Apple is reportedly developing a redesigned version of its cheapest computer, the Mac Mini. The next-generation Mac mini could launch in the coming months as the smallest version of the company’s device, similar to another smaller device from the iPhone maker. The device is said to support Apple’s M4 and M4 Pro chipsets. The first came with the iPad Pro (2024), which the company announced in May.
According to a Bloomberg report, citing people familiar with the company’s plans, Apple plans to release the next-generation Mac Mini model with a new design but the same aluminum chassis by the end of this year. The current model of Mac Mini (2023) is similar to the model released in November 2020, but the new model, codenamed J773, will be approximately the size of an Apple TV set-top box (STB It).
Bloomberg reports that Apple’s next Mac Mini is expected to be larger than existing devices, although the overall size may be smaller. The Mac Mini (2023) is 35mm tall, while the Apple TV 4K is slightly shorter at 31mm. The Mac Studio (2023), on the other hand, has a height of 95 mm.
The next Mac Mini will also run on the M4 chipset, but the company will reportedly offer a more powerful version of the computer with the M4 Pro chip. This chipset was first introduced in the iPad Pro 2024, the company’s first tablet with dual back-to-back OLED displays.
The connectivity options for the Mac Mini (2024) should include “at least three USB ports” in addition to an HDMI port and a power port. It’s unclear whether this computer will have an Ethernet port like the current model. The current model is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports (M2 model) and four Thunderbolt 4 ports (M2 Pro type). The 2023 model also features HDMI, Ethernet and 3.5mm audio ports, as well as two USB Type-A ports.
The price of the M4-equipped Mac mini is unknown. The current generation Mac mini costs Rs 20 million. 59,999 for the base configuration with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Either way, we expect more details about the Mac Mini (2024) to be revealed in the coming months.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.