The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

[AAPLGeek]

Unless it’s NOT coming in a few days. As far as I know, the new Mac Mini isn’t confirmed to be in next week’s announcements, just speculated (and widely hoped for!)

Being that the Mini is a redesign and the rest of the products are just refreshed… they could well do the Mini in a separate event or announcement at a later date.

I’m hoping that possibility turns out to be very wrong… as I’m one of the ones very anxiously awaiting!

It's coming, several different sources have confirmed it.

If you want a real confirmation, go to Apple.com/shop and pick any configuration for BTO, you'll get delivery estimates going as far as November 18. That only happens when the supply is constrained due to an upcoming refresh.

 

[enc0re]

It doesn’t have a screen or cellular radio. That cuts down on a lot of leak sources.

 

[Gloor]

I'm personally super excited. The only 2 things I'm worried about are:

a) price increases
b) upgrade prices

if the rumour about 16gb is true then that means its $250 saved however I'm after the Pro version so would that start at 32gb or would it be 16gb too and therefore you get screwed on the upgrade?

Will Apple try to screw us on the chip upgrades also?

In perfect case - the 16gb is true so the base is 16gb and the Pro is 32gb. Same pricing.
Then they would keep the profit on the storage and possibly better chip.

I can't see them doing 16gb as base on the base model and then leave the pro as is (16gb and price unchanged).

 

[EugW]

I'm personally super excited. The only 2 things I'm worried about are:

a) price increases
b) upgrade prices

if the rumour about 16gb is true then that means its $250 saved however I'm after the Pro version so would that start at 32gb or would it be 16gb too and therefore you get screwed on the upgrade?

Will Apple try to screw us on the chip upgrades also?

In perfect case - the 16gb is true so the base is 16gb and the Pro is 32gb. Same pricing.
Then they would keep the profit on the storage and possibly better chip.

I think M4 16 GB will be less expensive than M3 16 GB, but I think M4 16 GB will more expensive than M3 8 GB.
So, personally I think they will keep M2 or M3 around as an 8 GB entry level model.

I can't see them doing 16gb as base on the base model and then leave the pro as is (16gb and price unchanged).

I could see them doing this. I hope not but I don't think we can rule out the possibility of M4 Pro starting at 16 GB.

If they start M4 Pro at 24 GB and it has the extra USB-C ports, I'd consider the base model M4 Pro. However, truthfully, I don't need to upgrade, since M1 16 GB is currently more than adequate for my needs performance-wise. My main complaint with it is just the fact it is short on USB-C ports. Practically it would make more sense for me to upgrade at M5 or M6.

 

[Che Castro]

any chance of an empty m.2 NVME expansion slot, along with the soldered storage on the m4 mini?

 

[AAPLGeek]

any chance of an empty m.2 NVME expansion slot, along with the soldered storage on the m4 mini?

Highly unlikely. At best, we might see NAND boards like on the Mac Studio.

 

[Boil]

any chance of an empty m.2 NVME expansion slot, along with the soldered storage on the m4 mini?

Highly unlikely. At best, we might see NAND boards like on the Mac Studio.

Apple could earn a bit of goodwill with their user base if they allowed third-party NAND cards (and made install of the same easier) for lower cost storage upgrades...

 

[Zdigital2015]

Apple could earn a bit of goodwill with their user base if they allowed third-party NAND cards (and made install of the same easier) for lower cost storage upgrades...

Goodwill and Apple are mutually exclusive terms, there is no overlap at this stage of the game.

Apple has zero interest in leaving any money on the table for on any product that it sells.

They won’t even put proprietary slots for extra storage in beyond the BTO options in the Mac Studio or the Mac Pro, why would anyone think they would do it in a lower margins product such as the Mac mini?

 

[AAPLGeek]

Any estimates as to exactly how much smaller they could go compared to the current version?

The current Mini is 7.75 inches wide, with the M1/M2 logic board being 5.20 inches at its widest. Assuming they're going for a layered PSU and cooling fan assembly like the Mac Studio, we're still looking at something around 5-5.50 inches wide. They could probably miniaturize the M4 logic board even further, but they still need to account for all the ports at the back, PSU and heatsink fan assembly.

 

[EugW]

Any estimates as to exactly how much smaller they could go compared to the current version?

The current Mini is 7.75 inches wide, with the M1/M2 logic board being 5.20 inches at its widest. Assuming they're going for a layered PSU and cooling fan assembly like the Mac Studio, we're still looking at something around 5-5.50 inches wide. They could probably miniaturize the M4 logic board even further, but they still need to account for all the ports at the back, PSU and heatsink fan assembly.

This was being discussed earlier in the thread, but I too was guessing about 5-6 inches wide, representing approximately a 25-35% decrease in depth and width, or a 40-60% decrease (!) in footprint. They could go even narrower if they went taller though.

 

[AAPLGeek]

This was being discussed earlier in the thread, but I too was guessing about 5-6 inches wide, representing approximately a 25-35% decrease in depth and width, or a 40-60% decrease (!) in footprint. They could go even narrower if they went taller though.

