Will we see a Mac mini with M1 Pro/Max?

[bobcomer]

My point wasn't about cost, because what is expensive to one person is a justifiable convenience to another. My point was that unlike a laptop where you don't necessarily want a drive dangling from the side, the Mini is a desktop so having a drive permanently connected is a non-issue. While I would pay for a 2TB drive in my MBP, I personally wouldn't go above 1TB internal on a Mini. Matching the Intel for pricing makes sense because to get 16/512, which is the base M1-Pro config, is 1099 for the M1 and 1299 for the Intel.

Mine really wasn't about cost either -- There's no way I'd cripple a desktop with anything less than 2TB these days. Externals are not as reliable, nor as fast, period. Offline storage or iTunes libraries, yes, I have a lot, but it's not necessary to the running of the desktop. I also need quite a lot of RAM to run VM's.

Apple is just plain expensive for that config, but anything less wouldn't be as useful. It's a desktop, even if it's small.

Apple already has a low end M1 Mini, I don't think the next one will be quite so low end. It *should* be cheaper than a 14" M1 Max with 32G of RAM, 1TB SSD, but I wouldn't bet on it. Anyway, we wont know until we know. .

Who knows, they might not ever come out with a "mini" like my Intel Mini.

 

[Jorbanead]

No way it'll be that cheap with the amount one would want with a Pro level desktop, or even a common config for an Intel Mac Mini. I have 64G of RAM and 2TB SSD in mine.

They’re talking baseline config which will likely come with 16GB and 512GB SSD

 

[JohnnyGo]

Base model Mac Mini can retain M1 (and later M2). 8Gb ram + 256Gb SSD.

Base model Mac mini pro will cost between $500-700 less than equivalent 14” MBP. They may not offer an 8 core CPU and start at a 10 core version. Certainly 16Gb + 512Gb SSD.

 

[bobcomer]

They’re talking baseline config which will likely come with 16GB and 512GB SSD

We already have a basline M1 Mac Mini, we should be talking about the high end mac mini to come. (at least I was.). I bet the new higher end one will be more than just a Pro or Max CPU, it'll be more RAM, more ports, and maybe something we haven't seen yet.

 

[Tagbert]

We already have a basline M1 Mac Mini, we should be talking about the high end mac mini to come. (at least I was.). I bet the new higher end one will be more than just a Pro or Max CPU, it'll be more RAM, more ports, and maybe something we haven't seen yet.

It depends on how close Apple wants to push the mini into Mac Pro territory.

They could keep an M1 Mini pretty much as is, though they might redo the case (for better bluetooth reception?). A Mac Pro on the high end with the Xeon class M1 chips expected next year. In between, they could fit a "Mac" with the M1 Pro / Max of the MBPs.

I do think we'll see a desktop Mac with the Pro and Max, just not quite sure how Apple wants to market it.

 

[Jorbanead]

We already have a basline M1 Mac Mini, we should be talking about the high end mac mini to come. (at least I was.). I bet the new higher end one will be more than just a Pro or Max CPU, it'll be more RAM, more ports, and maybe something we haven't seen yet.

Right. We’re talking about the baseline “pro” Mac mini which would start with 16GB and 512GB of ram based off of the current i5/i7 models that apple will be replacing.

 

[Boil]

...$1299 for the M1 Pro Config, $1799 for the M1 Max.

Perhaps they could have the current Mac mini house the Professional-grade processors while an even smaller entry-level Mac mini take up the next generation M2. That would be pretty sweet.

Yes, the rumored (and rendered) slim Mac mini is fine for the Mn-series entry-level SoCs; but please Apple, keep the current Mac mini chassis for the Mn Pro/Max SoCs (if not a twice-as-tall larger chassis, for improved cooling)...

No way it'll be that cheap with the amount one would want with a Pro level desktop, or even a common config for an Intel Mac Mini. I have 64G of RAM and 2TB SSD in mine.

Pretty sure they were pricing base models, a Mac mini with 64GB of RAM & a 2TB SSD would not be a base model...

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

So because they want to wait for a Mac mini, rather than pay extra for an equally capable laptop, they no longer need performance...?

Because they're willing to wait an indeterminate amount of time for a machine that may or may not even exist, indicates they are just casually interested and do not have a professional workflow that needs performance right now.

