Another scenario I can see happening is, Apple might be waiting until the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon has been completed to come out with the M2-series chips. Until that happens, which will probably be next year, I could see them coming out with an M1 Pro-enabled Mac Mini that visually resembles the existing Space Gray Intel Mini, with the same amount of ports. The way it'd work, the M1 base-line and M1 Pro being used for the Mac Mini, and the M1 Max and M1 Ultra for the Mac Studio.
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Unreleased Mac Mini Spotted in Latest Studio Display Firmware
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Well, Apple did say the transition would take 2 years, which depending on when it officially started would mean WWDC 2022 or else fall 2022. I suppose they could be delayed, but it should be noted that Apple also did also say they consider every line except the Mac Pro to have already made the transition from their perspective:
Apple said:
So, despite the fact that the Intel Mac mini is still sold, according to Apple, the Mac mini already transitioned to Apple Silicon, way back in 2020.
I don't disagree with you. Those who want an M1/M2 don't care about extra GPU power or memory bandwidth. I'm speaking to that fact that the M1/M2 are not in the same class as the M1 Pro/M2 Pro. The post I was replying to was speculating that an M2 could theoretically match/replace the M1 Pro, which I don't think will be the case.
To my eyes, I think Apple could offer an M2 Pro and 32GB BTO option and if people only choose one it could work:
- M2 Pro / 16GB / 512GB at $1299
- M2 / 32GB / 512GB at $1499
But I just don't really see anyone going M2 Pro AND 32GB because at that point you are so close on pricing to a Mac Studio Max 32GB/512GB that would hammer the M2 Pro mini into the ground outside of Single Core.
I feel those max and ultra chips are only sensible for video editors and animators though. Would personally prefer something to fit in around that 1.5k gap they currently have.
Can't disagree with you there, your math checks out from your previous post given Apple's BTO pricing.
I would absolutely get the theoretical binned M1/M2 Pro Mini with 32GB ($1699) to save a bit of money though. However, when you start looking at the non-binned full Pro with 32GB you are up around $1899, it is soooo close to the Studio that it would probably not be an appealing option. Having these options would still fill a gap though IMO and offer options to consumers on the desktop side which currently has no M1/M2 Pro.
Personally for me I would put the extra $300 toward a Studio Display or LG Ultrafine. I'm coming from a 2015 27" 5K iMac and am looking for a comparable ASi upgrade that doesn't cost $3600+ (Mac Studio + Studio Display) and isn't underpowered in GPU power/RAM like the M1 is. At this point I would also possibly settle for the M1 Pro in an iMac 24" as an alternative, but the middle options that existed just aren't there anymore on the desktop side when you look at the whole desktop lineup.
I had gotten kinda confused with all the various Mac mini leaks of late, so I'm glad Max released this video today:
Quanta:
J374 exists
J375 exists
Mark Gurman:
J374 is high end Mac mini
9to5mac:
J375 confirmed to be Mac Studio
J473 is Mac mini M2
J474 is Mac mini M2 Pro
Steve Troughton-Smith:
Macmini10,1 exists
What is my take away from all this? I dunno, but I'm wondering if J374, presumably an M1 Pro Mac mini, was axed. OTOH, we might just get both J473 (M2) and J474 (M2 Pro). BTW, 9to5mac seems to think M2 series is based on the A15 core, not A16, which might suggest a 10-15% CPU speed increase compared to the M1 series chips.
Note that the unreleased Mac mini coming is named Macmini10,x and not Macmini9,x. This suggests either a new higher end M1 series SoC with a new case or else an M2, according to @giggles here.
If J374 M1 Pro has actually been axed, then Macmini10,1 would be J473 M2. J474 M2 Pro would be Macmini10,3 or something.
Quanta:
J374 exists
J375 exists
Mark Gurman:
J374 is high end Mac mini
9to5mac:
J375 confirmed to be Mac Studio
J473 is Mac mini M2
J474 is Mac mini M2 Pro
Steve Troughton-Smith:
Macmini10,1 exists
What is my take away from all this? I dunno, but I'm wondering if J374, presumably an M1 Pro Mac mini, was axed. OTOH, we might just get both J473 (M2) and J474 (M2 Pro). BTW, 9to5mac seems to think M2 series is based on the A15 core, not A16, which might suggest a 10-15% CPU speed increase compared to the M1 series chips.
Note that the unreleased Mac mini coming is named Macmini10,x and not Macmini9,x. This suggests either a new higher end M1 series SoC with a new case or else an M2, according to @giggles here.
If J374 M1 Pro has actually been axed, then Macmini10,1 would be J473 M2. J474 M2 Pro would be Macmini10,3 or something.
I have a 2018 i5 with 64 GB RAM, and it runs molten hot. It seemed to run cooler before I put the 64 GB in there. I can only imagine how hot a loaded i7 box runs.
I just realized that the bombastic verbal spewage style Max uses reminds me of the adage...
"If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, then baffle 'em with bull$hit."
This was a video algo'ed to me after I watched the Max vid...
TL;DW - "Nobody knows nothing..."
