The M2 Mac Mini from 2023 was a total surprise when it first came out. No one expected a new desktop and it was practically overshadowed by the two new MacBook Pros at that time. Unexpected (and maybe under-appreciated) or not, it ended up being a fantastic computer. The M2 chipset proved to be a powerful upgrade for the series. We even called it the “best PC you can buy” in our review.
Needless to say, future models have some big shoes to fill. Will the next Mac Mini be able to keep the title as one of the best desktop computers on the market? There’s a good chance it could. Rumors of a Mac Mini running on Apple’s M4 SoC (system on a chip) have been circulating on the internet as of late.
The next-gen hardware could greatly improve the computer’s performance compared to previous generations. Not only that, M4 Mac Mini may also introduce a new design.
If you’re interested in learning about the next-gen Mac, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve collected all the latest rumors and speculation in one place to help you decide whether this is something you’ll want someday or not.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A compact desktop computer that could run Apple’s new M4 chip.
- When is it out? Rumors claim it’ll arrive late in 2024, possibly with an October launch.
- How much will it cost? There are no rumors for pricing yet, although the current M2 Mac Mini costs $599 / £649 / AU$999.
Mac Mini M4 Rumored Release Date and Price
Previous buzz from the rumor mill indicated either a late 2024 or early 2025 launch, but one prominent industry insider, Mark Gurman, has most recently settled on the idea of an October 2024 launch for the Mac Mini M4 (alongside MacBook Pro models with the M4 SoC and an iMac M4).
Indeed, Gurman believes that these refreshed M4-toting Macs are already shipping in some cases, and Apple’s plans are firmly on track for the purported October launch event. It’s also true that Apple traditionally refreshes its Mac hardware in the fall – around October or November – so the rumors fall in line with past history. November has also been recently rumored as the on-sale date for the new M4 Macs, including the Mac Mini.
Pricing hasn’t been mentioned so far. However, Gurman noted in one of his regular newsletters that the new Mac Mini “may be cheaper to make.” This implies the new model could be more affordable, although as with all of this, take it with some seasoning – a similar or even higher price is not out of the question.
Mac Mini M4 News, Rumors, and Features
Mac Mini hasn't had a major redesign in over a decade with the current look having been introduced all the way back in 2010. But that’ll soon change as, according to the rumors, the future device will be Apple’s “smallest computer ever”. Apparently, it’s going to be around the size of an “Apple TV set-top box”.
The M2 Mac Mini measures 197 x 197 x 35.8 mm (7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches). By comparison, the Apple TV 4K sits at 93 x 93 x 31 mm (3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 inches). So it’ll be a considerable downsizing. Teardown videos of Mac Minis have shown the M-series chips allow Apple to utilize smaller components. Perhaps the company saw it could get rid of all the space and decided to opt for a more compact device. Reports say people close to development refer to it as “essentially an iPad Pro in a small box”.
Although it's taking up less desk space, Apple may be designing the M4 Mac Mini to be taller, but by how much is unknown. The current model is fairly short. A slight height increase shouldn’t ruin the computer’s portability by too much.
Apple has also reportedly tested versions with three USB-C ports at the rear. The case is said to include an input for the power supply and an HDMI port for connecting to an external display. No word on whether it’ll possess USB-A inputs, SD card slots, or even an Ethernet port. We wouldn’t be surprised if the tech giant decided to charge people for an adapter housing other port types.
As for the engine of this compact box of tricks, the latest speculation from Mark Gurman is that the new Mac Mini will come in vanilla M4 and M4 Pro versions, so you'll have a choice of CPU (as with the current model).
Features remain a mystery. The rumors primarily center around the hardware, although macOS 15 Sequoia will surely be the device’s operating system. With it, Apple Intelligence and its many AI features will be present on the new Mac Mini. This includes text summarization, the Image Playground app for generating images, and smart photo editing.
What about other Apple devices?
There have been a fair few rumors flying around regarding the other M4 Mac devices, as you might expect. We've seen clues spotted in developer test logs which represent an exciting hint that maybe Apple will go with a minimum of 16GB of RAM for all its M4 Macs – including the Mac Mini, maybe – although take that with some extra seasoning.
Further speculation from Mark Gurman suggests that the following MacBook Pro models will be introduced alongside the Mac Mini: an entry-level MacBook Pro 14-inch with vanilla M4 chip, alongside higher-end MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models that offer M4 Pro and M4 Max options. We will also get the iMac M4.
Other MacBook Pro models will follow in 2025, apparently, along with the MacBook Air M4 next year, plus Mac Pro and Mac Studio refreshes equipped with the new M4 SoC.
What we want to see
No one knows anything for certain about the M4 Mac Mini at the moment. However, there are several things that we would love to see.
1. Colors
It’d be great to have multiple color options for the new desktop. The M3 iMac is available in seven different hues, so why not the Mac Mini? Imagine a bright yellow or stylish blue desktop computer sitting on your desk. If Apple decides against rolling out a rainbow array, then perhaps the company can choose space black much like the M3 Max MacBook Pro. It’ll be the second color alongside the standard silver.
2. Ports
As great as the smaller design may seem, we do worry about the number of ports it’ll have. A more compact body could mean fewer ports.
Hopefully, we're wrong about this as it would make the Mac Mini M4 tougher to use. It won't be as flexible since you may be unable to equip it with multiple accessories. Unless Apple plans on rolling out a special adapter that adds extra ports – but we don't want that. We want the desktop to already have everything it needs to support its user.
3. Upgradablility
This is probably a long shot, but it would be great if people could have a way to upgrade key components on the Mac Mini. It’s already possible to do this on the 2023 Mac Pro as you can install PCIe card slots expanding the computer's capabilities. For example, you can increase the storage capacity via these components.
It'd be great if this feature expanded to other hardware such as memory or graphics cards. Apple prefers having a walled-off garden ecosystem for its devices so it is unlikely the company will budge on this. We would love to have the option, though.
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