Yeah, 5-6 inches wide makes the most sense.

I don't think they would go taller than ~1.80 inches, the current mini being 1.41 inches. Anything over 2 inches tall could make the whole thing look unsightly from an industrial design perspective.

 

[EugW]

Yeah, 5-6 inches wide makes the most sense.

I don't think they would go taller than ~1.80 inches, the current mini being 1.41 inches. Anything over 2 inches tall could make the whole thing look unsightly from an industrial design perspective.

The Mac Studio is 48% as tall as it is wide. A 5.5" wide Mac mini with the same ratio would be 2.65" tall. So while I would agree it would most likely be less than 2" tall, Apple obviously thinks that ~50% height to width ratio is fine.

Also, this:

 

[Boyd01]

That's nothing... how about the Time Capsule? I have one and it's the worst design ever IMO. Maybe there was a good reason to make it so tall because of the antennae? But plugging stiff ethernet cables into something this tall with such a small base is a formula for disaster, it's really easy to knock it over. Ended up putting mine on an upper shelf way out of reach and securing the cables.

 

[EugW]

That's nothing... how about the Time Capsule? I have one and it's the worst design ever IMO. Maybe there was a good reason to make it so tall because of the antennae? But plugging stiff ethernet cables into something this tall with such a small base is a formula for disaster, it's really easy to knock it over. Ended up putting mine on an upper shelf way out of reach and securing the cables.

View attachment 2442504

I have 7 of the AirPort Extreme 6th gens with the same dimensions around the house (and backyard). I don't have that issue.

I can see where you're coming from, but I very infrequently plug and unplug cables into them, so it hasn't been a problem.

 

[streetfunk]

The current Mini is 7.75 inches wide, with the M1/M2 logic board being 5.20 inches at its widest. Assuming they're going for a layered PSU and cooling fan assembly like the Mac Studio, we're still looking at something around 5-5.50 inches wide.

ok, i bet: 6 inches. Or 5.75" (for the Mini pro)

Goodwill and Apple are mutually exclusive terms,

Ahh, somebody had to tell

Apple has zero interest in leaving any money on the table for on any product that it sells.

Ahhh, .......i would switch, just to what ?

😂

 

[Boyd01]

I have 7 of the AirPort Extreme 6th gens with the same dimensions around the house (and backyard).

Wow... obviously your house is a lot bigger than my little "cabin in the woods"! 🤣 I don't ever unplug anything from it, but it's very easy to knock over on a table, especially if you pull on a wire (not to mention issues with cats). Not hating on it though, has served me very well (although I only use it as a router now) and it will stay in use on that upper shelf until it dies!

 

[DesertSurfer]

The Mac Studio has a 7.7 inch square footprint, and is 3.7 inches tall (a height to width ratio of .48). A 5.5 inch square device with similar proportions would be about 2.6 inches tall. That is one possibility. (Ooops, I had not seen Eug W's post.)

 

[Gloor]

When I did the concept in the other thread, I used these measurements:

12cm x 12cm x 7cm

I think this is what we will be getting. It would be roughly 35% less volume than current one and would be the new design language that the Studio set.

Kinda like Studio Mini

Any estimates as to exactly how much smaller they could go compared to the current version?

The current Mini is 7.75 inches wide, with the M1/M2 logic board being 5.20 inches at its widest. Assuming they're going for a layered PSU and cooling fan assembly like the Mac Studio, we're still looking at something around 5-5.50 inches wide. They could probably miniaturize the M4 logic board even further, but they still need to account for all the ports at the back, PSU and heatsink fan assembly.


View attachment 2442398



View attachment 2442400

 

[Cape Dave]

I am so excited! I PRAY hard that Apple gives us the mini tomorrow! OMG I want this computer!

 

[EugW]

I am so excited! I PRAY hard that Apple gives us the mini tomorrow! OMG I want this computer!

You've been praying hard all week.

I do wonder though what we will get tomorrow, MacBook Pro?

 

[Cape Dave]

You've been praying hard all week.

I do wonder though what we will get tomorrow, MacBook Pro?

I suspect you are right That has already been leaked, so no surprise there. I want the Mini! OMG!

 

[fisha]

In the vain hope that the announcement image suggested the new size of the mac mini, I compared it to the current one by matching the curve profile ... alas ... no joy !

 

[SpitUK]

Any idea what the timings of release and order will be for the UK?

 

[azentropy]

Any idea what the timings of release and order will be for the UK?

Nope. The timings of releases have varied in the past but usually morning Pacific time. Since I'm most interested in the Mac mini (or whatever they call it) I'm sure it will be the last product announcement made so probably Wednesday or Thursday would be my bet.

 

[weaztek]

I think M4 16 GB will be less expensive than M3 16 GB, but I think M4 16 GB will more expensive than M3 8 GB.
So, personally I think they will keep M2 or M3 around as an 8 GB entry level model.

There's never been an M3 Mac Mini.