The M1 Mac Mini.
Sean Booker/CNET
Although it used to be remaining up to date in 2020 with Apple’s unique M1 chip, we did not get a brand new Mac Mini announcement in March as was hoping. As an alternative, we were given the Mac Studio, a higher-end and larger fashion with a doubled model of the similar M1 Professional and M1 Max chips discovered within the corporate’s newest MacBook Execs. Until Apple needs to get out of sub-$1,000 desktops — which I doubt for the reason that Mac Studio begins at $1,999 — we are sure to peer a brand new Mac Mini. It is only a topic of when we’re going to see it and what is going to be new. At the present time, although, the inside track is lovely skinny.
When will the brand new Mac Mini be introduced?
The most recent in March from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is in most cases lovely correct, is that the Mac Mini will slip from this yr to 2023.
For the reason that at the within the Mac Mini is in most cases a desktop model of the MacBook Air, we would be expecting them to release round the similar time as every different. And the Air could also be anticipated for 2023.
One imaginable (however not likely) curveball Apple may throw is that if it plans to announce new silicon, comparable to an M2 chip, that differs in a significant method from the present line. The corporate infrequently makes use of the Mac Mini so as to seed the brand new chips to builders, this means that a slender probability of stories about it at WWDC this June. Apple may at all times retrofit present Minis with the a brand new processor, although.
What may well be new?
Within the Tweet thread referenced above, Kuo additionally refers to a brand new fashion as “extra tough.” Given the scale of the Mini, it’s going to almost certainly comprise a relatively progressed model of the present base M1 (like an M2!) to stay the warmth and noise down, however which, just like the M1 Professional, Max and Extremely, can also be scaled up for the following technology of higher-end techniques.
Watch this:
Mac Studio Review: Testing Apple’s New Desktop for Creators
12:15
Kuo does say that he doesn’t expect a redesign, although others floated rumors about one a while back. Apple adding connections to the front is the only design change I really care about, though a USB-C/Thunderbolt power cord (like a MacBook Pro) or iMac 24-like colors might be nice.
When will we be able to buy a new Mac Mini?
Given that we don’t expect an announcement until the end of this year/early next year, the only way to really answer this question is “soon after that.” Nor do we have an idea as to price, though I don’t think it would rise a lot from the current $699 base, nor do I think it will go down, though the configuration options like memory and storage might “upsize” for the same prices as the current ones.
