The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[EugW]

Apple doesn't have a strong incentive to make the mac mini "worse" than the MacBook Pro either.

Indeed. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac mini behaves similarly to the MacBook Pro in terms of fan noise under load. In my predicted scenario, it wouldn't necessarily be hugely better or hugely worse in this regard.

As far as I can tell from this forum, M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro owners aren't complaining that much about fan noise. It exists under load, but it's nowhere near as bad as it was with the Intel models, and generally these customers are quite pleased overall. I suspect that could be Apple's ballpark target with the Mac mini as well.

To put it another way, while I think it would be awesome to have a Mac mini that is always completely silent under full M1 Max load, I think that may be wishful thinking. Sure, it's possible to do this, but I don't think that's Apple primary goal here. Smaller saves money, both for Apple and for the consumer, and smaller is also a desired attribute by many customers, so I think that will factor significantly into Apple's decision making regarding the next Mac mini.

 

[Cape Dave]

Indeed. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac mini behaves similarly to the MacBook Pro in terms of fan noise under load. In my predicted scenario, it wouldn't necessarily be hugely better or hugely worse in this regard.

As far as I can tell from this forum, M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro owners aren't complaining that much about fan noise. It exists under load, but it's nowhere near as bad as it was with the Intel models, and generally these customers are quite pleased overall. I suspect that could be Apple's ballpark target with the Mac mini as well.

To put it another way, while I think it would be awesome to have a Mac mini that is always completely silent under full M1 Max load, I think that may be wishful thinking. Sure, it's possible to do this, but I don't think that's Apple primary goal here. Smaller saves money, both for Apple and for the consumer, and smaller is also a desired attribute by many customers, so I think that will factor significantly into Apple's decision making regarding the next Mac mini.

If it ain't quiet, I don't buy it. Simple.

 

[EugW]

If it ain't quiet, I don't buy it. Simple.

Sure, but are you happy with M1? If so, then great, you're not the target market.

 

[now i see it]

I think maybe one of the reasons that Apple loves the iMac so much is because it’s a pain to repair down the line. People would rather just get a new one than have to deal with carting it to a store or shipping it in for repairs.
The Mac Mini fixes that problem. You can carry it in a backpack- much easier to work on and get repaired.

 

[Fluttershy462]

Did the new Mac Mini get announced yet?

 

[MayaUser]

Did the new Mac Mini get announced yet?

THe M1 yes, the M1 pro/max not yet..Expect it around Marh-April

 

[Cape Dave]

Sure, but are you happy with M1? If so, then great, you're not the target market.

I agree. And I also think that the target market would be bigger if it were quiet. No machine should be a jet engine these days. We have enough noise pollution in this insane world already.

 

[EugW]

I agree. And I also think that the target market would be bigger if it were quiet. No machine should be a jet engine these days. We have enough noise pollution in this insane world already.

I never said I think it will be a jet engine. I just said it is wishful thinking to expect the rumoured future M1 Max Mac mini to be completely silent at maximum load.

My expectation is that it will be audible at max load, but will be a big improvement over the Intel models and silent for most basic use… just like the MacBook Pros.

 

[Cape Dave]

I never said I think it will be a jet engine. I just said it is wishful thinking to expect the rumoured future M1 Max Mac mini to be completely silent at maximum load.

My expectation is that it will be audible at max load, but will be a big improvement over the Intel models and silent for most basic use… just like the MacBook Pros.

I get that. I have been a leader in silent computing for decades I am so happy that I have never heard the fan in my M1 mini. I do not do much, but even still, super silent

 

[circatee]

Side note: How is this conversation still ongoing from 2013 to now? Rhetorical, but sort of valid...

 

[sublunar]

I never said I think it will be a jet engine. I just said it is wishful thinking to expect the rumoured future M1 Max Mac mini to be completely silent at maximum load.

My expectation is that it will be audible at max load, but will be a big improvement over the Intel models and silent for most basic use… just like the MacBook Pros.

I'm thinking M1 Max goes into a base level Mac Pro which by definition will have the cooling capacity required for silent running - that way musicians and studio types will buy it on that basis over an iMac

 

[now i see it]

Side note: How is this conversation still ongoing from 2013 to now

This thread will last forever because the next new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming

 

[sublunar]

I agree. And I also think that the target market would be bigger if it were quiet. No machine should be a jet engine these days. We have enough noise pollution in this insane world already.

Suspect this could be a reasoning behind the thinner case for the M1 - budget model very compact but not as silent to drive pro users up to a beefier (Pro) model.

 

[sublunar]

Apple doesn't have a strong incentive to make the mac mini "worse" than the MacBook Pro either. If the M1 Max mac mini was marginally better in full sustained loads, it's not like a bunch of MacBook Pro users are suddenly going to buy a mini. You likely got the notebook or a desktop because of the form factor.

