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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
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Power brick on the floor and AppleTV-sized Mac mini on top of SSD & hub...?
I doubt it. 9GB (or 3GB or 4.5GB) are not standard size available for commercial foundries. 8, 12, or 16 are the likely configurations for minimum RAM for a new entry level Mac. 8GB is the current minimum, but that has not changed for a while and many think it due for an update, especially with the emergence of AI. Many people are predicting/hoping for 12GB.
My opinion is it will still be 8GB. Since it will work [at least for some people at some level]. And Apple really Really REALLY wants to continue to sell $200 RAM upgrades (very profitable). It all about profit, not what is necessarily best for users
There is exactly zero chance it will be 9 GB. I see that @Chuckeee has already explained why.
You could be right, but I hope you are not, and I'm personally betting on 12 GB.
A modern way to power these is simply either magisafe of usb-c. It was nice having the supply built in, and maybe they can miniturize that, but if I were designing it I would offload the bulk (and heat). I like being able to pick and choose my adapters anyway. Most of us have too many. They seem to multiply like rabbits.
Laptop style MagSafe or USB-C are not good for desktops (without batteries). iMac style MagSafe would work though.
Common USB-C adapters aren’t capable of providing the type of power that a desktop pc would need.
Correct me if I am wrong but don’t laptops take their varying power demand from the battery and the usb-c charger just charges the battery?
So the safe way of allowing most common or garden usb-c pd chargers to work on a desktop Mac or pc is to put a battery in a mac mini 😂
Yes I know I just invoked THAT thread.
In all seriousness the iMac power brick probably would do the job but aside from the fancy connection standard it’s also a sophisticated power delivery system and in some cases an Ethernet adapter too.
It WOULD make good sense on a newer, smaller Mini to have an external power supply.
Less heat in the smaller enclosure.
They -might- put the ethernet adapter in the power supply, as well -- as they did in the m-series iMac.
Less heat in the smaller enclosure.
They -might- put the ethernet adapter in the power supply, as well -- as they did in the m-series iMac.
I would think this is almost a certainty if the size is accurate. And I use to care a lot about this, but not anymore since GA innovation, and USB-C PD. Nothing is built in any longer. It's over. Then again, I haven't clue, so there's that.
You can power some Windows/Linux laptops off USB-C using Power Delivery without a battery. Other devices with no batteries can also be powered via USB-C Power Delivery. I'm guessing this wouldn't work with existing Mac laptops though.
So, the lack of a battery isn't inherently a problem, and actually the main problem I was talking about is that the USB-C connection often isn't robust enough so that just a bumped cable can lead to the entire machine losing power. Thus, I can guarantee they wouldn't be using either USB-C or laptop style MagSafe (which is designed to disconnect easily) to power a Mac mini. The MagSafe they'd use would be something like the iMac style one, which is a very different kettle of fish.
You'd have to have a very big power brick for an M4 Pro Mac mini to supply power to all those ports though. The one for the M1 iMac is 143 Watts, although that includes power for the screen and speakers.
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You lose at Jenga.
...and for my money, "power brick anywhere" is a downgrade from "no power brick". I've used an O/G Mini with a power brick and I know which I prefer.
Not really. The original Mini was substantially smaller than the Studio and had a smaller footprint than even the current, post-2010 Mini. Of course, it originally came with a honking great power brick...
Pictures or it didn't happen:
Left: 2022 M1 Max Studio - right Original 2005 Mac Mini G4. Ignore the power brick in the background, that's for the Elements Hub.
If it has to be an external PSU, then USB-C is the way to go (I don't think the EU directive extends to desktops but having a standard connector just makes sense) - but for pity's sake have at least 4 USB-C ports if you're going to make people without a Studio Display or dock waste a port on a power brick.
Magsafe has a point on laptops (and they have batteries so an accidental power disconnect isn't a big deal) but on desktops it's just an excuse for a proprietary, non-replaceable power cable. On the iMac it's there because the form-over-function madness left the iMac too thin to accommodate a power supply or ethernet socket (same madness that made the Studio Display too thin for a proper IEC mains socket).
Higher capacity USB-C power adapters are becoming available - and this probably isn't something you'd run off a multi-port power supply. The 140W MBP power brick shoud be plenty.
I guess the target would be 96W so it could be powered from a Studio Display or some TB4 docks. The proposed minimum 3 TB4 ports (if there's 4, one of them would be power) would need 3 x 15 = 45W leaving 50W for everything else, which is probably OK.
So don't make the enclosure smaller... duh!
