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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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Yup!
My only worry now is the rumored M2 MacBook Pro. My concern is that this could possibly mean instead of an M1 Pro/Max mini, we could possibly just get an M2 Mac mini instead (and they keep the M1 option as a lower cost entry model).
I still think we’ll get an M1 Pro/Max mini though!
Unless Apple drastically upgrades the limits on the M2 over the M1, it will still be not enough to replace the current high end Intel Mac Mini. I think that there will still be an M1 Pro and maybe a Max in a Mini eventually
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Let's hope not. While that's certainly possible, rumors of Mac Mini PRO & MAX were flying with MBpros launched in the Fall. There were MANY very confident players believing Mac Mini PRO & MAX were launching at that same time. I'm leaning on the idea that they all probably were not wrong (except on launch timing) and thus Mac Mini designed for PRO & MAX was already thoroughly in the bag so they COULD launch at that time. If so, I'm doubting Apple would "waste" that engineering development time to re-work them again to only roll out a version with M2.
If anything, maybe there's a M2 Mini update launching with a BTO M1 Mini PRO or MAX. (Unpaid) Armchair marketers galore around here seem to think that would confuse the masses of Mini buyers but I think it can be explained to the masses as "small, medium and large" or "fast, faster and fastest" regardless of whether the chip inside has a 2 or 10 or 1 in its name. Was Alder Lake faster than Copper Lake faster than Veronica Lake faster than Land O'Lakes? Those who really care about such details would know, but most wouldn't or don't. Why are we so hung up about a number written on a chip that the vast majority will never see?
Hop over to see how Apple pitches MBpros now. Yes, there is a little square picture of the M1 chip over some big text showing 8-core vs 10-core, 14-core vs 16 core. Get rid of 2 little square images and a now hidden M43 Mac with 12 cores could be compared to an M27 Mac with 16 cores vs. an M-4.3 Mac with 32 cores. Average Joe would see cheapest price with 12 vs middling price with 16 vs highest price with 32 cores. Is he confused which is apparently the most powerful Mac?
Maybe we'll all be surprised and there will never be a M2? Maybe instead of flipping a digit they'll flip a char: "introducing the N1" or maybe leap to M1000 or M1 squared. Maybe M is for Mobile and D(1 or 100 or 33 1/3rd) takes over for new Desktops? Ultimately for those who care about such details, it will come down to "Which is fastest/most powerful?" vs. what number is written on an internal part? For those who can't possibly believe that a 2 is not faster than a 1, sell them the 2 and let them believe they saw through that evil marketing spin. Their 2 will run nicely for them. Those who do know better will get what they want too.
In tech retail, a lot of buyers look at like things at different prices and assume the highest priced one is the best one... and then buy the cheapest one because price is all they care about.
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Any Intel Mac on the Apple website is just waiting for an Apple silicon replacement:
A (rumored) March event could see the M1 Pro/Max-based Mac mini (Pro) released...
WWDC 2022 could see the M1 Pro/Max-based 27" iMac (Pro) released, and the (smaller) Apple silicon Mac Pro previewed (most likely available at the end of 2022)...
An October Mac event seems the prime slot for the first M2-based Macs to be previewed/released; Apple could preview/release the M2-based MacBook(s), Mac mini, & 24" iMac at this time...
Come 2023 we should (hopefully) see more clearly in regards to the rough time frames for Mn-series releases...?
- High-end Mac mini
- 27" iMac
- Mac Pro
A (rumored) March event could see the M1 Pro/Max-based Mac mini (Pro) released...
WWDC 2022 could see the M1 Pro/Max-based 27" iMac (Pro) released, and the (smaller) Apple silicon Mac Pro previewed (most likely available at the end of 2022)...
An October Mac event seems the prime slot for the first M2-based Macs to be previewed/released; Apple could preview/release the M2-based MacBook(s), Mac mini, & 24" iMac at this time...
Come 2023 we should (hopefully) see more clearly in regards to the rough time frames for Mn-series releases...?
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The M1 already beats out the Intel Mac mini’s. The only thing the Intel mini’s have is two more thunderbolt ports and 64GB of ram.
