M4 Mac mini
The M4 Mac mini may have a new, smaller design than the current M2 Mac mini (above).
Foundry
Release date: Reports indicate that Apple will release the M4 Mac mini this fall. It will replace the M2 Mac mini, which was released in January 2023. And the M1 Mac mini was released in November 2020. Apple could be taking this opportunity to establish a fall release cycle for the Mac mini, but based on the history of the product, the company doesn’t seem to believe that a regular release cycle is necessary for this product.
Design: The Mac mini will undergo a drastic change, according to Gurman. It will get even smaller, with a footprint about the size of the Apple TV. This would make the Mac mini more of a competitor to the Raspberry Pi, a small PC that’s often used in special setups.
Chip: Apple currently offers the Mac mini with a base or Pro M-series chip, and this will continue with the new design. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Mac mini with a base M4 chip will ship “immediately,” while the M4 Pro model won’t be available until late October.
Features: The smaller design could mean that the Mac mini doesn’t offer some of the ports the current Mac mini offers. Gurman reported that Apple has tested three models that have at least three USB-C ports, a power connector, and an HDMI port. And while Gurman didn’t say so, the USB-C ports are probably also Thunderbolt ports.
The current M2 Mac mini has a gigabit ethernet port, USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The latest rumors don’t say whether the alignment will change. While the ethernet and audio jack are likely to stay, It’s possible that Apple will drop the USB-A ports. Wi-Fi 7 support is also possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance made the standard official at the beginning of January.
