Following yesterday's announcement of the M4 iMac, Apple continues to release Mac-centric products with a major update to the Mac Mini today. The new model features Apple's latest M4 chip and Apple Intelligence capabilities in a much smaller design. Let's take a closer look.
Apple Mac Mini M4 Specifications
The most notable change is undoubtedly the revised design. As speculated, Apple has significantly reduced the size of the already compact Mac Mini. Measuring a mere five inches on each side, this iteration is truly miniature.
For thermal management in such a small space, the M4 Mac Mini has “an innovative thermal architecture” that channels air throughout the system with ventilation routed exclusively through the base.
Despite its small size, Mac Mini retains a rich selection of ports. On the front, there are two USB-C ports and a 3.5-millimetre headphone jack. The back offers Ethernet, HDMI, and three USB-C ports, all of which support Thunderbolt connectivity.
Notably, the USB-A ports that were present in previous iterations have been omitted. However, users should find the configuration comparable, as the base M4 Mini replaces the two USB-A ports with an extra Thunderbolt port for a total of five.
The speed of these ports depends on the flavors of the M4 processor. The standard M4 provides Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, while the M4 Pro features the latest Thunderbolt 5 with faster read and write speeds.
Unsurprisingly, the M4 Pro delivers superior performance with its 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU configuration. The base M4 chip has a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU.
For the first time, the new silicon supports ray tracing, and Apple ships the computer with a base RAM of 16GB, likely to support the Apple Intelligence features. Users can configure RAM up to 32GB with the M4 and up to 64GB with the M4 Pro.
Storage options extend to an impressive 8TB, making the diminutive Mac Mini a surprisingly powerful machine for those willing to invest. The familiar 10-gigabit ethernet is also available as an optional upgrade for users seeking faster-wired connections.
Pricing and Availability
Despite Apple's efforts to improve portability and introduce updates to the new Mini, not much has changed in terms of pricing. The base M4 model starts at the same $599 price point, while the more powerful M4 Pro version starts at $1,399. Both configurations are available for pre-order now and will hit shop shelves on 8 November.
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