Apple Working on High-End Mac Mini With Additional Ports and More Powerful Chip From Next-Gen MacBook Pro

Apple is working on a high-end version of the Mac mini, featuring a more powerful Apple silicon chip and extra ports, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

m1 mac mini screen
In a wide-reaching report, Gurman explained that Apple is developing a more powerful version of the ‌Mac mini‌, positioned as a high-end version of the current M1 model. The new ‌Mac mini‌ is expected to use the same chip as the next-generation MacBook Pro.

The next-generation MacBook Pro models are expected to feature an improved version of the ‌M1‌ chip with a 10-core CPU, containing eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, and 16-core or 32-core GPU options, meaning this is also what we can expect from the new ‌Mac mini‌. Gurman said that this Apple silicon chip will also support up to 64GB of memory, a significant increase compared to the current maximum of 16GB.

The high-end ‌Mac mini‌ is also expected to feature four Thunderbolt ports on its rear, rather than the two that are available on the rear of the current ‌Mac mini‌ with an ‌M1‌ chip, which is also a change supported by the next-generation Apple silicon chip.

Apple has also been working on a more powerful version of the Mac mini (code name J374) with the same chip as the next MacBook Pro. It's expected to have four ports versus the pair available on the current low-end version and to sit above the current entry-level M1 Mac Mini. Apple could delay or cancel the new mini's launch - as it has in the past - but eventually the company will likely replace the Intel-equipped version it now sells.

When Apple introduced the ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ last year, it retained the Intel Mac minis with two additional ports in the product lineup as a high-end option. Apple did the same with the MacBook Pro and iMac, where the ‌M1‌ option replaced the entry-level version of the machine, and kept the high-end Intel models with more ports on sale.

The new high-end ‌Mac mini‌ is expected to replace the current Intel-based ‌Mac mini‌ that is still on sale, meaning that the whole ‌Mac mini‌ product lineup will have transitioned to Apple silicon. Gurman added the caveat that the new ‌Mac mini‌ may yet be delayed or cancelled, but said that the company will likely replace the current high-end Intel-based ‌Mac mini‌ with an Apple silicon version eventually.

Gurman also disclosed an extensive amount of information earlier this morning regarding upcoming MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Pro models.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Mac mini

Top Rated Comments

DaveP Avatar
24 months ago
Please be true. Please be true. (and available soon...)
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bgalakazam Avatar
24 months ago
I am content with the M1 I just ordered. If you play the "next model is going to be better" game you will never buy anything from Apple...
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jerryk Avatar
24 months ago
If the price is right I will pick one of these up! It has been a while since I had a desktop Mac (2009 mini) and I kind of miss it.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW Avatar
24 months ago

I am content with the M1 I just ordered. If you play the "next model is going to be better" game you will never buy anything from Apple...
It's fine that you're content, but people who need more would be smarter to wait a few months than to spend money on a model that is insufficient for their needs.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Orange Bat Avatar
24 months ago
To those who are curious Apple added 10Gb ethernet to the Mini about a month ago.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BGPL Avatar
24 months ago
Yes! This will be my new rig, no more iMacs. Please offer 10Gb Ethernet!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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