This is what I assumed too. But recent rumors have said we may see an M2 chip at the spring event.
In one way it makes sense. Apple’s entire product timeline was majorly shifted due to the pandemic and supply chain issues. If apple waits to release M2 in the fall, it will be an entire generation behind their A-series. This could be Apple’s way of trying to play catch-up.
I still think we will see an M1 Pro/Max mini but I’m also not ruling out the possibility of them also releasing an M2 Mac as well.
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I am of half the conspiratorial mind that this "supply chain" rumor & "got the notch right" rumor sources could be "we gotta publish some rumor that is not the same thing we have been floating for months", with a side of "it will be okay, everyone is wrong once in awhile, take the hit, spin time for clicks"...? ;^p
The RAM limit was the only thing stopping me pulling the trigger when the M1 came out, as I use mine for VMs, so swap isn't an option.
Unless there has been some weird dealings with TSMC, I don't see the need for M2 to be in production yet when there are still intel offerings hanging around. I was wondering about the rumour of another M1 variant, I'm starting to think we might see a new letter to replace the Xeon chips. So X1, X1Pro, X1Max for example, these would populate the iMac Pro and Mac Pro lines. The release cycle is then less coupled to Mx, and again like Intel, they aren't always committed to following an M1 -> X1, M2->X2 cycle. Xeon are often behind, so the E-2386G is based on the 14nm part of RocketLake I believe.
RAM (as @trickster is meaningless ) mentioned as well as a more powerful GPU (via an eGPU). Both reasons are why I haven't updated.
Do we think that the 699 and 899 versions will remain unchanged so they are safe to buy now and only the top end model will be replaced?
Of course the M1 versions will be updated. We just don't know when. Some believe it won't be until fall, but no guarantees.
Yeah, I think its approaching "caution"/"if really needed" territory, but I don't see M2 being anything but a spec bump. We can assume there will be a new chassis, but that may or may not matter to you. I wouldn't be surprised to see the M1 and M2 coexist come the fall (or whenever), maybe this could push the Mac mini and MacBook Air down to lower price points.
If you aren't in a rush, I would also suggest looking on eBay and the refurb store as there are occasionally very good discounts. I've been tempted a couple of times, however the RAM limitations means I'd need at least two, so I think the "pro" version will be better bang for the buck, especially when power usage is taken into account.
And Mojave. Sorry but if I spend thousands on software that works perfectly fine, why should Apple's OS updates dictate what I do with software I own?
well, however they update it, it may not even be available until the Fall or end of the year possibly. we'll see what happens in March. ive seen some reports saying that the M2 will only be a little more powerful than the M1 but the M3 is expected to have much higher performance than the M2
M1 is a year and a half old already. It’s on first generation 5nm technology. M2 would be based on A15’s updated 5nm process. If Apple waits until the fall to release M2, they will be a full generation behind.
This is important because Intel has made a soft comeback in performance. Yes Apple is still king with efficiency, but there’s no way they don’t want to also claim the performance throne too. They talk about performance in almost every keynote, and they’re incredibly proud that their A-series chips are the best performers in the industry.
People compare Apple’s chips to Intel all the time. Apple can’t be a generation behind for too long. Especially right after a major transition. It’s bad PR for the brand.
I’m not taking about the Xeon-level machines. Those have always lagged behind. I’m talking about the consumer machines. But even the xeon-level machines will lag further behind if their consumer machines are also behind. It all trickles down.
While I personally think the best plan is to announce M2 after all M1-related products have released, I don’t know if Apple can afford to do this now. I think the pandemic set Apple’s release schedule back by 6 months or more. They need to catch up eventually.
The M2 would be okay for the entry level mini but unless it can handle more ram, ports, and displays it is not ready to replace the high end Intel version.
If I had to buy a Mac Mini tomorrow (and next week was too late) and I wasn’t budget constrained, I’d buy the highest spec intel Mac Mini available today.
That's what I'm running now. The only thing I wish it did better is graphics. But that's been the weak spot for Intel minis for a decade.