 

[Tagbert]

Because they're willing to wait an indeterminate amount of time for a machine that may or may not even exist, indicates they are just casually interested and do not have a professional workflow that needs performance right now.

Or they have an existing system that has been working adequately until now and are just looking for a step up from that but their ideal replacement will not be available for a few months.

 

[Jorbanead]

Because they're willing to wait an indeterminate amount of time for a machine that may or may not even exist, indicates they are just casually interested and do not have a professional workflow that needs performance right now.

I’m a professional who is waiting. I have a 2018 spec’d out Mac mini with a Vega eGPU. I do moderate video editing, and heavy audio and graphic work professionally. It’s starting to show its age, but I can still get my work done. Buying a laptop to replace my mini is not even a question for me.

The MBP doesn’t provide the I/O I need, it would change my entire setup, and adds extra cost for features I will rarely if ever use. The M1 mini has limited I/O (I currently use all ports with extra hubs on 2018 model) and graphics are not up to par. An M1 Max desktop is my ideal computer in every possible way - and if such computer is going to exist likely within the next 6 months, why would I get anything else.

Or they have an existing system that has been working adequately until now and are just looking for a step up from that but their ideal replacement will not be available for a few months.

Yup. Exactly.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

I’m a professional who is waiting. I have a 2018 spec’d out Mac mini with a Vega eGPU. I do moderate video editing, and heavy audio and graphic work professionally. It’s starting to show its age, but I can still get my work done. Buying a laptop to replace my mini is not even a question for me.

The MBP doesn’t provide the I/O I need, it would change my entire setup, and adds extra cost for features I will rarely if ever use. The M1 mini has limited I/O (I currently use all ports with extra hubs on 2018 model) and graphics are not up to par. An M1 Max desktop is my ideal computer in every possible way - and if such computer is going to exist likely within the next 6 months, why would I get anything else.

I switched from a desktop to a laptop easily, because I'm still using a desk, with a thunderbolt hub, and displays, and everything I need to keep working the way I want to. The form factor is meaningless. The performance and getting work done now, instead of maybe 6 months from now, is not even a question.

 

[Jorbanead]

I switched from a desktop to a laptop easily, because I'm still using a desk, with a thunderbolt hub, and displays, and everything I need to keep working the way I want to. The form factor is meaningless. The performance and getting work done now, instead of maybe 6 months from now, is not even a question.

Awesome! For me using a laptop won’t cut it. Why would I spend an extra $1K for features I will never use, and have less I/O than I do now. And as I said, I am still getting my work done. It’s not like my machine just stopped working once they announce the new MBP.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

Awesome! For me using a laptop won’t cut it. Why would I spend an extra $1K for features I will never use, and have less I/O than I do now. And as I said, I am still getting my work done. It’s not like my machine just stopped working once they announce the new MBP.

Because performance and getting work done now is more important than a couple dollars difference on work machinery.

 

[Jorbanead]

Because performance and getting work done now is more important than a couple dollars difference on work machinery.

Well I can still get my work done now. Do you just upgrade every year Then?

 

[MJaP]

If/When they do release a Mac Mini I just hope they also release a new "Cinema Display" to go with it (and as an external monitor for their laptops as well) something with Pro Motion and Liquid Retina XDR... and preferably a 32"/34" option.

 

[darngooddesign]

If/When they do release a Mac Mini I just hope they also release a new "Cinema Display" to go with it (and as an external monitor for their laptops as well) something with Pro Motion and Liquid Retina XDR... and preferably a 32"/34" option.

They already have a 32" Liquid Retina XDR display so its possible they might release a smaller one at a lower price point.

 

[Pro Apple Silicon]

Well I can still get my work done now. Do you just upgrade every year Then?

Time has nothing to do with it. As a professional user, I upgrade whenever something comes out that will improve my productivity. It could be every 4 years or every 4 months. Depends on what is released. I use these machines many hours a day, every day. Even a modest improvement in daily productivity is massive improvement over the course of a year.

The most recent Intel updates provided little to no benefit, whereas the promise of Apple Silicon was a leap. Unfortunately M1 did not have enough memory or graphics performance, but M1 Pro does. So I upgraded my kit to M1 Pro the moment it was released, and it instantly increased productivity.