It’s nearly a 12 months and a half since Apple launched two new Mac mini fashions with its personal M1 chip (reviewed right here: M1 Mac mini evaluate). The Mac mini begins at $699/£699 and gives the very same processor and graphics as dearer MacGuide and that iMac choices. Of all of the M1 Macs on supply from Apple the Mac mini is our favorite as we predict it gives the very best when it comes to specs coupled with a low worth.
There can also be one other Mac mini on sale for $1,099/£1,099 that also options an Intel processor. We had anticipated Apple to discontinue this mannequin when it began promoting the Mac Studio, however as but it hasn’t stopped promoting the Intel Mac. It does appear inevitable that it’s going to achieve this although.
While we don’t know the future of the Intel Mac mini it does appear possible that the M1 Mac mini will get an M2 replace in 2022, learn on to seek out out what’s coming and once we would possibly see the following Mac mini.
New Mac mini launch date
There may very well be a couple of new Mac mini within the pipeline at Apple:
- We may see a brand new M1 Pro model substitute the Intel powered mannequin, maybe as quickly as WWDC in June 2022.
- A M2 Mac mini can also be anticipated in 2022 – maybe in October.
There is a few proof that an replace to the Mac mini may very well be coming quickly. In April 2022 developer Steven Troughton-Smith identified that the Studio Display’s newest software program replace features a reference to a Mac mini that’s not but out there. Troughton-Smith first speculated that “Macmini10,1” may very well be a Mac mini with a brand new M2 processor, however later he modified his thoughts to an M1 Pro and Max mannequin.
New Mac mini worth
The Mac mini begins at £699/$699, one other mannequin with extra storage is available in at $899/£899. The Intel variant begins at $1,099/£1,099. It’s doable that this latter mannequin may even see a worth rise if Apple furnishes it with a M1 Pro – narrowing the hole between it and the $1,999/£1,999 Mac Studio with M1 Max.
If you wish to purchase one of many present Mac mini fashions you are able to do so immediately from Apple, or, if you need a discount, take a look at our spherical up of the greatest Mac mini offers.
New Mac mini design
In March 2022 Apple launched the Mac Studio, which from the highest seems just like the Mac mini, however is just a few inches taller. A redesign had been rumoured for the Mac mini for a while – was this it?
While there have been quite a few rumours about new designs for the Mac mini, solely a few of them gave the impression to be fulfilled by the Mac Studio (which was rumoured to appear like two or three Mac mini stacked on one another, and does).
If Apple updates the Mac mini that’s at present powered by an Intel chip it might not change the case in any respect.
Other rumours level to a a lot much less pro-focused redesign. Apple leaker Jon Prosser revealed particulars again in June 2021 of a brand new design for the brand new Mac mini mannequin that he instructed can be considerably thinner than the present one and have a “plexiglass-like” high.
Ian Zelbo made some illustrations primarily based on Prosser’s findings. The renders point out that the brand new mini will are available in silver and white, fairly than one of many new vibrant color choices seen on the
24in iMac. These renders are primarily based on rumours, however they might nonetheless give a good suggestion of what Apple may unveil.
The ports ought to be the identical as for the newest Intel mannequin: 4 Thunderbolt/USB-C, two USB-A, ethernet and HDMI.
Prosser shared the information in a May 2021 version of Front Page Tech, embedded beneath:
It ought to be identified that Prosser has been flawed on a number of events earlier than – he’s had some massive hits, however his misses embody one so extreme that he needed to shave his eyebrows – so the data ought to be taken with a pinch of salt.
AppleObserve at present provides him an accuracy score of 74.2% (that rating modifications on a regular basis). Read extra concerning the Apple leakers in our spherical up:
The Apple leakers price following.
M2 Mac mini spec
We had anticipated Apple to introduce a substitute for the Intel-powered Mac mini that’s nonetheless on sale. It hasn’t performed so but, and we don’t know if it’s going to. If it does it might nicely characteristic an M1 Pro. We wouldn’t count on to see the M1 Max or M1 Ultra in it.
What we may be extra sure about is that later in 2022, or a minimum of in 2023, we’ll see Apple introduce an M2 model of the Mac mini. If you have an interest to seek out out extra about what the M2 may supply learn this:
Apple M2 Chip: Everything you must know.
Processor
The M1 has 8 CPU cores, and the rumours point out that this may very well be the identical for the M2. 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’s going to run sooner.
However, the N4P course of that Apple is claimed to be utilizing for the M2, may permit a transistor density that’s about six p.c larger, which may allow Apple to combine 10 CPU cores into the M2. These particular person cores may very well be clocked a bit sooner than within the M1 as nicely.
Another chance is that Apple may regulate 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 may additionally enhance the variety of excessive effectivity cores.
Graphics
The M2 gives 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 may supply 9 or 10-GPU cores.
RAM
Unlikely to go above 16GB, however we wish to see a 32GB choice supplied for the high-end Mac mini, maybe with a M2 Pro chip on supply.
Ports & Peripherals
The present Mac mini fashions supply two USB04/Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports and an HDMI 2.0 port, in addition to Ethernet. It’s possible that this can carry by means of to the brand new iteration.
Apple doesn’t ship the Mac mini with an Apple keyboard, proper now you must present your personal or purchase one from Apple. That’s unlikely to vary, however we do anticipate that Apple will begin supply the brand new Apple keyboard with Touch ID as an improve for the Mac mini, maybe within the silver end that goes with the silver iMac.
Find out about all the brand new merchandise coming in 2022 right here:
Every new Apple product coming in 2022.
Source: www.macworld.com