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Will Apple Release M4 Macs Soon? Here's What the Latest Rumors Say
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Funny how the iPad Pro is doing just fine so far with a passively-cooled M4 inside an impressively thin case.
I'm not a fan of removing ports personally, but the current Mac mini case dates back to 2010 (2011 for the removal of the optical drive slot) when it needed to accomodate much bigger and user-replaceable parts, which is no longer the case - last time I checked, the logic board of a Mac mini with processor, memory and storage chips is about the size of an iPhone.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Of course, the other option vs. shrinking the case would be to put other utility in there. For example, what if that unused space in the current Mac mini case was filled in with an m.2 slot or two... much like similar-sized PC cases deliver? Then, those wanting more storage could get it at market instead of 3X-5X higher Apple prices and put up to 8TB-16TB or more INSIDE.
When optical discs were more important to most of us and Apple, this basic case design housed one for the added utility of accessing them. Later, it could fit in up to TWO HDDs for "big storage inside" utility. Why not build in the same kind of useful options to add big & fast SSD storage INSIDE?
No, apparently, "we" would rather have a cute & tiny desktop computer that will then beg to have such additions attached on the outside: just add cables and enclosures which then eat up the physical desk space of the former design and then some. "But look how cute it is!!!"
And buy some kind of docking clamp or similar so that the tiniest desktop doesn't get pulled off the desk. A little size & weight is helpful to keep a desktop computer on a desktop.
The novelty of "smallest Mac ever" is a one-time event... like showing a new tattoo. Once it's seen and you get that one round of "oooooh, ahhhhhhh," nobody cares anymore. On the other hand, if unused space was "filled" with additional consumer utility, you could actually use those very tangible benefits for life of device.
But why "think different?" We believe Apple is going tiny so tiny makes perfect sense to us.
When optical discs were more important to most of us and Apple, this basic case design housed one for the added utility of accessing them. Later, it could fit in up to TWO HDDs for "big storage inside" utility. Why not build in the same kind of useful options to add big & fast SSD storage INSIDE?
No, apparently, "we" would rather have a cute & tiny desktop computer that will then beg to have such additions attached on the outside: just add cables and enclosures which then eat up the physical desk space of the former design and then some. "But look how cute it is!!!"
And buy some kind of docking clamp or similar so that the tiniest desktop doesn't get pulled off the desk. A little size & weight is helpful to keep a desktop computer on a desktop.
The novelty of "smallest Mac ever" is a one-time event... like showing a new tattoo. Once it's seen and you get that one round of "oooooh, ahhhhhhh," nobody cares anymore. On the other hand, if unused space was "filled" with additional consumer utility, you could actually use those very tangible benefits for life of device.
But why "think different?" We believe Apple is going tiny so tiny makes perfect sense to us.
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Something I haven’t seen anyone mention yet is the cost of RAM upgrades. I’m hoping RAM upgrades cost less for these Macs now. I just checked the base 16” MacBook Pro and it’s 400 USD to upgrade to double the RAM. That’s ridiculous.
My MBP 14" M1 Pro 10/16/32G/2TB still serves me very well, but a Mac Mini M4 Pro as a desktop machine is super tempting.
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I really want a Studio, but will probably get a new Pro Mini if they come out next month. I can’t wait until next summer. 
I wish they handled their desktops the same way they handle their phones.
I wish they handled their desktops the same way they handle their phones.
A step in the right direction but some use cases already exceed 16GB so base with >16GB would be better.
M4 unlikely as it needs to stay reasonably "cheap". M4 Max= 50/50
There is also the possibility that Apple will launch TB 5 on the Mac Studio/Mac Pro initially. then trickle it down
Funny how you can barely push the iPad in any meaningful workload. It might as well have the M1 chip, wouldn't make a lick of difference.
I run my M1 mini on a 50-90% CPU load 24x7. Doesn't ever get uncomfortably hot, but I can easily get its fan to spin when it's being pushed hard for more than few minutes.
Not holding my breath for M4 in a much smaller case.
A smaller box:
1) uses less material;
2) uses less space.
This means it is less expensive to build, ship, and store.
A slightly taller box than the Apple TV can fit 4 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and an audio jack. And the power connector.
The electronic components are now so efficient one does not need a large cooler for the basic SoC.
1) uses less material;
2) uses less space.
This means it is less expensive to build, ship, and store.
A slightly taller box than the Apple TV can fit 4 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and an audio jack. And the power connector.
The electronic components are now so efficient one does not need a large cooler for the basic SoC.
Unsure what the concern is with a smaller case for the mini. Ok so the iPad Pro's M4 isn't exactly getting pushed to its full processing potential to manage heat and battery.