YMMV - USB-C ports don't have to be loose. The ports on my Mac Studio are pretty firm, and almost 'click' into place - and aren't going to succumb to a "bump". Also - this is a desktop, the "power" port isn't going to plugged/unplugged several times a day - which may be the cause of loose plugs on laptops. Plus, of course, the advantage of a now-established connector is that someone has already made a widget to fix it (have fun with that name).
Actually, digging out the old G4 Mini has made me notice something eerily familiar about the power connector:
... Jumbo USB-C anybody? (yes, it's reversible)
I have to agree with this.
So happy I upgraded to my M2 Mini last year since I really like the form factor. More ports would have been nice but not a problem that a hub easily took care of. My external drives rest on top of my mini and they sit out of the way on the back of my desk. My 2012 Mini lasted me 10 years and I only upgraded because it had lost all support. Hope to get close to that out of my M2 Mini.
Knowing Apple they will probably totally hose the Mini removing ports and crippling it. Hope I'm wrong. Needing more base ram and gpu capacity perhaps but it's ok as is.
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Okay, I guess it’s time to finally upgrade my 2014 Mac mini. So glad I decided to wait a bit longer to have a smaller mini…
I’m going to share my thoughts on this mythical thread, about something we’ve been speculating a lot: a redesign of the 14yo Mac mini design, that since the transition to the M1 SoC, left a lot of spare space inside the case.
I’m gonna share my bare, unapologetic opinion here, knowing that all those members obsessed in never changing the form factor (because the mini farms will have to change their racks, because thermal constraints, because ports…) won’t be able to downvote me like they do in the news comments.
First of all: in my opinion, the M4 and M4 Pro will both share the exact same external design. I know there’s a hypothesis, defended by two or three MR members, affirming that the M4 mini will receive the small redesigned case, and on the other hand, the M4 Pro will either a) stay with the current mini design, or b) get a bigger design in-between the smaller M4 mini and the current M2 model.
Excuse me but this is a non-sense, and I’m gonna debunk it: option a) makes little sense to redesign a product line just to update half of the models, while leaving the other half (M4 Pro mini) with an old and probably outdated design. Especially for a more powerful, more expressive model. Option b) makes more sense but still, I don’t think Apple is redesigning the mini to split both lines of the same product with two different designs. Just for economy of scale, the new design will be used for all the mini lineup: both M4 and M4 Pro. For those that question the thermal sustainability of the M4 Pro in a smaller chasis, let me remind you that, as we saw with the M3 Pro chip, the M4 Pro will have more efficiency cores and less performance cores, reducing this way the temperatures and the cooling needs of this new M4 Pro chip.
Alright, now let me share my theory, which I reached while watching the latest mock-up seen on MacRumors, based on the dimensions suggested by Markus Gurmandus:
I think it’s going to have similar proportions of the Mac Studio, meaning, at the size of an Apple TV, it will look like a shrunken down, mini Mac Studio. This means the same perforation pattern on the back, the same internal structure with a taller dissipator, made out of aluminum and maybe copper on the M4 Pro chip, and finally a couple of Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports in the front, and one or two more in the back.
That’s my theory.
Now, as to why a smaller mini will be great, I think especially in the case of those who travel or live in different places, with a screen and a power brick on each location, it makes it much easier to put on the luggage. I hope it has a much more reduced weight and, because weight is important for me, if the weight difference between the M4 and the M4 Pro is significant (more than 30%), I’ll probably settle with an upgraded M4 (1TB/24GB would be a sweet spot).
I think we’re gonna love it, but I’m not 100% confident about everything in this design: I’m gonna be sad if they remove the Ethernet port and don’t introduce the magnetic power brick with Ethernet included that that have on the iMac.
Last but not least, I wholeheartedly expect Apple to not start using QLC NAND for this model’s SSD.
I’m going to share my thoughts on this mythical thread, about something we’ve been speculating a lot: a redesign of the 14yo Mac mini design, that since the transition to the M1 SoC, left a lot of spare space inside the case.
I’m gonna share my bare, unapologetic opinion here, knowing that all those members obsessed in never changing the form factor (because the mini farms will have to change their racks, because thermal constraints, because ports…) won’t be able to downvote me like they do in the news comments.
First of all: in my opinion, the M4 and M4 Pro will both share the exact same external design. I know there’s a hypothesis, defended by two or three MR members, affirming that the M4 mini will receive the small redesigned case, and on the other hand, the M4 Pro will either a) stay with the current mini design, or b) get a bigger design in-between the smaller M4 mini and the current M2 model.
