They could go back to the way things were in the G3/G4 days and have M1X's for another 3 or 4 years, with minor updates.
Upside: You wouldn't feel like you had an outdated machine for aaaaaaaages
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
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Unreleased Mac Mini Spotted in Latest Studio Display Firmware
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Upside: You wouldn't feel like you had an outdated machine for aaaaaaaages
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Yep agreed. I got a MacBook Pro and a Studio. I don’t care if the mini gets 32GB of RAM. I’m all for more options!
DJSoda
macrumors newbie
Mac mini M1 Pro with 8/16/32GB/64 Ram does make sense it replaces the intel Mac mini and slides right between Mac mini M1 and Mac Studio M1 Max. It will be priced similarly to the Intel configs.
Well, you have the NUC and the Mini isn’t that “Mini”.
Mac Mini - NUC
Mac Home - Current Mac Mini
Mac Studio
I could see how that could work.
CWallace
macrumors G5
Ming-chi Kuo's latest Tweets imply the 2022 MacBook Air will stick with the M1 and the Mac mini with a Pro SoC won't ship until 2023. He also noted that he does not believe Apple will be releasing new MiniLED products this year due to high BOM costs (which would mean high retail prices).
We also have China is lockdown again which is hammering the supply chain, including Apple production lines.
IMO, I could see Apple reserving M2 at launch for the Mac mini (Macmini10,1) and maybe the 13.3" MacBook Pro because they don't have enough to put in the MacBook Air (which is the highest-volume Mac model). And let's be honest - an M1 is still an incredible SoC, especially for the Air.
We also have China is lockdown again which is hammering the supply chain, including Apple production lines.
IMO, I could see Apple reserving M2 at launch for the Mac mini (Macmini10,1) and maybe the 13.3" MacBook Pro because they don't have enough to put in the MacBook Air (which is the highest-volume Mac model). And let's be honest - an M1 is still an incredible SoC, especially for the Air.
Seems obvious. A lower end box like a Mini should be limited to 16 GB RAM in order
A) to help differentiate from Studio Macs and
B) to help keep heat down and allow more cost-effective design engineering.
Bug-Creator
macrumors 68000
I expect Apple to stick with 2 RAM configs for each chip and I don't expect them to upgrade those just yet (too much money to be made on BTO).
So M2 with 8/16GB, M2Pro with 16/32 and M2Max with 32/64.
That may be what you want, that may even be what most of the potential costumers want, but the reality is that Apple offer am "aggressively" priced base config and very expensive BTO options.
!If! Apple had started the Studio with a base M1Pro config at 1300$ or 1400$ it would have been at least 200$ higher than it is by the time it hits the actual Studio base config.
Putting the M1Pro into a Mini case would not change a thing.
But.....
One could see the M1Pro as a prebinned M1Max (as in leaving those cores out instead of disabling them after the fact) and it might be that Apple does something similar with the M2 where it gets an "M2Plus" brother with just a little bit more of this and that but still short of going near the proper M2Pro chip.
Expect such a SKU to go beyond 1500$ when specced out (ignoring storage options).
macsteve27
macrumors member
Of course, we don't know for sure but I agree with this. I think it's more than likely that the M1 Pro will out perform the M2 in almost every aspect, making an M1 Pro Mini completely viable.
Rumors around the M2 is that it will still be 4 High Performance /4 Efficiency cores just higher clocked. The graphics cores are rumored to be 9/10 cores instead of 7/8 cores.
This would provide a boost but even the binned M1 Pro would have 6 High Performance/2 Efficiency Cores and those stronger performance cores pack more of a punch. Also M1 Pro graphics would still outpace the alleged M2, having 14/16 Cores compared to 9/10.
Why? Because the low end of M1 is now old, and the low end of M2 will imminently be available. Using M2 they can present a modern but still low-end entry level box.
Hopefully Apple uses having the Studio Mac in the product mix as a reason to make the Mac Mini truly entry level. I.e. low end, max 16 GB RAM, etc. Folks like me who want more can buy a Studio.
Boil
macrumors 68040
Almost like there is the extra costs of the display, speakers, mics, webcam, keyboard, mouse, etc. ...
