Highly anticipated: An upgraded Mac Mini is the second M4 Mac that Apple introduced this week, likely to be followed by a new MacBook Pro in the coming days. Marking the first major Mac Mini revision in almost 15 years, the new model debuts with the M4 Pro chip and is the first Mac Mini to support Thunderbolt 5.
Pre-orders are now open for two new Mac Mini variants featuring the M4 and M4 Pro processors, with shipments beginning on November 8. Prices start at $599 for the M4 model and $1,399 for the M4 Pro variant, with students eligible for a $100 discount on each model.
The base model features the M4 chip, previously introduced in the latest iPads and in the upgraded iMac revealed earlier this week. Compared to last year's Mac Mini with the M2 chip, the M4 offers two additional efficiency cores, totaling 10 cores, and includes a 16-core neural engine capable of 38 TOPS for enhanced performance, particularly with Apple's new generative AI toolchain.
Apple Intelligence, now available on any Mac or iPad with an M-series chip, as well as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro, became publicly available this week. Apple's GenAI can summarize text selections, automatically organize notifications, edit images, proofread a user's writing, and more.
The new Mac Mini also follows Apple's recent trend of starting devices with 16 GB of unified RAM instead of the previous 8 GB. Customers can configure the M4 model with up to 32 GB of RAM, while the M4 Pro version supports up to 64 GB. Storage options range from 256 GB to 2 TB on the base model, while the M4 Pro offers between 512 GB and 8 TB.
The Mini's M4 Pro variant stands out with 10 performance cores, compared to the M2 Pro's eight, bringing its total to 14 cores. Additionally, the GPU now has 20 cores, up from 19, and includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Memory bandwidth has also increased, from 200 GB/s to 273 GB/s.
Apple claims Logic Pro can now support up to 1.8 times more audio effect plugins on the M4 Pro compared to the M2 Pro, and that Blender renders can be completed nearly three times faster.
Wired connectivity marks another significant change for this year's Mac Mini. Both models now have two USB-C 3.0 ports and an audio jack positioned on the front. The M4 model features three rear Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M4 Pro upgrades these to Thunderbolt 5, bringing the 80 Gbps connection protocol to the lineup for the first time.
Apple is marking the occasion by selling a new one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable for $69. The Cupertino giant is known for charging a premium for accessories, but a cursory search through Newegg mostly digs up half-meter cables for around $30, roughly consistent with Apple's pricing.
However, OWC offers a one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable for $40. As Thunderbolt 5 technology becomes more widespread, pricing options are expected to expand.
The new Mac Mini also brings a major hardware redesign since the 2010 M1 model. Measuring 2x5x5 inches, the updated model is slightly taller but significantly shorter, thinner, and lighter, resembling an Apple TV.
Apple M4 Pro chip debuts in the redesigned Mac Mini with 14 cores and Thunderbolt 5
