It’s virtually two years since Apple launched two Mac mini fashions with the M1 chip alongside an M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Professional (reviewed right here: M1 Mac mini evaluation). Of all of the M1 Macs the Mac mini was our favorite as we thought it supplied the perfect by way of specs coupled with a low worth – nevertheless, it’s now wanting quite dated and our recommendation proper now could be don’t purchase as a result of one thing higher is coming.
Apple launched a M2 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Professional again in June 2022, however the Mac mini was uncared for in that spherical of updates. Mac followers are questioning when Apple will replace the Mac mini with an M2 chip. On this article we are going to have a look at what the M2 Mac mini would possibly supply, and when it’s going to launch.
Work on a brand new M2 Mac mini is evidently happening at Apple. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is testing an M2 Mac mini, codenamed J473, with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. Gurman has additionally indicated that Apple has been testing a Mac mini with an M1 Professional, codenamed J374 and an M1 Max Mac mini. These Professional fashions nonetheless haven’t arrived and an M2 Professional Mac mini is now wanting extra seemingly – we focus on the M2 Professional Mac mini individually, so if that’s the Mac mini improve you might be most thinking about learn: New Mac mini 2022 with M2 Professional: What you’ll want to know.
Mac mini M2 Launch date: When will the following Mac mini be launched?
Apple launched the M1 chip within the Mac mini, MacBook Air and 13in MacBook Professional at its One Extra Factor occasion on November 10 2020. Two of these Macs now have M2 chips, so what concerning the Mac mini? Because the M1 Mac mini approaches its two yr anniversary, the introduction of a M2 Mac mini within the fall of 2022 doesn’t solely look seemingly, it appears tardy. (Examine why we are saying it’s not a great time to purchase the Mac mini.)
Apple typically holds an occasion in October or November at which it has typically introduced up to date Macs, so October is a chance for a brand new Mac mini. If not at an occasion we may nonetheless see Apple subject a press launch concerning the a brand new mannequin (Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has prompt that the upcoming new merchandise may not be sufficient to justify an occasion).
We may very well be ready till 2023 although. In March 2022 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said {that a} new Mac mini will ship in 2023 (the Mac mini in his unique tweet was the Mac Studio). Kuo doesn’t supply specifics, but it surely’s attainable this 2023 Mac mini may very well be the M2 Mac mini.
Mac mini M2 Design: Will the Mac mini have a brand new design?
One purpose why we may have an extended await a brand new Mac mini is that if rumours that Apple shall be altering the design become true.
The Mac mini has had an identical sq. design ever since Apple launched it in 2005, over time it has gotten thinner, misplaced the CD drive, and had a shade change. The subsequent Mac mini may get a model new look, in keeping with stories.
Jon Prosser claimed again in June 2021 that the following Mac mini will shrink even additional, which may put it at lower than an inch tall. The physique may very well be getting a change too. Whereas the Mac mini has had its aluminum chassis since 2010, Apple is reportedly contemplating a “plexiglass” prime, in keeping with Prosser. That would imply Apple will carry a little bit pizzazz to the Mac mini with a brand new shade. The Mac mini is at present restricted to silver and area grey.
Prosser shared the information in a Could 2021 version of Entrance Web page Tech, embedded beneath:
It needs to be identified that Prosser has been improper on a number of events earlier than – he’s had some massive hits, however his misses embody one so extreme that he needed to shave his eyebrows – so the data needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.
AppleTrack at present provides him an accuracy ranking of 74.2% (that rating adjustments on a regular basis). Learn extra concerning the Apple leakers in our spherical up:
The Apple leakers value following.
Ian Zelbo made some illustrations primarily based on Prosser’s findings. The renders point out that the brand new mini will are available silver and white, quite than one of many new brilliant color choices seen on the 24in iMac. These renders are primarily based on data from Prosser’s sources, however they could nonetheless give a good suggestion of what Apple may unveil.
Render by Ian
Prosser isn’t the one one anticipating a brand new look Mac mini. In August 2021, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported that the Mac mini may have “an up to date design and extra ports than the present mannequin.”
Lastly, the round rubber pad on the underside of the brand new Mac mini is alleged to get replaced with two horizontal strips as we see on the underside of the 24-inch iMac stand.
Nevertheless, there could also be no redesign within the pipeline. In March 2022 a tweet from an account claiming to be for analyst Ming-Cho Kuo said that the 2023 Mac mini may have the identical type and design as the present mannequin.
Mac mini M2 Spec & Options: What to anticipate
The Mac mini is more likely to get the identical M2 chip because the one discovered within the 2022 MacBook Air and 2022 13in MacBook Professional.
- CPU: 8-core CPU with 4 carry outance cores and 4 effectivity cores
- GPU: 8-core or 10-core GPU
- As much as 24GB Unified Reminiscence
To seek out out extra concerning the M2 chip learn: Apple M2 Chip: All the pieces you’ll want to know.
Ports
The present Mac mini fashions supply two USB-4/Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, in addition to Ethernet snd a headphone port. It’s seemingly that this can carry via to the brand new iteration. The M1 Professional model of the Mac mini may get two further Thunderbolt/USB-C ports for a complete of 4.
Prosser says the brand new mini seemingly received’t carry again the SDXC card slot that appeared on the MacBook Professional and Mac Studio.
Mac mini M2 Value: How a lot will the brand new Mac mini price?
At the moment the M1 Mac mini is priced as follows:
- M1 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, 256GB: $699/£699
- M1 Chip with 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU, 512GB: $899/£899
- 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core Processor with Intel UHD Graphics 630, 512GB: $1,099/£1,099
It’s attainable that Apple will do the identical because it did with the MacBook Air and hold the M1 Mac mini on at $699/£699 whereas introducing two new M2 fashions to exchange the $899 and $1,099 choices. We hope that Apple contains an M1 Professional or M2 Professional mannequin within the line up although.
When you aren’t primarily based within the U.S. anticipate costs to extend as they’ve for each different product Apple has launched in 2022. We’ve seen worth hikes of as a lot as £150 per product within the U.Okay., for instance.