So that was a lie. Apple, which promised the world a week’s worth of “exciting” announcements, has delivered a fresh-faced Mac Mini – following up the M4-flaunting 24in iMac it unveiled earlier this week. Similarly, the new Mac Mini has been kitted with Apple’s top-of-the-line M4Silicon SoC inside the streamlined chassis.
Apple hasn’t forgotten about the M4 Pro, either. It’s there, somewhere, as long as you’re willing to part with a hefty $1,400 (R24,600). Settle for the regular M4, and you’ll be paying a far more manageable $700 (R12,300) – though what these will cost by the time they reach South Africa… is a thought we shudder to even consider.
You’re in the big leagues now, ironically
The inclusion of the M4 SoC was almost a given, ever since they first turned up in the iPad Pro range earlier this year. Apple has meticulously been throwing these every which way, and they’ve finally found their way into the Mac Mini. Having said that, it’s the exceedingly miniature body that’s hogging the spotlight this time around.
Apple’s taken what was already a fairly minute device and cut it right in half, leaving an even smaller 2024 Mac Mini in its wake. It manages all that while starting with 16GB of system memory (up to 32GB), a 10-core CPU and GPU housed in the M4 SoC, and a minimum of 256GB storage that’ll stretch as far as 2TB if you’ve got the dough.
Apple praises the M4 chipset and “an innovative thermal architecture, which guides air to different levels of the system,” for the major shrinkage – leaving behind a body that measures 12.7- by 12.7cm – perfect for slipping under a desk or somewhere similar and a whole lot more room for clutter on your desk.
Read More: Apple slots M4 chip inside a ‘new’ 24in iMac
On the other hand you’ve got the M4 Pro Mac Mini, which goes out of its way to show off. It trumps the regular Mini’s 16GB of RAM, starting at 32GB and going as high as 64GB if you’re planning to get in on the Black Myth: Wukong hype or even open three Chrome browsers at once. That’s joined by 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores inside the Pro SoC, and up to 8TB of storage. That’ll go as low as 1TB if you’re pressed for cash.
Two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack adorn the Mini’s front, while the rear houses an ethernet, HDMI and three USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. Apple’s nixed any USB-A functionality entirely. Honestly, good riddance.
Finally, Apple reckons the Mac Mini is built for Apple Intelligence, which got its start as part of a fairly bare beta yesterday. We expect the rumoured M4-touting MacBook Pros – likely arriving this week – to be similarly “built for Apple Intelligence.” Apple gotta shill, right?