Excuse me but this is a non-sense, and I’m gonna debunk it: option a) makes little sense to redesign a product line just to update half of the models, while leaving the other half (M4 Pro mini) with an old and probably outdated design. Especially for a more powerful, more expressive model. Option b) makes more sense but still, I don’t think Apple is redesigning the mini to split both lines of the same product with two different designs. Just for economy of scale, the new design will be used for all the mini lineup: both M4 and M4 Pro. For those that question the thermal sustainability of the M4 Pro in a smaller chasis, let me remind you that, as we saw with the M3 Pro chip, the M4 Pro will have more efficiency cores and less performance cores, reducing this way the temperatures and the cooling needs of this new M4 Pro chip.
Alright, now let me share my theory, which I reached while watching the latest mock-up seen on MacRumors, based on the dimensions suggested by Markus Gurmandus:
I think it’s going to have similar proportions of the Mac Studio, meaning, at the size of an Apple TV, it will look like a shrunken down, mini Mac Studio. This means the same perforation pattern on the back, the same internal structure with a taller dissipator, made out of aluminum and maybe copper on the M4 Pro chip, and finally a couple of Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports in the front, and one or two more in the back.
That’s my theory.
Now, as to why a smaller mini will be great, I think especially in the case of those who travel or live in different places, with a screen and a power brick on each location, it makes it much easier to put on the luggage. I hope it has a much more reduced weight and, because weight is important for me, if the weight difference between the M4 and the M4 Pro is significant (more than 30%), I’ll probably settle with an upgraded M4 (1TB/24GB would be a sweet spot).
I think we’re gonna love it, but I’m not 100% confident about everything in this design: I’m gonna be sad if they remove the Ethernet port and don’t introduce the magnetic power brick with Ethernet included that that have on the iMac.
Last but not least, I wholeheartedly expect Apple to not start using QLC NAND for this model’s SSD.
I really like the idea of a shrunken Mac Studio for the new design as Populus has predicted. How about a family of 4 different sizes, one for each mini (M4 and M4 Pro) and one for each Studio (Max and Ultra) ranging in size from Apple TV footprint to the current Studio. Probably not a good idea from Apple's perspective, but the lineup would make for a fun display.
If the smaller mm is a bit higher the usb/thunderbolt ports can be rotated to vertical and it is possible to put the same number of ports in the mm.
Those are the two real concerns. Many people like the Mini/Studio because of the half-decent array of ports, the internal power supply and near-silent running. Maybe Apple will be able to make a Mini Mini without sacrificing those, but they don't have a great track record for function-over-form.
Probably - if the M4 Pro is going to run cool. The big difference currently is the number of ports, but It looks like the regular M4 SoC can actually support 4 Thunderbolt ports (if not, it can do 2xTB4 + 2xUSB-C/3.2). If they can cram 4 TB ports on a regular M4 then they probably won't need a different box for the M4 Pro.
Post M3, the "pro" is a smaller jump from the regular, and the big deal is the "max". If there were going to be a Mac less-mini-than-the-new-mini then a replacement for the "Max" Studio would make more sense (maybe with 6 TB ports).
The M3 Ultra is still MIA so we have no idea what the next step up from the M4 Max will be.
The Studio is already like that, and it's a better arrangement as dongles/adapters tend to be "wide" rather than "tall".
The issue is really the ethernet and HDMI ports (let's assume USB-A is toast - they're still jolly useful, but if marketing wants a palm-sized Mini they're gonna pout until they get it),
It’s funny that right now I’m running my 2014 Mac mini, and just from the external SSD indexing, it is right now at 90°C. I touch it and it’s burning hot. Every app is closed, just by indexing it is really hot. So yeah, a good thermal design cannot be understated.
I hope the M4 or even M4 Pro to run cooler than my 2014 Intel Mac mini.
I’m not sure if this is because of the summer heat, because the i5 dual core on my 2014 mini is exhausted, or because the thermal paste I applied 7 years ago has dried up, but my Mac mini seems to be asking me to retire it and get a new M4 mini. Why? It’s getting hotter and hotter, Stats app indicates often to be at 100%, and it’s over heating only by indexing an external hard drive.
The new Mac mini can’t come any sooner…
The new Mac mini can’t come any sooner…
I would clean off the old thermal paste and apply new thermal paste, and clean/remove whatever dust bunny may be hiding within the fan/heatsink assembly...
Here are the ports I would like to see carried over or added to the new mini...
Rear Ports:
1x USB-A Port (possible, but unlikely)
4x USB-C/Thunderbolt
1x HDMI
Ethernet (possibly in the power brick)
Magnetic charging cable
Front ports (I know - wishful thinking):
1x USB-C
SD Card Slot
Rear Ports:
1x USB-A Port (possible, but unlikely)
4x USB-C/Thunderbolt
1x HDMI
Ethernet (possibly in the power brick)
Magnetic charging cable
Front ports (I know - wishful thinking):
1x USB-C
SD Card Slot