The M2 Mac Mini which was released in 2023 is sought after by many who are looking for a capable desktop. Apple is due to introduce a new M4 Mac Mini that the company says has big boosts in speed, power, and efficiency.

This means the firm will be bypassing M3 and moving straight to the flagship M4 chip instead. The new M4 Mac Mini, expected to launch this Tuesday, November 16th, is mooted as the most radical overhaul of Apple’s small form factor desktop in almost a decade and a half, potentially resetting the bar for what tiny desktops can do. Here’s what we know so far.

Apple to Launch M4 Mac Mini

The Mac Mini has not seen a redesign in over a decade – the current model lays claim to the 2010 design. Fortunately, that will soon change. The new design will slim down the Mac Mini for a more compact and space-efficient appearance. According to Mark Gurman, the new Mac Mini will be Apple’s smallest desktop yet, nearly the size of the Apple TV. This suggests a sleek, minimal aesthetic similar to that of the Apple TV. For context, the M2 Mac Mini measures 197 x 197 x 35.8 mm, while the Apple TV 4K is more compact at 93 x 93 x 31 mm.

It is not clear if the upcoming M4 Mac Mini will have a footprint as that of Apple TV but it could be slightly taller than the current one. Since the M2 Mac Mini is already rather small and comes in at 1.4 inches tall, it could be that the additional height won’t drastically affect portability. Its thermal performance is expected to be better than the standard Mac Mini despite the smaller size.

Apple is supposedly improving cooling efficiency to ensure performance remains within acceptable limits without the fan, reducing heat and increasing productivity. The main event of the new Mac Mini though, will be that this thing has an M4 processor; Apple’s latest custom silicon. The wait will stand in its vanilla M4 and the range-topping M4 Pro iteration as there won’t be an M3 series to bridge for optimal performance and power efficiency.

Apple started the year with the debut of its own M4 chip first introduced in an updated iPad Pro upon its launch in May 2024, which was based on cutting-edge second-generation 3nm technology and delivered twice the performance offered by M2 but featured an AI-centric design. A 10-core CPU with ML accelerators and a 10-core GPU with ray-tracing.

Apple already sells a 9-core version of the CPU in the MacBook Pro, but it is highly unlikely that we will also see that inside a Mac Mini. The M4 chip also features a new 16-core Neural Engine so it should be more than powerful enough for AI workloads. The current M2 Mac Mini has four USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet. Reports indicate that the upgraded M4 Mac Mini may feature five USB-C ports, enhancing its connectivity options.

FAQs

When will the M4 Mac Mini be released?

Apple is expected to launch the M4 Mac Mini in the near future, but an official release date has not yet been announced.

What are the key upgrades in the M4 Mac Mini?

The M4 Mac Mini will feature a new design, improved thermal performance, and a powerful M4 processor, offering faster performance and enhanced power efficiency compared to the M2 model.