It’s a few 12 months and a half since Apple launched two Mac mini fashions with the M1 chip (reviewed right here: M1 Mac mini assessment). The Mac mini begins at $699/£699 and provides the very same processor and graphics choices as dearer MacE book and that iMac choices. Of all of the M1 Macs on provide from Apple the Mac mini is our favorite as we expect it provides one of the best by way of specs coupled with a low value.
By the autumn of 2022 the M1 chip can be two years outdated although, so consideration is now turning to the subsequent technology of Apple silicon – the M2 system on chip. In this text we’ll take a look at what the M2 Mac mini would possibly provide, and when it’ll launch.
Work on the brand new M2 Mac mini is evidently going down at Apple. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is testing an M2 Mac mini, codenamed J473, with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. Gurman additionally indicated that Apple is testing a Mac mini with an M1 Pro, codenamed J374 and an M1 Max Mac mini, nevertheless it’s doable this mannequin received’t ship. We focus on the M1 Pro Mac mini individually, so if that’s the Mac mini improve you’re most concerned about learn: New Mac mini 2022 with M1 Pro: What you must know.
Mac mini M2 launch date
- A M2 Mac mini is anticipated in 2022 – maybe in October.
Apple launched the M1 chip within the Mac mini, MacE book Air and 13in MacE book Pro at its One More Thing occasion on November 10 2020. As we close to the 2 12 months anniversary of that launch, the introduction of the M2 chip within the fall of 2022 doesn’t solely look possible, it appears tardy.
But there are numerous the explanation why the Mac chip growth isn’t occurring as quick as we’d have anticipated. For one, the previous few years have been just a little uncommon and the pandemic has result in world part shortages and manufacturing facility shutdowns.
We may very well be ready till 2023 although. In March 2022 an unverified Twitter account for analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said {that a} new Mac mini will ship in 2023. He doesn’t provide specifics, nevertheless it’s doable this 2023 Mac mini may very well be the M2 Mac mini.
It’s additionally doable that we might see the M2 Mac mini and different M2 Macs at WWDC in June. In a February 2022 PowerOn publication, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that “several new Macs” can be revealed at WWDC22 in June. It’s doable that the M2 Mac mini may very well be amongst these new Macs.
Mac mini M2: Design
The Mac mini has had an identical sq. design ever since Apple launched it in 2005, over time it has gotten thinner, misplaced the CD drive, and had a shade change. The new Mac mini might get a model new look, in accordance with reviews.
Jon Prosser claimed again in June 2021 that the subsequent Mac mini will shrink even additional, which might put it at lower than an inch tall. The physique may very well be getting a change too. While the Mac mini has had its aluminum chassis since 2010, Apple is reportedly contemplating a “plexiglass” prime, in accordance with Prosser. That might imply Apple will deliver just a little pizzazz to the Mac mini, which is at the moment restricted to silver and area grey.
Prosser shared the information in a May 2021 version of Front Page Tech, embedded under:
It needs to be identified that Prosser has been improper on a number of events earlier than – he’s had some large hits, however his misses embody one so extreme that he needed to shave his eyebrows – so the data needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.
AppleObserve at the moment provides him an accuracy ranking of 74.2% (that rating adjustments on a regular basis). Read extra in regards to the Apple leakers in our spherical up:
The Apple leakers value following.
Ian Zelbo made some illustrations based mostly on Prosser’s findings. The renders point out that the brand new mini will are available in silver and white, moderately than one of many new vivid color choices seen on the 24in iMac. These renders are based mostly on info from Prosser’s sources, however they could nonetheless give a good suggestion of what Apple might unveil.
The Mac mini will reportedly have 4 Thunderbolt ports.
Render by Ian
Prosser isn’t the one one anticipating a brand new look Mac mini. In August 2021, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported that the Mac mini can have “an updated design and more ports than the current model.”
Finally, the round rubber pad on the underside of the brand new Mac mini is alleged to get replaced with two horizontal strips as we see on the underside of the 24-inch iMac stand.
However, there could also be no redesign within the pipeline. In March 2022 a tweet from an account claiming to be for analyst Ming-Cho Kuo said that the 2023 Mac mini can have the identical kind and design as the present mannequin.
Mac mini M2: Spec
The Mac mini was among the many first Macs to get the M1 processor, so it is smart that the it will be the primary to get the follow-up M2 chip.
The M2 will possible be based mostly on TSMC N4P enhanced 5nm course of just like the A15 processor, in accordance with a report by The Information. There are indications that manufacturing of N4P processes received’t begin till the second half of 2022. So the M2 Macs will not be launched earlier than autumn 2022.
To discover out extra in regards to the M2 chip learn: Apple M2 Chip: Everything you must know.
Processor
The M1 chip provides eight CPU cores, 4 of that are excessive effectivity cores and 4 are excessive efficiency cores. It is believed that the M2 CPU will characteristic the identical eight CPU cores because the M1, evenly break up between efficiency and effectivity.
In May 2021 Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman instructed that the M2 (apparently codenamed Staten), will embody the identical eight cores because the M1 chip, however it’ll run quicker.
However, the N4P course of that Apple is alleged to be utilizing for the M2, might enable a transistor density that’s about six p.c increased, which might allow Apple to combine 10 CPU cores into the M2. These particular person cores may very well be clocked just a little quicker than within the M1 as nicely.
Another chance is that Apple might alter the variety of excessive efficiency and excessive effectivity cores. The M1 has 4 excessive efficiency cores and 4 excessive effectivity cores, whereas the M1 Pro and Max have twice the variety of excessive efficiency cores (eight), however fewer effectivity cores (two). The subsequent gen M2 might additionally improve the variety of excessive effectivity cores.
The M1 Mac mini is quick, however the subsequent mannequin may very well be approach quicker.
Roman Loyola/IDG
Graphics
The M2 provides 7 or 8 graphics cores. This may very well be set to extend: In the May 2021 report talked about above Gurman instructed that the M2 might provide 9 or 10-GPU cores.
A ten-core GPU can be double the 5 cores within the A15.
RAM & Storage
The M1 within the Mac mini has simply two RAM configurations—8GB and 16GB—whereas the Intel model that’s nonetheless on sale maxes out at 64GB. The M1 Pro and M1 Max MacE book Pro machines, alternatively, begin at 16GB and prime out at 64GB of reminiscence.
We’d wish to see an M2 Mac mini that would assist as much as 32GB reminiscence, however we expect that such an choice is extra possible for the M1 Pro Mac mini, which we hope Apple will introduce at WWDC. It appears extra possible that the M2 Mac mini will assist 8GB RAM as normal and 16GB as a build-to-order choice. If you need extra then hopefully the Mac mini Pro will fulfil that want.
Storage is more likely to begin at 256GB for the M2 mannequin, with a most of 4TB or so.
Ports
The present Mac mini fashions provide two USB-4/Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, in addition to Ethernet snd a headphone port. It’s possible that it will carry by way of to the brand new iteration. The M1 Pro model of the Mac mini might get two further Thunderbolt/USB-C ports for a complete of 4.
Prosser says the brand new mini possible received’t deliver again the SDXC card slot that appeared on the MacE book Pro and Mac Studio.
Source: www.macworld.com