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Actually, we already know the Quanta leaks are absolutely real, as they were stolen from the manufacturer. The codename for Mac Studio was known last year.
We also know the Macmini10,1 model identifier is absolutely real.
Yeah, but what do these codenames/whatnot actually MEAN, what are the specs & pricing, where are the pics...?!? ;^p
I'll take what I can get.
Anyhow, while I'm not a dev, I anxiously await the WWDC keynote. I don't know if the new Mac mini(s) will make an appearance, but something HAS to be at least announced there. Mac Pro most likely, but it'd be nice to see one or two of the other Macs there too.
I'll take what I can get.
Anyhow, while I'm not a dev, I anxiously await the WWDC keynote. I don't know if the new Mac mini(s) will make an appearance, but something HAS to be at least announced there. Mac Pro most likely, but it'd be nice to see one or two of the other Macs there too.
Not a dev either, but still excited for WWDC 2022...!
I am awaiting a new 11" iPad Pro, which I plan to load Swift Playgrounds on and start learning to code; so obviously a dev event with the tagline "Call to code." sounds exciting, even if most of it will probably be over my head...!
(...last "computer science" class was as a high school sophomore in 1983; Data Programming, working with punch cards on an old Burroughs mainframe...)
I am also excited to hear about any new ASi Macs, especially the Mac Pro...! I may not be buying one anytime soon, but it is fun to see what Apple offers...!
As for the Mac mini, I think I might just wait for the M2 to jump into one, WoW will not run on an iPad Pro...! ;^p
M1 - Good, $599
M2 - Better, $799
M2 Pro - Best, $1399 (Binned Pro)
Traditional Apple system tiers.
What specs? You are very optimistic on the bottom tier pricing, even at 8 GB / 256 GB.
I'd buy a $799 M2 with more ports, but that seems optimistic too, even at 8 GB / 512 GB.
Apple Readies Several New Macs With Next-Generation M2 Chips
Apple Inc. has started widespread internal testing of several new Mac models with next-generation M2 chips, according to developer logs, part of its push to make more powerful computers using homegrown processors.
www.bloomberg.com
Hmmm, interesting. First time I’ve considered that they may keep multiple generations of chips in the same line like they do for the iPhone. I’d imagine they could decrease the price of models when they release a new model and keep both in the lineup. Would definitely be down for this.
This is how I believe Apple intends to fill out their system line up; rather than creating dozens of new SoCs every year (as Intel does), they can just create a handful and keep older SoCs around for entry-level systems. That's also why I think people need to stop worrying about product gaps as they will be filled in time. (I know... "BUT I WANT IT NOW!!!!")
I think all current systems with the M1 will continue to have a single entry level model with an M1.
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Instead of outright replacing the base mini M1 with an M2 at the current price of $699, I think they will drop the price of the current M1 down $100, and release the base M2 at $100 more. This will soften the blow of needing to increase the price of the base mini (all M2 systems) because of the current high costs of silicon.
As you said, the CPU isn't the only thing to gauge as Apple may have boosted the performance of all the blocks on the M2 including memory controllers, I/O controllers, etc. Because they're the same as the A-series, we know for sure that the CPU, GPU and ANE cores have all increased in performance and efficiency.
I'm a Dev, but I'm also eager to see Apples next moves in hardware.
But my guess for WWDC is Mac Pro announcement only. I think for Apple it makes sense to round up the transition with this big announcement at the end and focus on software for the rest of the keynote. In September we will have the iPhone/Watch/iPad event as usual and then at least one fall event where we will see at least three M2 Macs as they did two years ago with the release of the first M1 devices. But I think they will announce the new Mac mini and the new MacBook Air at separate events because both will get a new enclosure. Maybe they will event throw the M2 iMac into the mix to speed up their release cycle. Next year we will see new MacBook Pro sometime around summer, maybe an announcement at WWDC 2023.
A timeline like that feels like it would give each product the space Apple wants for it and still is a little bit faster than during the last cycle.
I'd be happy if I'm wrong, though, because an M2 MacBook Air or Mac mini (with dual-display support) would be interesting to me.
But Apple only has three SoCs for the Apple silicon Mac line-up...!
- Mn
- Mn Pro
- Mn Max
I feel that Apple will go on a two year cycle for Apple silicon Macs...
Beginning of two year cycle, Mn products released (11" & 12.9" iPad Pros, 13" & 15" MacBooks, Mac mini, 24" iMac)
Six months into two year cycle, Mn Pro / Mn Max products released (14" & 16" MacBook Pros, Mn Pro Mac mini)
One year into two year cycle, Mn Max / Mn Ultra products released (Mac Studios)
Eighteen months into two year cycle, Mn Ultra / Mn Extreme products released (Mac Pros)
Then six months later, the whole two year cycle starts again with the next Mn series of SoCs...!
The M1 Pro is a M1 Max with a part chopped of. So actually Apple creates all their Mac SoCs from two Dies.
No it's not. M1 Pro appears to be completely separate, even though it's designed as just a portion of M1 Max.
IOW, a wafer of M1 Max becomes M1 Ultra, M1 Max, and binned M1 Max, but it does not become M1 Pro.