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I agree. I think the backlog of demand is highest now for the M1X version mini not the M2 version...a lot of us need more than 2 Thunderbolt ports. And until parts production and shipping improve considerably, I just cannot see an M2 of any kind (mini, air, etc.) coming out in March. However, Apple often does the opposite of what I think. One of my frustrations is that Apple consistently fails to seek my opinion on their product line despite my very firm opinions on what they should do
I guess Apple thinks people would use hubs or get the higher end Macs if they needed more than 2 Thunderbolt ports. I am of two minds - I understand the logic behind it but it does seem to be an annoying limitation.I agree. I think the backlog of demand is highest now for the M1X version mini not the M2 version...a lot of us need more than 2 Thunderbolt ports. And until parts production and shipping improve considerably, I just cannot see an M2 of any kind (mini, air, etc.) coming out in March. However, Apple often does the opposite of what I think. One of my frustrations is that Apple consistently fails to seek my opinion on their product line despite my very firm opinions on what they should do
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I would think M1 Pro/Max-based Mac mini desktops would have four TB4/USB4 (USB-C) ports to match the TB3/USB3 (USB-C) port count on the high-end Intel Mac mini desktop it is replacing in the Mac mini line-up...?
I keep thinking an M1 pro/ max mini does not make any sense based on the rumors.
My thought here is if apple is planning a Mac Pro mini with 20/40 core and a bunch of thunderbolt 4 ports in it aka trash Mac pro replacement…
Why not just combine all of that into one Mac Pro mini and simply offers M1 pro / max /dual max / quad max and 16gb to 256gb of ram.
Then just dedicate the Mac mini to entry level with M2 and 32GB of ram.
That’s two products that won’t compete with each other.
But if they offer a Mac mini pro with M1 pro/ max and then a Mac Pro mini that’s slightly taller with the higher cores ram….I mean the M1/ max is quiet powerful as it is and Mac Pro mini won’t have a good selling argument for it.
What if apple is planning just an M2 Mac mini with maybe 32GB of ram for the march 8th and a M2 Mac book 13 with out the touch bar and just an hdmi port instead because of the no Touch Bar?
Fun to speculate but that makes the most sense to me.
My thought here is if apple is planning a Mac Pro mini with 20/40 core and a bunch of thunderbolt 4 ports in it aka trash Mac pro replacement…
Why not just combine all of that into one Mac Pro mini and simply offers M1 pro / max /dual max / quad max and 16gb to 256gb of ram.
Then just dedicate the Mac mini to entry level with M2 and 32GB of ram.
That’s two products that won’t compete with each other.
But if they offer a Mac mini pro with M1 pro/ max and then a Mac Pro mini that’s slightly taller with the higher cores ram….I mean the M1/ max is quiet powerful as it is and Mac Pro mini won’t have a good selling argument for it.
What if apple is planning just an M2 Mac mini with maybe 32GB of ram for the march 8th and a M2 Mac book 13 with out the touch bar and just an hdmi port instead because of the no Touch Bar?
Fun to speculate but that makes the most sense to me.
The same reason why they sold the 6-core mini and a Mac Pro at the same time. There is no overlap, and they serve different markets.
Granted Apple could completely redo this entire product category, which is what you seem to be suggesting. I just don’t think they’re going to do a $1,399 Mac Pro. That’s the SKU they need to fill with the entry-level high-end mini. Apple likes to have products that fit price targets.
Also a Mac Pro is likely going to have way more bells and whistles than the M1 Max can handle, so they would still need to create different chassis, making it less likely.
Apple won’t put the M1 Max Dual/Quad in the Mini. That would only be in the Mac Pro and cost a premium.
It’s not clear if the M2 will support 32GB or have the same limits as the M1. It does make sense to put the M1 Pro into a Mini (not calling it Mini Pro, that just gets confusing). They might also put the M1 Max in there though they may want to draw the line somewhere. The price of this Mini would probably be only a few hundred dollars less than a 14” MBP.
While I would not mind seeing a dual M1 Max Mac mini desktop (assuming proper active cooling), I am of a mind that any dual or possible quad SoC Macs would be reserved for the Mac Pro line-up, not the Mac mini line-up...