Mac Mini M4: the latest rumors and everything we know so far
The 2023 M2 Mac Mini was a total surprise when it first came out. Nobody was expecting a new desktop, and it was practically overshadowed by the two new MacBook Pros at the time. Unexpected (and perhaps underrated) or not, it ended up being a fantastic computer. The M2 chipset proved to be a powerful upgrade for the series. We even called it the “best PC you can buy” in our review.
It goes without saying that future models will have big shoes to fill. Will the next Mac Mini be able to retain its title as one of the best desktop computers on the market? The chances are good. Rumors have recently been circulating online about a Mac Mini running on Apple’s M4 SoC (System on a Chip).
The next-generation hardware could significantly improve the computer’s performance compared to previous generations. In addition, the M4 Mac Mini could also introduce a new design.
If you want to know more about the next-generation Mac, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered all the latest rumors and speculation in one place to help you decide whether or not you’ll want to buy one at some point.
Get to the point
- What is that? A compact desktop computer that could run Apple’s new M4 chip.
- When will it come out? Rumor has it that it will be released in late 2024 or early 2025.
- How much will it cost? It’s too early to tell, although the current M2 Mac Mini costs $599 / £649 / AU$999.
Rumored release date and price of the Mac Mini M4
One of the sources for these rumors is a June 23 newsletter from industry insider Mark Gurman. He claims the computer will launch sometime between late 2024 and early 2025. It will arrive before the new MacBook Air models, which are scheduled to launch in spring 2025. Gurman points out in a subsequent newsletter that 2025 will be the first time “Apple puts a new family of chips in every Mac it makes,” as new MacBook Pro and Mac Studio devices are reportedly due to arrive in the second half of the year.
At the time of writing, we haven’t found any other reports or claims that contradict this timeframe. Apple traditionally updates its Mac hardware in the fall – around October or November. Late 2024 falls within this time frame. However, there’s a good chance it will be early 2025, as the M2 Mac Mini came out in January 2023. A two-year gap between models is another possible scenario.
Pricing was not mentioned in the original report, but Gurman says in a more recent newsletter that the new Mac Mini “could potentially be cheaper to manufacture.” This implies that the new model could be cheaper, although a similar or even higher price is not out of the question.
Mac Mini M4 news, rumors and features
The Mac Mini hasn’t had a major redesign in over a decade, with the current design introduced back in 2010. But that’s about to change, as rumors suggest the future device will be Apple’s “smallest computer ever.” Apparently, it will be roughly the size of an “Apple TV set-top box.”
The M2 Mac Mini measures 197 x 197 x 35.8 mm (7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches). For comparison, the Apple TV 4K measures 93 x 93 x 31 mm (3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 inches), so it will be a significant shrink. Teardown videos of Mac Minis have shown that the M-series chips allow Apple to use smaller components. Perhaps the company saw that it could get rid of all that space and opted for a more compact device. People familiar with the development reportedly describe it as “essentially an iPad Pro in a small box.”
Although it takes up less space on the desk, Apple could make the M4 Mac Mini taller, but by how much is not yet known. The current model is quite short, so a slight increase should not affect the portability of the computer too much.
Apple has also reportedly been testing versions with three USB-C ports on the back. The chassis is said to include an input for power and an HDMI port for connecting an external display. Whether there will be USB-A inputs, SD card slots, or even an Ethernet port is not yet known. We wouldn’t be surprised if the tech giant decided to charge people for an adapter for other port types.
The features are also a mystery. The rumors mostly revolve around the hardware, although we expect macOS Sequoia to be the device’s operating system. This will bring Apple Intelligence and its many AI features to the new Mac Mini. These include text summarization, the Image Playground app for creating images, and intelligent photo editing.
What about other Apple devices?
Not much is known about the other M4 Mac devices, but there are a few small details. Bloomberg said they recently saw developer test logs that suggest Apple recently tested four models. They are referred to not by name, but by a numerical identifier: “16.1,” “16.2,” “16.3,” and “16.10.”
These numbers represent laptops with the base M4 chip. Three of them have 10-core processors, while one MacBook has an 8-core CPU. Bloomberg’s report says that the “versions with 10-core CPUs also have 10-core GPUs,” while the machine with the 8-core processor has an 8-core graphics engine. Apple’s future MacBook may have either 16 or 32GB of memory.
In addition, the laptops with 10-core CPUs have the same specifications as the M4 iPad Pro, consisting of four high-performance cores and six efficiency cores. The fourth configuration is “split between four high-performance and four efficiency cores.”
We don’t have to wait long to learn more about the Mac Mini M4, as rumors suggest Apple’s next big event will take place on September 10. It could be unveiled alongside the latest iPhones, AirPods, and more.
What we want to see
Nobody knows anything specific about the M4 Mac Mini right now. However, there are a few things we would like to see.
1. Colors
It would be great if there were multiple color options for the new desktop. The M3 iMac comes in seven different shades, so why not the Mac Mini? Imagine a bright yellow or fancy blue desktop computer on your desk. If Apple decides against introducing a rainbow palette, perhaps the company can opt for Space Black, similar to the M3 Max MacBook Pro. It will be the second color alongside the standard silver.
2. M4 Pro version
So far, rumors have only mentioned the Apple M4 chip, but there could also be an M4 Pro SoC; maybe even an M4 Max. Previous generations had more powerful models, so the M4 series will probably follow a similar trajectory.
We certainly hope that’s the case. Having the option to choose the power level you want is ideal. You can buy the model that suits you best without having to worry about poor performance.
The higher-end chips were not found in the developer logs. However, Gurman said in a previous newsletter that Apple is working on two versions of the Mac Mini. One will have the base M4, while the other will house an M4 Pro. The latter has additional memory and “more graphics power.”
3. Ports
As great as the smaller design may seem, we are concerned about the number of ports. A more compact chassis could mean fewer ports.
Hopefully we’re wrong about that, because that would make the Mac Mini M4 more difficult to use. It wouldn’t be as flexible, because you might not be able to equip it with multiple accessories. Unless Apple plans to launch a special adapter that adds additional ports. But that’s not what we want. We want the desktop to already have everything it needs to support its user.
4. Upgradeability
This is probably a long shot, but it would be great if people had a way to upgrade key components of the Mac Mini. The 2023 Mac Pro already does this, as you can install PCIe card slots that expand the computer’s capabilities. For example, you can increase the storage capacity through these components.
It would be great if this feature could be extended to other hardware, such as memory or graphics cards. Apple prefers a closed ecosystem for its devices, so it’s unlikely that Apple will give in here. However, we would like to have this option.