I doubt they will. But if they did offer a 32GB option, judging from the prices they gouge customers for RAM, that configuration for a Mini would likely be around $1599, so at that point I feel like you might as well just spend the extra $400 for a Studio.
EugW
macrumors P6
That doesn't really follow. A 32 GB Mac mini doesn't stop people from buying a much more capable Studio.
macsteve27
macrumors member
I think you're missing that there is a gap between an M1 Mini and an M1 Max Studio. I agree that they will update an M2 low-end, but there is room to add an M1 Pro option before introducing M2. So, while there are folks like you who are willing to spend extra on a Mac Studio, I'd wager there are many people who feel like an M1 Max is overkill for their workload, but that M1 isn't enough.
Will Apple fill this gap or continue to price gouge and upsell to M1 Max? Only time will tell.
Boil
macrumors 68040
The current Apple silicon offerings and the models they reside in...
Seems like Apple has a good amount of holes in their assorted offerings...?
| Tablet | Laptop | All-In-One Desktop | Headless Desktop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 2021 11" iPad Pro 2021 12.9" iPad Pro 2022 10.9" iPad Air | 2020 13" Mac Book Air 2020 13" MacBook Pro | 2021 24" iMac | 2020 Mac mini |
| M1 Pro | 2021 14" MacBook Pro 2021 16" MacBook Pro | |||
| M1 Max | 2021 14" MacBook Pro 2021 16" MacBook Pro | 2022 Mac Studio | ||
| M1 Ultra | 2022 Mac Studio |
Seems like Apple has a good amount of holes in their assorted offerings...?
macsteve27
macrumors member
THIS. Perfectly represents the gaps. Thanks for sharing this.
I wonder if they are deciding where to put the M1 Pro (high-end mini or high-end iMac). Or if they are just content leaving this gap open to push the Mac Studio upsell indefinitely.
macsteve27
macrumors member
I'd still rather take that extra $400 and put it towards a monitor, possibly the Studio Display. I realize that this is specific to my own needs though moving from a 2015 27" 5K iMac. I can certainly see your point though.
Populus
macrumors 604
Having the Mac Studio with Mx Max and Mx Ultra, leaves space for an Mx and Mx Pro Mac mini. That way, the whole desktop lineup is covered by Mx, Pro, Max and Ultra chips. It makes perfect sense in my head.
Yes, it does follow. Allowing things that use 32 GB RAM adds heat to the box that must be removed. Defining the Mini as 16 GB max RAM allows the box to be engineered to a (cheaper) lower level of heat removal and sold at a lower price point.
Some buyers may want to over-RAM a Mini, but it would be wrong-headed product engineering for Apple.
EugW
macrumors P6
You can put 64 GB RAM and an M1 Max in a MacBook Pro which is smaller in volume than a Mac mini, despite having a keyboard, trackpad, and of course, a screen. The small amount of added heat from an extra 16 GB RAM isn't a real concern in a Mac mini.
Boil
macrumors 68040
Yet Apple still manages to have a Mac mini with a hot Intel CPU & up to 64GB of RAM...
Is it hotter than an Apple silicon Mac mini...? Sure, but that is the Intel CPU...
Does the jump from 16GB of RAM to 32GB of RAM or 64GB of RAM cause excessive heat issues...? Highly doubtful...
Bug-Creator
macrumors 68000
Well allowing 32GB adds cost for Apple, They either need to source a 3rd type of RAM chips or design a M2 SoC that can take 4 instead of the usual 2.
Once they have done that they need to plan and supply for several extra SKUs (depending on how many storage config the offer) and hope that the market of "I need entry level compute with 3 truckloads of RAM" is big enough to make it feasible.
Or just continue steering that small submarket towards the base Studio.
EugW
macrumors P6
BTW, my 5 year-old 12" MacBook, which is the smallest Mac Apple has ever created, already has 16 GB in it, and it's fanless.
*Yes it's smaller than the 11" MacBook Air.
*Yes it's smaller than the 11" MacBook Air.
Generally yes, but it depends on the programs you're using; some tools in certain programs still rely a lot on single core performance.
Really? I’m okay with that. Same footprint only taller. Power Mac G4 Cube taller.