Also as a side note and something related to the mac mini discussion, I think Apples new rumored consumer displays are going to be a perfect companion to a mac mini. Some people here and on reddit were saying Apple is never going to make a rumored 24" display at $999 because "Then people would just buy a mini and not the iMac" but when you actually sit down and do the math:

8-core M1 iMac - $1,499
Total: $1,499

- Or -

8-core M1 mini - $699
24" Apple Display - $999
Magic Keyboard - $149
Magic Mouse - $79
Total: $1,926

Apple makes an extra $427 if the consumer goes with a Mac mini + 24" display option, and even more if they go with the 27" option. Then it gives consumers options. Buy the cheaper all-in-one or buy the more expensive mini + display.

It's easy for Apple to use panels from their iMac range to fill standalone displays, especially if they are bringing them in as Thunderbolt 3 displays that can charge the MacBooks too.

Would it make you wonder if Apple produced a 30" 5.5K display to upsell people to that rather than go with the iMac 27? Would be a pricey proposition for sure.

 

[circatee]

Curious on this.

What if Apple did make a newer Mac Mini M1, and, used the same power cord from the 24" iMac, with the RJ45 on it. Thus, offering more/other ports on Mac Mini...

What's your thoughts on that?

 

[sublunar]

Curious on this.

What if Apple did make a newer Mac Mini M1, and, used the same power cord from the 24" iMac, with the RJ45 on it. Thus, offering more/other ports on Mac Mini...

What's your thoughts on that?

The PSU on the iMac 24 is capable of running devices with much more power draw - M2 would only be broadly similar to M1. This is what has led to speculation that it might be brought in to run an M1 Pro or M1 Max mini.

Bringing in the possibility to run a second ethernet port would be interesting to people running high end Minis as servers.

It remains to be seen if Apple would use it for a 27" iMac - 143 watt would surely be close to tolerances unless there's no chance of an M1 Mac Duo on it and these multi processor dies are being reserved exclusively for the Mac Pro.

 

[Jorbanead]

I think maybe one of the reasons that Apple loves the iMac so much is because it’s a pain to repair down the line. People would rather just get a new one than have to deal with carting it to a store or shipping it in for repairs.
The Mac Mini fixes that problem. You can carry it in a backpack- much easier to work on and get repaired.

They like it because It’s the whole widget.

It's easy for Apple to use panels from their iMac range to fill standalone displays, especially if they are bringing them in as Thunderbolt 3 displays that can charge the MacBooks too.

Would it make you wonder if Apple produced a 30" 5.5K display to upsell people to that rather than go with the iMac 27? Would be a pricey proposition for sure.

No because people usually buy for form factor. If you want a notebook it’s often because you’d like the option of portability. If you buy iMac it’s because you want a minimal stationary desktop setup.

 

[EugW]

In the MacRumors podcast, guest Mark Gurman from Bloomberg said the Mac Pro (not Mac mini Pro) would be about 3-4X the height of the Mac mini, and then reiterated it would have processor options equivalent to 2 x M1 Max or 4 x M1 Max.

He didn't specifically address the size of the rumored Mac mini Pro, but basically said there would be a Mac mini with M2 and likely a Mac mini with M1 Pro/Max, but also said it is possible Apple would just delete the latter altogether.

However, the way I see this is if the Mac Pro with 4 x M1 Max is 4X the height of the Mac mini, it would stand to reason that a Mac mini Pro with 1 x M1 Max would be Mac mini height.

 

[trickster is meaningless]

Curious on this.

What if Apple did make a newer Mac Mini M1, and, used the same power cord from the 24" iMac, with the RJ45 on it. Thus, offering more/other ports on Mac Mini...

What's your thoughts on that?

That would certainly be interesting, however the Mac mini doesn't have the constraints that the iMac does for thinness, so it would seem over engineered. For those using them in a server situation I think they would prefer an on board 10G ethernet port. I don't see apple producing a 10G version of the power adapter when they don't need to.

I'm also not really convinced at the need for a magnetic power cable for a desktop. I can't say I've ever accidentally knocked the power cable out of my desktops. I'm surprised apple didn't opt for a USB c power cable for the iMac, it's well within spec for power requirements (240W is the latest spec) and also could carry the ethernet signal from the brick.

 

[MarkC426]

I'm also not really convinced at the need for a magnetic power cable for a desktop. I can't say I've ever accidentally knocked the power cable out of my desktops. I'm surprised apple didn't opt for a USB c power cable for the iMac, it's well within spec for power requirements (240W is the latest spec) and also could carry the ethernet signal from the brick.

A magnetic or USB power cable for a desktop is ridiculous.
If it IS accidently pulled out, it's not good for your Mac, you may as well just flick off the switch at the plug (without shutting down).

Laptops are fine, having a battery.

 

[Jorbanead]

I'm also not really convinced at the need for a magnetic power cable for a desktop.

My assumption is they simply wanted to minimize cable management, and combining Ethernet and power into one cable is pretty genius IMO. Having it be magnetic is just Apple being extra because why not.

