Apple is working on an updated version of the high-end Mac mini, with the new machine set to replace the Intel version of the Mac mini that Apple still sells today. Apple replaced the entry-level Mac mini with an M1 version in 2020, and now the company is ready to complete the Apple silicon transition for the entire line.
In March 2022, Apple introduced the Mac Studio, which is a hybrid between the Mac mini and the Mac Pro, but the continued existence of Intel models suggests that the Mac mini is not being phased out of Apple’s product line. This guide includes everything we know about the Mac mini refresh, which may be imminent.
Design
Rumors suggest that Apple will change the design of the next-generation Mac mini, but we don’t yet know exactly what it will look like.
The current M1 Mac mini
Backer Jon Prosser, who has a somewhat mixed track record when it comes to predicting Apple’s plans, provided details on what he thinks the new Mac mini will look like. He says the new Mac mini will have a plexiglass-like top that sits on top of the aluminum case, and the overall size might be smaller than the current Mac mini.
Prosser provided renders, but it’s worth noting that this design isn’t quite accurate when it comes to port layout because there wouldn’t be that little space between the USB-C ports.
Colors
The Mac mini could feature a two-tone design instead of a single color, and it could potentially come in colors other than space gray or silver, much like the 24-inch iMac. Color options have yet to be confirmed, so Apple might just stick with the standard Mac mini shades.
Ports
Apple’s new Mac mini is said to have four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, an Ethernet port and an HDMI port, along with the same magnetic charging cable used for the 24-inch iMac.
Apple silicon chips
Initial rumors suggested the updated Mac mini would adopt the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that were first introduced in the 2021 MacBook Pro models, but 9to5Mac claims that Apple will instead launch two M2 versions of the Mac mini, one with a standard M2 chip and a second high-end model with a M2 Pro chip.
The M2 chip is expected to feature the same 8-core processor as the M1, but with speed and efficiency improvements, as well as a 9 or 10 core GPU, instead of 7 or 8 cores. As for the M2 Pro, we don’t know all the details yet, but it could feature a 12-core processor. The current M1 Pro chip has a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, so we might see an increase in GPU as well.
Release date
We know a new Mac mini will arrive sometime in 2022, but it’s unclear when. Apple has several Mac refreshes on the way for 2022, and after the March event that saw the launch of the Mac Studio, we could see the next unveiling in May or June. It’s worth noting that while most rumors have pointed to a 2022 launch date, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple won’t release an updated model until 2023.
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