The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[pshufd]

can you share in another thread how you are configuring your Mac mini? I have a 2018 i5 MM but it is getting way to hot and I am seeing issues.... I have 32 GB ram, but only 256 ssd.... I am thinking that might be my issue.... I am wanting to wait and see if there is a new MM coming out soon....

Right now, I have at least to the end of the month a 14" M1 Pro.... Trying to decide if I want a laptop vs a desktop.... I do have 2 12.9" iPP's.

The 2018 just runs hot. We have a base model which my wife uses but she just uses it for web browsing and email.

I have a friend who uses it for trading and for work including Teams. And it's hot. He's only able to get the CPU temps down by cranking the fan. Of course that makes more noise.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

can you share in another thread how you are configuring your Mac mini? I have a 2018 i5 MM but it is getting way to hot and I am seeing issues.... I have 32 GB ram, but only 256 ssd.... I am thinking that might be my issue.... I am wanting to wait and see if there is a new MM coming out soon....

Right now, I have at least to the end of the month a 14" M1 Pro.... Trying to decide if I want a laptop vs a desktop.... I do have 2 12.9" iPP's.

Try this and see if it helps. I run my fans at a constant 3000 rpm and I can't hear them.

Macs Fan Control - control fans on Apple computers, also on Windows via Boot Camp

Control fans on Apple computers, also on Windows via Boot Camp. Monitoring of fan speed and temperature sensors. Solve fan noise and overheating problems, iMac HDD replacement

crystalidea.com

 

[GizmoDVD]

I'm running a base model 2020 M1 Mini (8GB/256) with a full fledged Plex server with zero issues.

I came from a super fully loaded 2017 iMac with lots of upgrades, and the mini is 2x the benchmarks.

Love a studio, just not sure I really need it. Hope the new Mini turns out well

 

[ZD_plguy17]

I'm running a base model 2020 M1 Mini (8GB/256) with a full fledged Plex server with zero issues.

I came from a super fully loaded 2017 iMac with lots of upgrades, and the mini is 2x the benchmarks.

Love a studio, just not sure I really need it. Hope the new Mini turns out well

Me too. I was shopping 6 months ago for new Macbook Air, but was waiting for M2 which was not out yet but needed to get laptop soon, so I scored for cheap price XPS. For me it turned out to be good choice because I also needed something to run on and experiment with Linux x86 distro and from research I found out with M1 Mac I would not able to take advantage of full potential with virtualization so I went with x86 platform. Fast forward couple months later and this laptop with desktop Linux meets 90% of my needs quite well and when finally M2 came out especially at its new higher price, I no longer felt need to get new laptop. However still need Mac or Windows and higher speced M2 Mini would fit my needs well to replace 2014 Late Mini which got long in the tooth and is slow under Monterey.

 

[Crosscreek]

Just came back to say Hi to my old friends that may still be around. Getting ready to invest in a MBA and was checking out the forms. Glad to see the thread is still active from the old days.

 

[Micky Do]

Just came back to say Hi to my old friends that may still be around. Getting ready to invest in a MBA and was checking out the forms. Glad to see the thread is still active from the old days.

Hi there.... Still around. Had ideas of bailing on the Mac Mini in favour of an iMac, but in the end took delivery of a new M1 Mini last week. It is my third Mac Mini since The Original in 2005.

Got a MacBook Air in 2017 to supplement the Mini as I was coming to need my computer at work most days. Changed situation means not so at present. Have never liked laptops. I now have an iPad for occasional use when out and about. I still don't have an iPhone, and likely never will. In general I prefer life sans tech when away from my desk.

I reckon my next new Mac Mini is almost certainly coming a bit beyond the end of the decade.