 

[EugW]

A magnetic or USB power cable for a desktop is ridiculous.
If it IS accidently pulled out, it's not good for your Mac, you may as well just flick off the switch at the plug (without shutting down).

Laptops are fine, having a battery.

The magnetic power cable for iMac doesn't come out like laptop MagSafe. It's firmly attached. If you're pulling on it hard enough to pull it out, then you would have likely pulled out a regular power cable on an older iMac as well.

It has to be properly oriented and well-seated to make Ethernet work, and I guess magnets are a great way to make it work every time. Also, the added benefit is that it may discourage cheap knockoffs. Knockoff cables are bad in general, but it would be doubly bad in this case because you're running networking alongside AC power. If poorly implemented and poorly shielded, that would wreak havoc on networking stability.

 

[richinaus]

In the MacRumors podcast, guest Mark Gurman from Bloomberg said the Mac Pro (not Mac mini Pro) would be about 3-4X the height of the Mac mini, and then reiterated it would have processor options equivalent to 2 x M1 Max or 4 x M1 Max.

He didn't specifically address the size of the rumored Mac mini Pro, but basically said there would be a Mac mini with M2 and likely a Mac mini with M1 Pro/Max, but also said it is possible Apple would just delete the latter altogether.

However, the way I see this is if the Mac Pro with 4 x M1 Max is 4X the height of the Mac mini, it would stand to reason that a Mac mini Pro with 1 x M1 Max would be Mac mini height.

that's what I took from it also.

Mac mini - consumer [updated design with M1 / M2 pro chips at the laptop levels]
Mac Pro - professional.... [no need to argue what this means ]

back to the old quadrant.

I will be in the camp for both, as I am a consumer and a 'pro' [hobbies and work].

 

[sublunar]

In the MacRumors podcast, guest Mark Gurman from Bloomberg said the Mac Pro (not Mac mini Pro) would be about 3-4X the height of the Mac mini, and then reiterated it would have processor options equivalent to 2 x M1 Max or 4 x M1 Max.

He didn't specifically address the size of the rumored Mac mini Pro, but basically said there would be a Mac mini with M2 and likely a Mac mini with M1 Pro/Max, but also said it is possible Apple would just delete the latter altogether.

However, the way I see this is if the Mac Pro with 4 x M1 Max is 4X the height of the Mac mini, it would stand to reason that a Mac mini Pro with 1 x M1 Max would be Mac mini height.

Thing is, if they were going to delete the Mac mini with M1 Pro and M1 Max then why not completely discontinue the Intel mini altogether when the M1 Mini comes out? It might make sense if the Mini moves to a new form factor for the M2 CPU but it doesn't make much sense to keep the Intel mini around for a year unless some sort of 'Intel stability' was required at the time of the unproven technology until people learned to trust the ARM technology.

We're also talking about Apple who cancelled the popular quad core 2012 Mac mini model because they would not budget to develop a second motherboard for the Haswell Intel mobile series CPU which had a different socket mount.

With the Mac mini a lower profit line why would Apple develop a secondary case and presumably a secondary motherboard to house the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPU? This effectively splits the Mini line in two. My feeling is that M1 Pro and Max models get used in

If the true Pro is going to be M1 Max Duo and M1 Max Quad only then they will be relatively low sellers. I'd like to think that Apple would merge the M1 Pro and M1 Max into one or the other line-up as creating a third headless desktop SKU seems to be a counter intuitive move from Apple.

 

[EugW]

Thing is, if they were going to delete the Mac mini with M1 Pro and M1 Max then why not completely discontinue the Intel mini altogether when the M1 Mini comes out? It might make sense if the Mini moves to a new form factor for the M2 CPU but it doesn't make much sense to keep the Intel mini around for a year unless some sort of 'Intel stability' was required at the time of the unproven technology until people learned to trust the ARM technology.

We're also talking about Apple who cancelled the popular quad core 2012 Mac mini model because they would not budget to develop a second motherboard for the Haswell Intel mobile series CPU which had a different socket mount.

With the Mac mini a lower profit line why would Apple develop a secondary case and presumably a secondary motherboard to house the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPU? This effectively splits the Mini line in two. My feeling is that M1 Pro and Max models get used in

If the true Pro is going to be M1 Max Duo and M1 Max Quad only then they will be relatively low sellers. I'd like to think that Apple would merge the M1 Pro and M1 Max into one or the other line-up as creating a third headless desktop SKU seems to be a counter intuitive move from Apple.

I don’t know if you’re misunderstanding my post or if I misunderstood yours but I’m just saying that Mark Gurman’s statements appear to support what I’ve been saying all along:

There will be a new Mac mini form factor with M2 and probably M1 Pro/Max options. There will also be a bigger Mac Pro. But there will be nothing in between. The bigger Mac Pro would get the 2 x M1 Max and 4 x M1 Max SoC options. I don’t know if the Mac Pro could get a 1 x M1 Max SoC option too but my guess is no. If you want the Mac Pro ports and design then you have to get at least the 2 x M1 Max SoC.