With M4: Mac mini probably before "complete rebuild" as smallest Mac
The current version of the Mac mini has been built like this for 14 years. According to a report, a redesign is now finally planned with the M4 SoC.
Mac mini, here still old: With M4 to happiness?
(Image: Apple)
Apple is apparently working on a complete redesign of one of its most iconic computer designs. The Mac mini, which has remained largely unchanged in its look since June 2010, is to be given a facelift this year, the financial news agency Bloomberg wrote on Thursday evening. The new compact computer is set to become Apple's "smallest computer ever" when it is released in 2024, it said.
Current: classic design, new inner workings
As the usually well-informed Bloomberg author Markt Gurman writes further, the machine contains Apple's new M4 chip, as expected, which has so far only been installed in the iPad Pro M4- and is therefore said to be particularly well prepared for Apple Intelligence. If the report is true, this would be the first major Mac mini redesign since the Steve Jobs era. More than 14 years ago, Apple introduced the so-called unibody design in an aluminum housing, which was then available in silver (as is currently the case) and in the meantime in "space grey".
Videos by heise
The compact Mac then only underwent major changes to its inner workings and also made the transition from Intel chips to Apple Silicon SoCs, which began in 2020. Some observers were surprised that even the Mac Studio, Apple's workstation that was introduced in 2022, was based on the old look (albeit several times the height). The design was probably very popular within Apple.
Production to start, availability in October?
That is now over. The new Mac mini will reportedly be almost as small as an Apple TV. The latter is only 33 mm high, but the new Mac mini could be taller than the current model with its 35 mm. The computer will still be housed in an aluminum case. The plan is "basically an iPad Pro in a small box", Bloomberg Insider quotes. The Mac mini M4 will have at least three USB-C ports on the back as well as a power connection (the power supply unit will apparently remain integrated) and HDMI port.
Two SoC variants are apparently planned, as is already known from the Mac mini M2: an M4 and an M4 Pro variant. Apple has long since commissioned the production and reportedly wants to start mass production this month. However, the M4 Pro variant will probably not be released before October - although that would be a suitable month for Mac news.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(bsc)