 

[Crosscreek]

Glad to hear your still around Micky. I'm still using a Windows 10 machine I built a couple of years ago for a desktop but I have an iPad Pro and iPhone. I bought a cheap Windows laptop several years ago as a backup. It's seen its better days and I'm going to retire it for a new MacBook Air.
I'm retired so I don't need the computer power I once did and could easily get by with the MacBook. I still loved my 2012 Mac Mini and a new one is almost certainly always coming. 😂🤣

 

[EugW]

Hi there.... Still around. Had ideas of bailing on the Mac Mini in favour of an iMac, but in the end took delivery of a new M1 Mini last week. It is my third Mac Mini since The Original in 2005.

Thanks for taking one for the team. Now the new Mac mini is almost certainly coming soon. 🤪

 

[Boil]

Still waiting on a Mn Pro Mac mini...!

Will it be a M2 Pro, or an M3 Pro; who knows...?

Apple knows...

 

[CWallace]

Prosser was on Max Tech and he said he believes the more-port Mac mini that Prosser has been talking about is not going to happen and the M1 mini will just be refreshed with M2.

So if he is correct, if you want more ports, you want a Mac Studio.

 

[pshufd]

Will Prosser was on Max Tech and he said he believes the more-port Mac mini that Prosser has been talking about is not going to happen and the M1 mini will just be refreshed with M2.

So if he is correct, if you want more ports, you want a Mac Studio.

Disappointing for customers but a lot simpler for Apple to manage. If you need more, you spend more. My monitors have port hubs and I use both monitors so 9 USB A/C ports and that's enough. I have a way to get three displays using software - I just need to make some changes to support 5k. There's DisplayLink and Duet and Airplay. So some will get the Studio and some will find workarounds or maybe get the MacBook Pro 14 to use as a desktop.

I saw half of the interview - it makes sense for Apple not to explode the number of products. One SOP will be the 24 GB RAM option with M2.

 

[Boyd01]

If so, then I guess the Studio was the replacement for the 2018 Mini? Interesting that they continue to sell it.

 

[sublunar]

If so, then I guess the Studio was the replacement for the 2018 Mini? Interesting that they continue to sell it.

They will have to cancel it at some point, and M2 looks most likely to be that point. They have to draw the line under intel sooner rather than later.

 

[sublunar]

Prosser was on Max Tech and he said he believes the more-port Mac mini that Prosser has been talking about is not going to happen and the M1 mini will just be refreshed with M2.

So if he is correct, if you want more ports, you want a Mac Studio.

Just in design terms, the Mac studio design makes it almost inevitable that there won’t be a redesign of the mini, and I’ll add my 2 cents and suggest that M1 mini stays in the line up as a base model with M2 Mini (in space grey) coming with a higher base spec in terms of RAM and memory.

A 16Gb/512gb ssd M2 from $1099 for example.

 

[Maximara]

Just in design terms, the Mac studio design makes it almost inevitable that there won’t be a redesign of the mini, and I’ll add my 2 cents and suggest that M1 mini stays in the line up as a base model with M2 Mini (in space grey) coming with a higher base spec in terms of RAM and memory.

A 16Gb/512gb ssd M2 from $1099 for example.

I doubt it as a 16Gb/512gb ssd M1 mini right now is $1,099.00. It would make no sense for the M1 and M2 16Gb/512gb configurations to have the same price (why get an M1 vs and M2?). Going off the base costs of the M1 and M2 air books Apple considers the M2 a $200 upgrade.

 

[EugW]

Going off the base costs of the M1 and M2 air books Apple considers the M2 a $200 upgrade.

Not really. Even if you ignore the SoC, the upgrades in everything else could be considered worth that $200.

- Improved FaceTime camera
- Improved speakers and mic
- Better headphone support
- Bigger and brighter screen
- 24 GB RAM option
- MagSafe
- Colour options

And if not $200, then $150.

 

[ProgRocker]

Mark Gurman on MaxTech is saying there will be an M2 Pro Mac Mini in 2022.
What do you guys think about the possibility of this happening ?

Video

 

[pshufd]

Mark Gurman on MaxTech is saying there will be an M2 Pro Mac Mini in 2022.
What do you guys think about the possibility of this happening ?

