Apple's Latest Mac Mini is Their Most Compact Computer to Date

Apple has unveiled its tiniest desktop computer to date, which is compact enough to nestle in the palm of one's hand.

Apple

The new Mac mini has dimensions of five by five inches, which Apple claims is "less than half the size of the previous design." It is equipped with the brand's latest silicon in two variants, M4 and M4 Pro, representing a significant advancement over the M2 and M2 Pro chips utilized in the preceding Mac mini models. John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, stated that the new Mac mini “delivers enormous performance in an astonishingly compact design.” The announcement included a comparison between the new M4 model and the M1 model from 2020—the inaugural Mac mini featuring Apple Silicon—asserting that the new Mac mini offers “1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance compared to the M1 model.”

Both new Mac mini models are equipped with 16GB of RAM as standard features. The recent increase in RAM, as shown in the new iPad mini, reflects a trend from Apple to enhance device performance, likely to facilitate the seamless operation of Apple Intelligence. The Mac mini with M4 features a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, although the M4 Pro model's GPU can be customized to a maximum of 20 cores; its CPU can be configured to a total of 14 cores, comprising 10 cores for performance and four for efficiency.

Apple

Apple has implemented hardware-accelerated ray tracing in the Mac mini for the first time, enhancing the gaming potential of both new Mac mini versions, and has upgraded the device's networking options. One of the modifications is the incorporation of a headphone connection on the front of the machine that accommodates high-impedance headphones, suggesting that Apple intends for the Mac mini to attract music producers who may utilize more robust configurations such as the Mac Studio. The Mac mini features five USB-C ports, comprising three at the rear and two at the front, whereas Apple has completely eliminated USB-A connectors. Users accustomed to the 2010s should keep a dongle readily available. Additional connections comprise Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI, with the M4 Mac mini capable of supporting two 6K displays and one 5K display, while the M4 Pro can accommodate three 6K screens.

The new Mac mini is equipped with a diverse range of ports to accommodate any configuration. It features front-facing connectors for enhanced accessibility, comprising two USB-C ports that enable USB 3, along with an audio jack. The Mac mini with M4 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back, whilst the Mac mini with M4 Pro is equipped with three Thunderbolt 5 ports. The Mac mini is equipped with standard Gigabit Ethernet, with an option to upgrade to 10Gb Ethernet for enhanced networking capabilities, and includes an HDMI connector allowing direct connection to a television or HDMI display without the need for an adaptor. The Mac mini with M4 supports up to two 6K displays and one 5K panel, while the M4 Pro can accommodate up to three 6K screens at 60Hz, totaling over 60 million pixels.

The new Mac mini is available for pre-order through Apple, with prices commencing at $599 USD.