$ due to the VAT and all that over here.
Still probably gonna be my first ever Mac!
Before I pull the trigger, I wanna see the reviews with regular joe/jane usage to see if 8GB are enough or 16 are required, how noisy it is and if there is at least a color decal for the top from dbrand or so.

 

[fuchsdh]

No, and most users don't buy the Mac Mini. They do a lot to indicate it's for developers, creatives etc. The type of users that will often need more than 2 ports with one being taken by the monitor. In any case it's a downgrade in ram and connectivity. Makes the Apple silicon update seem bittersweet - An interesting chip, but a major downgrade in ram and ports. Not to mention going away from space grey although thats less important.

I think the grey is the most obvious indicator that they're moving away from their attempted pivot, back to the "cheapest Mac" territory.

I assume it'll make much more sense once we get the rest of the ARM lineup. There's obviously a reason they left the old Intel Mac mini kicking around for now.

 

[PianoPro]

The 2018 Mini seemed like an attempt to fill the low-end, (headless-required) Mac Pro space (not successful enough for me). The 2020 AS Mini seems like a return to the days of a headless, low-end MacBook version of the Mini. It illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of a SoC approach. Great if it has exactly the performance and functions you want - otherwise you wait (and wait, and wait) for the next Apple SoC design, and then the next, because you can't add memory, select processors with more CPU cores, or pick from multiple graphics options. I suspect we will wait a long time, until a new AS Mac Pro, before we get any discrete GPU options or PCI slots. (Nothing said today about eGPU support.)

 

[Crazy Badger]

627 pages and over 15,000 posts about the arrival of a new mac mini, and when it does finally arrive, most people seem disappointed. You wouldn't want to be doing standup for an audience full of macrumors members 😀

 

[Jorbanead]

627 pages and over 15,000 posts about the arrival of a new mac mini, and when it does finally arrive, most people seem disappointed. You wouldn't want to be doing standup for an audience full of macrumors members 😀

They seem disappointed because they’re comparing the M1 mini to the i7 mini. That’s not what this mini is replacing. This mini is replacing the i3 mini, and by those standards it vastly outshines.

When we get an M1X mini next year that replaces the i7 then people will understand. This has to be done in phases.

 

[Cape Dave]

According to Apple, it is quiet, cool, and powerful. That makes it a very interesting machine 🙂

 

[hagjohn]

I think I'll wait. Too much up in the air at the moment.

 

[PianoPro]

They seem disappointed because they’re comparing the M1 mini to the i7 mini. That’s not what this mini is replacing. This mini is replacing the i3 mini, and by those standards it vastly outshines.

When we get an M1X mini next year that replaces the i7 then people will understand. This has to be done in phases.

If all you want from Apple is bottom of the line Macs this is a very good advancement for you. Unfortunately, some people need more in a headless Mac at a price point below the Mac Pro.