Video

I'd say that it is a possibility. Nobody, including Apple, knows, given the situation in China.

The reason it's possible is that it would be so easy to do. I think that they could use the same M1 mini case. It would be nice to have more USBA and USBC ports though not strictly necessary.

 

[sublunar]

I doubt it as a 16Gb/512gb ssd M1 mini right now is $1,099.00. It would make no sense for the M1 and M2 16Gb/512gb configurations to have the same price (why get an M1 vs and M2?). Going off the base costs of the M1 and M2 air books Apple considers the M2 a $200 upgrade.

M2 replaced the M1 in the MBP13 for no additional cost in the US. They increased the price in the UK though.

Apple kept the M1 around in the MBA because they were increasing the price of the M2 MBA due to all the nice spec boosts that @EugW details:

- Improved FaceTime camera
- Improved speakers and mic
- Better headphone support
- Bigger and brighter screen
- 24 GB RAM option
- MagSafe
- Colour options

They can't offer anything near that even if they were to redesign the Mac mini (which I think would upset the Co-location guys)

So Apple could just drop the M2 directly into the existing classic Mac mini chassis and call it a day. But they might realise that this could mean price increases around the world because it's a new product.

So they could throw a bone out - keep the M1 mini and keep the price static because it's not being discontinued (which is nice for people keeping the Mac for longer).

And introduce the M2 in a higher SKU with higher base spec to keep the average selling price high, using the M1 as the base model up-seller.

But then you come across the possibility that Apple plan to put the M2 Pro into the Mac mini next year. There's no doubt that they will have tested the model which is where I assume these rumours come from (and that of the now likely cancelled case redesign, given the design direction of the Mac Studio).

I'd say that it is a possibility. Nobody, including Apple, knows, given the situation in China.

The reason it's possible is that it would be so easy to do. I think that they could use the same M1 mini case. It would be nice to have more USBA and USBC ports though not strictly necessary.

Do Apple just keep the Intel Mac going till next year though?

The Mini chassis may well be able to sufficiently cool the M1 Pro, we only know that we could have 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports - maybe a fourth port which might be Thunderbolt or USB-C.

And there's little doubt that it would be popular. But it would have to start with 16Gb RAM and 512Gb SSD which makes for a very pricey upper SKU mini - it's almost a Mac Studio on price grounds.

In fact, on form factor grounds it could be argued that slotting in the M1 Pro as an entry level Studio makes more sense because there's synergy between the M1 Pro and M1 Max already from the MacBook Pro 14 and 16.

 

[pshufd]

Do Apple just keep the Intel Mac going till next year though?

The Mini chassis may well be able to sufficiently cool the M1 Pro, we only know that we could have 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports - maybe a fourth port which might be Thunderbolt or USB-C.

And there's little doubt that it would be popular. But it would have to start with 16Gb RAM and 512Gb SSD which makes for a very pricey upper SKU mini - it's almost a Mac Studio on price grounds.

In fact, on form factor grounds it could be argued that slotting in the M1 Pro as an entry level Studio makes more sense because there's synergy between the M1 Pro and M1 Max already from the MacBook Pro 14 and 16.

Base Studios (and others) are in the refurb stores for $1,800 right now. I was thinking that it would be hard squeezing in an M1 Pro as well. It has kind of the same issue that the M2 Air/Pro and M1 Pro have.

 

[fischersd]

Will we ever get an HDMI 2.1 port? (maybe when everyone else has HDMI 3?) . #17,363

...and make it black, dammit.

Edit: Oh - and a little more on topic - keep the dimensions of the case the same - lots of room for cooling, expansion and you keep the data centre guys happy.

 

[EugW]

Base Studios (and others) are in the refurb stores for $1,800 right now. I was thinking that it would be hard squeezing in an M1 Pro as well. It has kind of the same issue that the M2 Air/Pro and M1 Pro have.

