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Apple CEO Tim Cook: Mac Mini Will Be 'Important Part' of Future Product Lineup
Apple's Mac mini celebrated its third birthday this week, marking three years since the device was last updated. The lack of attention Apple has given to the Mac mini has left many Mac users wondering about the future of the machine and whether there are updates to come.
MacRumors reader Krar decided to email Apple CEO Tim Cook to get an update on the Mac mini and he received a response. Cook said it was "not time to share any details," but he confirmed that the Mac mini will be an important part of the company's product lineup in the future.
Cook's response echoes a similar statement from Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, who commented on the Mac mini when Apple's plans for a new Mac Pro were unveiled. "The Mac mini is an important product in our lineup and we weren't bringing it up because it's more of a mix of consumer with some pro use," he said.
Positioned as a "bring your own peripherals" machine that comes without a mouse, keyboard, or display, the Mac mini is Apple's most affordable desktop machine. The current version is woefully outdated though, and continues to use Haswell processors and integrated Intel HD 5000/Intel Iris Graphics.
It's not clear when Apple will introduce a new Mac mini, and aside from a single rumor hinting at a new high-end Mac mini with a redesign that "won't be so mini anymore," we've heard no rumors about work on a possible Mac mini refresh.
With 2017 coming to a close, we're not likely to see a new Mac mini until 2018 at the earliest. A refreshed machine could use Kaby Lake Refresh chips, and as all chips appropriate for the Mac mini feature four cores, a new machine would likely reintroduce quad-core performance.
MacRumors reader Krar decided to email Apple CEO Tim Cook to get an update on the Mac mini and he received a response. Cook said it was "not time to share any details," but he confirmed that the Mac mini will be an important part of the company's product lineup in the future.
Cook's response echoes a similar statement from Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller, who commented on the Mac mini when Apple's plans for a new Mac Pro were unveiled. "The Mac mini is an important product in our lineup and we weren't bringing it up because it's more of a mix of consumer with some pro use," he said.
Positioned as a "bring your own peripherals" machine that comes without a mouse, keyboard, or display, the Mac mini is Apple's most affordable desktop machine. The current version is woefully outdated though, and continues to use Haswell processors and integrated Intel HD 5000/Intel Iris Graphics.
It's not clear when Apple will introduce a new Mac mini, and aside from a single rumor hinting at a new high-end Mac mini with a redesign that "won't be so mini anymore," we've heard no rumors about work on a possible Mac mini refresh.
With 2017 coming to a close, we're not likely to see a new Mac mini until 2018 at the earliest. A refreshed machine could use Kaby Lake Refresh chips, and as all chips appropriate for the Mac mini feature four cores, a new machine would likely reintroduce quad-core performance.
Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Don't Buy)
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Top Rated Comments
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13 months ago
That person should've added a picture of the Mac Mini to the email for reference...I always get the feeling like they're thinking of something else.
13 months ago
This is undeniably truth that the Mac mini is almost certainly coming.
I'll believe it when I see it.
13 months ago
This is undeniably truth that the Mac mini is almost certainly coming.
Keep hope alive people!
Keep hope alive people!
13 months ago
“The Mac Mini is very important to us. We need to have at least one product that’s not been updated for three years in our lineup.”
13 months ago
Wat.
Next time my parents asks me how my college is going and if progress is good, or if im just wasting time: "Graduating will be an important part of my future"
Next time my parents asks me how my college is going and if progress is good, or if im just wasting time: "Graduating will be an important part of my future"
13 months ago
Apple is becoming unbearable nowadays.
If it's important, update it. Don't make fat margins selling 3 year old technology. It's not technically unethical, but it's smarmy. (And brand destroying over time)
What I worry about is a replay of the MacBook Pros. Also long overdue. Also said an important part of the Apple strategy. And the release was so illformed with shoddy low quality keyboards. People are looking to buy older machines or continue to wait.
I wish there was someone at the top of Apple who still loved computers. I know there are tons of people who work at Apple who do, but just not on the executive team. Yes, they love Apple. Yes, they love their customers, They just don't love computers and the power of the tools they sell. It really shows.
If it's important, update it. Don't make fat margins selling 3 year old technology. It's not technically unethical, but it's smarmy. (And brand destroying over time)
What I worry about is a replay of the MacBook Pros. Also long overdue. Also said an important part of the Apple strategy. And the release was so illformed with shoddy low quality keyboards. People are looking to buy older machines or continue to wait.
I wish there was someone at the top of Apple who still loved computers. I know there are tons of people who work at Apple who do, but just not on the executive team. Yes, they love Apple. Yes, they love their customers, They just don't love computers and the power of the tools they sell. It really shows.
13 months ago
Holy cow! Tripped on my parent’s stairs running up from the basement on the news!!
Going to scrap the Avocado Toast and save up!!
Going to scrap the Avocado Toast and save up!!
13 months ago
Look Tim, no need to reinvent the wheel here.
Don't go all minimalist on us and give us a port-less thinner box.
Just update the ports, give us quad-core processor option, a decent GPU, and user-accessible RAM.
Don't go all minimalist on us and give us a port-less thinner box.
Just update the ports, give us quad-core processor option, a decent GPU, and user-accessible RAM.
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