The mac mini was last updated on November 11, 2020, when the world's attention was on Apple's self-developed M1 chip. Among the first models, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have obviously attracted more attention, and the Mac mini seems to have always been a "niche product".
At this year's Apple Spring Conference, we have the opportunity to usher in the mac mini update again, this article will sort out the new Mac mini existing leaked information and rumors, for you who pay attention to the conference to provide reference for new products.
Apple is currently working on a more high-end Mac mini designed to replace the Intel version of the device that is still on sale. For Apple, the process of de-Intelization has pressed the accelerator key, and the new Mac mini devices will continue to implement this plan. Adding a stronger processor to the Mac mini will help Apple improve the competitiveness of products at the same price point, and this year's Mac mini will most likely be adjusted in this regard; Similarly, Apple is ready to complete the transition from its entire product line to self-developed chips.
devise
MacRumors sources say Apple will revolutionize the design of the Mac mini, but we don't yet know what it will look like. Jon Prosser, a well-known tech blogger, gave predictions about the appearance of the new Mac mini, and he described in detail what he thought the new Mac mini would look like. Jon Prosser said that the new Mac mini will have a plexiglass-like top above the aluminum shell, and the overall size may be smaller than the current Mac mini.
Jon Prosser even provided renderings, but it's worth noting that the port layout he designed wasn't accurate because the space between the USB-C ports was actually a bit small and not quite logical.
However, judging from the results of the previous leaks to Apple's new products, his success rate can only be said to be average, of course, there are accurate hits. Consumers are expected to use this prediction as a reference rather than fully believing it.
In terms of color matching, the Mac mini may make a "skin" update, with a two-tone design instead of a single color. Accustomed to Apple's space gray and silver, consumers will also expect the Mac mini to be as colorful as last year's 24-inch iMac. However, at present, Apple officially does not explain the color matching of the product, and it is expected if the official insists on using the classic color of mac mini.
Core arrangement
The new Mac mini will most likely use the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips first introduced in the 2021 MacBook Pro model, and as mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Mac mini with a stronger processor will replace the Intel version as the high-end option.
It is expected that the entry-level Mac mini will continue to use the M1 chip, while the high-end model will come with the M1 Max and M1 Pro, and of course the price will be higher. Both chips use a 10-core CPU with 8 high-power cores and 2 high-efficiency cores, making them the top desktop-class processors available today.
In terms of GPU performance, the M1 Pro chip has a 16-core GPU, while the M1 Max has an exaggerated 32-core GPU, and also offers a 24-core version to choose from. If Apple continues to maintain the differences between different devices, then the Mac mini is more likely to have a residual version of the processor.
Since the M1 Pro supports up to 32GB of RAM and the M1 Max supports up to 64GB of RAM, the new Mac mini will continue to offer support up to 64GB of RAM. The M1 version of the Mac mini is limited to 16GB of RAM.
In terms of interfaces, Apple may upgrade the existing two Thunderbolt 4 interfaces to 4, maintain the configuration of two USB-A network ports and 1 HDMI interface, and have the possibility of using magnetic charging. On the 24-inch iMac, magnetic power is widely acclaimed.
Release date
At present, the more credible news is that Apple will hold a special spring event on March 8, so we can see this new Mac mini as soon as March. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has said many times that at least one new Mac equipped with Apple's self-developed chip was released at the spring event, while other Macs are expected to be updated later this year. Combined with the combined speculation of other sources, the Mac mini is highly likely to be released as a candidate for early 2022.