While refurb vs. non-refurb pricing is a real consideration for individuals in the real world, it doesn't really apply when it comes to Apple's price tiers, since eventually the new products become refurbs too.

 

[pshufd]

While refurb vs. non-refurb pricing is a real consideration for individuals in the real world, it doesn't really apply when it comes to Apple's price tiers, since eventually the new products become refurbs too.

One benefit of buying a refurb is that you don't have to wait. I made enough in AAPL trades today to get a new Studio. Refurbished that is.

 

[sublunar]

Base Studios (and others) are in the refurb stores for $1,800 right now. I was thinking that it would be hard squeezing in an M1 Pro as well. It has kind of the same issue that the M2 Air/Pro and M1 Pro have.

Well, thanks to the 14" and 16" MacBook Pros we have a pricing plan for Apple putting an M1 Pro into a Mac Studio in theory.

We go down from a 10/24 core M1 Max (32Gb/512Gb SSD) in the base $1999 Mac Studio to $1799 for 8/16 Core M1 Pro 32/512Gb and eventually down to $1399 for the same CPU with 16Gb/512Gb.

Push the Mac mini from the other side? You get $1099 for the M1 Mini with 16Gb/512Gb and my estimate of $200 for the M1 Pro obviously was for the 8/14 Core variant which is actually priced $300 less than the best M1 Pro SKU in the 14" MacBook Pro.

So in actual fact if Apple chose to down spec the Mac Studio to create a new entry level machine and allow all variants of the M1 Pro into the studio who exactly would be buying the M2 Mini?

I'm not the first person to point this out - I believe someone else did the sums and concluded that a $900 price drop in the MacBook Pro 14 would get you from base M1 Max to base M1 Pro (with commensurate drop in RAM and storage).

In my opinion it's basically so much easier to slot in an M1 Pro into Mac Studio as a new base SKU, especially if there's a refresh on the cards to M2 Max and M2 Ultra, while adding M2 into the Mac mini in whatever way they see fit.

 

[pshufd]

Well, thanks to the 14" and 16" MacBook Pros we have a pricing plan for Apple putting an M1 Pro into a Mac Studio in theory.

We go down from a 10/24 core M1 Max (32Gb/512Gb SSD) in the base $1999 Mac Studio to $1799 for 8/16 Core M1 Pro 32/512Gb and eventually down to $1399 for the same CPU with 16Gb/512Gb.

Push the Mac mini from the other side? You get $1099 for the M1 Mini with 16Gb/512Gb and my estimate of $200 for the M1 Pro obviously was for the 8/14 Core variant which is actually priced $300 less than the best M1 Pro SKU in the 14" MacBook Pro.

So in actual fact if Apple chose to down spec the Mac Studio to create a new entry level machine and allow all variants of the M1 Pro into the studio who exactly would be buying the M2 Mini?

I'm not the first person to point this out - I believe someone else did the sums and concluded that a $900 price drop in the MacBook Pro 14 would get you from base M1 Max to base M1 Pro (with commensurate drop in RAM and storage).

In my opinion it's basically so much easier to slot in an M1 Pro into Mac Studio as a new base SKU, especially if there's a refresh on the cards to M2 Max and M2 Ultra, while adding M2 into the Mac mini in whatever way they see fit.

My personal use case is four monitors. I currently do that with an M1 mini with 2x4k and a 2014 iMac 27 with 1x4k + 1x5k. This setup works for me but I would love to be able to cut the power consumption of the iMac even though I love the display. I would also like to be able to move windows from monitor to monitor which I can't do right now; only in pairs. The M1 Pro MacBook Pro has the problem that the internal display uses up one display so you can only do two. I could live with three displays and just keep using the iMac but it would be most efficient to have a solution for four monitors. I also sometimes use five monitors but I don't think that I'd need five with the Mac Studio.

It's way overpower in terms of the CPU and GPU cores for what I do.

To me, Apple's product line and pricing have discrete bumps where the options aren't great if you want something that you were given in lower-end models with Intel models.