However, we got other references such as the M3 Max in a 14-inch MBP with active cooling that works fine, a chip that is as fast as a M2 Ultra used only in desktop models.
There's really no reason to worry a smaller mini (possibly with active cooling) cannot handle the M4 and M4 Pro.
...which would be significant on a low-cost, low-margin product. The Mac Mini - costing between $600 and $2000 - is not a low-cost, low-margin product.
I've bought far cheaper products that are bigger and heavier than the current Mac Mini, yet somehow they seem to be economical to build, ship and store...
I think there will not be an M4 Pro SoC.
Earlier rumor was there were 3 M4 chips, which to me means M4, M4 Max, M4 Hidra chiplet.
Observed model identifiers were for six M4 systems.
I think this is M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini, M4 and M4 Max MacBooks Pro.
Earlier rumor was there were 3 M4 chips, which to me means M4, M4 Max, M4 Hidra chiplet.
Observed model identifiers were for six M4 systems.
I think this is M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini, M4 and M4 Max MacBooks Pro.
As a "mac for work, consoles for gaming person," and seeing Consoles minus Nintendo getting worse and worse, I'm actually of the hot take that I like that mac's aren't very good at AAA gaming. I don't want to spend any more time in front of a work screen unless I have to. Besides, Mac's are fine for emulation now. You can play everything up through what? Ps3 just fine on even a modern MacBook air. Personally, that's all the gaming I really need anymore. (As long as GTA 6 runs fine on my Ps5 or the switch 2 lol). I suspect I'll eventually build a windows machine just for gaming/some local AI things, but I don't mind having a second machine for the play aspect of things.
I would be very surprised if there were no M4 Pro SoC because it fits nicely into a product segment that Apple will presumably continue to sell. The most important of these is the 16” MBP I would say. There are plenty of people who want a “Pro” laptop, but don’t need the GPU power of the Max, or want to pay $1000 more for it.
It is possible that the Pro SoC could be removed from the Mini because it gets close to the Studio, but again Apple may be OK with this because when you spec up the Mini to the level of the base Mac Studio, it is actually more expensive, so Apple doesn’t lose out. On the other hand, if a base Mini tops out at 24GB RAM, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU at say $900, and there is no Pro version, the next step is to pay at least $2000 for the base Studio, which would be great for Apple, but frustrating for users who want a “Goldilocks“ specification and price.
Yep, paying for my 16" MBP M1P w 32GB/2TB was a gritted teeth, painful experience, simply knowing the sheer daylight robbery of those RAM/SSD upgrades.
There is no way in hell I am upgrading to M2/M3/M4 and have to go through that same rort + general price increases, for what.... more GPU power when I don't use a fraction of the existing GPU power. I need screen size, RAM, SSD, and CPU. I have sweet fa need for GPU.
Bring these upgrade prices waaaaay down, and now I am not only tempted, but will want to upgrade to 48GB/4TB (assuming more than 36GB is an option in a Pro chip... I need a Max chip like I need a hole in the head).
I know the feeling. One point to consider is that over time higher-capacity RAM becomes *cheaper* than lower capacities due to economies of scale. If nearly every Windows computer is using at least 16GB, and assuming the underlying RAM chips are also used in Macs, then the price of those chips will reduce and 16GB can become cheaper than 8GB. This happened with DDR3 & DDR4 RAM, when I was looking to upgrade an older computer. It was way more expensive to buy older, lower-capacity DIMMs.
Apple will no doubt extoll their virtue by "gifting double the RAM", when in reality it just costs them less.
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imo: there're a lot of good games available for apple silicon macs. yes, you cannot play every game ever released, but a lot of great ones are (baldurs gate 3, civ, bioshock, xcom 2, vampire survivors, frostpunk, pillars of eternity i&ii, cities skylines, football manager, starcraft, warcraft, wow and many many more).
Still rocking my M1 MBP..awesome machine after all these years. Unfortunately my eldest found out about it and is going to hijack my beloved companion for college. So I am forced to upgrade (So I finally found an excuse to buy a new Macbook).
Right. So why would Apple drop the M4 Pro Mac Mini and the M4 Pro 14” and 16” MacBook Pros?
That’s not going to happen.
I mean, the problem is that you'll have to allocate space in your home for two computers. I don't need that. So I just end up having a gaming PC as my do-it-all PC and not get a Mac unfortunately. Other than my work Macbook of course, but that's provided by the company and not something I own per say so I don't count that.
Would love to have a stationary Mac though. It's much sleaker and quieter than a gaming PC.
I totally agree with you. A lot of the games I play work on Mac. However, a few older ones like Tibia doesn't.
Also Star Citizen is a huge deal for me. So all that makes me stick with a gaming PC for now. IMO Mac mostly needs software support, rather than grunt power. Though, they also need a bit more grunt power.